In early 1996, Bermudez suffered a leg injury during an ECW event on April 13 and was attacked by D-Von Dudley; this was D-Von Dudley's first appearance in the promotion. Following the attack by D-Von Dudley, he and the other members of the Dudleys feuded with the renegade Dudley. He and Chubby Dudley soon left the promotion however, allegedly in a dispute with promoter Paul Heyman. In 1996, Dances with Dudley toured Japan with the Big Japan Pro Wrestling promotion. He teamed with other Americans such as Bull Pain and Ian Rotten and faced wrestlers such as Yoshiaki Yatsu and Sabu. From 1997 to 1999, he wrestled with several tag partners as Laraza as featured in "Pro Wrestling Illustrated". He had several matches with such workers as Spanish Angel, Kid USA, Lucifer, Homicide and Low Life Louie. He had great feedback from promoter Bobby Lombardi but left when the Long Island Wrestling Federation did shows further east on Long Island. In the mid-2000s, Dances with Dudley adopted the ring name "Chief Dudley.