He resurfaced in the Continental Wrestling Association January 4, 1986 and defeated David Haskins at a television taping in Memphis, TN. Seventeen days later he retook the CWA Mid-America Heavyweight Championship from Koko B Ware, although he reign was brief as he was defeated for it by Dirty Rhodes on February 2. Landel regained the championship sixteen days later and held it until April 7, when he lost to Dutch Mantell. On April 19, 1986 he made a one-off return to Jim Crockett Promotions, teaming with Bill Dundee to participate in the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup. The duo was defeated in the first round by Steve Williams and Terry Taylor. On June 2, 1986 he defeated former partner Bill Dundee to win the AWA Southern Championship in a barbed wire match held in Mid-South Coliseum in Memphis, Tennessee. He briefly vacated the belt that month, then regained it in a tournament finale over The Flame (Roger Smith). With Bill Dundee, Dutch Mantell, and Jerry Lawler, he headlined the last sold-out show in the Mid-South Coliseum.