 While in NWA Florida, he teamed with Superstar Billy Graham and Steve Strong against Rhodes, Jack and Jerry Brisco at North Dade Jr. College in Miami on January 12, 1977.He also defeated Steve Keirn in a tournament final to win the vacant NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship in March before losing it to Dusty Rhodes three months later.The following year, he and Killer Karl Kox feuded with Rhodes and Wahoo McDaniel in Florida Championship Wrestling facing them in several tag team matches.