Joe Scarpa

Joe Scarpa
Ring name(s)	Jay Strongbow "Joltin'" Joe Scarpa
Billed height	(183 cm) 6 ft 0 in[1]
Billed weight	(120 kg) 265 lb[2]
Born	October 4, 1928 (1928-10-04) (age 83)[2] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Resides	Georgia[2]
Billed from	Pawhuska, Oklahoma[1]
Trained by	Don Eagles[2]
Debut	1947[2]
Retired	1994[2]

Joseph Luke Scarpa (born October 4, 1928)^[2] is a former professional wrestler who was best known by his famous ring moniker, Chief Jay Strongbow. Scarpa portrayed a Native American wrestler, who wore a traditional headdress to the ring and would "go on the warpath" when the fans started cheering him on against an opponent.^[1]

Professional wrestling career

National Wrestling Alliance (1947–1970)

Strongbow's career started in 1947, using his given name Joe Scarpa.^[2] Scarpa was a standout in the Georgia and Florida territories of the National Wrestling Alliance throughout the 1950s and 1960s, winning several championships and becoming a solid fan favorite.^[2]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1970–1977)

By 1970, he was working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation and was now known as Chief Jay Strongbow.^[1] He feuded with the likes of "The Golden Greek" Spiros Arion, "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant, and "Superstar" Billy Graham nearly winning the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship. A memorable match against "Iron" Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. But Lou Albano, "Iron" Mike McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room breaking his arm. McCord was disqualified, but Strongbow was cut wide open by Albano's blows. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly.

Strongbow picked up a huge win at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1970, shortly after he entered the WWWF, pinning top contender Crusher Verdue, who was managed by Lou Albano.

The 1975 feud with Spiros Arion was very memorable. Arion, a very popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface returned to the WWWF after an absence, and teamed with Strongbow. Arion turned on Strongbow, destroying his headdress on Philadelphia TV after he had tied Strongbow in the ropes, and rubbed the feathers in his face. Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino.

Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King.^[3] They defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea.^[3] Strongbow and King held the title for a month before losing it to the team of Mr. Fuji and Professor Toru Tanaka on June 27.^[3]

Four and a half years later, on December 7, 1976, Strongbow won his second WWWF World Tag Team Championship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf.^[3] The team won the title in a three-team tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata.^[3] Their reign was cut short in August 1977 when the belts were vacated due to White Wolf suffering a neck injury at the hands of Ken Patera's Swinging Full Nelson.^[1]

Big Time Wrestling (1977)

Strongbow also competed for The Sheik's Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit. He had a memorable feud with "Bulldog" Don Kent, which culminated in a "shark cage match" in 1977. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a small shark cage, with the first man to escape being declared the winner. With an assist from fellow fan favorite Mark Lewin, Strongbow was able to escape the shark cage victorious.

World Wrestling Federation (1979–1983)

In 1979, he feuded with Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, who broke Strongbow's leg. The two waged war all over the WWF circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" in Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979.^[1]

In 1982, Strongbow formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Jules Strongbow.^[1] On June 28, the Strongbows won the tag title from the team of Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in New York City's Madison Square Garden.^[3] During the match, special guest referee Ivan Putski counted the winning fall, but did not see Fuji's foot draped over the bottom rope. On the July 13 edition of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the title back to Fuji and Saito,^[1] but on the October 26 edition of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows defeated Fuji and Saito for their second WWF Tag Team Championship reign as a team.^[3] On the March 8, 1983 edition of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the title to the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika).^[1] After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded.

Retirement (1985–1994)

Strongbow retired in 1985, but would still step back into the ring from time to time, most notably for a legends battle royal in East Rutherford, New Jersey in 1987. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office.^[1] He also participated in a 1993 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka, in his feud with Irwin R. Schyster. Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by Gorilla Monsoon in 1994. Strongbow also made a brief appearance on the November 17, 2008 edition of Monday Night Raw when Stephanie McMahon introduced him to the audience in Atlanta.

Personal life

Scarpa has a son, who wrestled as Mark Young. He made a cameo appearance in the 1984 movie Micki and Maude, starring Dudley Moore. He was also referenced, along with his sleeper hold, in the 1999 movie Big Daddy, and the 2004 comedy 50 First Dates. As well as Boston Legal in an episode where Denny and Alan wrestle over Shirley and Alan enters the ring dressed as Chief Jay Strongbow

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Tomahawk Chop (Overhead chop)
  • Indian deathlock

• Signature moves
  • Armbar
  • Bow and arrow stretch
  • Inverted atomic drop
  • Knee drop
  • Lou Thesz Press
  • Running knee lift
  • Sleeper hold

Championships and accomplishments

• Championship Wrestling from Florida

• NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (2 times)
• NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (3 times) - with Jose Lothario
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) - with Don Curtis

• Gulf Coast Championship Wrestling

• NWA Gulf Coast Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Gulf Coast version) (1 time) - with Lee Fields

• NWA Mid-America

• NWA Mid-America World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Lester Welch (2) and Alex Perez (1)

• Mid-South Sports

• NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• NWA Macon Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with El Mongol
• NWA World Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) (1 time) - with Don Curtis

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1973)
• PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1979)^[4]
• PWI ranked him # 214 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

• Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
  • (Class of 2009)

• World Wrestling Council

• WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• World Wide Wrestling Federation - World Wrestling Federation

• WWWF - WWF Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Sonny King (1), Billy White Wolf (1), and Jules Strongbow (2)^[3]
• WWF Hall of Fame (Class of 1994)^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k} "Chief Jay Strongbow's WWE Hall of Fame Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/inductees/cheifjaystrongbow. Retrieved 2011-03-29. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Wrestler Profiles: Chief -->Jay Strongbow". Online World of Wrestling. http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/j/jay-strongbow.html. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "World Tag Team Championship official title history". World Wrestling Entertainment. http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam. Retrieved 2009-06-18. 
4. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiinsp.htm. Retrieved 2008-07-27. 

External links

• Chief Jay Strongbow's WWE Hall of Fame Profile
• IMDB Entry

Professional wrestling portal

Persondata
Name	Scarpa, Joe
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 4, 1928
Place of birth	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of death
Place of death