Early Life
Neidhart had an athletic career prior to his entrance into the world of professional wrestling. He first gained acclaim during high school for his success in many strength-oriented track and field events. A talented shot putter, Neidhart held the California high school record in the event from 1973–1985 for Newport Harbor High School (a school which was later made famous for its central role in the hit television show The O.C.). After graduating high school, Neidhart pursued a career in the National Football League, where he may have played briefly for the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys in practices and preseason games. Although some biographies state that he played in the NFL for those teams, DatabaseFootball.com contains no evidence that Neidhart ever recorded actual playing time in an NFL regular season game. (Note: He played as a backup nose tackle for the Oakland Raiders. One Game, three downs. Three personal fouls and the Raiders lost. He was waived immediately.) In a shoot interview, Neidhart said that he spent some time in jail and actually saw Charles Manson during this period, as well.
Neidhart achieved his nickname from setting a record at the Calgary Stampede games for throwing an anvil further than anyone else. Stu Hart had given him $500 to enter and win and from then, Helen nicknamed him the 'Anvil'.
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