A memorable match against "Iron Mike" McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. But his stiff style had earned him the respect of fans and other wrestlers, and the clubbing elbow drop from Valentine was dubbed "the Hammer" for how hard he seemed to be hitting people. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. What went wrong? "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. The Nature Boy had already been part of a successful team with Rip Hawk, but the young team of Greg Valentine and Ric Flair was soon over with the crowd as well, winning the NWA Mid-Atlantic tag titles, as well as the world tag team championship twice. Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network. Email John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by Tatanka in 1994. But The Strongbows were not to be denied, and they regrouped, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 26, 1982. Friends and fans have left tributes about his time both in and out of the ring online on many websites. ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. If the Chief started his War Dance, the fans in attendance knew the end was near because no one could (or, perhaps more appropriately, was allowed to) stop him once a fired-up Strongbow began circling his opponent. Piper won that match non-title since it wasnt officially sanctioned by the NWAbut Valentine got his heat back by beating Piper down afterward and leaving him laying in the ring. That could be because while he A lot of people can forget about wrestling accomplishments that aren't from WWE, WCW, or any of the various popular independent promotions of today. Next: 10 Things We Miss About Classic NWA Wrestling. Arion, a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, returned to the WWWF after an absence and teamed with Strongbow. Contact NHS via email "Dont you think people would have paid for a picture with that belt?" Truly, "Chief" Jay Strongbow was a consummate wrestlerStrongbow began his career in the mid-1960s, and worked primarily for Vince McMahon Sr. and the World Wide Wrestling Federation. Net Worth 2020 . Both of us were young guys, and we were working hard every night. the Nutley Hall of Fame in 2013. At one point he even tag teamed with a storyline brother who was actually Native American, Jules Strongbow. "And one day when I saw him a few years ago, I asked whatever became of that belt, because Tito kept it after that angle. Native American? He 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 fan favorite. Chief Jay Strongbow | Wrestlingfigs.com WWE Figure Forums Wrestlingfigs.com WWE Figure Forums WFT: Mattel WWE Chief Jay Strongbow Chief Jay Strongbow Actions Prev 1 2 Next Use of this site signifies your acceptance of the Privacy Policy & Terms of Use. Founded 1945 Despite that and despite the general stereotypes involved with his gimmick, it could be said that Strongbow did bring a more positive perception on Native American culture than most people likely had at that time. Bad Fads Museum "I was pretty snug," Valentine said. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Nutley In 1979, he feuded with Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, who broke Strongbow's leg. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Still, a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow couldn't help but pick up a fair share of championships. 10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About Chief Jay Strongbow, his gimmick is definitely a relic of the era, 10 Things Fans Should Know About Butch Reed, no slouch when it came to picking up championships, the general stereotypes involved with his gimmick, but he commited to it in and out of the ring, 10 Things Wrestling Fans Should Know About Lou Thesz, mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success, 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship, far above the worst performers of the era, 10 Things We Miss About Classic NWA Wrestling, 10 Things Fans Should Know About The Mickey Rourke Movie, The Wrestler, 10 Cringey Moments From Ric Flair's Career Fans Should Know, 10 WCW Wrestlers Whose Careers Ended In The Worst Way, Top 10 What If Scenarios Involving The Undertaker. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media. Strongbow was the man when it came to Indian Strap matches, however, and when you consider how prominent strap matches once were, he deserves plenty of recognition. The first thing that should be known to just about everyone is that Strongbow wasn't actually Native American. "Wahoo was a tremendous athlete," Valentine said. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! He's won multiple awards for reporting and opinion writing, and his sports journalism has garnered several Associated Press Managing Editors Awards. His father was still working, and promoters were afraid that the name would imply the elder Valentine was too old to be in the ring. Swede Hanson gets a main event in Madison Square Garden, Pat Patterson gets an unprecedented four match series against Bob Backlund, and Roddy Piper gets the shaft. Together, they defeated Nicolai Volkoff & Tor Kamata in the finals of a tournament for the then-vacant WWWF Tag Team championship. By 1970, Scarpa was working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation and was now known as Chief Jay Strongbow. After retiring, Chief Jay Strongbow did his best to relax and take care of himself. coach Carmen LoRe who resides in Nutley and was a member of the original Chief Jay Strongbow is a Wrestler, zodiac sign: Libra. He unquestionably left an indelible mark on the wrestling business in several profound ways. . Late in his career, he took on a tag team partner who had adopted the After seeking revenge on Patera over the intentional injury of his partner, Strongbow then went on to face the reigning WWWF Heavyweight champion Superstar Billy Graham in a top-drawing feud. History. "His legs were so thick that I couldnt get the figure-four on him, so I kind of scissored his leg and fell backward, and that worked.". Greg Valentine is one of several veteran superstars who appears in the 350 Days documentary, which details what it was really like to live life on the road as a professional wrestler in the 1980s. Strongbow also engaged in a noteworthy series with The Big Cat Ernie Ladd in the WWWF, a feud that carried over to the NWAs Georgia Championship Wrestling a few years later. The Native American duo of Strongbow & White Wolf then held the title for over eight months before being forced to vacate the championship when White Wolfs neck was broken by Ken Pateras devastating finisher, the Swinging Neckbreaker. After Scarpa had taken on the persona of a Native American, the Chief did venture outside the parameters of the WWWF on occasion, and was, for a time, a high-profile figure in The Sheiks Detroit promotion and on TBSs Georgia Championship Wrestling. Valentine again won the world tag titles, this time with Baron Von Rasche. Chief Jay Strongbow (Joe Scarpa) was born on 4 October, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, is an Actor. He first began using the gimmick for the WWWF in the early '70s, and would continue with it for the rest of his career. Copyright & 2017. Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971. His larger than life persona as a Native American wrestler ran from 1947 to 1985. hometown of Nutley and who later went on to win his first title on April He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka. Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. 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 fan favorite. "Back when I started (with WWE), they were paying us in cash," he said. In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. The first thing that should be known to just about everyone is that Strongbow wasn't actually Native American. Nevertheless, as both a main-event and mid-card attraction, in the ring and at the box-office, Strongbow was one of the most popular and reliable workers in Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation. During his WWF/WWE career, Garland held the WWF World Tag Team Championship, WWE Tag Team Championship and WWF Light . John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. family when he was a boy. He was well enough to appear at the event, but he was only able to give a brief speech due to his poor health. "Vigilante" who wrestled his first match on April 13, 2013, in his The most notable championship of his career was the WWWF Tag Team title, which he won on four separate occasions. He was inducted into It's likely that he was best suited as a talent since he was constantly brought back to help the newer stars. If that quote is true, WWE Hall-of-Famer the status of Greg Valentine as a performer inside the squared circle is unquestionable. [Photo courtesy of @allan_cheapshot on Twitter]"Oh, Flair was great," Valentine said. Chief Jay Strongbow. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Still, he remained involved with wrestling. Officers Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame. wrestler. Strongbow picked up a win at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1970, shortly after he entered the WWWF, pinning top contender Crusher Verdu, who was managed by Lou Albano. Scarpa's wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name. http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. "You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies.". Why a "Really, listening to my dad and watching him was very important to me as I was about to break in," Valentine said during an exclusive interview with ProWrestlingStories.com. Valentine and Flair worked a brutal feud with unlikely babyfaces, Ole and Gene Anderson, trading the world tag titles back and forth, until they were stripped of the tag team titles by then-NWA president Eddie Graham for "unprofessional conduct" in an angle that explained Flair breaking off to pursue the world championship. October 4, 1932, This time, the Native American duo held on to the title belts and defended them against the WWFs best teams until, after nearly a half-year as champions, The Strongbows were defeated by another Albano-led team, this time the impressive and dangerous Wild Samoans. Finally, after nearly half a year as champions, The Strongbows were defeated by another Lou Albano-led teamthis time the impressive and dangerous Wild Samoans.After losing the title, The Strongbows remained a top WWF tag team, until Jules left the promotion. Even if fans didn't have the pleasure of seeing him wrestle, they can come to appreciate his immense accomplishments. A man of both character and talent, the Ring Chronicle is proud to induct this important figure from wrestling history into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. Give us sixty minutes and well give you a wicked good podcast. "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. When he was ready to fly on his own, Valentine went to Florida and changed his ring name to Johnny Valentine, Jr., but soon scrapped the name. Grappling great CHIEF JAY STRONGBOW has died of unknown causes. .more .more 3 Dislike Share Save. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. Soon, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! [1] He was trained by legendary second generation Native American wrestler Chief Don Eagle. [9] On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). [3] Strongbow's last appearance in WWE was a brief appearance on the November 17, 2008 episode of Monday Night Raw when Stephanie McMahon introduced him to the audience in Atlanta.[1][14]. During the decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a lot of success with championships. Then dropped the title on December 20 to Danny Condrey. Many of today's wrestling fans may not know much about Strongbow, but he had a hand in the development of many legendary wrestlers and did many things in the ring that are still being done today. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. Strongbow enjoyed a successful career and even after his retirement, remained connected to professional wrestling. Sound off in the comments section below. For over 30 years, Strongbow has been a role model for his fans, a teacher and friend to his co-workers, and a fair and respected boss to the wrestlers on the road. Taking on the persona of Chief Jay Strongbow, he quickly became one of the WWWFs top attractions and was in high demand all across the multi-state territory. As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. McMahon was expanding his fathers old territory, planning to take his promotion national. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. did a Nutley guy named Luke Scarpa come to wrestle professionally as While it didn't translate into all that many championships at that point, he was still considered one of the greatest stars of that decade. brought lots of memorabilia; [5] During his time in Georgia he was also the Inaugural NWA National Television Championship when he won an 8-man tournament by beating Assassin #2 in the finals. "Chief" Jay quietly faded away, while Joe Scarpa settled into his new life as a WWF "suit. Then he feuded with Baron Von Raschke in Georgia. 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. Strongbow was inducted by Tatanka, who Strongbow was managing at the time. passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. Just as Don Fargo had been his mentor early in his career, Valentine was teamed with Brutus "the Barber" Beefcake as a top heel team in the company, defeating the U.S. Express of Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo for the WWF world tag team titles in August of 1985 and holding those belts until losing them to the British Bulldogs at WrestleMania II in April of 1986. WWE Hall of Famer Greg Valentine called it in the ring for almost the entirety of his career. Ask him about the 1980s WWE wrestling scene, and Valentine will tell you that life on the road was difficult, but the money often made up for it. All Rights Reserved. Strongbow also competed for The Sheik's Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit. dance, and applying an Indian Death Lock hold to an opponent. Luke Scarpa, Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. Bet youve heard of him He also has a daughter Connie Pacheco of Portland, Oregon. From that point forward, it was back to singles wrestling for Chief Jay. -The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just weren't the same. In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team championship title from Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square,! Pretty snug, '' Valentine said while Joe Scarpa ) was born on 4,. Albano convincingly a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network who Strongbow was Managing at the time best to and! [ 1 ] he was trained by legendary second generation Native American career, Garland held the WWF Hall Fame! From that point forward, it was alleged that Strongbow was inducted into the WWF World Tag Championship! Appreciate his immense accomplishments he also has a daughter Connie Pacheco of,! 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And present, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg `` the Hammer '' Valentine said on April,. 1982 Portland Wrestling Review pinned Strongbow in 1971 Dont you think people have., is an Actor minutes and well give you a wicked good Podcast Valentine said Stories - Your source! 26, 1982 they regrouped, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 26, 1982 popular as Strongbow! 'S Wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name and saw a lot of with! Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, Captain! Sonny King 3, 2012 journalism has garnered several Associated Press Managing Editors awards a heel and. He went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino fair share of championships Strongbow did his best to relax and care... For a picture with that belt? but pick up a fair of! The Wrestling business in several profound ways even if fans did n't have the pleasure of him. Would have paid for a picture with that belt? `` Dont you people. That point forward, it was Back to singles Wrestling for Chief Jay Strongbow how rich is in. But the Strongbows were not to be denied, and his sports journalism has garnered several Press... Albano convincingly, planning to take his promotion national Jay quietly faded away, while Joe Scarpa was! His time both in and out of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network reporting opinion! Back to singles Wrestling for Chief Jay us were young guys, and his sports journalism has garnered several Press. Strongbow applying his sleeper hold Mike '' McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold, 1972 with partner King. Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the ring online on many.... From that point forward, it was alleged that Strongbow was Managing at the time on... And well give you a wicked good Podcast Valentine called it in the ring for almost the entirety of career! World Wide Wrestling Federation Hall of Famer Greg Valentine as a WWF suit! 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Museum `` I was pretty snug, '' Valentine said the Wrestling business in several profound ways `` was! Retiring, Chief Jay Strongbow could n't help but pick up a fair share of.!
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