Hacksaw Butch Reed debuted in CWF in early 1982 and made quite an impact early on.  Hacksaw Reed wrestled under his real name, Bruce Reed, before coming to Florida.  Butch received a solid push in CWF and the fans responded with their appreciation.

Reed wrestled Ric Flair on CWF TV and dominated the champion before the time limit bell expired.  Flair, infuriated by being shown up by the young star, went to Gordon Solie at the announcers desk and screamed for five more minutes with the challenger.  Reed accepted and within a few minutes he pinned the NWA World's Champions shoulders to the mat.  Everyone at the studio as well as this 15 year old mark thought Butch Reed was the new World Heavyweight Champion. 

Of course, it was not the case.  The National Wrestling Alliance deemed that since there was no written contract for the "overtime" of this match, Flair was still the NWA World Champion.  This established Reed as a top contender and created a feud between the two, which was highlighted by Flair putting a $10,000 bounty on the head of Butch Reed. 

Flair returned later in the year on CWF TV with a lady friend to visit with Gordon Solie at the podium.  Flair as always was dressed in a nice suit and talking up a storm about Butch "Bruce" Reed.  Gordon Solie introduces Flair to the broadcast.  “A real pleasure to have with me right now the NWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Champion, Ric Flair and as you can see he has some lovely company indeed.”  “Well Gordon I have always told you that is has always gone without saying that whatever Ric Flair has wanted in life, he has always had.  When I became the World Heavyweight Champion keeping the women away became a real task.  Only a chose few are allowed to accompany the man.”  Flair shows off his female friend, “a real Tallahassee Lassie” as he puts it and she gives Gordon a kiss on the cheek.

“Rumor goes around the country that Ric Flair might be afraid to wrestle Bruce (Butch) Reed.”  This is where Ric Flairs words get real interesting as he starts to describe David and Kerry Von Erich.  Evidently, Flair is challenging Reed to wrestle one of the Von Erich brothers.  “Well today Bruce Reed there are two men standing in that ring over there (David and Kerry Von Erich) who are as bad as any two wrestlers there are in the world today.  They know how to get down they know how to get real dirty and they know the value of a dollar.  The also know what $10,000 can do.”  Another point to be made here is that over in WCCW during part of the year (1982) Kerry Von Erich was chasing Ric Flair for the NWA Title.  But, with no internet and cable TV in its infancy, a wrestler could get away with being a face in one area and having a heel run somewhere else and it not really being known.  Such is the case with Kerry who came in very briefly in 1982 as a heel in CWF to help his brother.

Flair continued to berate Reed.  “We know you are not a man, but a boy”.  This drew Butch out from the back.  “Let me tell you something Mr. Gordon Solie” Reed starts out, “this man must think I am a fool to come out here, get in the ring, for me to wrestle with him here in the background with a $10,000 bounty on my head.”

Flair and Reed banter back and forth with Flair chastising Reed for coming out here.  Reed is getting tired of Flair’s hot air and finally speaks up again.  “Are you thru?  Are you thru?  Let me ask you one question Flair.  How are you going to plan to get out of this building through me?”  Reed steps a bit closer to the front of the podium as Ric leans into the microphone.  “Don’t put your face in mine boy” shouts Flair.  Butch starts up as he turns his head to Solie.  “Gordon, let me tell you something, you don’t…”  Before he could complete his sentence Ric Flair leans over and slaps Butch Reed hard in the face.  Reed is enraged but right away Ric stands behind his lady friend as Gordon attempts to calm Butch down in order to protect the woman.  “Oooh, wait a minute…hold it, hold it.  Oh, I don’t believe that” (as Flair hides behind the woman). 

Flair shouts to Gordon, “Me and my lady don’t want no trouble from you today boy!  No no no.  Get him out of here Solie, get him out of here.”  More...