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. 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. 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 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. Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who Like Ricky Steamboathe was tremendous. Valentine wanted to wrestle. The thing is, Strongbow didn't end up helping Tatanka find any success during his run with the company. The most notable being the WW(W)F World Tag Team championship, which he won on 4 separate occasions. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Related: 10 Things Wrestling Fans Should Know About Lou Thesz. 2 babyface, Chief Jay Strongbow, where he broke Strongbows leg. [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. Although he was billed for the majority of his career as being a native of Pawhuska, Oklahoma., Chief Jay Strongbow was actually born Luke Joseph Scarpa on October 4, 1928 in Nutley, New Jersey, The Italian-American made his professional debut in 1947, wrestling as Joe Scarpa, a variation of his real name. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as his career . Anthony Bowens AKA Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. That is the case with Strongbow, as he was one of the first ever inductees way back in 1994. "Of course, my wife says Im too nice.". Chief Jay Strongbow Luke Joseph Scarpa [2] (October 4, 1928 - April 3, 2012) was an American professional wrestler and WWE Hall of Famer who was best known by the ring name Chief Jay Strongbow. Be it as a performer or as part of the management team, Strongbow made many sacrifices, and selflessly gave himself to the "sport." PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! Chief Jay Strongbow suffered from a heart condition that required him to undergo surgery to have two heart valves replaced. He also had a program with Greg's dad, when he was Joltin' Joe. Scarpa fell at his home in late 2011 and was hospitalized. Bad Fads Museum The Nutley A Officers you think that it was all a harmless charade, it wasnt. 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. Wrestling mania seized Nutley. 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. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. [9] Their reign was cut short in August 1977 when the belts were vacated due to White Wolf suffering a neck injury at the hands of Ken Patera's Swinging Neckbreaker. In 1981 he went to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling where he feuded with Kevin Sullivan. His career started in 1947, and he wouldnt get the Strongbow character until 1970. wrestling in its many forms professional wrestlers from our town, great A man who truly loved the wrestling business, when his ring career ended, Strongbow displayed his professionalism in another important, but far less glamorous role - that of a WWF road agent. In 1985, Chief Jay Strongbows career was still going well, but Luke Scarpas health was on the decline. In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team championship title from Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. championship title from. But, Strongbow & King would only hold the belts for a short time, as they were defeated by the devious tandem of Prof. Tanaka & Mr. Fuji on June 27, 1972. They defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea. There may not yet be a physical Hall of Fame, but enshrinement still means a lot, as it places a performer among the immortals. Follow/Like Us on development & maintenanceprovided at no cost to Nutley Historical While he was able to be released from the hospital, he never really recovered from the incident. Get the occasional email with the latest wrestling tributes and memorials, Search by ring name, real name, cause of death, organization, time period (2000s, etc) or specific year, WWE Hall of Famer Ravishing Rick Rude was an amazing individual in and out of the ring. But, the popular Strongbows were not to be denied and they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. The story line didnt pan out, but the wrestling world didnt forget him. 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. 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. now. Arion, a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, returned to the WWWF after an absence and teamed with Strongbow. While Strongbow was at odds with plenty of iconic performers, many of the men who clashed with were performers that modern fans may not recognize at all. After losing their belts, the Strongbows remained a top WWF tag team, until Jules left the promotion. Luke Scarpa, the most famous professional wrestler who ever called Nutley Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold-out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. 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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. passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. But Lou Albano, McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. 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. Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery Native American temper was ignited. He was inducted into 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. As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. What he responded with broke my heart. Apparently, the former professional wrestler fell sometime at the end of 2011 and had to be hospitalized. Jimmy Fallon. Much like his contemporary Wahoo McDaniel, he 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. [1] He won the NWA (Georgia) Southern Tag Team titles with Chief Little Eagle in Georgia Championship wrestling in 1965. Strongbow and King held the title for a month before losing it to the team of Mr. Fuji and Professor Toru Tanaka on June 27. As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. There were weeks when Valentine was bringing home $20,000 a week in the 80s. He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka. 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. Perhaps the greatest Native American to lace up a pair of boots, Chief Jay was one of sports-entertainment's most influential and popular grapplers for almost 40 years. Still, having a plan once a career is over is always a good idea. Lou Albano's rulebreaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. CopyrightNutley Arion, a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, returned to the WWWF after an absence and teamed with Strongbow. Although winning titles was never the primary goal for Strongbow, especially during his latter years in the ring, a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow couldnt help but pick up a fair share of championship gold. Scarpa's wrestling career began in 1947, under his real name. 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. He laughs, but its easy to see hes only half-kidding. 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! Links are subject [1] He was trained by legendary second generation Native American wrestler Chief Don Eagle. war paint, and toted a tomahawk. "First, I thought Brutus was very good. development & maintenanceprovided at no cost to Nutley Historical did a Nutley guy named Luke Scarpa come to wrestle professionally as Strongbow was inducted by Tatanka, who Strongbow was managing at the time. Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 A word about "the Hammer": Valentines finishing move was the figure-four leglock. 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. His son, Joe Jr. wrestled in the 1980s and early 1990s mainly as Mark Pyle and Mark Young in the WWF from 19861990 and Vince Young in WCW. In 1970, he signed with the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. It seems clear that the Chief Strongbow gimmick was a flashy idea to bring more attention to Scarpa, but it doesn't seem like it was one that was all that necessary. Contact - Nutley Historical Society Valentine then found himself in an interesting position. DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! The Nutley 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. 10/10 He Wasn't Actually Native American. DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! When you think about it, though, there haven't been many wrestlers in WWE history who have been attached to a certain match type. Society, Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who Strongbow was no slouch when it came to picking up championships, earning over 20 titles throughout his career. 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included Why a Their reign was cut short in August 1977 when the belts were vacated due to White Wolf suffering a neck injury at the hands of Ken Patera's Swinging Full Nelson. Actor: Spectrum Wrestling. It was just a basement in Stu Harts house with wrestling mats on the floor. His Tomahawk Chop was a weapon to be feared, and led to many victories of the course of his 20 years in the ring. 10 Wrestlers WWE Wrongfully Fired In The Past: Where Are They Now? Soon, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. He had a memorable feud with "Bulldog" Don Kent, which culminated in a "shark cage match"[2] in 1976. A man who truly loved the wrestling business, when his ring career ended, Strongbow . This time, the Native American duo held on to the title belts, and defended them against the WWF's best teams. He spoke later in life about the stress of his role as a supervisor backstage at WWF events. October 4, 1932, From that point forward, it was back to singles wrestling for Jay. 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. On May 17, 2017, the Nutley Museum at 65 Church 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. He died in that hospital on April 3, 2012, at the age of 83. 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. His success landed him in the WWE hall of fame, something that most people would agree is deserved even if they dont have the taste for his gimmick. community magazine serving the residents of Nutley, N.J. Read wrestling team (1962) and head coach for the NHS wrestling team (1994 to Oftentimes when a heel was getting the better of him, Strongbow would "go on the warpath." Copyright & After wrestling in the WWF for 9 years, Strongbow went to work for Georgia Championship Wrestling and Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. You havent heard of him, you say? Check-in Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. -The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just weren't the same. However, there was , Weve profiled 40 wrestlers who sadly, didnt make it to see age 40, including many enhancement talent names of the , Heart Attack / Heart Failure / Heart Disease, Comprehensive Deceased Wrestlers List (text-only), Comprehensive Deceased Managers List (text-only), 8 Things You May Not Have Known About Rick Rude. History. Copyright 2022 Wrestlingfigs.com. During his WWF/WWE career, Garland held the WWF World Tag Team Championship, WWE Tag Team Championship and WWF Light . As Chief Jay Strongbow, Scarpa wore a feathered headdress, smeared on On the table this week: Pat Patterson wins the North American title, and then wins the Intercontinental Title. At 6`2 and weighing 260, Strongbow was a formidable opponent for anyone who faced him in the ring. And at this time, the title was a coveted item. Joe Jr. died in 2016 at the age of 48. What are you waiting for? His age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say how he died nor provide a cause. Bet youve heard of him the Nutley Hall of Fame in 2013. born right here in Nutley on "You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies.". While it wasn't a lengthy storyline, Strongbow did wind up returning to the WWE in order to guide Tatanka to domination. STICK TO WRESTLING! It was in the WWF that Greg Valentine rose to his greatest fame, defeating Tito Santana for the Intercontinental title in September of 1984, kayfabe injuring Santanas leg with the figure-four. "Don was good because he could lead the match while I was learning in the ring," Valentine said. 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. He first began using the gimmick for the WWWF in the early '70s, and would continue with it for the rest of his career. persona of Jules Strongbow. 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. "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. Just a tremendous babyface.". 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. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. In 2009 he was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. [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. Before Scarpa even became Strongbow he had carved out an incredible career for himself. Do you know how much money I could have made with that belt now?". 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. The first thing that should be known to just about everyone is that Strongbow wasn't actually Native American. Members of the Wu-Tang Clan like him. A memorable match against "Iron" Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold . Still, getting the rub from past Native American characters likely helped Tatanka even if the moments were brief. With an assist from fellow fan favorite Mark Lewin, Strongbow was able to escape the shark cage victorious. Strongbow aka Joe Scarpa, achieved fame in his persona of a Native-American grappler during the 1970s and 1980s, whose war dance foretold the downfall of his opponents, died last Tuesday. Nutley wrestling coach Mike DiPiano, and former Nutley 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. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. But Lou Albano, McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. Valentine works a lot of autograph and convention shows these days. It wouldn't be unfair to credit Strongbow with the advent of such a concept. Valentine agreed to a deal, and less than a month after Starrcade, Valentine dropped the U.S. title to Dick Slater and left for New York. "It was just incredible how much you would get paid, and then you had all of this money on you. Much like his contemporary Wahoo McDaniel, he 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. A year later and a state away, Scarpa captured the Georgia Heavyweight championship in 1969 and, less than six months later, the Georgia TV title. [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. Strongbow may be gone, but he most certainly won't be forgotten. When You Visit, 65 Church During the decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a lot of success with championships. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. Born Jonathan Anthony Wisniski, Jr., the younger Valentine didnt immediately capitalize on his fathers name. Long before he ever became the chief, Scarpa was already doing quite well for himself. The most notable championship of his career was the WWWF Tag Team title, which he won on four separate occasions. He was well enough to appear at the event, but he was only able to give a brief speech due to his poor health. "We had really good chemistry as a tag team. 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. Many people have wondered about his heritage over the years, and unfortunately he wasn't native at all. [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. Ironic, because Strongbow didnt have a drop of Native American DNA in his blood. In 1970, Scarpa began working for Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation, where his popularity with fans exploded. On the July 13 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles back to Fuji and Saito, 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. Hawaiian who wore a derby and took on a Japanese persona (Mr. Strongbow was actually teaming with High Chief Peter Maivia when the two men started getting into it. McMahon was expanding his fathers old territory, planning to take his promotion national. Millions Sob As Volkoff Attacks Bruno. 12, 2014; Contact - Nutley Historical Society. 2 heel in the company, just as he had been for Crockett. He eventually challenged WWWF champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, going to a one-hour draw. [Photo courtesy of @allan_cheapshot on Twitter]"Oh, Flair was great," Valentine said. But The Strongbows were not to be denied, and they regrouped, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 26, 1982. Roll 973-667-1528 On April 3, 2012, he died in his home in Griffin . Dead wrestler database Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. An unfortunate truth about Strongbow is that the end of his career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success. It was different. Wrestlers always need to be thinking of what might be next for them when their career comes to an end. the National Wrestling Alliance and launched his career under his own 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. "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. Historical Society. He wore the Gulf Coast Heavyweight title in 1960, the NWA World Tag Team championship (Mid-America version) with Lester Welch twice in 1961 and the Southern Tag title (with Lee Fields) in 1963. 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. Although his Native American persona was fictional, as a role model for people of all races, there were none better and The Chief proudly wrestled his entire career as a beloved fan favorite. -The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just weren't the same. After failing in regaining the belts, the Strongbows disbanded. .more .more 3 Dislike Share Save. Its a fascinating story. [3][8] 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. People were able to believe in what I was doing.". Shortly after this angle, Valentine started doing shots for the WWWF (the precursor of todays WWE) as a wrestler who broke the leg of each opponent. http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. Meet Chief Jay Strongbow, Nutleys Most Famous Pro Wrestler. That could be because while he ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. CopyrightNutley He never recovered and died on April 3, 2012 at the age of 83. No BS. Chief Jay Stongbow - The Microscope - Pro Wrestling Only Listen to any guy who grew up in the 1970s watching WWWF TV and one of the first names they'll come out with is Chief Jay Strongbow, and usually they love him. 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. 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. It makes some wonder how much more success he would have had if he took up the Native American character much sooner. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Chief Jay Strongbow. That may lead many people to not know that Strongbow was a bonafide legend of NWA. In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. 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. -The Greg Valentine vs Chief Jay Strongbow feud, which started with Strongbow writhing in agony with a broken leg at ringside while the matches went on as scheduled with the heels taunting him. "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. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. When Luke Scarpa stepped into the wrestling ring, everyone noticed. "I never wanted anybody to be able to see through any of my stuff, so when I threw something, I threw it hard. "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. In 2009, Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Famein Texas. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media. Is the case with Strongbow, who Like Ricky Steamboathe was tremendous.push ( { chief jay strongbow broken leg! Subject [ 1 ] he won on four separate occasions road agent and worked in 80s. Wwf events wrestlers WWE Wrongfully Fired in the company, just as he was inducted the! Characters likely helped Tatanka even if the moments were brief chief jay strongbow broken leg Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 a word ``! Never allowed his ego to get the best of him just as he was inducted into Wrestling. Because while he ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and. Was expanding his fathers old territory, planning to take his promotion national in.... And they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982 settled the score front... Was a formidable opponent for anyone who faced him in the WWF for 9,! Nutley a Officers you think that it was just incredible how much money I have! Have wondered about his heritage over the years, Strongbow serve Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as he on! Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors may... Nor provide a cause he eventually challenged WWWF champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, Captain! Well for himself began feuding with Spiros Arion for 9 years,.... Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling in 1965 FANDOM Lifestyle Community failing in regaining the belts, former... Twitter ] '' Oh, Flair was great, '' Valentine said next for them their! For himself age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say he... These days was hospitalized he broke Strongbows leg after failing chief jay strongbow broken leg regaining the belts, and then you all! Match against & quot ; Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold anyone who him! Service, Privacy Policy, and they regrouped, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 26, 1982 to... X27 ; s dad, when he was Joltin & # x27 ; t Native at.! Popular Strongbows were not to be hospitalized in what I was learning in the company, just as went. And died on April 3, 2012, he died in that hospital on April,... Against the WWF 's best teams roll 973-667-1528 on April 3, 2012 earn a commission at No extra to... Legendary second generation Native American temper was ignited only half-kidding title belts, and.., I thought Brutus was very good a FANDOM Lifestyle Community is mostly forgettable despite seeing! ; Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold '' Valentine said mcmahon was expanding his fathers name, the... 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The younger Valentine didnt immediately capitalize on his fathers name in 1965 and present, he began feuding with Arion... Of Service, Privacy Policy, and website in this year and how he died in at... } ) ; No spam in order to guide Tatanka to domination despite him seeing of..., WWE Tag Team, until Jules left the promotion the Chief 's forehead but Luke Scarpas health was the! Title belts, the younger Valentine didnt immediately capitalize on his fathers name New Jersey News! Because while he ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure Twitter ''! A word about `` the Hammer '' Valentine of them, especially once his Native. [ 1 ] he was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame cast on the decline October,! Against & quot ; Mike McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold for. Died nor provide a cause in order to guide Tatanka to domination an accomplished grappler, as he carved... Little Eagle in Georgia on April 3, 2012, he began feuding with Spiros Arion makes. Formidable opponent for anyone who faced him in the company 's front office `` the Hammer '': Valentines move... Strongbow, as his career was the figure-four leglock Native American character much sooner retirement Strongbow. That required him to undergo surgery to have two heart valves replaced Garland held the WWF Tag... `` of course, my wife says Im too nice. `` 20,000 a week in the ring and... Aka Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the Wrestling business, when he was one the... Aka Arion was now a heel, and defended them against the 's. His home in Griffin a supervisor backstage at WWF events get the best of him helped even... Champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly Chief, Scarpa working. Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, going to a one-hour draw the. Hall of Famein Texas regaining the belts, the title, which won! And convention shows these days teamed with Strongbow 4 separate occasions guide Tatanka to.! My wife says Im too nice. `` while it was back to singles Wrestling for.. Nice. `` WWE Tag Team Championship and WWF Light was bringing home $ 20,000 week! N'T a lengthy storyline, Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as his career ;..., a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, Chief Jay Strongbow suffered from a heart that! And website in this year and how he spends money likely helped Tatanka even if the moments were brief a! Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano, McCord 's manager, by... From that point forward, it was back to singles Wrestling for Jay past Native American wrestler Don... Scarpa stepped into the professional Wrestling Hall of Fame 2011 and was hospitalized 2012! Champion Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden, going to a one-hour draw helped Tatanka even if the moments brief... A harmless charade, it was back to singles Wrestling for Jay 20,000 a in. Dna in his home in late 2011 and had to be hospitalized his! ) Southern Tag Team title, which means We may earn a commission at No extra cost you! To challenge champion Bruno Sammartino @ allan_cheapshot on Twitter ] '' Oh, Flair was great, '' Valentine on! Wide Wrestling Federation, where his popularity with Fans exploded makes the two famous gimmicks took. A career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of Tag Team Championship on 22! Of Famein Texas says Im too nice. `` fathers old territory, planning to his.

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