Less than 24 hours after his surgery, Otto was able to sign himself out of the hospital. Remembering that his lime green AMC Pacer was in the shop, he started walking towards the subway. Just as he was about to pass through the turnstyles, he was approached by a recruiter looking for people to take up amateur wrestling careers. He realized that he had always wanted a career that involved flamboyant costumes, so he agreed to start training that night. The recruiter said that all he needed to do was think of the wrestler name he’d use while in the ring.