Early career (1977–1983) Daniels made his professional wrestling debut in 1977, adopting the
ring name "Bad, Bad" Leroy Brown, based on the
Jim Croce song
of the same name. After this, he traveled to
Texas to work for
Fritz Von Erich's
NWA Big Time Wrestling. On March 31, 1978, Brown and
Killer Tim Brooks defeated
José Lothario and
Al Madril to win the
NWA Texas Tag Team Championship, Brown's first championship. Back in San Francisco, Brown defeated
Chavo Guerrero to win the
WWA Americas Heavyweight Championship, holding it for 50 days before losing it to
Al Madril. Brown eventually worked for
Bill Watts'
Mid-South Wrestling, teaming with
Ernie Ladd for most of his time in Mid-South. The two defeated
Junkyard Dog and Terry Orndorff to win the
Mid-South Tag Team Championship, and later traded the championship with Junkyard Dog and other partners such as
Killer Karl Kox and
Dick Murdoch. Brown and various partners such as
Ricky Steamboat and
Sweet Ebony Diamond challenged
The Minnesota Wrecking Crew (
Gene and
Ole Anderson) for the Mid-Atlantic version of the
NWA World Tag Team Championship. In 1982, Brown was involved in a feud with then
NWA World Heavyweight Champion Ric Flair. The storyline started with an
arm wrestling challenge laid out by Flair. Brown won the challenge, leading to Flair demanding a rematch which Brown also won. During a third arm wrestling challenge, Brown was attacked by
Big John Studd, beating him up prior to Brown wrestling Flair for the championship at the
Omni Coliseum,
Georgia Championship Wrestling's venue for major shows. Despite the attack, Brown won the match by disqualification as Flair intentionally disqualified himself to keep the championship. Subsequently, Flair frustrated Brown at every turn, using underhanded tactics and placing a bounty on Brown to keep him away from the title. During the feud, Flair would try to tempt Brown with fancy suits and the "jet set" lifestyle, hoping to tempt Brown to side with him. After losing to Flair in June, Brown accepted the offer, turning heel as he became enamored with fine clothes, jewelry and fast cars. Brown took
Oliver Humperdink as his manager, becoming part of the heel group "House of Humperdink". On November 27, Brown won a 20-man
battle royal to win the vacant
NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship, holding it for 28 days until losing the championship on December 25 to
Mike Rotunda. The team was often managed by Humperdink and was part of the "House of Humperdink". On July 31, the duo defeated Mike Graham and Scott McGhee to win the
NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship. At
Starrcade on November 22, they lost to
Buzz Tyler and
The Masked Assassin #1. This was one of the last matches the Zambuie Express worked together, splitting up a short time later. The team held the title for 48 days in total, until they were defeated by
Terry Taylor and
Jim Duggan on December 27. Brown wrestled his final match on January 1, 1987, competing in a UWF
Bunkhouse Battle Royal. ==Death==