Wrestling television taping at Bishop Moore High School in Orlando, Florida. NWA Wildside (2000–2001) That spring, Golden made his debut in NWA Wildside. With over a decade of experience, the 27-year-old wrestler quickly established himself as one of the "best young veterans" in the promotion. On April 1 at "Hardcore Hell 2000", he defeated A.J. Styles in a Ladder match for the NWA Wildside Television Championship in Cornelia, Georgia. He lost the belt that same night to Jesse Taylor, however, with whom he would feud with over the title throughout the year. Golden would eventually be recruited by Jeff G. Bailey as part of NWA Elite with Ruckus, Onyx, and Terry Knight. A rematch between Golden and A.J. Styles on the May 14th edition of NWA Wildside TV saw Styles "turn heel" by attacking his tag team partner Jorge Estrada after the bout and aligning himself with Golden and NWA Elite. He and Styles faced Estrada and J.C. Dazz in a tag team match the following week. The stable would feud with former National Championship Wrestling stars, the promotion having recently merged with NWA Georgia, with Golden, Onyx, A.J. Styles, and NWA Wildside owner Bill Behrens wrestling Team NCW's Stone Mountain, J.C. Dazz, Rick Michaels, and David Young on June 18. Golden enlisted stablemate Terry Knight in his year-long feud against Jesse Taylor. He had managed to regain the NWA Wildside Television Championship, but dropped the belt back to Taylor in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 7. Golden won it back from Taylor a day later in Sylva, North Carolina. On the August 20th edition of NWA Wildside TV, Golden and Knight wrestled Taylor and Romeo Bliss in a tag team match. They also wrestled Bad Attitude (Rick Michaels and David Young) at various times during the year. He and Taylor faced each other again on the November 6th episode of NWA Wildside TV. Holden eventually lost the television title to Air Paris at the NWA Wildside Arena on January 1, 2001. On January 20, Golden defeated E. Z. Money via countout in his NWA Wildside debut. On February 3, Golden and Terry Knight lost to David Flair and Romeo Bliss at the NWA Wildside Arena. On April 21, 2001, Golden teamed with Adam Jacobs and John Phoenix in a losing effort against A.J. Styles, Air Paris, and Onyx. Independent circuit (2002–2006) Golden briefly feuded with Brad Hunter in North American