Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat

Background
Rick Steamboat was born on (my b-day) February 28, 1953 in Honolulu, HI. He based his career in Charlotte, NC, where he has also owned several gyms, as well. He began his wrestling career there in 1976 in the Mid-Atlantic area. His real name is Richard Blood. Steamboat is also married to his wife of over a decade (Bonnie) and has a son named Richard, who is an amateur wrestler. In fact, in a recent issue of P.W.I., it was reported that Richard has wrestled against Reed Flair - son of "Nature Boy" Ric Flair! Contrary to popular belief, however, The Dragon is not a 2nd generation wrestler.

As mentioned above, Steamboat began his career in 1976. Almost innediately, he began his career by challenging for Ric Flair's Mid-Atlantic TV title, which he won in 1977. He would also win the Mid-Atlantic tag team title with Paul Jones that year, as well.

The 1st world title.
In April of 1978, Steamboat teamed with Paul Jones to win his first of an eventual eight world tag team titles (with 4 different partners) by winning a 10-team tournament, for the titles stripped from Ric Flair and Greg Valentine. Speaking of Flair, Steamboat would also continue his heated feus with "The Nature Boy", sparked by winning 2 U.S. titles over Flair, albeit having relatively short reigns. In 3 years, no superstar in recent memory had won so many titles.

Steamboat & Jones' glory was short lived. They lost the straps in July of 1978, and would eventually have a bitter separation, thus beginning a bitter feud. Steamboat would gain a measure of revenge by eventually finding a new partner - Jay Youngblood, and regain the world tag team titles in 1979, by defeating Jones and his new partner, Baron Von Raschke. Their reign would last for only 2 months, but they would regain the straps in 1980 from Ray Stevens, and another old rival, Greg Valentine. This reign, however, would be even shorter, as Valentine and Stevens would regain the titles 6 weeks later.

The feud of the Century continues.
For Steamboat, his first five years had brought him much success. The U.S. title. the TV title. 3 world tag team title reigns. Now, there was only one goal left to achieve - to be the world Heavyweight champion. Steamboat would battle AWA champion Nick Bockwinkel to a draw in 1980, and battle Harley Race for the belt in 1981, before his old rival Ric Flair won the belt in 1981.

At the time, Flair and Steamboat had become friends, even tag team partners against the likes of Greg Valentine, Iron Sheik, Ivan Koloff, Roddy Piper, and others, but as any other wrestler in the world would, Steamboat wanted the gold, and by early 1982, Their friendship had dissolved into a bloody feud. At one point, mega-heel Flair had his clothes torn to shreds by Steamboat on TV. Steamboat, however, was unsuccessful in his attempts, and soon turned once again to the tag team ranks.

1983 tag team wars.
Steamboat and Youngblood began teaming regularly again, and after winning the Mid-Atlantic titles (Steamboat's 4th time) in 1982, they began receiving shots at the World tag team titles, then held by Sgt. Slaughter and Don Kernodle. For months, they fought a bloody war all throughout the Carolinas, Virginia, and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic territory. However, the champions would continually get themselves disqualified to keep the titles. Then, on March 12, 1983, in front of one of the greatest crowds in history, a Steel Cage match was held for the titles. In a pure bloodbath, Steamboat and Youngblood would finally win the straps for the third time.

In the spring of 1983, Steamboat & Youngblood were challenged by their "friends" Jack & Jerry Brisco to a scientific non-title match on Mid-Atlantic TV. During the match, Jerry Brisco accidentally fell on Steamboat's knee, seriously injuring it, thus destroying their freindship, and resulting in an exciting series of bouts, which led to the Briscos defeating Steamboat & Youngblood for the belts. They would quickly regain them, but lose them again to the Briscos. Finally, As part of Starrcade 83', this ugly feud would culminate in a spectacular match, which saw Steamboat & Youngblood win the belts (for a fifth time - 6th overall for Steamboat) in decisive fashion from the Brisco Brothers. Steamboat then decided to end his eight-year career at the age of 31 and concentrate on running his gym in Charlotte, NC on Christmas Day, 1983.

Steamboat's return

Steamboat's retirement was short lived. By the following March, he was back in the ring, and in April, he won his third U.S. title by defeating the always tough Dick Slater, thus putting himself in line for a shot at the world champion - Ric Flair. On May 21, 1984, The NWA would return to the Meadowlands area for the first time in 20 years. The card was headlined by a showdown between Flair and Steamboat. Steamboat was confident, considering that he had beaten Flair for the U.S. title on two previous occasions. Flair, however, would retain the title. After losing the U.S. title in controversial fashion to Wahoo McDaniel - a match in which he had a chair smashed over his head by Tully Blanchard, he challenged for Blanchard's NWA Television title. Plagued by a series of injuries, as well as the interference of Baby Doll (Tully's valet), Steamboat was unable to win the title, and a short time later, would leave the NWA.

WWF: Rick Steamboat becomes "The Dragon"
Steamboat appeared in the WWF in the summer of 1985, and began using the nickname of "The Dragon" (I believe that it was given to him by ring announcer Howard Finkel, but I could be wrong). During a match with the hated Magnificent Muraco, Steamboat was hung over the top rope by Muraco and his manager, Mr. Fuji. This began a heated feud, which was dominated by Steamboat. However, on many occasions, Steamboat was attacked after the bell, on one point having salt thrown into his eyes.

WWF Match of The Decade
October 20 1986. Steamboat receives a shot at Randy Savage's Intercontinental title after over a year in the WWF. Savage, frustrated by his inability to figure out Steamboat's style, got himself DQed, and then savagely (no pun intended) attacked Steamboat, jabbing him in the throat from the top rope with the timekeepers bell. Steamboat suffered a crushed larynx as a result, and was thought to have reached the end of a magnificent career.

In January, however, Savage was wrestling George Steele when out of nowhere, The Dragon's music blared and out came Steamboat. He wanted Savage with a vengeance. He wanted revenge, and he would get it.

At Wrestlemania 3, Steamboat and Savage put on a ***** wrestling clinic, regarded by many as one of the top 10 WWF matches of all-time, even voted the all-time best by WWF RAW magazine, and easily winning the P.W.I. match of the year for 1987. In the end, The Dragon (with help from George Steele) would win his first WWF gold - the Intercontinental title, in front of a then record indoor crowd (and still 3rd all-time) to see a wrestling match, as over 93,000 people watched The Dragon get the win.

Retirement #2
Steamboat would lose the gold in a major upset to the Honky Tonk Man the following June, then would become lost in the WWF shuffle, eventually retiring in April of 1988 after losing to Greg Valentine in the first round of a tournament to determine a mew WWF champion.

The return of the Dragon, and The Feud of The Century is reborn.
In January of 1989, 2 of the dreaded four horsemen - Ric Flair and Barry Windham were involved in a feud with "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert in the NWA/WCW area, when Gilbert promised that he would have a mystery partner to take them on. In one of the most shocking developments in the history of wrestling on TBS, THE DRAGON RETURNED AS THE MYSTERY PARTNER of Gilbert. Much worse, Steamboat pinned Ric Flair to win the match for his team. A match was quickly signed, and the hype leading up to it was huge. Five days before their battle, Ric Flair held a public workout, when The Dragon interrupted and tore his clothes to shreds, building even more hype to their February 20, 1989 showdown in Chicago, IL.

The Dragon finally achieves his goal.
On February 20, 1989, in Chicago, IL, at the age of 36, Rick "The Dragon" Steamboat finally achieved his longtime goal. He defeated Ric Flair for the NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE! His wife and son were there to join in the celebration as a new world champion was crowned.

Steamboat and Flair would battle in several of the decade's greatest matches, until on May 7, 1989, Flair would regain the belt at the first Wrestle War, in what has been called by many the match of the decade (and 1989's match of the year). After a brief, unspectaculer feud with Lex Luger, The Dragon retired for a third time.

Up to his old mysterious tricks again.
Steamboat would return for a brief period in 1991 to the WWF, and began bringing a torch to the ring, and "igniting the flame (as though he were breathing fire)" in another attempt by the WWF to insult the intelligence of it's fans. Like we don't know that he has wine in his mouth. This, in my opinion, was the ultimate low point in the career of The Dragon, and he quickly left the WWF. Around that time, in WCW, Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham were feuding with The Enforcers (Arn Anderson and Larry Zbysko), when an upcoming match between the two teams was placed in jeopardy, when Zbysko slammed Windham's hand in a car door, breaking it in two places, (and resulting in Windham's hand being taped for the next 14 months). Rhodes was in desperate need of a partner. Match time came, and Windham came down in street clothes to introduce Dustin's new partner - RICKY THE DRAGON STEAMBOAT!!!!!

Prepared for Windham and Rhodes, The Enforcers didn't have a chance. Steamboat and Rhodes won the straps in convincing fashion, but would lose them 2 months later to Arn Anderson and Bobby Eaton.

The Dragon and The Dangerous Alliance.

It was then that Steamboat received many shots at the U.S. title, held by Rick Rude. Unsuccessful in his attempts, The Dragon continued to feud with the DANGEROUS Alliance (Arn Anderson, Bobby Eaton, Larry Zbysko, Rick Rude, and Steve Austin), and targeted Steve Austin's WCW TV title. After a memorable series of matches, Steamboat finally won the TV title in September of that year.

In late 1992, Steamboat began teaming with up and coming superstar Shane Douglas. The two were referred to as "a perfect blend" by The Wrestler. The team would ultimately win the World tag team titles - Steamboat's eighth, and hold on to them for nearly four months (The longest reign of the eight), before losing them to Steve Austin and Brian Pillman (The Hollywood Blonds).

After a brief reign as WCW TV champion in 1993, Steamboat was awarded a shot at WCW champion Ric Flair in March of 1994. This one, like all of their previous meetings, was a classic. Steamboat placed a double-armed chicken wing hold on Flair, and pinned him. The problem was, at the same time, Steamboat's shoulders were also pinned to the mat. The result was a double pin, and the world title was held up by WCW commisioner Nick Bockwinkel. 2 weeks later, after an inadvertant (for once) low blow by Flair, "The Nature Boy" would win the held-up title. Steamboat would then resume his feud with now-U.S. champion Steve Austin, culminating in his fourth U.S. title win on August 24, 1994.

That was Steamboat's last career highlight. A month later, he was forced to vacate his throne with back injuries suffered by Austin, and was forced to retire for the 4th and final time at the age of 41.

Interesting facts about the Dragon:
* In addition to his four U.S. title victories, also made it to the finals of a U.S. title tourney 3 times (1980 - vs. Jimmy Snuka, 1981 - vs. Sgt. Slaughter, 1993 - vs. Dustin Rhodes.)

* No one has more NWA/WCW tag team title reigns that Steamboat (eight)

* One of only six men (Dusty Rhodes, Flair, Sting, Windham and Luger being the others) to hold every WCW (Heavyweight) title.

* One of only six men (Valentine, Piper, Dustin Rhodes, Austin, & Mr. Perfect being the others) to hold both the Intercontinental and U.S. titles.

* In 18 years as a pro, never wrestled as a rulebreaker.

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