Scott McGhee
Encyclopedia
Garfield "Gary" Portz, known by his ringname Scott McGhee, is a retired American professional wrestler and the son of Geoff Portz (and a former brother-in-law of Ric Flair) who competed in North American regional promotions during the 1980s and was a longtime mainstay of Florida Championship Wrestling.
Originally working as a referee for Jim Crockett
in the Carolinas during the late 1970s, he began training with Ric Flair, Rick Steamboat and Buddy Rogers and substituted for wrestlers as several events. Staying in the Carolinas for two years, he followed his father Geoff Portz to Florida Championship Wrestling then under promoter Eddie Graham
.
In October 1980, shortly after his debut, he and Barry Windham
defeated The Assassins in a tournament final for the then vacant tag team titles in St. Petersburg, Florida
and competed in several high profile matches against Hiro Matsuda and Les Thornton
.
Returning to the Carolinas the following year, he later joined George Scott
's Oklahoma territory defeated Tony Charles for the NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship and faced veterans such as Johnny Rich and Brad Armstrong.
In late 1982, McGhee was again wrestling for Florida Championship Wrestling and often teamed with Dusty Rhodes
, Magnum TA
and Blackjack Mulligan
on the promotions weekly television program. After winning a championship tournament for the NWA Florida Heavyweight title in 1983, he faced Ric Flair and Harley Race
in a series of matches however failed to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
. After losing the title to Jos LeDuc
later that year, he left the promotion to compete in the Mid Atlantic territory, appearing at Starcade 1983 teaming with Johnny Weaver
against Kevin Sullivan
and Mark "Purple Haze" Lewin
. He also briefly appeared under the name "Irish" Pat McGhee Pacific Northwest Wrestling
winning the PNW tag titles with Curt Hennig
on December 23, 1983.
Upon his return to Florida, he immediately defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham
to regain the Florida heavyweight title. However, following Eddie Graham's suicide, McGhee left the Florida territory in late 1985. He later turned up in Max Crabtree's British Wrestling Federation from 1986 until the end of 1987 before returning to the United States. He would continue competing in Wahoo McDaniel
's Florida promotion as well as the Mid-Atlantic and Calgary Stampede territories before suffering a career ending stroke on January 31, 1988. He wrestled under his real name of Garfield Portz during this time in Calgary. This was when Portz was injured as they announced on TV at the start of the February 12th, 1988 episode (as Portz had been on the show each week prior to this dating back to late November 1987). Forced into retirement, McGhee eventually entered nursing.
Originally working as a referee for Jim Crockett
Jim Crockett
James Allen Crockett was a professional wrestling promoter sometimes known as Jim Crockett, Sr. or to people within the business simply as "Big Jim".-Early life:...
in the Carolinas during the late 1970s, he began training with Ric Flair, Rick Steamboat and Buddy Rogers and substituted for wrestlers as several events. Staying in the Carolinas for two years, he followed his father Geoff Portz to Florida Championship Wrestling then under promoter Eddie Graham
Eddie Graham
Edward Gossett was a professional wrestler. He was also the promoter and booker for Championship Wrestling from Florida and President of the NWA in the 1970s. His son, Mike Graham, was also a professional wrestler.-Career:Edward F...
.
In October 1980, shortly after his debut, he and Barry Windham
Barry Windham
Barry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
defeated The Assassins in a tournament final for the then vacant tag team titles in St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
and competed in several high profile matches against Hiro Matsuda and Les Thornton
Les Thornton
Les Thornton is a retired British professional wrestler who competed in European and North American regional promotions throughout the 1970s and 1980s including Stampede Wrestling, the World Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance...
.
Returning to the Carolinas the following year, he later joined George Scott
George Scott (wrestler)
George Scott was a Canadian professional wrestler, booker and promoter. From the 1950s until the 1970s, he and his younger brother Sandy competed as The Flying Scotts in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, particularly the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic...
's Oklahoma territory defeated Tony Charles for the NWA United States Junior Heavyweight Championship and faced veterans such as Johnny Rich and Brad Armstrong.
In late 1982, McGhee was again wrestling for Florida Championship Wrestling and often teamed with Dusty Rhodes
Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)
Virgil Riley Runnels, Jr. , better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, is a semi-retired American professional wrestler currently working for WWE...
, Magnum TA
Magnum T.A.
Terry Wayne Allen is a retired American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Magnum T.A..-Early years:...
and Blackjack Mulligan
Blackjack Mulligan
Robert Jack Windham , better known by his ring name Blackjack Mulligan is a former professional wrestler and a former American football player...
on the promotions weekly television program. After winning a championship tournament for the NWA Florida Heavyweight title in 1983, he faced Ric Flair and Harley Race
Harley Race
Harley Leland Race is a retired American professional wrestler and current promoter and trainer. During his career as a wrestler, he held the NWA World Heavyweight Championship 7 times...
in a series of matches however failed to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Heavyweight Championship
The National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship in the National Wrestling Alliance. Its lineage has been traced from the first World Heavyweight Championship, which traces its lineage to Georg Hackenschmidt's 1905 title and...
. After losing the title to Jos LeDuc
Jos LeDuc
Michel Pigeon was a Canadian professional wrestler better known by his ring name, Jos LeDuc. Wrestling with a lumberjack gimmick, he debuted in Stampede Wrestling with his kayfabe brother, Paul LeDuc...
later that year, he left the promotion to compete in the Mid Atlantic territory, appearing at Starcade 1983 teaming with Johnny Weaver
Johnny Weaver
Kenneth Eugene Weaver was a professional wrestler and wrestling commentator in the National Wrestling Alliance, better known by his ring name, Johnny Weaver...
against Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
and Mark "Purple Haze" Lewin
Mark Lewin
-Career:Mark Lewin broke into wrestling in the early '50s and had great early success in a matinee-idol babyface tag team with Don Curtis, headlining in major territories like New York and Chicago. The team's brief heel turn was a shock to its many fans...
. He also briefly appeared under the name "Irish" Pat McGhee Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling
Pacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
winning the PNW tag titles with Curt Hennig
Curt Hennig
Curtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
on December 23, 1983.
Upon his return to Florida, he immediately defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
to regain the Florida heavyweight title. However, following Eddie Graham's suicide, McGhee left the Florida territory in late 1985. He later turned up in Max Crabtree's British Wrestling Federation from 1986 until the end of 1987 before returning to the United States. He would continue competing in Wahoo McDaniel
Wahoo McDaniel
Edward "Wahoo" McDaniel was a Choctaw-Chickasaw Native American who achieved fame as a professional American football player and later as a professional wrestler.-Early life:...
's Florida promotion as well as the Mid-Atlantic and Calgary Stampede territories before suffering a career ending stroke on January 31, 1988. He wrestled under his real name of Garfield Portz during this time in Calgary. This was when Portz was injured as they announced on TV at the start of the February 12th, 1988 episode (as Portz had been on the show each week prior to this dating back to late November 1987). Forced into retirement, McGhee eventually entered nursing.
Championships and accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Florida Global Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Global Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Global Tag Team Championship was a minor tag team title in Florida Championship Wrestling from 1982 until fall 1983, when it was replaced by the NWA Florida United States Tag Team Championship.-Title history:-See also:...
(4 times) - with Magnum T.A.Magnum T.A.Terry Wayne Allen is a retired American professional wrestler, best known under the ring name Magnum T.A..-Early years:...
(3) and Mike Graham (1) - NWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Florida Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship was a major title in Championship Wrestling from Florida, USA and is now the major title in NWA Florida. It started in 1937 and was abandoned in 1949. It was picked back up in 1966 by CWF and lasted until 1987 when the company was purchased by Jim Crockett...
(3 times) - NWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Florida Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Florida Tag Team Championship is the primary tag team title in Pro Wrestling Fusion. It started out in 1968 as the main tag team title in Championship Wrestling from Florida and lasted until 1990 when it was abandoned. It was picked back up in 1997 by NWA Florida, where it was the primary...
(1 time) with Barry WindhamBarry WindhamBarry Clinton Windham is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and the son of wrestler Blackjack Mulligan. He is best known for his appearances with the National Wrestling Alliance and World Championship Wrestling ....
- Pacific Northwest WrestlingPacific Northwest WrestlingPacific Northwest Wrestling is the common name used to refer to several different professional wrestling companies, both past and present, based in Portland, Oregon, United States. The first such company was founded by Herb Owen in 1925...
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team ChampionshipNWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team ChampionshipThe NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling championship sanctioned by the National Wrestling Alliance and defended in its member promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling, which promoted shows in the U.S...
(1 time) with Curt HennigCurt HennigCurtis Michael "Curt" Hennig , also known by the ring name Mr. Perfect, was an American professional wrestler, manager and color commentator who worked for, among other promotions, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , the American Wrestling Association , World Championship Wrestling and the World...
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him # 387 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003.
- Southeastern Championship WrestlingContinental Championship WrestlingContinental Championship Wrestling was a professional wrestling promotion based out of Knoxville, Tennessee from 1974 until 1988 and Dothan, Alabama from 1978 to 1990, managed by Ron Fuller. When Fuller sold the promotion to David Woods, it changed name to the Continental Wrestling Federation...
- NWA Southeast United States Junior Heavyweight Championship (3 times)