In October of 1977, Georgia Championship Wrestling was on fire.  Georgia Champion Dick Slater and Dusty Rhodes were feuding with Ole and Gene Anderson for The World Tag Team Championship.  Meanwhile Mr. Wrestling 2 was feuding with Pak Song, who had put Mr. Wrestling 2  in the hospital a few months earlier.  These two feuds headlined a big wrestling card at The Omni on October 14th.  On that event, a man by the name of Stan Hansen made his debut at The Omni against Preston Nicholson.  I would have hated to be Preston Nicholson on that night.

Stan Hansen took Georgia by storm.  He quickly formed an alliance with Ole and Gene Anderson to become one of the most hated wrestlers in Georgia.  In December, Hansen defeated Dick Slater for the Georgia Championship.  Hansen had many contenders including Thunderbolt Patterson, Tony Atlas, Bob Armstrong, Mr. Wrestling 2 and Tommy Rich.  His top two contenders were Dusty Rhodes and Dick Slater.  He would feud with Slater and Rhodes in single matches and tag team matches with Ole Anderson as his partner.  In January, he lost the title to Mr. Wrestling 2 but quickly regained it in February. 

Stan was keeping a tight hold on the title, turning back all challengers.  Rock Hunter, manager of Abdullah the Butcher, started dropping hints on television that Abdullah deserved a title shot.  This happen for several weeks until it finally erupted on television.  Stan was doing an interview with Gordon Solie, when Hunter came out and interrupted him.  Hansen told Hunter he would talk to him in a few minutes.  Hunter grabbed Hansen's cowboy hat that was sitting on the podium.  Hansen grabbed it back.  Hunter grabbed it again and threw it on the ground. Hansen decked Hunter and Abdullah attacked Hansen.  All the heels came out and broke it up.