Wrestling as the masked Dream Machine, Thompson captured the AWA Southern Heavyweight Championship in 1981 after defeating Steve Keirn in the final bout of a one-night tournament.

Promoter Eddie Marlin awarded the belt to Dream Machine and his manager Jimmy Hart during an episode of Championship Wrestling that aired soon after the tournament.

They defeated Dutch Mantell and Koko B. Ware for their first AWA Southern Tag Team Championship titles.

In 1994, Graham returned to the Memphis territory, where he won a battle royal by eliminating Brian Christopher.

[3] Troy Graham died on March 7, 2002, of a heart attack, leaving behind a seven-year-old daughter Charlie Sue, his mother and great grandmother.