15 Minutes of Shame: Jimmy Garvin Briefly Joins the WWF

Posted on July 21, 2020 by bdamage1

Brian Damage

‘Gorgeous’ Jimmy Garvin wrestled for nearly 30 years and competed all over the world for various promotions including World Class, the AWA, NWA and WCW. Garvin is considered by most as the unofficial “official” fourth member of the Fabulous Freebird faction with Michael Hayes, Buddy Roberts and Terry Gordy. Garvin spent the majority of his career as a cocky heel who was accompanied to the ring by a valet whether that be Sunshine or his real life wife Patti aka ‘Precious.’

According to Jimmy Garvin, Vince McMahon loved the pairing of him and Precious so much…he tried to duplicate it with ‘Macho Man’ Randy Savage and Elizabeth. Garvin was always considered a rebel, who didn’t sell out and go work “up north” for the World Wrestling Federation. He became a star on his own merit without the mighty WWF hype machine behind him. It’s not like Garvin never had his opportunities to join the WWF. Garvin claimed that McMahon made a couple of offers…but Garvin never had interest in doing so.

Surprisingly, that all changed in 1992. That was the year Garvin was fired from World Championship Wrestling for budgetary reasons. With not many options available to him….McMahon once again came calling. Vince offered Garvin the opportunity to try out for the company. Right off the bat, Garvin was insulted. After all, this was Jimmy Garvin…a wrestler who made himself into a star. The thing was, Garvin was looking for a paycheck. So this time, Jimmy Garvin bit the bullet and headed up north. Now you may be asking…when in the world did Jimmy Garvin work for the WWF? Well, he did but he didn’t. Allow me to explain.

It was in Springfield, Illinois on October 26th, 1992….that was the site of the WWF’s television taping. Jimmy Garvin arrived and was told he would be doing an interview with Mean Gene Okerlund hyping the Survivor Series pay per view. Okerlund introduced Garvin and he came out to the podium as a heel character and ran down the Ultimate Warrior and Randy Savage. The tryout interview lasted for about six minutes. It was clear that Garvin’s heart wasn’t into it and admitted it.

Garvin was always a part of the opposition that competed against Vince…now all of a sudden…he felt like a sell out. The reception, Garvin got when he returned backstage was lukewarm at best. He recalls meeting with Vince after his tryout with both men giving each other ice cold stares. Despite that, McMahon offered Garvin a job (possibly as a broadcaster/manager). The catch was, he would get a whole new name and persona. Garvin said no thank you and walked out. He recalls the conversation with Vince lasting a total of ten minutes.

Garvin wanted no part of the WWF machine. He saw what the company did to legendary wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes and walked away. Garvin would resume his wrestling career going to work for the Global Wrestling Federation before retiring for good in 1994. Garvin believed that McMahon wanted him to cut his hair and become Dok Hendrix. Of course, a couple of years later….Garvin’s good friend Michael Hayes would take on that character. Who knows if that was accurate? All we know is that McMahon never got the chance to change him.