http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. In 1970, Scarpa began working for Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation, where his popularity with fans exploded. Then, on December 7, 1976 Strongbow regained his tag team campionship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf. Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 Net Worth 2020 . Follow/Like Us on Before Scarpa even became Strongbow he had carved out an incredible career for himself. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a small shark cage, with the first man to escape being declared the winner. And at this time, the title was a coveted item. The Nutley People were able to believe in what I was doing.". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The Top Ten in All Areas of Pro Wrestling, The Longest Running Pro Wrestling Columnist, Dave Meltzer, Mike Mooneyham, Steve Yohe, Tim Hornbaker, Greg Oliver, Bill Apter, Karl Stern, Scott Teal, wrestlingclassics.com, wwe.com, kayfabememories.com, wrestling-titles.com, The Lapsed Fan podcast, 6:05 Superpodcast, Great Black Heroes Net Worth: Undisclosed. An unfortunate truth about Strongbow is that the end of his career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success. [2][3] He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka (an actual Native American of the Lumbee tribe). Just a tremendous babyface.". 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. Joe Jr. died in 2016 at the age of 48. 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. This type of comeback sequence has been mimicked by many of the years. After several years of traveling to various promotions and gaining experience, he first made his mark in the business while competing in the southern portion of the country, namely, Alabama and Tennessee. Professional Wrestling Online Museum, Copyright 2020 Adscape International, LLC - All Rights Reserved, Dr. George Zahorian Convicted Of Selling Steroids To WWF Wrestlers. Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. During the decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a lot of success with championships. 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. Strongbow's career started in 1947, using . Meet Chief Jay Strongbow, Nutleys Most Famous Pro Wrestler. Related: 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship. community. His career started in 1947, and he wouldnt get the Strongbow character until 1970. As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. His first WWWF Tag Team title came on May 22, 1972 when he teamed with Sonny King to defeat Baron Mikel Scicluna & Curtis Iaukea at New Yorks Madison Square Garden. [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. But the feud with JYD was just to keep him busy until his feud with Santana resumed. A Directions Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. The team quickly fizzled out, and they were separated shortly after being unable to win the titles for a third time. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. community. "[Wahoo] was rough," Valentine said. Read When You Visit, 65 Church And all the while, Valentine was learning. Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. How 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. 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. 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included Instead, Greg got his start training in Stu Harts dungeon, in addition to timely advice from his father. His age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say how he died nor provide a cause. 10/10 He Wasn't Actually Native American. By 1970, Strongbow was working for Vincent J. McMahon's World Wide Wrestling Federation and was now known as Chief Jay Strongbow. On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). [1] He won the NWA (Georgia) Southern Tag Team titles with Chief Little Eagle in Georgia Championship wrestling in 1965. Society, Web site passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. Copyright 2022 Wrestlingfigs.com. Trivia. Scarpa fell at his home in late 2011 and was hospitalized. The pair made their debut on June 5, 1982, defeating Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura.After making their debut, The Strongbows had a number of opportunities to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito, but were unsuccessful. Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. 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. Just like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the territory's No. Still one of the most popular wrestlers in the WWF, in the eyes of the fans, Strongbow was now the "elder statesman" for WWF wrestlers, having been with the promotion for so long. Later, Scarpa excelled in two of the NWAs top promotions, the Georgia and Florida territories, winning the NWA World Tag Team championship (Florida version) with Don Curtis in 1962, the Florida Heavyweight title in 1967, plus the Florida Brass Knuckles championship and the Southern Tag Team championship (w/Jose Lothario), both in 1968. A "Vigilante" who wrestled his first match on April 13, 2013, in his Lou Albano's rulebreaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. [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]. That could be because while he 973-667-1528 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. more: He golfed and fished and lived a peaceful life on his farm in Griffin, Georgia. Wrestlers always need to be thinking of what might be next for them when their career comes to an end. Strongbow wrestled in the NWA territories before joining the WWE in 1970, where he was a big draw for two decades. Friends and fans have left tributes about his time both in and out of the ring online on many websites. Chief Jay Strongbow: 1994 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee | 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. Reprint Information Working for NWA for over two decades, he managed to pick up nearly 20 championships across the various areas that NWA ran. Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . It makes some wonder how much more success he would have had if he took up the Native American character much sooner. was winning world fame, he adopted a ring name and wrestling persona Bad Fads Museum Many people have wondered about his heritage over the years, and unfortunately he wasnt native at all. Founded 1945 He eventually challenged WWWF champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, going to a one-hour draw. dance, and applying an Indian Death Lock hold to an opponent. 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. As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. the educational, cultural and historical needs of our He was inducted into 2 heel in the company, just as he had been for Crockett. (vitag.Init = window.vitag.Init || []).push(function(){viAPItag.display("vi_937032466")}). Just like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the territorys No. He didnt care for a lot of the ga-ga that the WWE was putting on TV at the time. Still, getting the rub from past Native American characters likely helped Tatanka even if the moments were brief. 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, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528, Contact Room Rental, via phone, not email, Call "Back when I started (with WWE), they were paying us in cash," he said. 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. Later on, of course, they started paying by check, and that was kind ofI dont know. He defended the title against the Junkyard Dog at the first WrestleMania, taking a count-out loss and keeping the championship. "You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies.". . 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. 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. to change. Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as his career began in 1947. Web SiteNutley Historical Chief Jay Strongbow's success landed him in the WWE hall of fame, something most people would agree is deserved. 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. "I didnt call spots with those guys," he said. Have a comment about Chief Jay Strongbow? Andre The Giant was the first inductee following his tragic death in 1993, but the first official class came in 1994, of which Strongbow was a part. "But he liked it if you gave it back to him, he respected you. "Don was good because he could lead the match while I was learning in the ring," Valentine said. He laughs, but its easy to see hes only half-kidding. Check-in OnApril 3, 2012, he died in his home in Griffin, Georgia. During his matches, his fans would whoop for him to go on the warpath 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. The former wrestler was laid to rest in Griffin, Georgia. 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. By now, Valentine was ready for his first marquee singles feud, taking on Wahoo McDaniel and, in a memorable angle, "breaking" Wahoos leg. war paint, and toted a tomahawk. After seeking revenge on Patera for the loss of his partner, Strongbow then went on to face the WWWF World Heavyweight champion "Superstar" Billy Graham in a top-drawing feud. After retiring, Chief Jay Strongbow did his best to relax and take care of himself. In 1985, Chief Jay Strongbows career was still going well, but Luke Scarpas health was on the decline. A man who truly loved the wrestling business, when his ring career ended, Strongbow . A memorable match against "Iron" Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. a call to action that he was all too glad to answer by doing a war If the Chief started his War Dance, the tens of thousands of fans in attendance knew the end was near, because no one could (or, perhaps more appropriately, was allowed to) stop him once Strongbow began circling his opponent with his "ancient tribal dance. sponsored by: Email 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. Webmaster 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. "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. [13] Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1994 by Gorilla Monsoon. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. Roddy Piper and Greg Valentine Their Lauded Feud & Dog Collar Match, Championship Belt Maker Dave Millican Shares His Pieces of History, Honky Tonk Man and Greg Valentine | Rhythm and Blues (and Unkept Promises, Too! Official Scarpa's wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name. Society, actor. 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. Chief Jay Strongbow character is often seen as a bit of a misstep in terms of respect for cultures due to Scarpa not actually being Native American, but he commited to it in and out of the ring. Stick To Wrestling with John McAdam & Sean Goodwin is a production of the Arcadian Vanguard Podcast Network. The most notable being the WW(W)F World Tag Team championship, which he won on 4 separate occasions. 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. It may not be utilized much anymore, but Strongbow was a huge reason for the popularity of the Indian Strap match. wrestler. He never recovered and died on April 3, 2012 at the age of 83. 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. It's likely that he was best suited as a talent since he was constantly brought back to help the newer stars. Do you know how much money I could have made with that belt now?". The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just werent the same. 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. "I had to give the belt back to Tito after that angle," Valentine said. "The Chief" was also well-schooled in the science of "rasslin" and had a solid repertoire of moves, such as the Indian Deathlock (a punishing submission move) and several variations of the suplex. Actor: Spectrum Wrestling. [9], 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. In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. Approx. After wrestling in the WWF for 9 years, Strongbow went to work for Georgia Championship Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. 2007) and won more than 100 matches. Bet youve heard of him There may not yet be a physical Hall of Fame, but enshrinement still means a lot, as it places a performer among the immortals. Strongbow understood how the wrestling business works and was never above doing the job in order to help his opponent or the promotions that employed him. 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. development & maintenanceprovided at no cost to Nutley Historical 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. Contact Room Rental, via phone, not email, Call Chief Jay Strongbow? While today's comeback sequences aren't as pronounced as Strongbow's, John Cena and many other top stars employ a signature move sequence that they use every match. home. The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just werent the same. Nationality: United States. hometown of Nutley and who later went on to win his first title on April But, the popular Strongbows were not to be denied and they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982. Strongbow would win more championships in the future, but a challenge for that title is his biggest claim to mainstream fame outside of his WWE Tag Team Championship wins. After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded. Still, having a plan once a career is over is always a good idea. wrestling in its many forms professional wrestlers from our town, great 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. 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. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. "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.". In 1981 he went to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling where he feuded with Kevin Sullivan. Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery Native American temper was ignited. Born Luke Joseph Scarpa, he was an Italian-American man from New Jersey. 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. 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 eventually challenged WWWF champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, going to a one-hour draw. It was impossible not to, as the feathered war bonnet that he donned to play the role of Chief Jay Strongbow was easy to spot. Museum Only sparse details about the death of Chief Jay Strongbow have been made known to the public. 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. 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. If a wrestler could get past Strongbow, a title opportunity often followed. you think that it was all a harmless charade, it wasnt. wrestling team (1962) and head coach for the NHS wrestling team (1994 to 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. Valentine again won the world tag titles, this time with Baron Von Rasche. [Photo courtesy of @allan_cheapshot on Twitter]"Oh, Flair was great," Valentine said. These days, Valentine still wrestles fairly regularly while also working the convention and autograph circuit. Jim Crockett always paid by check, but in the early WWF, they always paid cash. When Luke Scarpa stepped into the wrestling ring, everyone noticed. He was buried in Griffin, Georgia. Wrestling Legend Chief Jay Strongbow Dead at 83. photo: wwe.com. 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. Society, 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. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly.
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