Championship Wrestling in early 2002. On February 8, 2002, Golden lost Hunter in Newton, North Carolina. He also took part in a 6-man tag team match with Big Daddy and Big Wood against Hunter, Black Angel, and Reverend Slim in Shelby, North Carolina the following night. On March 5, Golden wrestled Mike Hanson on New South Wrestling's first television taping on WCYB in Johnson City, Tennessee. On November 28, 2002, Golden lost to Allen King in a three-way match with E. Z. Money for New South Wrestling. On January 11, 2003, Golden wrestled DG 2000 for Ron’s Championship Wrestling in Knoxville. On March 22, Eddie and Jimmy Golden lost to Beau James and Gator McAllistor by countout in Kingsport. Golden lost to Jesse Taylor at NWA Wildside's "Hardcore Hell" in Cornelia, Georgia a week later. That summer, Golden began feuding with Jeff Tankersfly in Southern States Wrestling and on the independent circuit. On July 20, 2003, Golden was defeated by Tankersfly at an SSW show in Kingsport. On January 24, 2004, Golden defeated Tankersly (with Sherri Martel) by disqualification in Iron Ring Wrestling. On March 6, Golden and Robbie Cassidy lost to LCW Tag Team Champions Allen King and Shane Matthews in Liberty Championship Wrestling. Four months later, Golden faced Jeff Tankersly and Sherri Martel once again at Iron Ring Wrestling's show for Kingsport's annual Funfest event on July 17, 2004. The two men wrestled in a bloody Steel Cage match for the IRW Heavyweight Championship. Golden ended up winning the match after Martel turned on Tankersly in effect turning Golden into a "heel" and Tankersly a "babyface". On February 12, 2005, Eddie Golden defeated Gluteus Maximus and Nick Diamond three-way match for Palmetto Pride Championship Wrestling in Columbia, South Carolina. On May 7, at the Mark Curtis Memorial Wrestling Reunion, Golden defeated K. C. Thunder (with The Duke of New York) via disqualification. Golden nearly pinned Thunder with a big splash at the end of the match but was pulled off of his opponent by The Duke of New York when he made the cover. While Golden argued with the referee, Thunder then hit him with brass knuckles and pinned him for the win. Thunder seemingly had the match won but the referee found the foreign object after the match and reversed the decision. On July 17, 2005, Eddie and Jimmy Golden defeated The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and