Edward Leslie (Brutus Beefcake) began his career at the side of Terry Bollea in 1977. At the time, the two were billed as brothers. Leslie was Ed Boulder when Bollea wrestled as "Terry Boulder", and Dizzy Hogan when Bollea became "Hulk Hogan".

Leslie rejoined the WWF as a heel named Brutus Beefcake in late 1984. Beefcake was a vain character, who dressed in outlandish outfits.

Brutus Beefcake started bringing garden shears (with the handles taped to resemble barber poles) to the ring, and using a sleeper hold as his finishing move. After a match, he would strut around the ring, "snipping" his fingers like scissors to indicate he was about to cut his defeated opponent's hair. As he did (using either his shears or an electric razor) he would throw handfuls of hair into the air for the amusement of his fans.