Background
His mother was Bonnie Todd, who worked for Eastern Kentucky University, and his stepfather was Walter Todd, part owner of a local funeral home in Richmond, Kentucky.
His mother was Bonnie Todd, who worked for Eastern Kentucky University, and his stepfather was Walter Todd, part owner of a local funeral home in Richmond, Kentucky.
Mize graduated from Madison Central High School in 1979.
He is most known for his time in Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) and the United States Wrestling Alliance (USWA) holding several tag team championships over the years. Mize was trained by NWA Championship Wrestling owner and promoter Dale Mann for his professional wrestling career and began working for MWA in 1981 as a face (wrestling term for those that portray the "good guys") known as Billy Travis. In 1984 he began working in the Memphis, Tennessee area for the Continental Wrestling Association (CWA) and later on worked for the World Wrestling Federation, both places gaining experience while losing to established starts.
In 1985 he returned to the CWA, working as "Billy Joe Travis", adopting a conceited, egotistical heel ("bad guy") ring character.
Travis teamed up with Ron Sexton to form a team known as "Hot Property", the young duo was paired up with veteran Buddy Wayne to act as their manager. 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).
In 1986 he started working as a singles wrestler for Texas United States of America All-Star Wrestling, working storylines opposite First Rate (at Lloyd's) Madril, Lord Jonathon Boyd and Big Bubba. In 1987 Travis returned to Memphis, this time with Frank Morell as his mentor.
Americas Wrestling Federation
AWF Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
Continental Wrestling Association
Aging with Attitude Southern Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Jeff Jarrett (3) and Mark Starr (1)
CWA Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Scott Steiner (2) and Action Jackson (1)
Mountain Wrestling Association
MWA Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Michael Ray
Power Pro Wrestling
PPW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bulldog Raines
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
PWI ranked Billy Travis # 139 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1993
United States Wrestling Association
USWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
USWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Flash Flanagan (2)
World Wrestling Council
WWC Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
WWC World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with El Gran Mendoza
Texas All-Star Wrestling
Texas All-Star United States of America Heavyweight Championship (1 time).