10 Things You Didn't Know About George "The Animal" Steele
9. He First Wrestled As "The Student"
Once William Myers started wrestling, he didn't become George "The Animal" Steele overnight. When he started out, he was competing in the Detroit area where he lived and worked, so he wanted to protect his identity. He decided to wear a mask, and as a nod to his primary career, he called himself "The Student," complete with a cap and gown that he'd wear to the ring.
Still, The Student was far from reserved - he was the same kind of maniac that Myers would make a name for himself playing later in his career. His promos were cerebral and eloquent, but in the ring, he relied on pure strength to bully opponents, rather than any sort of finesse. Given that he was a rookie, this made sense, and with manager Gary Hart by his side, he became a hated villain.