Early career (1970–1980) Colley began his career in the 1970s as Jack Dalton in a
tag team with Jim Dalton, collectively known as the Dalton Brothers. Shortly after, he was repackaged as "Moondog Hawkins", and later "Moondog Rex" as promoter
Vince McMahon Sr. noted Colley's resemblance to
Moondog Mayne.
Georgia Championship Wrestling (1982–1983) He next appeared in
Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW) with Spot. The Moondogs made their debut on October 25, 1982, in a match at the Omni against
Brad Armstrong and
Tito Santana. The Moondogs would continue with the promotion for the next three months, wrestling
The Wild Samoans and various combinations that included
Stan Hansen.
Continental Wrestling Association (1983–1984) Both Moondogs then moved to the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA), where they were embroiled in a
feud with
The Fabulous Ones (
Stan Lane and
Steve Keirn) after ripping up their jackets, which were given to them by
Jackie Fargo.
Return to the World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985) The Moondogs returned to the World Wrestling Federation in 1984, during the midst of its national expansion. For the next few months, they were programmed into a
house show series against the newly-arrived
Fabulous Freebirds (
Michael Hayes,
Terry Gordy and
Buddy Roberts) and later the Brisco Brothers (
Jerry and
Jack).
Mid South Wrestling (1985) (front) in April 1985 Following his WWF departure, Colley made his debut for
Bill Watts'
Mid South Wrestling Federation (UWF) as The Nightmare and was given a substantial
push under the guidance of
Eddie Gilbert. Again paired with Spot, they suffered losses to established teams including
The Rougeau Brothers (
Jacques and
Raymond) on
Prime Time Wrestling, Tony Atlas and
Pedro Morales, the
U.S. Express (Barry Windham and
Mike Rotunda) and WWF World Champion Hulk Hogan and
Paul Orndorff on
WWF Championship Wrestling. Despite having his hair trimmed, his beard shaved off, and wearing face paint, fans almost immediately recognized him and began chanting "Moondog" when he entered the ring. As a result, he was replaced with
Barry Darsow. Colley made a one-off return on November 26, 1988, wrestling as "The Shadow" in a loss to
Boris Zukhov. In 1994, Colley was called as a prosecution witness at the
Vince McMahon steroid distribution trial in
Long Island, New York.
Continental Championship Wrestling (1988–1989) After a stint with
Stampede Wrestling under his real name, He continued to appear on televised programs and house shows into the spring of 1991. In May,
World Championship Wrestling (WCW) created a
stable known as "the Desperados", consisting of
Dutch Mantell,
Black Bart and Colley, who played "Deadeye Dick". The Desperados were portrayed as three bumbling cowboys hoping for Stan Hansen to join WCW and team with them, being promoted through a series of vignettes in which they were beaten up in saloons, searched
ghost towns, were jailed and rode horses. However, this
storyline was short-lived as Hansen wanted no part of it and left for
Japan. After leaving WCW, Colley would take a hiatus form wrestling for a couple of years. He briefly reunited with
Demolition Ax (Bill Eadie) and his "New Demolition" partner Blast (Carmine Azzato) on the independent circuit before the WWF sent Eadie a cease and desist letter.
Smoky Mountain Wrestling (1993–1994) From November 1993 to March 1994, Colley reunited with Spot as the Moondogs in
Smoky Mountain Wrestling (SMW), engaging in feuds with
The Rock 'n' Roll Express and
The Bruise Brothers while splitting their time between SMW and the
United States Wrestling Association (USWA).
United States Wrestling Association (1994–1996) The Moondogs joined the USWA full time in March 1994 and began a feud with
Jerry Lawler and
Brian Christopher, quickly winning the
USWA World Tag Team Championship from
Billy Joe Travis and
The Spellbinder. They would lose the titles later that year, but regained them on October 24 against The Phantoms. In November they lost and then regained the titles from The Bruise Brothers. The Moondogs entered 1995 having lost the USWA titles once more and entered a tournament to crown new champions; they wrestled The Rock 'n' Roll Express to a no-contest in the finals at the Mid South Coliseum on January 9, 1995. That spring they would feud with
Crusher Bones, Jack Hammer, and Big Daddy Cyrus. Their run in the company ended that year with a match at the USWA's Mid South Memphis Memories II card, where they were defeated by The Fabulous Ones. In 1996 the duo returned once more, defeating Jimmy Harris and
Ron Harris at the Mid South Coliseum on January 2. In April 1996 they began to feud with former WWF Tag Team Champions
Men on a Mission, the latter on loan from the WWF. On April 22, 1996, the Moondogs defeated Men on a Mission via pinfall at the Mid South Coliseum. In June the Moondogs were booked into a tournament to crown the USWA's Southern Tag Team Champions, but were defeated by
Brickhouse Brown and
Reggie B. Fine in the first round. In the summer, the Moondogs regained the USWA Tag Team Championship for a final time. The Moondogs left USWA that fall, a year before the promotion closed its doors. ==Later years and death==