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Ronnie Garvin

[Ronnie Garvin GALLERY]

[Garvin Family]

Title History

  • NWA (Florida) World Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Lorenzo Parente and 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 and Joey Rossi (August 1973);
  • NWA Mid America Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Johnny Marlin and Tojo Yamamoto (September 5, 1973);
  • NWA (Mid America) Southern Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Eddie Marlin and 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 and Robert Fuller (January 18, 1974);
  • NWA Georgia Tag Team titles w/Terry Garvin defeating Bob Armstrong and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and 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 and Terry Garvin were billed as brothers, however, the were not related in any way.
  • 1967: Ronnie and Terry Garvin won the Florida Tag Team titles.
  • 1971: Ronnie Garvin and Ole Anderson won the Florida Tag Team titles.
  • 1974: Ronnie and 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 and Magnum T.A. defeated Rick Steiner and Buzz Sawyer in the 1st Round.
  • ~~~Ronnie Garvin and Magnum TA beat Giant Baba and Tiger Mask | Road Warriors beat Ronnie Garvin and 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 and Ronnie Garvin defeated The Varsity Club (Rick Steiner and Mike Rotunda).
  • July 10, 1988 – Great American Bash: Ron Garvin participated in an innovative “Tower of Doom” match.
  • ~~~Steve Williams/Ron and 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 and 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 and “The Mighty” Hercules and Bret “The Hitman” Hart and “Rugged” Ronnie Garvin.
  • ~~~The King’s Court: Randy “Macho King” Savage and Dino Bravo and Greg “The Hammer” Valentine and 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 and 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 and Air Paris defeated Nightmare and Bobby Hayes in Cedartown, Georgia.

 

Updated: February 8, 2024 @ 11:51 am

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Trained By

Pat Gerard

Debut

1962

Birthday

March 30, 1945

Hometown

Montreal, Canada

Gender

Male

Height

5'10"

Weight

230 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

Figure Four Leglock

Favorite Move(s)

Garvin Stomp

Notable Feuds

Boris Malenko
Bob Orton
Angelo Poffo
Randy Savage
Dusty Rhodes
Road Warriors
Ox Baker
Ric Flair
Tully Blanchard
Jake Roberts
Black Bart
Greg Valentine

Status

Living