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Garvin made a name for himself as a singles wrestler in the Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee territories in the late 1970s after splitting with Terry and Jimmy. He wrestled in Angelo Poffo's International Championship Wrestling promotion where he was best known for his heated rivalries with Randy Savage and Pez Whatley. One of Garvin's best-known ICW moments was where he knocked Ox Baker's dentures out of his mouth, after which Garvin stomped on the dentures.[1] He held the NWA Georgia Television Title (also known as the National or World TV Title) 5 times, including a feud with then Legion of Doom member, Jake "The Snake" Roberts. At one point during the feud, Jake Roberts held the TV title and refused to give Garvin a rematch. Garvin had to mortgage his house to come up with $10,000 to pay Roberts for a rematch. Garvin would go on to win the rematch and once again become the NWA World TV champion.

He then went to the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions where he would achieve his greatest success. He became "The Hands of Stone" Ron Garvin and he feuded with Tully Blanchard and Black Bart before entering in a feud with NWA World Champion Ric Flair in 1987. On September 25, 1987, Garvin was able to defeat Flair for the title. It was during this feud that Garvin would eventually gain what would later be referred to as "X-Pac heat," which would see Flair getting cheered in the middle of a cage match, and Garvin booed. His winning the belt was a last minute booking decision by the committee due to losing their original choices for successors. He held it for less than 2 months before losing it back to Flair at Starrcade '87.

He briefly feuded with Jim Cornette's "Midnight Express" of Dennis Condrey and Bobby Eaton after Cornette threw fire in his face. Jimmy Garvin came to his rescue and they teamed for a while against them before Ron had a singles feud with Cornette's bodyguard, Big Bubba Rogers.

At the 1988 Great American Bash, he turned heel by knocking Dusty Rhodes out with a punch to keep him from winning Barry Windham's U.S. Title. He was managed by Gary Hart but left after only a few months as a heel.

Tommy Rich

Tommy "Wildfire" Rich started wrestling in 1974 in the regional promotions in Tennessee. Throughout the 1980s, he alternated his time between Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama territories of the NWA. He won dozens of NWA regional titles during this time. He is best known as one of the original stars of the TBS wrestling shows from the 70s and 80s. His bloody feuds with "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer, Ole Anderson, Ivan Koloff, the Fabulous Freebirds, and every other major heel to come through the Georgia territory made Rich one of the most popular wrestling stars of the period.

On April 27, 1981, in Augusta, Georgia, he became one of the youngest NWA World Heavyweight Champions in pro wrestling history. He dropped the belt back to former champion Harley Race four days later in Marietta. Many who follow wrestling couldn't understand the logic in the short title reign, although it was believed to give Rich a rub as a title challenger while at the same time leading the fans to believe that a world title might change hands at any time. Race stated in a shoot interview with RF Video that the title switch was to ensure a power struggle in the Georgia territory ended with promoter Jim Barnett victorious. However, the "Territories" episode of WWE 24/7's Legends series, "Freebird" Michael Hayes stated that the title change was a screwjob. Under the promoter's orders the referee made a fast count to give Rich the title without Race or the NWA's permission.

He had a memorable and bloody feud in Georgia Championship Wrestling with "Mad Dog" Buzz Sawyer for the NWA Georgia National Title. The feud lasted close to two years and culminated in 1983 in the "Last Battle of Atlanta," which featured Sawyer and Rich in a fully enclosed, Last Man Standing cage match, which Rich won to blow off the feud. This match / cage is rumored to be the inspiration behind WWE's Hell in a Cell match. Sawyer and Rich tried forming a team for a short period of time afterwards to feud a new team called the Road Warriors. Rich was later directed into a feud with Ted DiBiase.