The Godwinns were an underrated tag team of the New Generation Era for WWE. Both Henry and Phineas Godwin played pig farmers back at a time when WWE wanted most wrestlers to have occupational gimmicks. WWE even came up with the acronyms of Henry O. Godwinn and Phineas I. Godwinn to have them showing love to hogs and pigs.
There were a few different storylines and standout performances that helped the Godwinns make an impact in WWE. Even though they didn’t have a legendary run like the New Age Outlaws or Legion of Doom, they contributed for WWE during a time when they needed that depth. The following things about the Godwinns will provide a deeper look at their WWE time.
10 Vince McMahon Thought Hillbilly Jim Would Make Them Stars
Hillbilly Jim had an underrated Hall of Fame career during the Golden Era when Vince McMahon started to expand WWE. Characters with stronger gimmick were prioritized, and Hillbilly Jim got over during that time to show Vince’s vision.
McMahon believed in Hillbilly Jim enough to hope that he would be able to get the Godwinns tag team over. The role of a manager saw Hillbilly Jim taking part in the post-match square dancing or preventing the other teams from cheating Henry and Phineas.
9 WWE Changed Their Relationship From Cousins To Brothers
Henry Godwinn was the first of the two wrestlers to join the WWE roster. Vince McMahon pushed Henry with the pig farmer gimmick in a singles role until deciding the idea of a tag team act would work better for this concept.
Phineas Godwinn arrived to become the tag partner of Henry and form their team moving forward. WWE actually called Phineas the cousin of Henry in his first appearance before they changed plans. The Godwinns played brothers for the rest of the run with WWE pretending the cousin comment never happened.
8 Had Forgotten WCW Run Before WWE
Most fans only remember the Godwinns from WWE since they never had another noteworthy run for another promotion afterwards. However, it is often overlooked that Henry and Phineas teamed up in WCW when the company had less of a following.
"Tex Slazenger" and "Shanghai Pierce" were the names used for WCW in the early ‘90s trying to get established. The duo mostly wrestled on the secondary shows like Worldwide and WCW Saturday Night. WCW only placed them in bigger matches when needing people for a battle royal.
7 They Were Close Friends With The Undertaker
The Undertaker was viewed as a locker room leader for WWE in the ‘90s when a lot of crazy things happened. Vince McMahon trusted Undertaker to try to keep the peace or speak up when someone was crossing the line.
The Godwinns became two of the wrestlers to grow closer to Undertaker and value his presence in the locker room. Henry was part of the Bone Street Kru backstage group, and Phineas joined Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness faction after the tag run ended. Both men showed up for Undertaker’s retirement celebration at Survivor Series 2020.
6 Completely Rebranded To Work With Jeff Jarrett
WWE started to realize that the pig farmer gimmick lowered their ceiling and tried to stray from gimmicks like that when moving to the Attitude Era. The Godwinns were renamed Southern Justice and completely changed their characters to align with Jeff Jarrett.
Their biggest change saw them wearing suits to the ring rather than the pig farmer get-up that were tied to the face side. Jarrett was getting over as a heel around this time, but Southern Justice didn’t get a long run to remain with him during his WWE peak.
5 Technically Feuded With D-Generation X
The biggest storyline for the Godwinns as Southern Justice came when Jeff Jarrett had a personal feud going with X-Pac. This allowed Henry and Phineas to team with Jarrett against X-Pac and the New Age Outlaws representing D-Generation X.
WWE already DX feuding with the Nation of Domination around this time with Triple H vs The Rock progressing the story. This program gets forgotten since it was secondary to the bigger program, but X-Pac beating Jarrett in a hair vs hair match gave a proper payoff.
4 Team Ended Due To Henry Godwinn's Injury
Injuries can change plans for any wrestler or promotion at any given time. Henry Godwinn learned this when his injury essentially prevented the Godwinns tag team from continuing. A herniated vertebrae and a pinched spinal nerve forced Henry to sit out and get a spinal fusion surgery.
Henry left WWE and retired from wrestling since it looked like a huge risk if he were to appear in the ring again. WWE found a new role for Phineas when renaming him Mideon to join The Undertaker’s Ministry of Darkness faction and eventually the Naked Mideon comedic persona.
3 Triple H Helped Henry Godwinn Get Hired In 2006
One interesting story that rarely gets discussed is Henry Godwinn having another chance with WWE in 2006. Triple H developed a friendship and deep respect for Godwinn after they feuded against each other early in their WWE careers.
Henry received a couple of try out matches when making his wrestling comeback and even signed a developmental contract. WWE had plans to team him with Jesse, but that role went to Festus instead. Godwinn never called up and was released faster than expected.
2 Major Part Of Sunny's Biggest Storyline
Tammy Sytch aka Sunny became one of the most popular characters for WWE to show that women could get over in the new landscape. Sunny managed the Bodydonnas when they feuded with the Godwinns over the WWE Tag Team Championship. Phineas falling in love with Sunny saw her using that to her advantage on multiple occasions.
There was even a short-term run with Sunny managing the Godwinns since she wanted the gold. Sunny eventually turned on them to unite with the Smoking Gunns tag team. The big storyline payoff to Sunny manipulating Phineas led to her getting slopped with the Godwinns bucket.
1 They Are Tied For Most "Worst Tag Team" Awards On Wrestling Observer
The Wrestling Observer Newsletter is most known for Dave Meltzer’s star ratings for matches and the year-end awards voted on by their readers. WON used to have the “Worst Tag Team” award before removing it from the list in 2004.
The Godwinns won the award twice with fans viewing them as the worst tag team of 1996 and 1997. This tied the record for most times winning this award with Kronik and The Bushwhackers as the only other teams to get voted worst tag team twice as well.