Ernie Ladd
In 1979, Link began wrestling for the National Wrestling Alliance in Atlanta, Georgia. He initially worked for Ernie Ladd and later Georgia Championship Wrestling bookers George Scott and Buck Robley through 1980-81. Link was then brought into Angelo Poffo's International Championship Wrestling by his son "Macho Man" Randy Savage and took part in TV tapings with Angelo and Lanny Poffo, Ronnie Garvin, Ox Baker, Rip Rogers, Pez Whatley, and The Samoans (Tio and Tapu) during 1982.