Profile last updated by: David Buckler

Ronnie Garvin

Title History

  • NWA (Florida) World Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Lorenzo Parente & Paul DeMarco (November 21, 1967);
  • NWA Florida Tag Team titles w/Ole Anderson won a tournament (July 2, 1971);
  • NWA Mid America Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Bearcat Brown & Joey Rossi (August 1973);
  • NWA Mid America Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Johnny Marlin & Tojo Yamamoto (September 5, 1973);
  • NWA (Mid America) Southern Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Eddie Marlin & Tommy Gilbert (October 9, 1973);
  • NWA (Tennessee) Southern Junior Heavyweight title defeating Tommy Gilbert (December 1973);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller (January 18, 1974);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Bob Armstrong & Robert Fuller (March 15, 1974);
  • NWA Tennessee Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin (October 25, 1974);
  • NWA Southeastern Tag Team titles w/Tony Charles defeating Karl & Kurt Von Steiger (May 1977);
  • NWA (Alabama/Tennessee) Southeastern Heavyweight title defeating Robert Fuller (July 10, 1977);
  • NWA Southeastern Tag Team titles w/Bob Orton Jr. defeating Jos LeDuc & Bob Armstrong (September ??, 1977);
  • NWA (Alabama/Tennessee) Southeastern Heavyweight title defeating Mongolian Stomper (June 1978);
  • NWA (Alabama/Tennessee) Southeastern Heavyweight title defeating Boris Malenko (December 8, 1978);
  • NWA (Alabama/Tennessee) Southeastern Heavyweight title defeating Mongolian Stomper (January 1979);
  • ICW (Lexington) Southeastern Heavyweight title (May 26, 1979);
  • NWA Southeastern Heavyweight title defeating Alexi Smirnoff (June 1, 1979);
  • ICW (Lexington) Southeastern Heavyweight title (January 6, 1980);
  • NWA World Television title defeating Jake Roberts (April 7, 1984);
  • NWA World Television title defeating Jake Roberts (July 1, 1984);
  • NWA (Georgia) National Tag Team titles w/Jerry Oates defeating Road Warriors (July 4, 1984);
  • NWA (Georgia) National Heavyweight title defeating Ted DiBiase (October 11, 1984);
  • NWA World Television title defeating Bob Roop (December 28, 1984);
  • NWA Mid Atlantic Heavyweight title defeating Black Bart (September 2, 1986);
  • NWA United States Tag Team titles w/Barry Windham defeating Krusher Khrushchev & Ivan Koloff (December 9, 1986);
  • NWA World Heavyweight title defeating “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair (September 25, 1987);
  • AWA International Television title defeating Greg Gagne (September 17, 1988);
  • WWC (World Wrestling Council) Universal Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon in a tournament (November 24, 1988);
  • WWC (World Wrestling Council) Universal Heavyweight title defeating Carlos Colon (Febuary 1, 1991);
  • PWF (Carolinas) Tag Team titles w/Italian Stallion defeating Texas Outlaw & Mean Mark (October 23, 1991);
  • TMW (Tennessee Mountain Wrestling) Heavyweight title;
  • TMW (Tennessee Mountain Wrestling) Tag Team titles;
  • CCW (Canada) Heavyweight title;

Career Highlights

In The Beginning:

  • 1945: Roger Barnes was born in Montreal and moved to Gaspe at the and of two..
  • Ronnie Garvin’s family returned to Monrteal when he was twelve..
  • Ronnie Garvin became friends with Pat Patterson (Pierre Clermont) and Terry Garvin (Terry Joyal)..
  • Ronnie Garvin once dated Pat Patterson’s sister, Annette..
  • Ronnie Garvin married Jimmy Williams’ (aka Jimmy Garvin) mother, making him Jimmy’s stepfather..
  • 1962: Ronnie Garvin (age 17) left Montreal and travelled to Boston where he debuted in Wrestling..

Getting into the Business:

  • Ronnie Garvin was known as “Hands of Stone”, a name which was given to him by Gordon Solie..
  • Ronnie Garvin teamed with Terry Garvin in the mid-60s and 70s and was particularly successful in the Southern US..
  • Ronnie & Terry Garvin were billed as brothers, however, the were not related in any way..
  • 1967: Ronnie & Terry Garvin won the Florida Tag Team titles..
  • 1971: Ronnie Garvin & Ole Anderson won the Florida Tag Team titles..
  • 1974: Ronnie & Terry Garvin won the Georgia Tag Team titles..
  • Ron Garvin was known as “One Man Gang”, Les Thatcher is credited for that.. (not to be confused with the wrestler with that name)..
  • October 23, 1983–(Georgia) The Last Battle of Atlanta: The Great Kabuki defeated Ronnie Garvin..
  • June 8, 1985: Black Bart defeated Ronnie Garvin for the Georgia National Heavyweight title..

National Wrestling Alliance:

  • April 19, 1986 – Crockett Cup: Ronnie Garvin & Magnum T.A. defeated Rick Steiner & Buzz Sawyer in the 1st Round..
  • ~~~Ronnie Garvin & Magnum TA beat Giant Baba & Tiger Mask | Road Warriors beat Ronnie Garvin & Magnum TA (Finals)..
  • April 28, 1986 – AWA/NWA: Tully Blanchard defeated Ronnie Garvin by DQ to retain the NWA National Heavyweight title..
  • July 5, 1986 – Great American Bash: Ronnie Garvin beat Tully Blanchard by Knockout in a Taped Fist match..
  • July 26, 1986 – Great American Bash: Tully Blanchard defeated Ronnie Garvin in a Taped Fist match..
  • November 28, 1986 – Starrcade: Big Bubba Rogers defeated Ronnie Garvin by knockout in a Louisville Street Fight..
  • September 25, 1987: Ronnie Garvin defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight title..
  • November 26, 1987 – Starrcade: Ric Flair defeated Ronnie Garvin in a Steel Cage to recapture the NWA World title..
  • June 8, 1988 – NWA Clash: Jimmy & Ronnie Garvin defeated The Varsity Club (Rick Steiner & Mike Rotunda)..
  • July 10, 1988 – Great American Bash: Ron Garvin participated in an innovative “Tower of Doom” match..
  • ~~~Steve Williams/Ron & Jim Garvin/Road Warriors beat Kevin Sullivan/Mike Rotundo/Ivan Koloff/Al Perez/Russian Assassin..

American Wrestling Association:

  • 1988: Ronnie Garvin won the AWA Television title..
  • December 13, 1988 – AWA SuperClash III: Greg Gagne defeated Ronnie Garvin by COUNT OUT to win the AWA Television title..

World Wrestling Federation:

  • December 12, 1988 – WWF TV: Ron Garvin defeated “Iron” Mike Sharpe after a Pile Driver..
  • December 30, 1988 – MSG: Greg Valentine defeated Ron Garvin by grabbing the tights for leverage..
  • January 15, 1989 – Royal Rumble: Ronnie Garvin entered at #5 but was eliminated by Andre The Giant..
  • April 2, 1989 – Wrestlemania V: Dino Bravo w/Frenchy Martin defeated “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin..
  • April 1989 – WWF Superstars: Ronnie Garvin defeated Greg Valentine (Valentine challenged Garvin to a “career match”..
  • Greg “The Hammer” Valentine defeated Ronnie Garvin in the “Career” match sending Garvin into “retirement”..
  • Ron Garvin became an official referee for the WWF and always favoured the faces, and was quick to DQ the heel!
  • ~~~Garvin once disqualified Dino Bravo in a squash match for not breaking a hold after the five-count..
  • ~~~Garvin eventually screwed Greg Valentine during a match with Jimmy Snuka and got suspended by Jack Tunney..
  • ~~~Garvin was forced to go on television and apologize to President Tunney, Dino Barvo, Greg Valentine & the fans..
  • ~~~Valentine was so irate that he begged for Ron Garvin to be re-instated as a wrestler! and it was granted!
  • August 28, 1989 – Summerslam: Greg “The Hammer” Valentine w/Jimmy Hart defeated Hercules..
  • ~~~Rugged Ronnie Garvin was the surprise guest ring announcer and announced Valentine with a series of insults!
  • ~~~Greg Valentine pinned Hercules with his feet on the ropes, so Ronnie Garvin announced Hercules as the winner!
  • Once re-instated, Ron Garvin began wearing a “Hammer Jammer” leg brace to counter the shin guard Valentine wore..
  • ~~~Valentine had been using it to make his figure four leglock more effective, but Garvin’s brace blocked that effect!
  • November 23, 1989 – Survivor Series: Jim Duggan’s 4X4′s defeated The Macho King’s Court..
  • ~~~4X4′s: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan & “The Mighty” Hercules & Bret “The Hitman” Hart & “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin..
  • ~~~The King’s Court: Randy “Macho King” Savage & Dino Bravo & Greg “The Hammer” Valentine & Earthquake..
  • January 21, 1990 – Royal Rumble: Ronnie Garvin defeated Greg Valentine in a Submissions match..
  • January 27, 1990 – SNME: Dino Bravo defeated “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin..

Retirement:

  • 1990: Ronnie Garvin (at the age of 50) officially retired from Wrestling..
  • Ronnie Garvin is now a pilot, flying cargo across the United States..
  • February 12, 2005–Carolina Championship Wrestling: Dusty Rhodes b Tully Blanchard in a Bunkhouse match (Ron Garvin as referee)..
  • February 19, 2005–Tennessee Mountain Wrestling: Dirty White Boy beat Tom Pitner when special referee Ron Garvin KO’d Pitner..
  • May 28, 2005–GCW 1st Anniversary: Dusty Rhodes defeated Tully Blanchard in a Cage with Ronnie Garvin as the special referee!
  • March 19, 2006–UAW & TMW: Ron Garvin is playing the role of owner of the group and Dirty White Boy plays commissioner..
  • April 21, 2006–Carolina Wrestling Association: Bobby Houston defeated Tracy Smothers with Ron Garvin as referee …
  • May 6, 2006–NCWA: George South Sr. defeated Ivan Koloff by DQ with Ronnie Garvin as referee ..
  • July 12, 2008–Southern Heritage Championship Wrestling: Buzz defeated Randy Wayne with Ronnie Garvin as referee..
  • September 6, 2008–NAWA Ring Champions: Ron Garvin & Air Paris defeated Nightmare & Bobby Hayes in Cedartown, Georgia ..