Scott McGhee

Scott McGee
Birth name Garfield Portz[1][2]
Born 1960
Shipley, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom[3]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s) Garfield Portz[4]
Gary Portz[4]
Geoff Portz Jr.
Pat McGhee[3][4]
Scott McGhee[4]
Scotty McGhee[1]
Scott Shannon[4]
Billed height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[4]
Billed weight 242 lb (110 kg)[4]
Trained by Ric Flair[4][2]
Karl Gotch[4]
Geoff Portz[4]
Buddy Rogers[4][2]
Ricky Steamboat[4][2]
Debut 1978[4]
Retired January 1988[4]

Garfield Portz is an English retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Scott McGhee. He is best known for his appearances in the United States with Championship Wrestling from Florida, Jim Crockett Promotions, and the World Wrestling Federation in the 1980s. Portz is the son of professional wrestler Geoff Portz (1931-2016).[1][2][3][4]

Professional wrestling career

Early career (1978-1980)

Portz was born in the United Kingdom. He relocated to the United States with his father, professional wrestler Geoff Portz. In the late-1970s, he began working as a referee for the professional wrestling promotion Jim Crockett Promotions. He trained as a wrestler under his father along with Ric Flair, Karl Gotch, Buddy Rogers, and Ricky Steamboat, debuting in Jim Crockett Promotions in 1978.[4][2] He briefly performed in Canada in 1980, wrestling for Stampede Wrestling as "Gary Portz" and for Maple Leaf Wrestling as "Scott McGhee".[5]

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1980-1985)

McGhee began wrestling for the Tampa, Florida-based promotion Championship Wrestling from Florida in 1980. He won his first championship in October 1980, teaming with Barry Windham to win a tournament for the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted until December 1980, when they were defeated by The Cowboy Connection.[6][7]

In late 1982, McGhee often teamed with Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A. and Blackjack Mulligan on the promotions weekly television program.

In mid-1982, McGhee toured Japan with New Japan Pro Wrestling, where he regularly teamed with André the Giant and Canek. [5] In the same year, he competed for the Dothan, Alabama-based promotion Southeastern Championship Wrestling, winning the NWA Southeastern United States Junior Heavyweight Championship on three occasions.

In 1983, McGhee began wrestling for the Portland, Oregon-based promotion Pacific Northwest Wrestling as "'Irish' Pat McGhee". He won the NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship with Curt Hennig in December 1983, holding the championship until February 1984.[3]

After winning a championship tournament for the NWA Florida Heavyweight title in 1983,[7] 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,[7] 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 in Pacific Northwest Wrestling, winning the PNW tag titles with Curt Hennig on 23 December 1983.[7]

Upon his return to Florida, he immediately defeated "Superstar" Billy Graham to regain the Florida heavyweight title.[7] However, following Eddie Graham's suicide, McGhee left the Florida territory in late 1985.

World Wrestling Federation (1985-1987)

McGhee began wrestling for the World Wrestling Federation in 1985. During his tenure with the WWF, he primarily appeared on house shows as a jobber, making a handful of appearances on All-Star Wrestling, WWF Championship Wrestling, WWF Prime Time Wrestling, and WWF Superstars of Wrestling. He left the WWF in 1987.[2][5][8]

Independent circuit (1987-1988, 1989, 2010)

McGhee returned to the independent circuit in 1987. In late-1987 he began wrestling for Stampede Wrestling as "Garfield Portz".[1][5] On 31 January 1988 he suffered a severe stroke, forcing him to retire from professional wrestling. McGhee subsequently trained as a nurse.[2][3]

McGhee broke his retirement in October 1989, wrestling a single bout for the Professional Wrestling Federation. He returned to wrestling once again in November 2010, wrestling for NWA Wrestle Birmingham.[5]

Championships and accomplishments

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Bruce Hart (2011). Straight from the Hart. ECW Press. p. 171. ISBN 978-1-77090-004-2.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 James Dixon; Arnold Furious; Lee Maughan (2012). The Complete WWF Video Guide Volume I. Lulu.com. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-291-10089-1.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Harris M. Lentz III (1 January 2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling (2nd ed.). McFarland. p. 228. ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Scott McGhee". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Scott McGhee - Career". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Scott McGhee - Titles". Cagematch.net. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Royal Duncan; Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  8. ↑ James Dixon; Arnold Furious; Lee Maughan (2013). Tagged Classics: Just The Reviews. Lulu.com. pp. 115–116. ISBN 978-1-291-42878-0.
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