In 1985 he returned to the CWA, working as "Billy Joe Travis", adopting a conceited, egotistical heel ("bad guy") ring character.

Travis also briefly teamed with Norvell Austin during the summer of 1985 as he worked a storyline feud with The Fabulous Ones (Stan Lane and Steve Keirn).

He would also win the International Championship from Austin Idol and worked an extended storyline against Phil Hickerson.

Travis would suffer from drug abuse around this time, which ruined his professional reputation, but he continued to work in several smaller promotions.

Mize died of an apparent heart attack on November 23, 2002, shortly after arriving at his mother's home in Kentucky; attempts by paramedics to revive him were unsuccessful.