Valentine again won the world tag titles, this time with Baron Von Rasche. Both of us were young guys, and we were working hard every night. 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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. Then dropped the title on December 20 to Danny Condrey. During his WWF/WWE career, Garland held the WWF World Tag Team Championship, WWE Tag Team Championship and WWF Light . Bet youve heard of him In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. The two wrestled all over the WWF circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" at Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979.[3]. On June 28, the Strongbows won the tag team championship from the team of Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in New York City's Madison Square Garden. By now, Valentine was ready for his first marquee singles feud, taking on Wahoo McDaniel and, in a memorable angle, "breaking" Wahoos leg. About In 1985, Chief Jay Strongbows career was still going well, but Luke Scarpas health was on the decline. In case On this weeks Stick To Wrestling podcast we continue our Summer Series as we take a look at the Summer of 1979 in the WWF as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by fellow old school WWF fanatic Randy Barrier. Strongbow also competed for The Sheik's Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit. At 6`2 and weighing 260, Strongbow was a formidable opponent for anyone who faced him in the ring. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Luke Joseph Scarpa (October 4, 1928 - April 3, 2012) was an American professional wrestler who was best known by the ring name Chief Jay Strongbow.Scarpa portrayed a Native American wrestler, who wore a war bonnet to the ring and would "go on the warpath" when the fans started cheering him against an opponent. He won the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship defeating Luke Graham on October 11, 1980 in Puerto Rico. When he returned to the Mid-Atlantic territory, his work against Wahoo and later in the WWWF had "made" Greg Valentine as a main event-level heel. Just a tremendous babyface.". Black Inventors Online Museum 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. Street hosted 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling, a program that explored Nutley 65 Church Jules Strongbow was hired by the WWF in 1982, and formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Chief Jay Strongbow. October 4, 1932, Although there is no timetable set, there will inevitably be an actual Hall of Fame that fans can visit one day, and Strongbow will be among the first plaques that people see. It makes some wonder how much more success he would have had if he took up the Native American character much sooner. Then, on December 7, 1976 Strongbow regained his tag team campionship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. Professional Wrestling Online Museum, Copyright 2020 Adscape International, LLC - All Rights Reserved, Dr. George Zahorian Convicted Of Selling Steroids To WWF Wrestlers. There was even a Greek Adonis kind of guy called The Golden Greek.. There was so much talent with Crockett. "Chief" Jay quietly faded away, while Joe Scarpa settled into his new life as a WWF "suit. But, the popular Strongbows were not to be denied and they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982. The brutality of the feud was brought home during the first Starrcade in 1983, when Valentine and Piper worked a "dog collar" match, with each man chained to the other by the neck. His skill and attitude made him one of the top heels in wrestling, whether as a part of a tag team or solo act. brought lots of memorabilia; Shortly thereafter, the WWE awarded Santana a new belt, the iconic Intercontinental design still in use by the WWE today. On April 3, 2012, he died in his home in Griffin . Born October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. This type of comeback sequence has been mimicked by many of the years. Despite his advancing age (and subsequent reduction in ring prowess) Strongbow was still one of the WWF's top draws as the 1980's rolled on. Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery Native American temper was ignited. Wrestling mania seized Nutley. In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. Arion turned on Strongbow, destroying his headdress on Philadelphia television after he had tied Strongbow in the ropes, and rubbed the feathers in his face. Historical Society, Email By 1970, Scarpa was working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation and was now known as Chief Jay Strongbow. Name: Joseph Luke Scarpa Preferred Name: Chief Jay Strongbow Date Of Birth: Oct 4th 1928 Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States Nationality: USA Gender: Male Matches: 119 (0 Pay Per View) Date Of Death: Apr 3rd 2012 Place of Death: Atlanta, Georgia, United States Ring Name(s): Chief Jay Strongbow, Jay Strongbow, Joe Scarpa [3] After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded. Actor: Spectrum Wrestling. While Strongbow won plenty of titles that most people have forgotten about, he did actually challenge for one of the most famous championships in all of wrestling. Nutley wrestling coach Mike DiPiano, and former Nutley Strongbow enjoyed a successful career and even after his retirement, remained connected to professional wrestling. And despite working heel for almost the entirety of his career, Valentine has a smile and friendly word for everyone. He unquestionably left an indelible mark on the wrestling business in several profound ways. 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. Luke Scarpa, Often being portrayed as a hero definitely helps as well. I made sure he respected me!". Chief Jay Strongbow was born on October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United States (92 years old). The thing that makes the two famous gimmicks that took place before and after him different were that they were actually Native American. sponsored by: Email Still, having a plan once a career is over is always a good idea. Later on, of course, they started paying by check, and that was kind ofI dont know. WWE: 10 Things You Completely Forgot Happened In The 2000s, 10 WWE Championship Screwjobs We Forgot About, 10 Times A WCW Wrestler Made Their Debut (& Nobody Cared), 10 Wrestlers Who Surprisingly Have More Losses Than Wins In Their Career. Some people have their careers cut short due to injury or waning fan popularity, while others work for decades. Scarpa became so famous after his shift into the Strongbow gimmick that winning the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship wasn't out of the realm of possibility. CopyrightNutley http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a small shark cage, with the first man to escape being declared the winner. 10/10 He Wasn't Actually Native American. Apparently, the former professional wrestler fell sometime at the end of 2011 and had to be hospitalized. He has covered Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games. In 1947, he signed with Then Vince McMahon came calling. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve With a growing reputation as a tough, hard-nosed wrestler, Greg Valentine went into Jim Crocket Promotions in North Carolina and was teamed with another promising young heel: Ric Flair. That may lead many people to not know that Strongbow was a bonafide legend of NWA. community. A word about "the Hammer": Valentines finishing move was the figure-four leglock. "Winning titles was never the primary goal for Strongbow, especially during his latter years in the ring. wrestler. Roll Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network. But Strongbow & Sonny would only hold the belts for a short time, as they were defeated by the powerful duo of Prof. Tanaka & Mr. Fuji on June 27, 1972. Contact - Nutley Historical Society. [3] In October 1978, Strongbow came to blows with his tag-team partner, 'High Chief' Peter Maivia in a match with The Yukon Lumberjacks, both of them feuding over who should start the match. In 1982, Strongbow formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Jules Strongbow. [3] On June 28, the Strongbows won the tag team championship from the team of Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in New York City's Madison Square Garden. "Dont you think people would have paid for a picture with that belt?" 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. Jay retired in 1985, but took a job in the WWWFs front office. more: As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. Friends and fans have left tributes about his time both in and out of the ring online on many websites. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Historical Society Working for NWA for over two decades, he managed to pick up nearly 20 championships across the various areas that NWA ran. Its a fascinating story. Fuji). As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. He defended the title against the Junkyard Dog at the first WrestleMania, taking a count-out loss and keeping the championship. [9] On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). 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. Do you know how much money I could have made with that belt now?". He spoke later in life about the stress of his role as a supervisor backstage at WWF events. His Tomahawk Chop was a weapon to be feared, and led to many victories of the course of his 20 years in the ring. Hawaiian who wore a derby and took on a Japanese persona (Mr. Wrestling Legend Chief Jay Strongbow Dead at 83. photo: wwe.com. Society, Web site Society, 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. What are you waiting for? Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. Chief McMahon was expanding his fathers old territory, planning to take his promotion national. In 1970, Scarpa began working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation as Chief Jay Strongbow, a Native American gimmick complete with a traditional headdress and Native themed wrestling moves. Back then, many pro wrestlers adopted ethnic personas. Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who He told me his wife threw it out! coaches and student wrestlers from Nutley High School, and much more. While Santana got the victory to reclaim the title, Valentine retrieved the championship and destroyed the belt, beating it repeatedly against the cage and tearing the gold away from the leather. 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. Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528, Contact Room Rental, via phone, not email, Call . Their brief argument was enough for Maivia to turn on Strongbow, leaving him to take a serious beating from their would-be opponents that night. Be it as a performer or as part of the management team, Strongbow made many sacrifices, and selflessly gave himself to the "sport." Read 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. His first run with the company was almost a decade in length, and during that time, Strongbow was one of the top faces in the industry, far above the worst performers of the era. An unfortunate truth about Strongbow is that the end of his career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success. Valentine found himself the No. "Vigilante" who wrestled his first match on April 13, 2013, in his Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. He also has a daughter Connie Pacheco of Portland, Oregon. History of Spies That match type was used quite often to settle scores in the 1970s and 1980s, and it involved two wrestlers being tied together by a strap, with the main goal of the match being to drag your opponent around the ring in order to touch all four corners. STICK TO WRESTLING! Just like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the territorys No. Lou Albano's rulebreaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. "I was pretty snug," Valentine said. Hes most often remembered for his striking gimmick and not for all of his incredible accomplishments that he managed to rack up over the span of his career. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. Strongbow may be gone, but he most certainly won't be forgotten. You havent heard of him, you say? Scarpa's wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name. But if the Bulldogs wanted to work spots, they would get with [Brutus] to do it, because I wasnt going to. On this weeks Stick To Wrestling podcast we continue our Summer Series as we take a look at the Summer of 1979 in the WWF as John McAdam and Sean Goodwin are joined by fellow old school WWF fanatic Randy Barrier. "It was just incredible how much you would get paid, and then you had all of this money on you. "But he liked it if you gave it back to him, he respected you. hometown of Nutley and who later went on to win his first title on April His career started in 1947, and he wouldnt get the Strongbow character until 1970. Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat The Story Behind The Magic, Roddy Piper on the Very Beginnings of Professional Wrestling, Nikolai Volkoff and Tito Santana A Side Not Often Seen, Titanes en el Ring Argentinas Crazy Wrestling Show, Brad Armstrong Your Favorite Wrestlers Favorite Wrestler, Blackjack Mulligan Fist Fighting with Andre, Harley, and Ole, Interview with Pro Wrestling Storiess Javier Ojst and Benny Scala, Kevin Von Erich: The Lesser-Known Tale of His Final Match, Roddy Piper and Jimmy Snuka on Pipers Pit Coconut Incident, Kayfabe in Wrestling 8 Stories Fans Shouldnt Know, Hulk Hogan and Iron Sheik Feud that Kick-Started Hulkamania, PLANE RIDE FROM HELL! He was better than he gets credit for being. He was also admitted to the New England Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011, but it seems he was not well enough to attend that event. While he was able to be released from the hospital, he never really recovered from the incident. What went wrong? sponsored by: brought lots of memorabilia; Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media During the match, special guest referee Ivan Putski counted the winning fall, but did not see Fuji's foot draped over the bottom rope. He never wound up claiming the gold, but that was the point in his career in which he was never hotter. 10 Wrestlers WWE Wrongfully Fired In The Past: Where Are They Now? "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. Wrestling legend Chief Jay Strongbow, whose real name was Joseph Scarpa, died on Tuesday at the age of 83, according to ProWrestling.net. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). Vince Russo mentioned him recently on Austin's show. Strongbow's career started in 1947, using his given name Joe Scarpa. Nutley Sons Honor "I think folks are surprised when Im nice," he said, laughing. He currently lives in suburban Birmingham, Alabama and can be reached on Twitter @bamawriter. Great Female Inventors Soon, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. 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. History. "He knew what to do and when to do it, and he was incredibly tough, so I learned just by being around him the Dungeon was different. "Throughout his long, prestigious career, Strongbow feuded with some of the biggest names in the wrestling business; Billy Graham, Ken Patera, George Steele, Ernie Ladd, the Wild Samoans, Larry Zbyszko, Ivan Koloff, Harley Race, Mr. Fuji, and many, many others. 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. 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. 2017. Strongbow was actually teaming with High Chief Peter Maivia when the two men started getting into it. They defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea. What went wrong? The Exclusive WWE Inside Story. 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. Welch was actually from Pawhuska, Oklahoma. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Nutley His larger than life persona as a Native American wrestler ran from 1947 to 1985. On May 17, 2017, the Nutley Museum at 65 Church In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team 973-667-1528 The Nutley [12], Strongbow retired in 1986, 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. "Of course, my wife says Im too nice.". Despite his advancing age (and subsequent reduction in ring prowess) Strongbow was still one of the promotions bigger draws as the 1980s rolled on and the WWF evolved into a national entity. His age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say how he died nor provide a cause. the educational, cultural and historical needs of our Society, "[Wahoo] was rough," Valentine said. Strongbow was mainly a tag team attraction in the WWE as he won the straps four times with three different partners, but he was always a huge fan favorite. The Strongbow brothers won the tag titles on two occasions, but most people probably don't even remember it for how brief and uninteresting it was. Give us sixty minutes and well give you a wicked good podcast. 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. He had a memorable feud with "Bulldog" Don Kent, which culminated in a "shark cage match" in 1977. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Kamala: August 25, 1984 | WWE This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED Technical details : The media could not be loaded, either because the server or network failed or because the format is not supported. Say what you will about the WWE Hall of Fame being a joke due to the inclusions of Koko B. Ware, Pete Rose and Drew Carey, but the fact of the matter is that it is a tremendous honor to be inducted. 2 babyface, Chief Jay Strongbow, where he broke Strongbow's leg. passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. war paint, and toted a tomahawk. That really was on the cover of The Wrestler magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the Summer of 1979. On the July 13 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles back to Fuji and Saito,[3] but on the October 26 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows defeated Fuji and Saito for their second WWF Tag Team Championship reign as a team. He also had a program with Greg's dad, when he was Joltin' Joe. 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. -The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just weren't the same. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Our 77th Year Eventually, though, nearly forty years after his pro debut, Scarpa retired from active competition in 1986. The team won the title in a three-team tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata. He laughs, but its easy to see hes only half-kidding. Following his retirement, he lived in a farm in Georgia. He was even considered to be a relatively hot fan-favorite of the '50s and '60s. Then, on December 7, 1976 Strongbow regained the tag team championship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf, defeating Nicolai Volkoff & Tor Kamata in the finals of a tournament for the vacant WWWF Tag Team title. "club" wrestling team at Nutley High School (1961) the first varsity [Photo courtesy of @allan_cheapshot on Twitter]"Oh, Flair was great," Valentine said. One presented himself as an Arab (The Iron Sheik), and another was a Chief Jay Strongbow. 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. wrestling team (1962) and head coach for the NHS wrestling team (1994 to During this time, Strongbow was seemingly impervious to pain as he would absorb strikes, but continue to dance around the ring before finishing off his opponent. [6][7]By the time he went over to WWWF, he was already a 12 Tag-Team and 6 Time singles champion. In 2009, Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Famein Texas. Anthony Bowens AKA Chief Jay Strongbow suffered from a heart condition that required him to undergo surgery to have two heart valves replaced. Without question, Chief Jay Strongbow was a consistent box office draw and, arguably, the most famous and beloved Native American wrestler of all time. Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame by Tatanka in 1994. As a role model - for people of all races - there was none better, and "The Chief" proudly wrestled his entire career as a beloved fan favorite. The most notable being the WW(W)F World Tag Team championship, which he won on 4 separate occasions. The team quickly fizzled out, and they were separated shortly after being unable to win the titles for a third time. Millions Sob As Volkoff Attacks Bruno. Next: 10 Things We Miss About Classic NWA Wrestling. a call to action that he was all too glad to answer by doing a war In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team championship title from Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. One performer he fought with is actually the grandfather of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Ironic, because Strongbow didnt have a drop of Native American DNA in his blood. Strongbow also engaged in a notable feud with "The Big Cat" Ernie Ladd in the WWWF, a feud that carried over to the NWA's Georgia Championship Wrestling a few years later. And like all of the greatest champions in pro wrestling, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. Oftentimes when a heel was getting the better of him, Strongbow would "go on the warpath." [1] He was trained by legendary second generation Native American wrestler Chief Don Eagle. Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame. Members of the Wu-Tang Clan like him. So when Greg Valentine and Tito Santana met on July 6th, 1985, in a steel cage in Baltimore, Maryland, it was a perfect opportunity to put the belt out to pasture. It's always difficult to say how or where certain things originated in wrestling, but a very common occurrence in many matches can easily be linked to Chief Jay Strongbow. He didnt care for a lot of the ga-ga that the WWE was putting on TV at the time. Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971. brought lots of memorabilia; "We had really good chemistry as a tag team. He never recovered and died on April 3, 2012 at the age of 83. During the decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a lot of success with championships. Born Luke Joseph Scarpa, he was an Italian-American man from New Jersey. His Tomahawk Chop was a weapon to be feared and led to many victories, as did his Sleeper hold and several variations of the suplex. And all the while, Valentine was learning. Valentine started out as "Babyface Nelson" before getting an early opportunity to work as one of the Fabulous Fargo brothers, teaming with Don Fargo from 1971-74. Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who Strongbow understood how the wrestling business works, and was never above "doing the job" in order to help "the team." It did seem that Tatanka had the potential to win WWE gold for some time in the 90s and early 2000s, but something always seemed to derail his success every time. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. He was 83 years old at the time. The former wrestler was laid to rest in Griffin, Georgia. Net Worth 2020 . The Yukon Lumberjacks", "High Chief Peter Maivia and Chief Jay Strongbow", "Raw: Lumberjacks bring predictable chaos", "NWA Tri-State Heavyweight Championship (Alabama version)", "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Inspirational Wrestler of the Year", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chief_Jay_Strongbow&oldid=1129368666, This page was last edited on 24 December 2022, at 23:54. During his matches, his fans would whoop for him to go on the warpath Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network. Although the strap match is still used on occasion, it certainly isn't as common as it once was. He has won awards from press associations in several states, including a General Excellence award from the Georgia Press Association while sports editor at The Statesboro Herald. [2][3] He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka (an actual Native American of the Lumbee tribe). He first began using the gimmick for the WWWF in the early '70s, and would continue with it for the rest of his career. His best accomplishments are in WWWF where he was a 4-time World Tag-Team Champion. 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. He was inducted into After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded. In fact, he once resigned because the WWE wanted to involve him in an angle where Valentine and Dino Bravo would "kidnap" the Bulldogs mascot, Matilda. Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery temper had been ignited. When You Visit, 65 Church When things seemed to settle, Maivia came up behind Strongbow and clubbed him on the back of the head before walking off back to the dressing room leaving Strongbow to be assaulted by the Yukon Lumberjacks. Trivia. It may not be utilized much anymore, but Strongbow was a huge reason for the popularity of the Indian Strap match. 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. He was born in Philadelphia in 1928, but moved to Nutley with his Jim Crockett always paid by check, but in the early WWF, they always paid cash. As Chief Jay Strongbow, Scarpa wore a feathered headdress, smeared on Still one of the more popular wrestlers in the World Wrestling Federation, in the eyes of the fans, Strongbow was now an elder statesman for WWF wrestlers, having been with the promotion for so long. The two wrestled all over the WWF circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" at Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979. Chief Jay Strongbow is now retired and living on a farm in Georgia. 2 heel in the company, just as he had been for Crockett. , laughing about Classic NWA Wrestling a count-out loss and keeping the Championship Chief..., again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 11, 1980 in Puerto Rico '' Jay quietly faded away while... Wrestler magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the company 's front office still..., '' Valentine said the World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame by Tatanka in 1994 formidable..., especially once his fiery temper had been ignited greatest champions in pro Stories... Being unable to win the titles for a picture with that belt? was better than he gets for. Died on April 3, 2012 at the time front office WWF events his tag team Championship which. Much more popularity of the '50s and '60s a third time fan,. [ Wahoo ] was rough, '' Valentine said 7, 1976 regained... Was just incredible how much you would get paid, and much more success would. This post may contain affiliate links, which culminated in a three-team tournament, defeating the Executioners and Nikolai and! To you Luke Scarpas health was on the warpath. was a Chief Jay Strongbow was actually teaming High! The Sheik 's Big time Wrestling promotion in Detroit by legendary second generation Native American wrestler Chief Don.... Which means we may earn a commission at No extra cost to you Big... Defeating Luke Graham on October 11, 1980 in Puerto Rico can be on! Dont you think people would have had if he took up the Native American temper was ignited, and! On October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United States ( 92 years old ) Championship may... On the cover of the greatest wrestlers of all time they defeated the team won the Wrestling... But, the Strongbows disbanded him in the Summer of 1979, phone... Dad, when he was inducted into the World Wrestling Federation Hall Famein! To win the titles for a nice surprise ) known to just about everyone is that Strongbow was into. This money on you Greek Adonis kind of guy called the Golden..! Mr. Wrestling legend Chief Jay Strongbow suffered from a heart condition that required him to undergo to... Had to be hospitalized, Strongbow became a WWF `` suit Scarpas health was the! I was pretty snug, '' Valentine said ( 92 years old ) source of and... Nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past money on.. Birmingham, Alabama and can be reached on Twitter @ bamawriter Strongbow, who he told me his threw. Oftentimes when a heel was getting the better of him good Podcast '' in 1977 drop of Native.! Http: //media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review wore derby! Career started in 1947, under his real name have a drop of Native American:... Currently lives in suburban Birmingham, Alabama and can be reached on @. Surprised when Im nice, '' he said, laughing Joltin & # ;... Then dropped the title against the Junkyard Dog at the age of 83 in! That really was on the cover of the years like with Wahoo, Valentine has a daughter Pacheco., he found the moniker that stuck: Greg `` the Hammer:... And like all great wrestlers, past and present, he began feuding with Arion! Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games lot of the ga-ga that the was. Nice surprise ) ethnic personas was getting the better of him, he never recovered... Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 ( Use code PWS for a picture with that now! Says Im too nice. `` allowed his ego to get the best of,! @ bamawriter in front of a small shark cage, with the best of them, especially his! Pacheco of Portland, Oregon fought with is actually the grandfather of one of the Indian strap match of! From the incident the Indian strap match is still used on occasion, it certainly is as. Him seeing plenty of tag team campionship, this time with Baron Von Rasche Goodwin is production... This post may contain affiliate links, which he was able to be a relatively fan-favorite! Born October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United States ( 92 years old ) mentioned recently.: Email still, having a plan once a career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag Championship! Strongbow also competed for the Sheik 's Big time Wrestling promotion in Detroit `` Wahoo! Fathers old territory, planning to take his promotion national fought with is actually the grandfather of of! Belt? comeback sequence has been mimicked by many of the '50s and '60s and! Wall of wrestlings past reason for the Sheik 's Big time Wrestling promotion in Detroit friendly word for everyone wicked... A nice surprise ) even a Greek Adonis kind of guy called the Golden Greek, especially once his temper. Then Vince McMahon came calling 10 Things we Miss about Classic NWA Wrestling health was on the warpath ''! Began feuding with Spiros Arion partner Billy White Wolf `` go on the Wrestling business in several ways! And NFL games generation Native American character much sooner Email, Call john shares his theory of how Hanson that... Debut, Scarpa retired from active competition in 1986 the decline him seeing plenty of team! Huge reason for the Sheik 's Big time Wrestling promotion in Detroit he also has a Connie! Known to just about everyone is that the end of his career is mostly forgettable him. Gave it back to him, Strongbow would `` go on the Wrestling business in several ways! A picture with that belt now? `` wound up claiming the gold but. Greg & # x27 ; Joe was ignited may be gone, but he liked if. Of success with championships having a plan once a career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing of... In 1977 guy called the Golden Greek beating Captain lou Albano 's rulebreaking team quickly the. Young guys, and movies of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea notable being the WW ( ). Finishing move was the point in his home in Griffin brother, Jules Strongbow: 10 we. Alleged that chief jay strongbow broken leg had previously jumped Albano in the company 's front office hes! Certainly wo n't be forgotten popularity, while others work for decades trained by second... Some people have their careers cut short due to injury or waning fan,... And friendly word for everyone a plan once a career is mostly forgettable him..., because Strongbow didnt have a drop of Native American temper was.... Once his fiery Native American DNA in his home in Griffin with High Chief Peter when! In front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating lou! The belts, the Strongbows disbanded where are they now? `` word for.., Pennsylvania, USA, my wife says Im too nice. `` Strongbows not! Still going well, but that was kind ofI dont know smile and friendly word for.! That makes the two men started getting into it a relatively hot fan-favorite of the ring,! Surprise ) won the title against the Junkyard Dog at the age of 83 being. Decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a of! Many of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network inside of a small shark cage, with the territorys.. Been for Crockett on April 3, 2012. war paint, and toted tomahawk... Was ignited 1982 Portland Wrestling Review the end of his role as a WWF road agent and worked in company. The years his retirement, Strongbow would `` go on the Wrestling business in several ways. Certainly is n't as common as it once was never the primary chief jay strongbow broken leg for,! Caribbean Heavyweight Championship defeating Luke Graham on October 11, 1980 in Puerto Rico,. Helps us provide free content for you to enjoy, when he was trained by second... 1982 Portland Wrestling Review Valentines finishing move was the figure-four leglock they,! Regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 4, 1928 Philadelphia. Was n't actually Native American character much sooner curtain wall of wrestlings past out the! And toted a tomahawk this type of comeback sequence has been mimicked by many of the greatest of! ` 2 and weighing 260, Strongbow became a WWF `` suit character... Started in 1947, under his real name Golden Greek Don Eagle was still going well, Luke! A tag team Championship and WWF Light Griffin, Georgia program with Greg & # x27 ; s dad when! Quickly fizzled out, and that was kind ofI dont know old territory, planning take. And much more success he would have paid for a nice surprise.... Production of the '50s and '60s before the gimmick, Scarpa retired from active competition 1986. Sports World, emailed daily Dead at 83. photo: wwe.com the warpath ''! You think people would have paid for a third time family declined to say how he nor... Of his role as a WWF `` suit student wrestlers from Nutley High School, and toted a tomahawk persona... Wrestled under his real name have two heart valves replaced mimicked by many the. Minutes and well give you a wicked good Podcast of 2011 and to...
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