Jpfizzles guide to the hall of fame Vol.2- Ricky the Dragon Steamboat
What makes The Dragon worthy of the WWE hall of fame? The only world title Steamboat ever won was the NWA world championship in fact the only title Steamboat ever won in the WWE was the Intercontinental championship- ONCE!
Im sure thats what all you fizzle fans are asking. Or maybe not why? Because any one who has ever seen Steamboat perform will know he isnt just another mid-carder. This guy doesnt need titles to be accepted as a great performer or to look good. He is one of the most popular and recognised figures of the late 80s/ early 90s. He is quick, technical, and one of the most unique in ring performers ever to grace the squared circle. He takes the arm-bar, a pretty standard move, and makes it look more magical than anything Rey Mysterio could do, more fantastic than any Jeff Hardy Ladder stunt, more cutting than even a Mr. Kennedy promo. This guy is pure out and out talent and in Wrestling history this will mean more than any of Edges 8 title reigns, more than the majority of Triple Hs.
Before entering the WWE (then F, but in all these volumes I use E for arguments sake) Ricky Steamboat, trained by Verne Gagne and the Iron Sheik, had a lengthy and now infamous feud with Ric Flair the self confident nature boy and the man who will be inducting Steamboat into the hall of fame. The two met for the NWA mid-Atlantic TV title. Steamboat won the match with a double thrust off the top rope. The match is considered the moment when Steamboat first showed the star qualities that would make him world famous and of true hall of fame material.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHG8lIlP64I
In Mid-Atlantic Steamboat continued to have some of the companys most memorable feuds, as part of a tag team with Paul Jones or Jay Youngblood, or in singles competition Vs. Tully Blanchard, considered the last great series of the territory. Steamboat left Mid-Atlantic after creative differences with then booker Dusty Rhodes and headed to the World Wrestling Federation to be born as the dragon.
Ricky the Dragon Steamboat debuted as a babyface. He dressed in a martial arts training uniform (a keikogi I believe) and long tights. His Asian features truly helped this gimmick work but more than the gimmick, one of the most successful of a time when everybody had an exciting gimmick- it was always Steamboats ability that made him standout. Steamboats PPV debut was at the first ever Wrestlemania vs. Matt Borne (later the first guy to play Doink the Clown.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXzwSxopLk
One of Steamboats earliest and most successful feuds in the WWE was against Don Muraco and Mr. Fuji. The feud spawned the mixed martial arts challenge vs. Mr. Fuji at Saturday Nights main event on November 2nd 1985. (Video in link below) The intense feud culminated at the January 4th edition of Saturday Nights main event with Steamboat and the Junkyard Dog taking on Muraco and Fuji in a tag team match. The face team of Steamboat and Junkyard dog won the match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM_jm4iL9ws
At Wrestlemania 2 Steamboat defeated Hercules after Hercules missed a flying body press, Steamboat followed up with a flying body press of his own and hits it right on the money. Steamboat then entered a feud with Jake the Snake Roberts. This led to one of the most iconic moments of Steamboats career. Not only did it lead to a snake pit match between the two in which Steamboat proved victorious- the rematch led to something quite fantastic. Roberts continued to beat down on Steamboat and was about to release his snake Damien on him before Steamboat was able to counter and release his Komodo dragon making a frightened Roberts flee from the ring. Damien did feed on the dragon eventually though, following Roberts vicious DDT on concrete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVskRPL8S88
In November 1986 Steamboat began one of his greatest most memorable feuds against Macho Man Randy Savage. Savage defended his Intercontinental against Steamboat on the November 22nd edition of Superstars- after the match Savage continued his assault on Steamboat injuring Steamboats Larynx with the Ring Bell. Steamboat returned 2 months later to save George the Animal Steele from suffering the same fate at the hands of Savage. The feud came to a head at Wrestlemania III. Steamboat defeated Savage for the Intercontinental title in what was both PWI and The Wrestling Observers match of the year. (Video below.) The match is still considered one of the greatest ever Wrestlemania matches and along with Hogan slamming Andre helped to make Wrestlemania III the most celebrated Wrestlemanias of all time. It is said that the two rehearsed the match hundreds of times backstage making the match thoroughly choreographed. However, the stylised bout never gets dull and the two wrestlers made the entire match almost completely seamless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8xvHota60
Steamboat fell out of favour with WWE management soon after when he asked for time off to be with his wife who was expecting Steamboats first child. As punishment he was soon stripped of the title after one successful defence against old foe Hercules he dropped the title to The Honky Tonk man on June 13th edition of Superstars. (Honky Tonk went on to have the longest reign in the titles history) Steamboats son was born later in the month. Steamboat returned for the first ever survivor series but was never again given a meaningful title or even feud. He defeated Rick Rude by disqualification at the first ever Royal Rumble and was knocked out of a competition to compete for the World Championship at Wrestlemania IV in the first round by Greg the Hammer Valentine. He soon after left the WWE.
In 1989 he made his return to NWA on World Championship Wrestling (of course soon to be the official name of the promotion) as a surprise tag team partner for Eddie Gilbert in a match against Ric Flair and Barry Windham, Steamboat pinned the then Champion Flair. He defeated Flair for the title in the Chi Town rumble main event. This lead to a series of matches with Flair, the second of which saw Steamboat retain his title after a controversial finish, the third of which saw him drop the title back to Flair at the first ever WrestleWar. All three matches were given five stars by Dave Meltzer. The two would not fight again until 1994. (Below is the promo for the WrestleWar match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WzGTDMJXUI&feature=related
With Steamboat as number one contender he entered a feud with Lex Luger. The two faced off at The Great American Bash, Steamboat was disqualified after hitting Luger with a chair; it was Steamboats last match of note in WCW.
Steamboat made his return to the WWE in 1991. Despite his previous feuds with Flair (who was now also in WWF) and Savage (now a colour commentator) Steamboat was billed as if he were a new wrestler altogether. He was undefeated on television in the whole of his 1991 run. He won a series of squash matches, the first being against your favourite jobber and mine the Brooklyn Brawler. He suffered his only loss of his 1991 run at a house show against Skinner. Steamboat handed in his notice at a big television taping, he refused to work the taping where he was billed to loose to The Undertaker and Irwin R. Schyster.
He made his return to WCW where in a four year span he picked up the WCW tag team championship twice (once with Dustin Rhodes, once with Shane Douglas) the WCW United States Championship (in which he had one last long feud with Ric Flair. He gave up the belt due to injury) and the Television championship twice (once defeating Steve Austin and dropping too Scott Steiner, and once defeating Paul Orndorff and dropping too Steven Regal.)
In his retirement Steamboat appeared on and off for TNA and ROH; refereeing the first ever Gauntlet for the Gold and the four way Double Elimination match to crown the first ever X-Division champion and for ROH refereeing the first ever defence of the Pure Wrestling Championship. He had a number of confrontations with CM Punk where he inspired Punk to be the man Steamboat knew he could be and another feud with Mick Foley although the two never met in the ring.
In 2005 Steamboat became a road agent for WWE, hence why you often see him on TV these days at one off events. His most notable appearances to date were at Ric Flairs retirement show and the confrontation he had with Jericho a few weeks back. Steamboat is a true legend in the ring and more than worthy of the WWE hall of fame.
What makes The Dragon worthy of the WWE hall of fame? The only world title Steamboat ever won was the NWA world championship in fact the only title Steamboat ever won in the WWE was the Intercontinental championship- ONCE!
Im sure thats what all you fizzle fans are asking. Or maybe not why? Because any one who has ever seen Steamboat perform will know he isnt just another mid-carder. This guy doesnt need titles to be accepted as a great performer or to look good. He is one of the most popular and recognised figures of the late 80s/ early 90s. He is quick, technical, and one of the most unique in ring performers ever to grace the squared circle. He takes the arm-bar, a pretty standard move, and makes it look more magical than anything Rey Mysterio could do, more fantastic than any Jeff Hardy Ladder stunt, more cutting than even a Mr. Kennedy promo. This guy is pure out and out talent and in Wrestling history this will mean more than any of Edges 8 title reigns, more than the majority of Triple Hs.
Before entering the WWE (then F, but in all these volumes I use E for arguments sake) Ricky Steamboat, trained by Verne Gagne and the Iron Sheik, had a lengthy and now infamous feud with Ric Flair the self confident nature boy and the man who will be inducting Steamboat into the hall of fame. The two met for the NWA mid-Atlantic TV title. Steamboat won the match with a double thrust off the top rope. The match is considered the moment when Steamboat first showed the star qualities that would make him world famous and of true hall of fame material.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHG8lIlP64I
In Mid-Atlantic Steamboat continued to have some of the companys most memorable feuds, as part of a tag team with Paul Jones or Jay Youngblood, or in singles competition Vs. Tully Blanchard, considered the last great series of the territory. Steamboat left Mid-Atlantic after creative differences with then booker Dusty Rhodes and headed to the World Wrestling Federation to be born as the dragon.
Ricky the Dragon Steamboat debuted as a babyface. He dressed in a martial arts training uniform (a keikogi I believe) and long tights. His Asian features truly helped this gimmick work but more than the gimmick, one of the most successful of a time when everybody had an exciting gimmick- it was always Steamboats ability that made him standout. Steamboats PPV debut was at the first ever Wrestlemania vs. Matt Borne (later the first guy to play Doink the Clown.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXXzwSxopLk
One of Steamboats earliest and most successful feuds in the WWE was against Don Muraco and Mr. Fuji. The feud spawned the mixed martial arts challenge vs. Mr. Fuji at Saturday Nights main event on November 2nd 1985. (Video in link below) The intense feud culminated at the January 4th edition of Saturday Nights main event with Steamboat and the Junkyard Dog taking on Muraco and Fuji in a tag team match. The face team of Steamboat and Junkyard dog won the match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HM_jm4iL9ws
At Wrestlemania 2 Steamboat defeated Hercules after Hercules missed a flying body press, Steamboat followed up with a flying body press of his own and hits it right on the money. Steamboat then entered a feud with Jake the Snake Roberts. This led to one of the most iconic moments of Steamboats career. Not only did it lead to a snake pit match between the two in which Steamboat proved victorious- the rematch led to something quite fantastic. Roberts continued to beat down on Steamboat and was about to release his snake Damien on him before Steamboat was able to counter and release his Komodo dragon making a frightened Roberts flee from the ring. Damien did feed on the dragon eventually though, following Roberts vicious DDT on concrete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVskRPL8S88
In November 1986 Steamboat began one of his greatest most memorable feuds against Macho Man Randy Savage. Savage defended his Intercontinental against Steamboat on the November 22nd edition of Superstars- after the match Savage continued his assault on Steamboat injuring Steamboats Larynx with the Ring Bell. Steamboat returned 2 months later to save George the Animal Steele from suffering the same fate at the hands of Savage. The feud came to a head at Wrestlemania III. Steamboat defeated Savage for the Intercontinental title in what was both PWI and The Wrestling Observers match of the year. (Video below.) The match is still considered one of the greatest ever Wrestlemania matches and along with Hogan slamming Andre helped to make Wrestlemania III the most celebrated Wrestlemanias of all time. It is said that the two rehearsed the match hundreds of times backstage making the match thoroughly choreographed. However, the stylised bout never gets dull and the two wrestlers made the entire match almost completely seamless.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q8xvHota60
Steamboat fell out of favour with WWE management soon after when he asked for time off to be with his wife who was expecting Steamboats first child. As punishment he was soon stripped of the title after one successful defence against old foe Hercules he dropped the title to The Honky Tonk man on June 13th edition of Superstars. (Honky Tonk went on to have the longest reign in the titles history) Steamboats son was born later in the month. Steamboat returned for the first ever survivor series but was never again given a meaningful title or even feud. He defeated Rick Rude by disqualification at the first ever Royal Rumble and was knocked out of a competition to compete for the World Championship at Wrestlemania IV in the first round by Greg the Hammer Valentine. He soon after left the WWE.
In 1989 he made his return to NWA on World Championship Wrestling (of course soon to be the official name of the promotion) as a surprise tag team partner for Eddie Gilbert in a match against Ric Flair and Barry Windham, Steamboat pinned the then Champion Flair. He defeated Flair for the title in the Chi Town rumble main event. This lead to a series of matches with Flair, the second of which saw Steamboat retain his title after a controversial finish, the third of which saw him drop the title back to Flair at the first ever WrestleWar. All three matches were given five stars by Dave Meltzer. The two would not fight again until 1994. (Below is the promo for the WrestleWar match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WzGTDMJXUI&feature=related
With Steamboat as number one contender he entered a feud with Lex Luger. The two faced off at The Great American Bash, Steamboat was disqualified after hitting Luger with a chair; it was Steamboats last match of note in WCW.
Steamboat made his return to the WWE in 1991. Despite his previous feuds with Flair (who was now also in WWF) and Savage (now a colour commentator) Steamboat was billed as if he were a new wrestler altogether. He was undefeated on television in the whole of his 1991 run. He won a series of squash matches, the first being against your favourite jobber and mine the Brooklyn Brawler. He suffered his only loss of his 1991 run at a house show against Skinner. Steamboat handed in his notice at a big television taping, he refused to work the taping where he was billed to loose to The Undertaker and Irwin R. Schyster.
He made his return to WCW where in a four year span he picked up the WCW tag team championship twice (once with Dustin Rhodes, once with Shane Douglas) the WCW United States Championship (in which he had one last long feud with Ric Flair. He gave up the belt due to injury) and the Television championship twice (once defeating Steve Austin and dropping too Scott Steiner, and once defeating Paul Orndorff and dropping too Steven Regal.)
In his retirement Steamboat appeared on and off for TNA and ROH; refereeing the first ever Gauntlet for the Gold and the four way Double Elimination match to crown the first ever X-Division champion and for ROH refereeing the first ever defence of the Pure Wrestling Championship. He had a number of confrontations with CM Punk where he inspired Punk to be the man Steamboat knew he could be and another feud with Mick Foley although the two never met in the ring.
In 2005 Steamboat became a road agent for WWE, hence why you often see him on TV these days at one off events. His most notable appearances to date were at Ric Flairs retirement show and the confrontation he had with Jericho a few weeks back. Steamboat is a true legend in the ring and more than worthy of the WWE hall of fame.