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.

[6][7] In late 1982, McGhee often teamed with Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T. A. and Blackjack Mulligan on the promotions weekly television program.

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.

McGhee joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1985, making his debut at a house show in Springfield, MA on 21 September.

He remained mired as an opening card performer for the remainder of the year, but did close out December with victories over Frenchy Martin and Barry O on the house show circuit.

He rebounded to defeat Barry O and The Red Demon on the house show circuit that month, then beat Terry Gibbs in a televised match in Philadelphia on 10 January.

McGee's final WWF match came at a house show on 11 November 1987 in West Palm Beach, Fl, where he teamed with Ken Patera against Demolition.