In 1997 LeRoux saw an advertisement for the WCW Power Plant (the professional wrestling school owned and operated by World Championship Wrestling) on an episode of "WCW Monday Nitro". LeRoux qualified to train in the Power Plant, meeting the arduous physical qualifications, and trained throughout 1998, with his first match being a loss to Perry Saturn in mid-1998. He was promoted to the main roster in July 1998, and wrestled on "WCW Saturday Night", "WCW WorldWide" and "WCW Thunder" as "Mark LeRoux" for several months, often losing squash matches.