10 Most Shocking Pro Wrestling Title Changes Of The 1980s
5. Ron Garvin Pries Away The Ten Pounds Of Gold
Ric Flair held the NWA Championship for many years but not without dropping it a few times. In the 1980s, Flair would have lengthy runs with the ten pounds of gold interrupted briefly by a hot babyface like Dusty Rhodes or Ricky Steamboat. However, fans were stunned when Flair relinquished the title to Ron Garvin.
Garvin came seemingly out of nowhere in late 1987 to capture the championship from Flair on an episode of World Wide Wrestling. He was a solid mid-card wrestler who would win lower-tier titles like the TV Championship. Not many expected the man dubbed 'The Man With the Hands of Stone' to win the NWA Championship and even fewer were excited about it. Garvin was never viewed by fans as a main event caliber world heavyweight champion. About a month later, he dropped the belt back to Flair at Starrcade.