Ricky Steamboat

Infobox Wrestler
name=Ricky Steamboat
names=The Dragoncite web|url=http://www.accelerator3359.com/Wrestling/bios/steamboat.html|title=Ricky Steamboat's Bio|work=Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster|accessdate=2008-06-06]
Richard Bloodcite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/r/ricky-steamboat.html|title=Ricky Steamboat's Profile|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-06]
Ricky Steamboat
Sam Steamboat, Jr.


img_capt=
height=height|foot=5|inch=10
weight=convert|235|lb|kg=st|abbr=on
real_height=
real_weight=
birth_date=birth date and age|1953|2|28
birth_place=West Point, New York
death_date=
death_place=
resides=Charlotte, North Carolina
billed=Honolulu, Hawaii
Charlotte, North Carolina
trainer=Verne Gagne
The Iron Sheik
debut=April 23 1976
retired=September 18 1994

Richard Henry Blood (born February 28, 1953 in West Point, New York), better known by his ring name Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, is a former American professional wrestler who became one of the most well-known professional wrestlers of the late 1980s and early '90s. He's currently working as a wrestling road agent. He was well-known among wrestling fans as being one of the few wrestlers who stayed a babyface throughout the expanse of a long career. He is best known for his work with American Wrestling Association (AWA), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), World Championship Wrestling (WCW) and World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

In WWF, Steamboat was a 1 time Intercontinental Champion.cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/|title=WWE Intercontinental Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-06] cite web|date=2008-06-13|url=http://wrestlertitles.blogspot.com/2008/06/barry-windham.html|title=Ricky Steamboat's Title History|work=Blogger|accessdate=2008-06-14] . In NWA/WCW, he was a 1 time NWA World Heavyweight Champion,cite web|url=http://www.cygywrestling.com/titlehistories/nwaworldheavyweighttitle.html|title=NWA World Heavyweight Title History|publisher=CygyWrestling|accessdate=2008-06-06] 4 time United States Heavyweight Champion,cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/|title=WWE United States Championship official title history|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-06] 4 time Television Champion,cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-tv.html|title=N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Television Title|publisher=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|accessdate=2008-06-06] cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/tvwcw.html|title=WCW World Television Title History|publisher=Solie's Title Histories|accessdate=2008-06-06] 8 time WCW World Tag Team Champion,cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/nwa/ma-nwa-t.html|title=N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/W.C.W.)|publisher=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|accessdate=2008-06-06] cite web|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttwcw.html|title=WCW World Tag Team Title History|publisher=Solie's Title Histories|accessdate=2008-06-06] 1 time (unofficial) NWA World Tag Team Championcite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/nwa/world/nwa-t.html|title=N.W.A. World Tag Team Title|publisher=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|accessdate=2008-06-08] 2 time Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion,cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-h.html|title=N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title|publisher=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|accessdate=2008-06-06] and a 3 time Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion.cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/midatlantic/ma-t.html|title=N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title|publisher=The Great Hisa's Puroresu Dojo|accessdate=2008-06-06]

Career

Early Career (1976-1977)

Ricky debuted in 1976 as a babyface in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). He took the name Sam Steamboat, Jr. from older Hawaiian wrestler Sam Steamboat, to whom he is not actually related, and also wrestled for a time under his real given name before settling on the name Ricky Steamboat (or, alternatively, Rick Steamboat), by which he would be known for the remainder of his career. He went from the AWA to Championship Wrestling from Florida, then to Georgia Championship Wrestling.

National Wrestling Alliance (First run, 1977-1985)

In 1977, he entered the National Wrestling Alliance-sanctioned Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP) (which ran under the concurrent brand names "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling" and "Wide World Wrestling" [later "World Wide Wrestling"] , as well as airing syndicated TV programs under those respective names), where he would remain for the next eight years of his career. Steamboat, who had been brought in as part of a talent exchange (a trade that sent Steamboat to Mid-Atlantic and One Man Gang to Georgia) by JCP booker George Scott on the recommendation of Wahoo McDaniel, was initially billed as a babyface protege of Wahoo, and barely spoke above whispers in interviews. In the ring, he was a spectacular performer who showed Bruce Lee-like fire, and quickly became one of the territory's most popular performers. Matching him with his brash young counterpart, Ric Flair, was a natural fit. Steamboat stepped up to the plate during an interview on the syndicated "Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling" when Flair, the then-Mid-Atlantic television champion, began goading the youngster. Steamboat knocked Flair out with a backhand chop to set up a match between the two.

Steamboat's star making performance came when he pinned Flair after a double thrust off the top rope to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Championship at WRAL studios in Raleigh, North Carolina. Flair and Steamboat would face each other in many matches in the years 1978, 1982, 1984, 1989, and 1994.

Over the next eight years in JCP, Steamboat would go on to capture the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship three times and the NWA World Tag Team Championship six times (once with Paul Jones and five times with Jay Youngblood). He also held the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship singles crown twice and wore the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship straps four times (twice with Paul Jones, once with Dino Bravo, and once with Jay Youngblood). He also won the NWA World Television Championship title a second time (which by that point had changed to the NWA World Television title).

Fans in the Mid-Atlantic territory to this day talk about classic Steamboat moments: The day Flair dragged his face around the television studio, causing facial scarring, and Steamboat retaliating the following week by ripping Flair's expensive suit to shreds; when longtime tag team partner Paul Jones turned heel on Steamboat at the end of a two-ring battle royal; Steamboat and Youngblood painting yellow streaks down the backs of Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke in order to embarrass them into defending the World tag team title against the two; Steamboat and Youngblood's top drawing feud with Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle; Steamboat and Youngblood being turned on by their friends Jack & Jerry Brisco; Steamboat in a shocking (and surprisingly emotional) feud against former mentor Wahoo McDaniel; and his last great series in the territory, feuding with Tully Blanchard over the NWA TV title.

After having creative differences with JCP booker Dusty Rhodes, Steamboat, who had been the top face of the Crockett-owned promotion, along with Flair, for nearly a decade left NWA.

World Wrestling Federation (First run, 1985-1988)

Birth of The Dragon (1985-1986)

In 1985, Steamboat was offered a contract by Vince McMahon and he joined World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Shortly after his debut, the WWF repackaged Steamboat was given the gimmick of a babyface nicknamed "The Dragon," also replacing Steamboat's jacket-and-trunks attire by having him wear a keikogi and long tights. His father was white, and Steamboat's mother is Japanese American, hence his Asian features which were crucial for his "Dragon" gimmick. Steamboat kept the nickname and gimmick for the remainder of his career.

He made his pay-per-view debut at the inaugural WrestleMania where he defeated Matt Borne. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm1/results/|title=WrestleMania I official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-06|quote=Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat def. Matt Borne] On September 14, 1985 edition of "Championship Wrestling", Steamboat defeated Mr. Fuji but after his victory, he was attacked by Don "The Magnificient" Muraco pitting Steamboat in a feud against fellow Hawaiians Muraco and Fuji. [cite web|date=August 20, 1985|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/85.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1985|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-06|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Mr. Fuji at 4:06 with a roll up after avoiding a back suplex; after the bout, Don Muraco attacked Steamboat in the aisle from behind and broke a chair over his back before he and Fuji went backstage] On November 2 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", he defeated Fuji in a Kung Fu Challenge. [cite web|date=1985-11-02|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/nov021985|title=Saturday Night's Main Event results - November 2, 1985|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-06|quote=Ricky Steamboat def. Mr. Fuji] On January 4, 1986 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", his intense feud with Muraco ended after he and Junkyard Dog beat Muraco and Fuji in a tag team match. [cite web|date=1986-01-04|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/jan041986|title=Saturday Night's Main Event results - January 4, 1986|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-06|quote=Junkyard Dog & Ricky Steamboat def. Don Muraco & Mr. Fuji]

After a victory over Hercules at WrestleMania II, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm2/results/|title=WrestleMania II official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat def. Hercules] Steamboat began his next feud with Jake "The Snake" Roberts. Their feud began when Roberts attacked him before their match on May 3 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", which did not occur due to Roberts assaulting Steamboat. [cite web|date=1986-05-03|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/may031986|title=Saturday Night's Main Event results - May 3, 1986|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Jake "the Snake" Roberts vs. Ricky Steamboat - no contest] [cite web|date=May 1, 1986|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/86.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1986|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Jake Roberts fought Ricky Steamboat to a no contest when Roberts attacked Steamboat before the bell and executed the DDT on the concrete floor before rolling Steamboat back inside the ring and allowing his snake to crawl all over Steamboat until a number of officials swarmed the ring; after the bout, Steamboat was taken from ringside on a stretcher while his wife looked on from ringside] They battled each other in a Snake Pit match at "The Big Event", which Steamboat won. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wwf/stadium.html#bigevent|title=The Big Event results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Jake Roberts in a "snake pit" match] Their feud finally ended on October 4 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", when Steamboat defeated Roberts in their Snake Pit rematch. [cite web|date=1986-10-04|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/snme/history/1985to1992/oct041986|title=Saturday Night's Main Event results - October 4, 1986|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat def. Jake "The Snake" Roberts] Following the match, Roberts continued to attack Steamboat and was about to place his snake Damien on him, but Steamboat took his komodo dragon out of his bag and scared Roberts from the ring. [cite web|date=September 13, 1986|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/86.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1986|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Jake Roberts at 6:17 in a Snake Pit match with a reverse cradle; after the bout, Roberts continued to attack Steamboat and was about to place Damien on him but Steamboat took his komodo dragon out of his bag and scared Roberts from the ring]

Intercontinental Champion (1987)

On November 22, 1986 edition of "Superstars", Steamboat got a shot at the Intercontinental Championship against Randy Savage. Steamboat lost the match by count-out but after the match, Savage continued to assault him and injured Steamboat's larynx, beginning an angle between the two. [cite web|date=October 28, 1986|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/86.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1986|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WWF IC Champion Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) defeated Ricky Steamboat via count-out after crushing Steamboat's throat against the guardrail, after hitting a double axe handle from the top at 7:03; after the match, Savage attacked Steamboat's larynx with the timekeeper's bell, jumping from the top rope, taking him out of action for several months; moments later, Steamboat was taken from ringside on a stretcher] On January 3, 1987 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", Steamboat returned from his injury and prevented Savage from attacking George Steele like he had done to Steamboat two months prior. [cite web|date=December 14, 1986|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/86.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1986|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WWF IC Champion Randy Savage (w/ Miss Elizabeth) pinned George Steele at around 8:30 after hitting him with the timekeeper's bell; during the bout, Ricky Steamboat came ringside as a surprise of Steele's; moments later, Steele carried Elizabeth backstage and Steamboat was then escorted from ringside by referees and security, with Steele returning to the ring shortly thereafter; after the bout, Steamboat returned to the ring to make the save as Savage prepared to come off the top with the ring bell onto Steele's throat] At WrestleMania III, Steamboat was booked to defeat Savage for the WWF Intercontinental Championship in a match what many wrestlers and fans consider the best match in WWE history. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm3/results/|title=WrestleMania III official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Intercontinental Championship: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat w/ George "The Animal" Steele def. Randy "Macho Man" Savage w/ Miss Elizabeth to become new champion] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/top21|title=Top 22 Matches In WrestleMania History - "Macho Man" Randy Savage vs. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat for the Intercontinental Championship - "WrestleMania III"|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Savage hit a bodyslam, but Steamboat turned it into a small package for the win, shocking Savage and sending the fans into a frenzy as they gave him a standing ovation. The action was absolutely seamless, and it's no wonder that this match is still talked about today as perhaps the greatest ever in WWE and WrestleMania history] [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322408|title=Ricky Steamboat's first Intercontinental Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07] The highly influential match was considered an instant classic by both fans and critics and was named 1987's Match of the Year by both Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer because of its superb wrestling, excellent in-ring storytelling and non-stop action.

Several weeks after winning the Intercontinental Championship, Steamboat asked WWF owner Vince McMahon for some time off to be with his wife Bonnie, who was expecting the birth of their first son, Richard, Jr. This did not sit well with WWF management as he had been molded to become a long-term Intercontinental Champion. After a successful title defense against Hercules on May 2 edition of "Saturday Night's Main Event", he dropped the belt to The Honky Tonk Man on June 13 edition of "Superstars" [cite web|date=June 2, 1987|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/87.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1987|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=The Honkytonk Man (w/ Jimmy Hart) pinned WWF IC Champion Ricky Steamboat to win the title at 3:53 by reversing an inside cradle and grabbing onto the bottom rope for leverage] ; his son was born later that month.

Jobbing (1988)

Ricky came back in time for the first-ever Survivor Series in November 1987. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/survivorseries/history/1987/results/|title=Survivor Series 1987 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Hacksaw Jim Duggan, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake & Jake "The Snake" Roberts def. "King" Harley Race, Hercules, Honky Tonk Man, "Dangerous" Danny Davis & "Outlaw" Ron Bass. "Survivors: "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat & Jake "The Snake" Roberts"] However, management was still bitter over his impromptu sabbatical from his first WWF run, and he was not pushed or given any meaningful feuds (Steamboat himself has implied in interviews that he was being punished for 'one-upping' the Hogan-Andre main event at "WrestleMania III"). After defeating Rick Rude by disqualification at the first-ever Royal Rumble, [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/royalrumble/history/1988114/results/|title=Royal Rumble 1988 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat def. "Ravishing" Rick Rude via DQ] Steamboat lost to Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the first round of a tournament for the vacant WWF Championship at WrestleMania IV in March 1988. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/history/wm4/results/|title=WrestleMania IV official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WWE Championship Tournament: Round One Match - Greg "The Hammer" Valentine w/ Jimmy Hart def. Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat] Shortly thereafter, he announced his retirement.

World Championship Wrestling (Second run, 1989)

Ricky Steamboat made his comeback in January 1989 and returned to the NWA (specifically, NWA affiliate World Championship Wrestling) on January 21, 1989 edition of "World Championship Wrestling" (it would later become the name of the promotion) as a surprise tag team partner of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert against Ric Flair and Barry Windham in a match, in which Steamboat pinned NWA World Champion Flair. [cite web|date=January 1989|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw89.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1989|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat (mystery partner) & Eddie Gilbert defeated NWA World Champion Ric Flair & NWA US Champion Barry Windham (w/ JJ Dillon) at 15:14 when Steamboat pinned Flair with a gorilla press slam and crossbody off the top] This earned him a shot at the title at Chi-Town Rumble where Steamboat was booked to defeat Flair in the main event for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#chi|title=Chi-Town Rumble results|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Ric Flair (23:18) to win the NWA World Title] He was also the last NWA World Champion to defend the belt in All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) in a match against Tiger Mask II. After Steamboat retained the NWA title against Flair in a controversial ending on April 2 of "Clash of the Champions",cite web|date=2008-01-26|url=http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/wcw/2008/01/26/clash-of-the-champions-6-0489/|title=Clash of the Champions #6 (04.89)|publisher=The Powerdriver Review|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=NWA World Champion Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair - "2/3 Falls". Flair heads up top and gets slammed down this time to set up another double-chicken wing! Steamboat can't hold him up though and collapses, so Tommy Young counts Flair's shoulders down for 1-2-3. (55:30). Steamboat - 2. Flair - 1. Flair had his foot under the bottom rope, but Tommy Young missed that part. The controversial finish leads to the second and final rematch for Flair at WrestleWar.] Flair and Steamboat would then face each other in their final rematch, until 1994, at the first-ever WrestleWar in May where, Steamboat dropped the title back to Flair. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/w-war.html#89|title=WrestleWar 1989: Music City Showdown|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ric Flair pinned Ricky Steamboat (31:37) to win the NWA World Title]

After losing the title and with Flair now turned into a babyface after being attacked by Terry Funk, Steamboat would remain the #1 contender to the NWA World Title, a fact that irked fellow babyface U.S. Champion Lex Luger. This dispute culminated in Luger attacking Steamboat on June 14 of "Clash of the Champions", thus turning heel. Luger stood over the fallen Steamboat and arrogantly said, "There's your #1 contender!" [cite web|date=June 14, 1989|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/89.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1989|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat defeated Terry Funk via disqualification at 12:52 when Funk took the ringside mic and repeatedly hit Steamboat with it; after the bout, NWA US Champion Lex Luger ran out with a steel chair, clearing Funk from the ring; moments later, Luger grabbed a mic and defended accusasions he had recently been too arrogant; he then helped Steamboat to his feet, hit a clothesline, hit Steamboat with the chair, and then put Steamboat in the Torture Rack to a massive face pop; Luger then grabbed the mic again and said "There lays your number one contender," referring to Steamboat] Steamboat them demanded a no disqualification match against Luger at The Great American Bash 1989 for the title, but just before the bell Luger demanded the clause be dropped or there wouldn't be a match.cite web|date=2008-01-26|url=http://wcwrules4lyf.wordpress.com/2008/01/26/great-american-bash-1989/|title=Great American Bash 1989|publisher=The Powerdriver Review|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=NWA U.S. Heavyweight Champion Lex Luger vs. Ricky Steamboat. It's been scheduled to be a no-DQ match, but Luger protests because he's the champ and doesn't want a no-DQ match with Steamboat, but he'll wrestle if the no-DQ clause is dropped. Now Steamboat has the chair! Tommy Young tries to stop him, but Steamboat shoves him aside as well and BEATS Luger with the chair to give Luger the DQ win! (10:27)] Steamboat would lose the match by disqualification after hitting Luger with a chair. However, due to a contract dispute, this would be Steamboat's last match of note in WCW in 1989.

World Wrestling Federation (Second run, 1991)

After losing the NWA title, Ricky again ventured into semi-retirement in late 1989. Ricky did return briefly to the WWF in the summer of 1991 billed simply as "The Dragon" and now wearing a dragon man costume and blowing fire before his matches. He was not promoted as a major star, as it seemed that there was still some bitterness from his first run with the company. Theories also suggest that since he had won the NWA title (the WWF's main competitor at the time), he was purposely buried to give the impression that he won the title in a smaller, less competitive league than the WWF. The highlight of that run was at SummerSlam 1991, where he, "British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith and the "Texas Tornado" Kerry Von Erich defeated The Warlord and Power and Glory (Paul Roma and Hercules) in a six-man tag team match. [cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/summerslam07/history/1991/results/|title=SummerSlam 1991 official results|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=6-Man Tag Team Match: Ricky Steamboat, Davey Boy Smith and Texas Tornado def. The Warlord and Power & Glory] Shortly thereafter, he again left the WWF.

World Championship Wrestling (Third run, 1991-1994)

Tag Team Competitor (1991)

On November 19, 1991 edition of "Clash of the Champions", Steamboat returned to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as the surprise tag team partner of Dustin Rhodes, substituting for an injured Barry Windham. Steamboat and Rhodes defeated Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbyszko) to win his first WCW World Tag Team Championship under WCW banner. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XVII|title=Clash of the Champions XVII results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Dustin Rhodes & Ricky Steamboat beat Arn Anderson & Larry Zbysko (14:48) to win the WCW Tag Title when Steamboat pinned Anderson] They lost the titles to Arn Anderson and his new partner Bobby Eaton at a live event in January 1992. [cite web|date=January 16, 192|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/92.htm|title=WWF Show Results 1992|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton defeated WCW Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat & Dustin Rhodes in a Best 2 out of 3 falls match to win the titles] Steamboat began feuding with Dangerous Alliance at the point. He unsuccessfully challenged Dangerous Alliance member WCW United States Heavyweight Champion Rick Rude for the title at SuperBrawl II. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/s-brawl.html#II|title=SuperBrawl II results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WCW US Champ Rick Rude pinned Ricky Steamboat (20:02)] Their rivalry culminated in an Iron Man Challenge at Beach Blast 1992, which Steamboat won. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/miscppv.html#blast92|title=Beach Blast 1992 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat beat Rick Rude (30:00) 4 falls to 3 in an "ironman challenge" match]

Television Champion (1992-1993)

On September 2, 1992 of "Clash of the Champions", Steamboat defeated "Stunning" Steve Austin to win his first WCW World Television Championship under WCW banner. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash.html#XX|title=Clash of the Champions XX: 20th Anniversary results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Steve Austin (10:43) to win the WCW TV Title] He lost the title to Scott Steiner at a television taping on September 29. [cite web|date=September 29, 1992|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw92.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1992|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Scott Steiner pinned WCW TV Champion Ricky Steamboat to win the title with an inside cradle] He however, won both his first NWA World Tag Team Championship (unrecognized by NWA) and his second WCW World Tag Team Championship with Shane Douglas (NWA and WCW titles were unified) on November 18 edition of "Clash of the Champions" by defeating Barry Windham and Dustin Rhodes. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXI|title=Clash of the Champions XXI results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas beat Barry Windham & Dustin Rhodes (15:52) to win the NWA & WCW Tag Title when Douglas pinned Windham] On March 27, 1993 edition of "Power Hour", they lost the NWA and WCW titles to Hollywood Blondes (Brian Pillman and Steve Austin). [cite web|date=March 27, 1993|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw93.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1993|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Steve Austin & Brian Pillman defeated WCW/NWA Tag Team Champions Ricky Steamboat & Shane Douglas to win the titles at around 19:20 when Pillman pinned Steamboat after Austin hit Steamboat in the back of the head with one of the title belts; the match was shown several weeks after the announcement of the title change, thus the commentary of Eric Bischoff & Larry Zbyzsko surrounded the fact the challengers would be winning the titles] On August 18 edition of "Clash of the Champions", he defeated Paul Orndorff to win his second and final WCW World Television Championship. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXIV|title=Clash of the Champions XXIV results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Paul Orndorff (8:31) to win the WCW TV Title] A month later, at , Steamboat lost the title to Lord Steven Regal ending Steamboat's TV title reign. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#93|title=Fall Brawl 1993: WarGames results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Steven Regal pinned Ricky Steamboat (17:05) to win the WCW TV Title] At Starrcade 1993, the two faced in a rematch for the title which resulted in a time-limit draw. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/starrcad.html#93|title=Starrcade 1993 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WCW TV Champ Steven Regal drew Ricky Steamboat (15:00)]

United States Champion (1994)

He would also have one last feud over the WCW World Heavyweight Championship with longtime rival Ric Flair, which culminated in a match at Spring Stampede 1994 where the title was briefly held up due to both men's shoulders being pinned at the same time. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/stampede.html#94|title=Spring Stampede 1994 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WCW World Champ Ric Flair NC Ricky Steamboat (32:23)] On April 24, 1994 edition of "Saturday Night" where Flair would defeat Steamboat to reclaim possession of the title. [cite web|date=April 24, 1994|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/wcw94.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1994|work=Angelfire|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ric Flair pinned Ricky Steamboat; due to pre-match stipulations, Flair won the held up WCW World Title] Their final singles match was on "Main Event" in July 1994 which ended on a disqualification when Steve Austin interfered. Steamboat and Flair's last encounter was in a tag team match on July 31 edition of "Saturday Night" where Steamboat teamed with Sting against Ric Flair and Steve Austin. [cite web|date=July 19, 1994|url=http://www.angelfire.com/wrestling/cawthon777/94.htm|title=WCW Show Results 1994|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ric Flair (w/ Sherri Martel) & WCW US Champion Steve Austin defeated Sting & Ricky Steamboat at around the 27-minute mark when Austin pinned Steamboat by grabbing the tights for leverage]

He feuded with US Champion "Stunning" Steve Austin at the moment and earned an US title shot at Bash at the Beach 1994 but lost. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/beach.html#94|title=Bash at the Beach 1994 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=WCW US Champ Steve Austin pinned Ricky Steamboat (20:06)] On August 28 edition of "Clash of the Champions", he got a rematch against Austin where Steamboat hurt his back, but managed to pin Austin for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/clash2.html#XXVIII|title=Clash of the Champions XXVIII results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Ricky Steamboat pinned Steve Austin (16:02) to win the WCW U.S. Title] cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/unitedstates/304454111221|title=Ricky Steamboat's fourth United States Championship reign|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-07] but had to give up the belt due to the injury at Fall Brawl 1994. [cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/usa/wcw/fall.html#94|title=Fall Brawl 1994 results|work=Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments|accessdate=2008-06-07|quote=Steve Austin beat Ricky Steamboat via forfeit to win the WCW U.S. Title]

Steamboat was fired by WCW President Eric Bischoff via Federal Express package (while injured), thus ending a nearly two decade relationship with the Crockett/Turner wrestling organization. He retired for good in September 1994.

After retiring

over which style of wrestling was superior, pure wrestling or hardcore wrestling. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/041015.html|title=ROH Gold results|publisherOnline World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] The two of them had many confontations and managed teams to face one another, but never had a match against each other. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/041016.html|title=Joe vs Punk II results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] Steamboat's last ROH appearance was at Final Battle 2004 where he and Foley finally made peace. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/roh/041226.html|title=Final Battle 2004 results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16]

In early 2005, Steamboat returned to World Wrestling Entertainment as a road agent and was introduced as a WWE Legend at WWE Homecoming in October 2005. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/051003.html|title=RAW results - October 3, 2005|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] In early 2006, Ricky Steamboat told WWE management that he would like to come out of retirement at "WrestleMania 22" and work a match with Ric Flair, but the idea was nixed. Ricky Steamboat has been the special referee in main event matches between John Cena, Triple H, and/or Edge in WWE house shows. In 2006 at the RAW SummerSlam Tour in Australia he was a referee for a match between Cena and Edge for the WWE Championship. He also recently refereed for another title match in July 2007 between John Cena and Randy Orton in Anaheim, CA.

He also has a son named Richie, who races stock cars. On April 1, 2007, he made an appearance at WrestleMania 23 with a karate headband and a muscle shirt while various other former legends (Jimmy Hart, Sgt. Slaughter, Irwin R. Schyster, and Dusty Rhodes) were having a small dance party in the background. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/wrestlemania23.html|title=WrestleMania 23 results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] He also briefly appeared at the Pay Per View, being recognized as a former Intercontinental Champion. [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/wweppv/vengeance07.html|title=Vengeance: Night of Champions results|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16] His most recent appearance on WWE television was at Ric Flair's Farewell on March 31, 2008 edition of "RAW". [cite web|url=http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/results/raw/080331.html|title=RAW results - March 31, 2008|publisher=Online World of Wrestling|accessdate=2008-06-16]

In wrestling

*Finishing and signature moves
**Double chickenwing
**Diving crossbody
**Arm drag
**Body slam
**Double Judo chop
**Knife edge chop
**Neckbreaker slam
**Skin the cat

*Entrance music
**"Sirius" by The Alan Parsons Project
**"Dragon Attack" by Queen
**"Dragon Fire" by Jim Johnston
**"One" by Creed (Used at WWE Raw live shows in Sydney, Australia in 2006 and Puerto Rico in 2007)

Championships and accomplishments

*Maple Leaf Wrestling
**NWA United States Heavyweight Championship "(Mid-Atlantic version)" (1 time)¹

*Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling | World Championship Wrestling
**NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
**NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Paul Jones (2), and Jay Youngblood (1)
**NWA Television Championship (2 times)
**NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**NWA United States Heavyweight Championship "(Mid-Atlantic version)" (1 time)
**NWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)²
**NWA World Tag Team Championship "(Mid-Atlantic version)" (6 times) - with Paul Jones (1) and Jay Youngblood (5)
**WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
**WCW World Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Dustin Rhodes (1) and Shane Douglas (1)
**WCW World Television Championship (2 times)

*World Wrestling Federation
**WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)

*Pro Wrestling Illustrated
**PWI Rookie of the Year (1977)
**PWI Tag Team of the Year (1978) with Paul Jones
**PWI Match of the Year (1987) vs. Macho Man Randy Savage at WrestleMania III
**Match of the Year (1989) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleWar 1989
**PWI ranked him # 7 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1991.
**PWI Editor's Award (1995)

*Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
**Tag Team of the Year (1983) with Jay Youngblood
**Match of the Year (1987) vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania III
**Match of the Year (1989) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleWar
**5 Star Match: (February 20, 1989) vs. Ric Flair at Chi-Town Rumble
**5 Star Match: (April 2, 1989) vs. Ric Flair at
**5 Star Match: (May 7, 1989) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleWar
**5 Star Match: (May 17, 1992) with Sting, Nikita Koloff, Barry Windham, & Dustin Rhodes vs. Rick Rude, Steve Austin, Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton & Larry Zbyszko at WrestleWar 1992
**Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996)

¹During this time, the title was almost exclusively defended in Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. However, on occasion, the title was defended in other promotions through arrangements made with Mid-Atlantic.
²Steamboat wins the title after Ted Turner purchases Mid-Atlantic Championship wrestling from Jim Crockett and renames it World Championship Wrestling.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0089109|name=Ricky Blood
* [http://www.rickythedragonsteamboat.tk The Dragon's Lair: A Tribute To Ricky Steamboat]