Ronnie Garvin

Last updated: February 8, 2024

[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.

 

nickname: "Rugged"
birthday: March 30, 1945
hometown: Montreal, Canada
height: 5'10"
weight: 230 lbs
trained by: Pat Gerard
debut: 1962
previous names: Mr. Knoxville
"One Man Gang"
"Hands of Stone"
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
images: http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/gallery/rgarvin.html
gender: Male
status: Living
type: Single
current promotion: Inactive

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