Walker has had many honors while under the mask.  Wrestler of the year in 1975, most popular wrestler in 1980, and the Champion of Champions trophy in 1980.  I'll always believe that Walker received this because nobody under a mask would become the NWA champion.  I've seen the debates, and I believe that Walker deserved a small run as champion.  He was known in Georgia as well as the Mid South area, which the latter didn't matter because at that time they were not NWA affiliated.  Race could've got him over in Missouri, and the Carolinas and Florida would've known him as well. 

Walker's last run in Georgia was in 1983, where he feuded with Larry Zbyszko, Killer Tim Brooks and another imposter, Jesse Barr, impersonating Mr. Wrestling I.  II won the Cadillac Cup tournament that year as well.  II would eventually go to Mid South, with his next visit to the Techwood Drive studio being in the WWF, a situation spooks me to this day. 

In my opinion, Johnnie Walker was GCW.  Guys came and went, and he did go a few times, but he was the wrestler that people could relate to the territory from its rebirth in 1972 to the bitter end in 1984.  Sure, there were Tommy Rich, The Freebirds, Tony Atlas, etc.  Walker was there from the beginning, and was still over when he left.  As with anything, everybody has his or her opinion.

I'm just going to do a little venting.  I'll rant and rave about a few things in GCW that got under my skin.  Until then, so long from the Peach State of Georgia!