He's spot on about Dusty. Rhodes would always book himself with whoever was hot. The Rock N Roll Express, The Road Warriors, and Magnum T.A. to name a few.
It was interesting to hear Ronnie Garvin confirm what many of us suspected. He was really being buried for no apparent reason. It was a no brainer to Ronnie as champion. The guy was a legit tough guy. His rise was undeniable simply because the average working guy who was one of the biggest demographics of wrestling at that time could identify with one of their own.
Ronnie Garvin and his cool flattop haircut/hairdo. I first got a flattop at age 13 in 86', I brought a copy of PWI and showed the stylist a picture of Ron Garvin. Little did i know I'd have to use gel & hairspray the whole time i had that do.
It was great having Devon Nicholson interview 'Rugged' Ronnie Garvin☺ He's a true legend, an all time great, and a personal fave of mine👍 Keep it going with the awesome interviews, Hannibal TV
They were but when they went too far from "home" they weren't over Nearly as much especially up here in the north west. Different world from the south I've lived in both for many years
I never really liked Ronnie back in the day but now I appreciate his matches. He looked so stiff and real. Looked like a real tough dude. No gimmicks needed. Just a straight ass kicking.
Dusty Rhodes turned Barry Windham, Ronnie Garvin, and the Road Warriors heel in 1988. He booked himself into matches with all 3. The only turn that made sense and drew money was Barry Windham turning heel and joining the Four Horsemen.
Ronnie Garvin makes a lot of sense in the way Dusty Rhodes booked the NWA. Trying to expand the Mid-Atlantic territory to a national promotion was a huge mistake! Even though the WWF was expanding across the USA and Canada, the NWA would always have their fans!
Flair wasted a lot of his money playing the jet setting "Playboy". He'd fly First Class to his matches, throw wild parties at night after his matches, buy expensive items like Rolex Watched, and live that life style day after day! You're money will disappear very quickly living that way!
Ronnie Garvin is a legitimate bad ass. His rugged, hard-hitting style was very real. I saw a shoot from the Road Warriors, and they even said that Ronnie Garvin was one of the toughest guys they ever faced. Animal said that after his match him, he was war slap out!!! I hated to hear the negative comments about Dusty. I do, however, believe what he said. I hated it because I loved Dusty Rhodes as a kid. Especially what he said regarding the Rock n Roll Express. Great shoot!!!
This man will still KO anyone ! You can see and hear in his voice as he even says about Dusty' " God rest his soul " I am 55 now and remember ALL of this and these men who took and gave a POUNDING to each other 300+ dates a year !!
I can attest, Ronnie Garvin was big time over in Baltimore. He was coming in when Georgia Championship Wrestling ran Baltimore in 1984. He won both the TV Title and National Title in Baltimore. As far as his nonsensical heel turn on Dusty at GAB 1988, I do have to correct him on one thing. It was 80/20 he was being cheered, that moment got a huge pop. Yes, he was super over in Baltimore and of course that was squandered as he was gone from Crockett Promotions weeks later and the whole angle wound up not meaning anything.
I agree Eric! I used to go to the then Civic Center to see Ronnie. It was actually a match between him and Flair that made me a Flair fan. Garvin beat him to a pulp, but Flair just kept going. Great match and I started transitioning into a Flair fan at that moment, but Garvin was HUGE in Baltimore!
If memory serves me right, it was the World Class who first came up with the triple steel cage Tower Of Doom match, cos I still have my issue of PWI & they have a pic of it in the magazine. I think this was back when the Freebirds were feuding with each other & Buddy Roberts (may he RIP) tried to cut Michael Hayes's hair & Terry Gordy (& may he RIP) came in to stop it. But I can't recall the NWA having the Tower Of Doom match before World Class did. Interesting side-note to the Tower Of Doom is, I have that match in my NWA wrestling game. I even named my Christmas night PPV after it. Its called "Gloom In The Doom" Its one hell of a match, I can tell ya that. lol
wow ron garvin has aged .i often watch his matches from when he was in his early to mid 40 s and he didn't look to bad at all for a 40 plus year old man performing like he eas was 25 years old.ron garvin a true wrestling legend
Ronnie is spot on about the Mid Atlantic territory. I grew up in the heart of it (Charlotte). While the WWF (as it was at the time) grew to a national product, the Mid Atlantic had a regional product I believe that would have endured. If Crockett would have stayed between Atlanta, Northern Florida, Eastern Tennessee, along I-85 corridor through the Carolinas into Virginia, and as far north only as Baltimore, they would have had a region more solid than anybody including WWF national product. The problem, and Ronnie is right they let Dusty and his ego get in the way, by buying jets, going to Chicago and Las Vegas and essentially abandoning their base. (Hence that's what happened to NASCAR). Furthermore they wasted money buying other territories, when in reality all they ended up with was a few trucks and some rings. This prompted the sale to Ted Turner that had no experience or any love for the business that ultimately resulted in its demise.
Ronnie Garvin wins the title and was(as said by Ronnie) really over as a tough guy. The NWA/WCW is set up perfectly with a new face with the belt and can have had a solid time period with his run. The fans would have enjoyed watching him lock horns with so much talent walking around the place. So what do the "minds" do, but turn it into a short title run just another mistake by the wheel spinning company. Watched it and never could understand why?
Garvin didn't have the charisma to appeal to fans outside the core area. That was why the match at Starrcade 87 match was such a surprise, Flair came in as a mega heel and still was cheered by 75% of the live crowd and Garvin was loudly booed, not the reaction you want for your top fan favorite at the time.
My hometown of Saginaw, MI had a good turn out for Nitro, WCW & Georgia Championship wrestling in the early 80's. Unsure if Ronnie would consider Saginaw one of the town's they couldn't turn a profit. City leaders sold our arena to the county and we never did see live wrestling again. They charged promoters alot to rent the facility so now I understand why. Decline is definitely the word to describe the early 90's.
As a matter of fact I remember it just like yesterday when Ronnie won the big gold belt from Flair, only to drop it back to him like 2 months or so later....and he never got a chance to defend the belt against anyone else during his run... I was like 12 back then and it never made sense to me, it seemed so weird....
Hands of stone! Looking good sir. I still playfully threaten my kids and now my grandkids with the "Garvin Stomp!" Lmao. Ronnie Garvin, a genuine bad ass.!
I’m watching 87-88 Crockett for the first time, and I’m just getting to the Garvin turn. Shocked the hell outta me. Interesting getting the back story.
As a kid watching Southeast Championship Wrestling, I saw Ronnie Garvin wrestle in the Middlesboro National Guard Armory, and the Harlan National Guard Armory. He was my favorite wrestler of all time, and I'm glad to see him doing well. Long live the Garvin Stomp!
wow this is so interesting. and it now all makes sense to me. i used to go to the matches in roanoke va. and the rock and roll express along with so many others were always there but never dusty rhodes. those were some great matches but only those of us lucky enough to be there were able to enjoy it because they never televised those matches.
Unless Rhodes thought that keeping the Rock and Roll Express on the B towns would help maximize profit when Dusty and guys like Flair would appear on the bigger city cards..
the thing with Flair is, he would always be at the matches along with the other Horsemen and they would put on a great show like the R&R Express. Too bad Dusty didn't or wouldn't take part in that. Still those are great memories.
He was around when I watched and I regard Ronnie as a utilitarian guy like Arn who you can insert In any situation . I never liked Dusty , but Dusty’s popularity could only enhance The RNR express .
As a Chicago kid who was at Starrcade '87 and most every Chicago-area show of the Crockett Era, I hate how true these tales of over-booking and over-spending are.
This was the heyday of Pro Wrestling. Garvin knows what he's talking about. I was a fan. I can't agree or disagree. But I loved it all! And I miss those days. RIP Dusty.
He doesn't mince words about his feelings about Dusty ever does he....lol I kind of chuckled at the part where he noticed that when he turned heel, half the fans cheered, and considered it a bad thing, getting such a divisive crowd.. Nowadays that kind of response is common place (and I am still not sure it's a good thing either). heels aren't hated anymore and faces aren't loved anymore
The old adage is still true: You can't book and wrestle at the same time. One or the other, but not both. Fine to have a former wrestler as a booker but an active wrestler cannot stay impartial.
I never liked Garvin but I have new respect for him knowing he couldn't stand Rhodes just like I couldn't. What a joke Dusty Rhodes was. Horrible wrestler and a terrible gimmick! John Wayne Rhodes...
Hands of Stone beat the Great Andre the Giant something terrible up in Knoxville, Tennessee in the 70’s. He was hailed as undefeated but the Original Sheik and Rugged Ronnie defeated him.
But THE THING IS NOBODY told Dusty NO!!!! JCP simply didn't have the business moxie to stay in the game long term. With ALL THAT legendary talent, JCP never had a toy line for example! Even the AWA AT LEAST had toy line! LOL Dusty didn't own the company. That's what made Vince such a beast! Wrestling was in his blood and it was a family thing. BUT he had the new age marketing acumen needed to dominate in the 80's and long term. And from there, got world class bookers to carry out his vision in ring and with the angles. Crockett didn't have the business acumen and WASN'T as hands on with everything like Vince was. So I don't blame Dusty, I blame Crockett. The financial people of JCP should have reigned in the spending LONG BEFORE! and grow the company in a more organic and thoughtful way. They had the roster, national cable TV, syndication, etc. for a great foundation. In the new age of wrestling, they should have been the Richard Pryor to Vince's Cosby Show. Two totally different brands of the same genre. BUT both were huge on a mainstream level. Cosby was more marketable ONLY BECAUSE he was more clean cut (im talking image not real life LOL!!). But Pryor was still a mainstream force WITHOUT being in Jello commercials and clean cut! Pryor streamlined his image ENOUGH for the masses to rally around him. BUT still kept most of his edge. JCP sadly NEVER got that formula down... Vince's Attitude Era was really the FIRST adult oriented wrestling product that got over HUGE on a mainstream level because it combined transcendant star power, great marketing and production, and enough superior in ring guys (over on a main event level) to balance everything out. Imagine a prime Ric Flair with the Horsemen WITH a strong marketing and production machine behind them. That ENHANCED the edginess of JCP. And not make it TOO cleaned up. We see how huge Flair is now in pop culture way past his prime and as a senior citizen! IMAGINE how huge he would have been mainstream wise BACK THEN!!!
About the only thing I disagree with Ronnie on is, the NWA still being here today. And I'm not talking about the NWA that's out there now, I'm referring to the same one Ronnie is in this shoot. And what I disagree with him about is, not even Ronnie knows if the NWA would still be here today, because none of us have a crystal ball & can see into the future. Not saying the NWA would or wouldn't be here today, but then again, that's cos I don't have a crystal ball to see into the future with. So who's too say if the NWA would still be here or not? But other than that one statement he made, Ronnie was spot on with everything else he said.
henry watson - yeah, i'd agree, to a point. Once WWE brought Pro Wrestling " out of the closet," any other promotion would pretty much have been forced to follow the same trail,... or go out of business.
Always loved Rugged saw him wrestle in L.A. sports arena against I believe it was Greag valintine 1989 WWF it was the best house card ever. Andrea the giant rowdy piper demolition Rick Rude it was dope.
everyone disrespecting Dusty and talking this nonsense that he was selfish really needs to check their history, Dusty only spent 108 days in his career as the World heavyweight champion, that is less than 4 months. This is the guy that was the biggest name in the south for 10 years
Dusty was the most hated man in the NWA back then. R &R Express, Garvin, Tully, Arn all left because of Dusty. Flair was about to leave in 88 and when Dusty came back as booker in 91 Flair did finally say goodbye.
Dusty’s son Cody has been married to the lovely Brandi Reed forever, and she said Dusty was always incredibly kind and respectful to her when she joined the Runnels family. So I’m just guessing wildly here: Rugged Ronnie is the one who’d be really embarrassed by having to work with a black girl in his corner. If you will....
If Dusty was the booker and you were booked to look really strong and beat all the four horsemen. Then Dusty hated how over you were.. You sure about all this Ronnie?
He explains in his "winning the world title" clip that Crockett and Flair were behind him so that could have been something they worked on. His point was those were not made official "Title Matches" for some reason which does sound bizarre if he's going over anyway.
Flair himself said in his Highspots Shoot that he felt Rhodes wouldn't have put the belt on Garvin if he felt Garvin wasn't worthy. Flair said Dusty and himself had to convince Crockett to do it.
+Joseph Burns Dusty wasn't booking then...Flair was. Flair got the book between Watts and Bischoff. Dusty was a producer and worked with Flair and Ole Anderson.
lol lol, Dusty squashed it? Really? Flair had more power than dusty at that time and was an active wrestler. Why would Dusty squash anyone with heat when he was solely a booker?
Ronnie Garvin contradicts himself. He said Dusty was jealous because Garvin beat the 4 Horsemen. Wasn't it Dusty that made that happen though? Garvin didn't actually beat them in a real match. Dusty booked that to happen that way.... So he doesn't want to give Dusty credit for getting him over, but he wants to rip Dusty for the other stuff. Come on man.
@@TheHannibalTV hell yeah they were, I was a fan of the midnight express, the lod, rude and bull, arn and Tully, demolition, the rockers, warlord and the barbarian it was so many teams I can’t even name them all
The Garvin stomp people will remember you for being a bad guy. I'm sure there was a turning point in your career. But you were like a bad guy on your underdog. And we out NWA fans enjoy those guys...
AL Snow said it best if you are an active wrestler you should not be the booker because you are going to book yourself sooner or later as the guy and it doesn't work ...
I remember Ronnie Garvin in two feuds when i was a kid. His run for the title and subsequent loss a month or so later, and Jimmy Garvin came to help him when he got burned by the Midnight Express. That is two out of how many years? If he drew so well you would think he would have left more of an impression on my mind. Hell i remember the poor Mulkey brothers getting their asses handed to them week after week more than i do RG.
Big fan of Ronnie. Loved his hard hitting style, and his feud with Flair was awesome.
Agreed. And the build up to his title win was absolutely amazing!
that feud is some of my first memories of wrestling
Ronnie and Flair trading chops in the ring was insane! Tough men!
@@hangingkings8415 i remember well.you sre write
@@mackyd955 same for me
He's spot on about Dusty. Rhodes would always book himself with whoever was hot. The Rock N Roll Express, The Road Warriors, and Magnum T.A. to name a few.
Lol it's true
Dusty had a habit of doing just that👍💯 Ronnie Garvin's spot on correct about it. No doubt
I have always wanted to hear an interview with Garvin where he talked about his title reign. Thank you Hannibal for posting this!
It was interesting to hear Ronnie Garvin confirm what many of us suspected. He was really being buried for no apparent reason. It was a no brainer to Ronnie as champion. The guy was a legit tough guy. His rise was undeniable simply because the average working guy who was one of the biggest demographics of wrestling at that time could identify with one of their own.
No promo ron
Ronnie Garvin and his cool flattop haircut/hairdo. I first got a flattop at age 13 in 86', I brought a copy of PWI and showed the stylist a picture of Ron Garvin. Little did i know I'd have to use gel & hairspray the whole time i had that do.
It was great having Devon Nicholson interview 'Rugged' Ronnie Garvin☺ He's a true legend, an all time great, and a personal fave of mine👍 Keep it going with the awesome interviews, Hannibal TV
Very good insight into the fall of Jim Crockett Promotions to Turner in 1988.
Ronnie is right, the Rock & Roll were super over and popular.
But he wasn't. He is incorrect about that. He was too small to get the push he got
They were but when they went too far from "home" they weren't over Nearly as much especially up here in the north west. Different world from the south I've lived in both for many years
@@JohnDoe-fp7ob well yes the NW was Don Owens area, no? He didn't exactly run a lot of tag teams did he? The Atlantic did, then.
I never really liked Ronnie back in the day but now I appreciate his matches. He looked so stiff and real. Looked like a real tough dude. No gimmicks needed. Just a straight ass kicking.
So true. Dusty ruined it for everyone!!
Dusty Rhodes turned Barry Windham, Ronnie Garvin, and the Road Warriors heel in 1988. He booked himself into matches with all 3. The only turn that made sense and drew money was Barry Windham turning heel and joining the Four Horsemen.
I love hearing inside stories from Ronnie Garvin he is the man!
Ronnie Garvin makes a lot of sense in the way Dusty Rhodes booked the NWA. Trying to expand the Mid-Atlantic territory to a national promotion was a huge mistake! Even though the WWF was expanding across the USA and Canada, the NWA would always have their fans!
Flair said the same thing if Crockett had stayed between the carolinas and chicago they would still be in business today
Flair knows so much about business. That's why he is broke after all of those years making big money.
Flair wasted a lot of his money playing the jet setting "Playboy". He'd fly First Class to his matches, throw wild parties at night after his matches, buy expensive items like Rolex Watched, and live that life style day after day! You're money will disappear very quickly living that way!
He's far from broke..
JayEd KC Broke. The guy is barely paying his DUI fines. Spent it all living the good life.
Everybody Black or White has a uncle or grandfather like Ronnie Garvin !# A man's man !
Great to see The Rugged One. Great wrestler. Loved that infamous Garvin Stomp, still ongoing by Randy Orton. That kid's got talent.
Ronnie Garvin is a legitimate bad ass. His rugged, hard-hitting style was very real. I saw a shoot from the Road Warriors, and they even said that Ronnie Garvin was one of the toughest guys they ever faced. Animal said that after his match him, he was war slap out!!! I hated to hear the negative comments about Dusty. I do, however, believe what he said. I hated it because I loved Dusty Rhodes as a kid. Especially what he said regarding the Rock n Roll Express. Great shoot!!!
Loved watching Rugged Ron wrestle every single time.
This man will still KO anyone ! You can see and hear in his voice as he even says about Dusty' " God rest his soul " I am 55 now and remember ALL of this and these men who took and gave a POUNDING to each other 300+ dates a year !!
Great job Hannibal good inside on what was going on during that era from one of the all time greats Ronnie Garvin. Thanks for posting Joe Munoz
I remembered that like it was yesterday! Ronnie was in the back rubbing the $ all over his chest laughing, I loved it!
I remember that vividly as well. I was 7 at the time watching that ppv and couldn’t believe Ronnie turned on dusty
I can attest, Ronnie Garvin was big time over in Baltimore. He was coming in when Georgia Championship Wrestling ran Baltimore in 1984. He won both the TV Title and National Title in Baltimore. As far as his nonsensical heel turn on Dusty at GAB 1988, I do have to correct him on one thing. It was 80/20 he was being cheered, that moment got a huge pop. Yes, he was super over in Baltimore and of course that was squandered as he was gone from Crockett Promotions weeks later and the whole angle wound up not meaning anything.
I agree Eric! I used to go to the then Civic Center to see Ronnie. It was actually a match between him and Flair that made me a Flair fan. Garvin beat him to a pulp, but Flair just kept going. Great match and I started transitioning into a Flair fan at that moment, but Garvin was HUGE in Baltimore!
I WAS ONE OF HIS BIGGEST FANS AND NEVER KNEW WHAT HAPPENED TILL NOW WOW
IA with everything Big Ron is saying here. if anyone was getting over huge, Dusty had to connect himself to them. no matter who the wrestler/s were.
Ronnie Garvin needs to be in the WWE Hall of Fame.........
Hell yeah he does, overdue.
Yes he's super nice
Was he ever in the WWF?
Infidel I believe so
I was never inducted in the wwe.i shoud have after all the years i gave them and im still in good shape. But thats life
good stuff hannibal hands of stone is a legend!!!
Uh/%
What a pleasure to listen to Ronnie Garvin.
He is so right about taking Starcade out of Greensboro. Never should of done that
If memory serves me right, it was the World Class who first came up with the triple steel cage Tower Of Doom match, cos I still have my issue of PWI & they have a pic of it in the magazine. I think this was back when the Freebirds were feuding with each other & Buddy Roberts (may he RIP) tried to cut Michael Hayes's hair & Terry Gordy (& may he RIP) came in to stop it. But I can't recall the NWA having the Tower Of Doom match before World Class did. Interesting side-note to the Tower Of Doom is, I have that match in my NWA wrestling game. I even named my Christmas night PPV after it. Its called "Gloom In The Doom" Its one hell of a match, I can tell ya that. lol
Both Rhodes and Sullivan said that the Tower of Doom was Sullivan's idea for GAB 1988.
wow ron garvin has aged .i often watch his matches from when he was in his early to mid 40 s and he didn't look to bad at all for a 40 plus year old man performing like he eas was 25 years old.ron garvin a true wrestling legend
Ronnie is spot on about the Mid Atlantic territory. I grew up in the heart of it (Charlotte). While the WWF (as it was at the time) grew to a national product, the Mid Atlantic had a regional product I believe that would have endured. If Crockett would have stayed between Atlanta, Northern Florida, Eastern Tennessee, along I-85 corridor through the Carolinas into Virginia, and as far north only as Baltimore, they would have had a region more solid than anybody including WWF national product. The problem, and Ronnie is right they let Dusty and his ego get in the way, by buying jets, going to Chicago and Las Vegas and essentially abandoning their base. (Hence that's what happened to NASCAR). Furthermore they wasted money buying other territories, when in reality all they ended up with was a few trucks and some rings. This prompted the sale to Ted Turner that had no experience or any love for the business that ultimately resulted in its demise.
Ronnie Garvin wins the title and was(as said by Ronnie) really over as a tough guy. The NWA/WCW is set up perfectly with a new face with the belt and can have had a solid time period with his run. The fans would have enjoyed watching him lock horns with so much talent walking around the place. So what do the "minds" do, but turn it into a short title run just another mistake by the wheel spinning company. Watched it and never could understand why?
Garvin didn't have the charisma to appeal to fans outside the core area. That was why the match at Starrcade 87 match was such a surprise, Flair came in as a mega heel and still was cheered by 75% of the live crowd and Garvin was loudly booed, not the reaction you want for your top fan favorite at the time.
@@thomasleonard1625 Starrcade 87 in Chicago was a bad idea.
Cuz he's a French guy from Canada
My hometown of Saginaw, MI had a good turn out for Nitro, WCW & Georgia Championship wrestling in the early 80's. Unsure if Ronnie would consider Saginaw one of the town's they couldn't turn a profit. City leaders sold our arena to the county and we never did see live wrestling again. They charged promoters alot to rent the facility so now I understand why. Decline is definitely the word to describe the early 90's.
As a matter of fact I remember it just like yesterday when Ronnie won the big gold belt from Flair, only to drop it back to him like 2 months or so later....and he never got a chance to defend the belt against anyone else during his run... I was like 12 back then and it never made sense to me, it seemed so weird....
Rugged Ronnie Hands of Stone was the Canadian Stone Cold before the attitude era. The guy decided to hang it up because it was hunting season. Badass
Ron Garvin in the ring NWA classics for sure, but even after that in WWE the guy was all around classic pro an inspiration to watch.
Ole Anderson said the same thing.
At the time I wondered about Dusty and that terrible polka dot outfit. Ronnie's explanation makes sense.
Hands of stone! Looking good sir. I still playfully threaten my kids and now my grandkids with the "Garvin Stomp!" Lmao. Ronnie Garvin, a genuine bad ass.!
Love it! Used to threaten my kids with Jack Clark of the Cardinals is coming over.
@@jeffreymiller9808 Should've told them it was Barry Bonds instead, Mr. Miller😂 haha
Gate was $300K but you lost $60K. That tells it all!
I don't know what the Wwe is waiting on Ronnie Garvin needs to be inducted into the wwe hall of fame.
I made way less but i did not want to be someone i was not.no regret
I’m watching 87-88 Crockett for the first time, and I’m just getting to the Garvin turn. Shocked the hell outta me. Interesting getting the back story.
I was shocked how much the crowd at the Bash 88 dislike Dusty they did not pop for him at all then they popped huge when Garvin turned.
Man I miss NWA wrestling the best in the world
As a kid watching Southeast Championship Wrestling, I saw Ronnie Garvin wrestle in the Middlesboro National Guard Armory, and the Harlan National Guard Armory. He was my favorite wrestler of all time, and I'm glad to see him doing well. Long live the Garvin Stomp!
I saw him and the Macho Man in Middlesboro in early 80s. Garvin bounced the Macho Man's head off the chair beside me. Never forget it.
wow this is so interesting. and it now all makes sense to me. i used to go to the matches in roanoke va. and the rock and roll express along with so many others were always there but never dusty rhodes. those were some great matches but only those of us lucky enough to be there were able to enjoy it because they never televised those matches.
Unless Rhodes thought that keeping the Rock and Roll Express on the B towns would help maximize profit when Dusty and guys like Flair would appear on the bigger city cards..
the thing with Flair is, he would always be at the matches along with the other Horsemen and they would put on a great show like the R&R Express. Too bad Dusty didn't or wouldn't take part in that. Still those are great memories.
I believe the Baltimore statement. My older cousins talked about Garvin like he was Austin lol
He was around when I watched and I regard Ronnie as a utilitarian guy like Arn who you can insert In any situation . I never liked Dusty , but Dusty’s popularity could only enhance The RNR express .
damn the video quality on this shoot is A++, Dev.
Greatest wrestler ever with the best-ever wrestling move - a punch in the face.
Ronnie G. was the real deal.....decent promos,in shape,brawler,great worker and good looks.....
The Garvin Stomp, was the funniest gimmick. Loved it.
As a Chicago kid who was at Starrcade '87 and most every Chicago-area show of the Crockett Era, I hate how true these tales of over-booking and over-spending are.
I remember Ronnie as Mr. Knoxville (TN).
Ronnie Garvin was so over people don't realize. Should have been champion for several months
Defending it many times. Dusty was so jealous of him
These young guys don't know it but ronnie garvin was a bad m'fer back in the day,
Ronnie Garvin was my favorite Wrestler in the 80s. I love the Garvins.
This was the heyday of Pro Wrestling. Garvin knows what he's talking about. I was a fan. I can't agree or disagree. But I loved it all! And I miss those days. RIP Dusty.
Wild to hear Garvin's speaking accent, a mix of the Carolinas and French Montreal Quebecois, where he is originally from!
He doesn't mince words about his feelings about Dusty ever does he....lol
I kind of chuckled at the part where he noticed that when he turned heel, half the fans cheered, and considered it a bad thing, getting such a divisive crowd.. Nowadays that kind of response is common place (and I am still not sure it's a good thing either). heels aren't hated anymore and faces aren't loved anymore
Ronnie and Windham never recovered from their heel turns. Wasn't handled properly.
Windham was fine as a heel. Garvin got screwed by Rhodes poor booking.
I liked Barry Windham as a bad guy. Was more of a bad ass
Windham was awesome as a heel.
Windham becoming a heel and joining the Horsemen is what got him into the HoF. Garvin should be in there. I haven't heard any reasons why he isn't.
@erocs22 - I'm not so sure about that. It looks like this was recorded in 2016. Garvin should've been in long before that.
I agree. I never got why Dusty was over. He sucked as a Booker too
I know right? I used to hate when he did color commentary for Pay Per Views. Just straight up annoying.
If JCP had stayed East of the Mississippi River, they would still be in business.
I hated that the AWA wasn't carried on Detroit TV, so I missed things like Ronnie becoming TV champion, or the early days of the Midnight Rockers.
taking Starrcade 87 to Chicago was a big screw you to the Carolinas since it was the Carolinas that made them.
Great hairline for somebody his age!
John Doe I'm so jealous of him for that
John Doe - He has more hair ( and looks younger! ) than Jimmy Garvin now, seen him lately? cue ball city!
Agreed! Ronnie had a helluva flat top back in the 80's. 👍
HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :))
@@rickbowser3308 I thought Jimmy would never go cue ball after all of that hair he had. That was an Amazon there.
The old adage is still true: You can't book and wrestle at the same time. One or the other, but not both. Fine to have a former wrestler as a booker but an active wrestler cannot stay impartial.
I never liked Garvin but I have new respect for him knowing he couldn't stand Rhodes just like I couldn't. What a joke Dusty Rhodes was. Horrible wrestler and a terrible gimmick! John Wayne Rhodes...
He's covering a lot of points that others have covered both good and bad.
World Class did the 'tower of doom' match first. They called it something different.
My name is Thunderbolt Patterson this is one of the truth interview I have heard clear understand
Hands of Stone beat the Great Andre the Giant something terrible up in Knoxville, Tennessee in the 70’s. He was hailed as undefeated but the Original Sheik and Rugged Ronnie defeated him.
But THE THING IS NOBODY told Dusty NO!!!! JCP simply didn't have the business moxie to stay in the game long term. With ALL THAT legendary talent, JCP never had a toy line for example! Even the AWA AT LEAST had toy line! LOL Dusty didn't own the company. That's what made Vince such a beast! Wrestling was in his blood and it was a family thing. BUT he had the new age marketing acumen needed to dominate in the 80's and long term. And from there, got world class bookers to carry out his vision in ring and with the angles. Crockett didn't have the business acumen and WASN'T as hands on with everything like Vince was.
So I don't blame Dusty, I blame Crockett. The financial people of JCP should have reigned in the spending LONG BEFORE! and grow the company in a more organic and thoughtful way. They had the roster, national cable TV, syndication, etc. for a great foundation. In the new age of wrestling, they should have been the Richard Pryor to Vince's Cosby Show. Two totally different brands of the same genre. BUT both were huge on a mainstream level.
Cosby was more marketable ONLY BECAUSE he was more clean cut (im talking image not real life LOL!!). But Pryor was still a mainstream force WITHOUT being in Jello commercials and clean cut! Pryor streamlined his image ENOUGH for the masses to rally around him. BUT still kept most of his edge. JCP sadly NEVER got that formula down... Vince's Attitude Era was really the FIRST adult oriented wrestling product that got over HUGE on a mainstream level because it combined transcendant star power, great marketing and production, and enough superior in ring guys (over on a main event level) to balance everything out. Imagine a prime Ric Flair with the Horsemen WITH a strong marketing and production machine behind them. That ENHANCED the edginess of JCP. And not make it TOO cleaned up. We see how huge Flair is now in pop culture way past his prime and as a senior citizen! IMAGINE how huge he would have been mainstream wise BACK THEN!!!
I think Ronnie is just being honest telling it like it is
Dusty did the same thing in WWWF in the 1970's with Superstar Billy Graham.
"Sort of a Spanish guy??" Al Perez, dude! Ha ha. You teamed with him for months!
About the only thing I disagree with Ronnie on is, the NWA still being here today. And I'm not talking about the NWA that's out there now, I'm referring to the same one Ronnie is in this shoot. And what I disagree with him about is, not even Ronnie knows if the NWA would still be here today, because none of us have a crystal ball & can see into the future. Not saying the NWA would or wouldn't be here today, but then again, that's cos I don't have a crystal ball to see into the future with. So who's too say if the NWA would still be here or not? But other than that one statement he made, Ronnie was spot on with everything else he said.
From the fan reaction you could tell Ron was over, But you could tell people in office was not behind him.
Raymond Ragbar Ronnie Garvin just didn't fall into the political bullshit.
While I believe what he's saying and no disrespect to Dusty, but I doubt the territory would still be going today no matter what.
henry watson - yeah, i'd agree, to a point. Once WWE brought Pro Wrestling " out of the closet," any other promotion would pretty much have been forced to follow the same trail,... or go out of business.
Ronnie looks great,,,,,,,,,,,,,, i can't believe he's not in the hall of fame
Onel Garcia The man is definitely an enigma.
Mid Atlantic .. shit.. GCW, NWA.. top notch wrestling back when
Idk why but i was a huge huge Ronnie Garvin fan. I always wanted him to be the WCW champion
Always loved Rugged saw him wrestle in L.A. sports arena against I believe it was Greag valintine 1989 WWF it was the best house card ever. Andrea the giant rowdy piper demolition Rick Rude it was dope.
Ronnie was to real and rough for most of the Sissy's in acting entertainment
everyone disrespecting Dusty and talking this nonsense that he was selfish really needs to check their history, Dusty only spent 108 days in his career as the World heavyweight champion, that is less than 4 months. This is the guy that was the biggest name in the south for 10 years
amen Ronnie is upset because he got nothing Rhodes even though if it wasn't for Rhodes he would of never become World Champion
Dusty was the most hated man in the NWA back then. R &R Express, Garvin, Tully, Arn all left because of Dusty. Flair was about to leave in 88 and when Dusty came back as booker in 91 Flair did finally say goodbye.
Dusty was nothing more than a fat blob
@@knight2000-NC that's just dumb. You obviously weren't paying attention.
Never bought into Dusty Rhodes. The guy was flabby
Al Perez. Former WCCW world champion.
Great guy. He reminds me of my Grandpa
At 9:10
Q: How did Vince McMahon try to embarass Dusty Rhodes?
A: "When he put polka dots on him, and gave him a black girl in the corner"
But Dusty turned that into a plus for himself and worked it to his advantage!
Dusty’s son Cody has been married to the lovely Brandi Reed forever, and she said Dusty was always incredibly kind and respectful to her when she joined the Runnels family. So I’m just guessing wildly here: Rugged Ronnie is the one who’d be really embarrassed by having to work with a black girl in his corner. If you will....
I can hear that Ybor City/ West Tampa dialect in him .. Anyone who knows it , can hear it immediately
Lol, West Tampa Spartan in the house. Kicking Ybor City Eagles ass ever time...
@@twright3802 grew up on Tampania across from the fire station..Love our city, bro
One of the best to ever do it!
When and why did Ronnie retire??? He should be teaching the Ronnie Garvin way of Wrestling.
Dusty was over. That's it the fans loved big Dust. It was Dusty Flair & Hulk Hogen back in the day.
If Dusty was the booker and you were booked to look really strong and beat all the four horsemen. Then Dusty hated how over you were.. You sure about all this Ronnie?
He explains in his "winning the world title" clip that Crockett and Flair were behind him so that could have been something they worked on. His point was those were not made official "Title Matches" for some reason which does sound bizarre if he's going over anyway.
Flair himself said in his Highspots Shoot that he felt Rhodes wouldn't have put the belt on Garvin if he felt Garvin wasn't worthy. Flair said Dusty and himself had to convince Crockett to do it.
+Joseph Burns Dusty wasn't booking then...Flair was. Flair got the book between Watts and Bischoff. Dusty was a producer and worked with Flair and Ole Anderson.
lol lol, Dusty squashed it? Really? Flair had more power than dusty at that time and was an active wrestler. Why would Dusty squash anyone with heat when he was solely a booker?
+jack frost Flair never had more power with Crockett than Dusty . He had pull but Dusty had Crockett in the palm of his hand .
Ronnie Garvin contradicts himself. He said Dusty was jealous because Garvin beat the 4 Horsemen. Wasn't it Dusty that made that happen though? Garvin didn't actually beat them in a real match. Dusty booked that to happen that way.... So he doesn't want to give Dusty credit for getting him over, but he wants to rip Dusty for the other stuff. Come on man.
I agree. You ain't beating anybody unless you're booked to. If Dusty didn't want Garvin to beat the Horsemen, he wouldn't have.
"...And he put polka dots on his ass.", I'm still laughing.
One year later, I’m STILL LAUGHING 😂 😆😂😆😂😆😂😆😂!!!!!
I think Ron has a point. Dusty in polka dots and Dustin as as a transvestite. Vince made money and laughed all at the same time
This shoot is gold
I never liked the rock n roll express but I never heard a bad word about Dusty until this interview
I never liked them either but don't deny they were popular
@@TheHannibalTV hell yeah they were, I was a fan of the midnight express, the lod, rude and bull, arn and Tully, demolition, the rockers, warlord and the barbarian it was so many teams I can’t even name them all
The Garvin stomp people will remember you for being a bad guy. I'm sure there was a turning point in your career. But you were like a bad guy on your underdog. And we out NWA fans enjoy those guys...
AL Snow said it best if you are an active wrestler you should not be the booker because you are going to book yourself sooner or later as the guy and it doesn't work ...
I remember Ronnie Garvin in two feuds when i was a kid. His run for the title and subsequent loss a month or so later, and Jimmy Garvin came to help him when he got burned by the Midnight Express. That is two out of how many years? If he drew so well you would think he would have left more of an impression on my mind. Hell i remember the poor Mulkey brothers getting their asses handed to them week after week more than i do RG.
ronnie garvin was a great techincal wrestler very tough i grew up watching his matches in tennessee in the mid 70s
Yes, I remember the one Mulkey win, too. That was a really great TV moment. I wonder what ever happened to the Mulkey brothers anyway.
ronnie was a big draw in tenn for years in the 70s tough as hell
Ronnie looks like an older Judd Nelson, cool guy though. Wish he had a longer run in WWF
With a tan. Judd Hot Rod Nelson with Barney Rubble.