Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat is a former NWA World Champion and is the only man in
history to have won the NWA World, NWA United States, WCW United States, WWF
Intercontinental, NWA World Tag, WCW World Tag and WCW World Television Titles.  
The only major championship that seemed to elude him was the WWF World Title, but
circumstances played a part in his bid for that belt.  Steamboat, upon retirement, had
established himself as one of the most talented and accomplished athletes the sport had
ever seen.

The longtime fan favorite from Hawaii made his professional debut in February 1976.  
Many assumed that Rick was a descendant of Sam Steamboat, but the two were not
related in any way.  It wasn’t long after his debut that he was strapping a major singles
belt around his waist.  He competed in the Mid-Atlantic Region, a region which had a
deep talent pool.  In November 1977, Steamboat beat “Nature Boy” Ric Flair for the
United States Title.  He lost the belt to another tough matman, Blackjack Mulligan.  He
beat Flair to regain the belt in December ’78.  The win came at Maple Leaf Gardens in
Toronto on December 18th.  It was either win the title or lose his hair.  Steamboat chose
to win the belt.

In 1979, Steamboat received a rare shot at the AWA World Title while holding the U.S.
Title.  Nick Bockwinkel traveled to the Mid-Atlantic region and gave Steamboat the match.  
He lost when Bockwinkel used a foreign object.  Steamboat lost the U.S. Belt on April 1,
1979 to Flair.  After Flair won the tag title, the U.S. Belt was declared vacant.  Steamboat
enlisted to participate in the crowning of a new champion.  A 12-man tournament was
announced.  On September 1st in Charlotte, Steamboat was ousted in the finals by Jimmy
Snuka.  He formed a tag team with Jay Youngblood.  No one would understand just how
successful the two would become.

On October 23rd, Steamboat and Youngblood beat Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke
to capture the NWA World Tag Title.  In April of the next year, Ray Stevens and Greg
Valentine took the NWA Title, but Steamboat and Youngblood regained it on May 10th in
Greensboro.  Jimmy Snuka and Stevens finally won the title in Greensboro on June
22nd.  The two separated for some time to concentrate on other things throughout the
nation.  In 1983, the two reunited.  On March 12th in Greensboro, Steamboat and
Youngblood captured their third NWA World Tag Team Title from Sgt. Slaughter and Don
Kernodle in a cage match.

They received a challenge from the Brisco Brothers and the two teams engaged in a
brutal and violent feud.  On June 18th, the Briscos took the belts in Greenville.  Things
were far from being over.  On October 3rd, Steamboat and Youngblood regained the title
to begin their fourth reign.  On the 21st of that month in Richmond, Jack and Jerry Brisco
beat them and won their second championship.  Promoters arranged the card for the
initial Starrcade event on November 24th in Greensboro and a Steamboat and
Youngblood-Briscos World Title Match was signed.  Steamboat and his partner won their
fifth NWA Tag Title.  An amazing accomplishment.  They lost the belts in early January in
Charlotte to Don Kernodle and Bob Orton Jr.

During the early months of 1984, Steamboat went into retirement.  The layoff would not
last long.  He returned in April.  At the Greensboro Coliseum, Steamboat defeated Dick
Slater to capture the NWA United States Heavyweight Title for the third time on April 21,
1984.  A “Night of Champions” was held on May 29, 1984 in New Jersey’s Meadowlands
Arena.  Steamboat was matched up against Ric Flair for the NWA World Title.  He lost a
close match.  Tully Blanchard interfered in Steamboat’s defense of the U.S. Title on June
24, 1984 against Wahoo McDaniel in Greensboro.  McDaniel walked away with his fourth
championship win but promoters decided to immediately hold-up the title.

Steamboat, rather than attempt to regain the belt, joined the World Wrestling Federation.  
He teamed with the popular Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo to beat the Iron Sheik,
George Steele and Nikolai Volkoff in Uniondale on May 10, 1985 during the first showing
of Saturday Night’s Main Event.  He engaged in a feud with Mr. Fuji’s Don Muraco in the
middle months of 1985.  The two battled viciously throughout the country.  During his
WWF Stint, Steamboat used the theme song from the film, “2001,” the same song Ric
Flair used.  He wrestled Mr. Fuji in a one-on-one contest on November 2, 1985 in
Hershey, Pennsylvania and beat the manager.  During Saturday Night’s Main Event,
Steamboat teamed with the Junkyard Dog to beat Fuji and Muraco on January 4, 1986 in
Tampa.

On November 22, 1986, Steamboat suffered an injury to his throat while facing the WWF
Intercontinental Champion, Randy Savage on WWF Television.  Savage initially landed a
move from the top rope onto Steamboat on the arena floor.  The maneuver pushed
Steamboat throat first over the metal railing.  When back in the ring, Steamboat faced
further damage.  A ring bell across his throat was delivered from Savage off the third turn-
buckle.  He was carried from the ring and was out of action for several weeks.  He
returned and returned big.  The feud was one of the hottest in the organization, but within
a four-month spread, Steamboat had dominated competitors and was firmly in range for a
grudge match against Savage for the I-C Title.

The match was scheduled for the Pontiac Silverdome on March 29, 1987 at WrestleMania
III.  93,173 fans witnessed the bout live and what they got was one of the best matches of
the decade.  Steamboat ended up pinning Savage with a small package to win the title in
a scientific encounter.  George Steele had accompanied Rick to the ring and played a
part in the ending.  The Steamboat-Savage is one of the best matches in WrestleMania
History and a highlight on any “Best of” reel.

Steamboat remained the champion for several months until he was upset by the Honky
Tonk Man, and his manager, Jimmy Hart later in 1987.  He also feuded with Rick Rude.  
He teamed with Savage and three others on November 26, 1987 at the first Survivor
Series pay-per-view to beat Honky Tonk, Ron Bass, Danny Davis, Harley Race and
Hercules.  In early 1988, the WWF World Heavyweight Title became vacant due to some
controversy.  A tournament was scheduled for WrestleMania IV in Atlantic City.  In attempt
to list that achievement amidst the belts he had already captured, Steamboat entered the
bracketing.  In the first round, he was accompanied by the “Little Dragon,” his son, to the
ring.  Steamboat was pinned by Greg Valentine and eliminated.  It was a stunning loss.  If
he was have won, Steamboat would have wrestled Savage in the second round.  A
possible rematch of WrestleMania III that never happened in Atlantic City.  Steamboat
finished his remaining dates in the organization and went into retirement once again.

He returned to the NWA in early 1989.  After years of attempts and capturing nearly
every other title in the Alliance, Steamboat recognized a dream in Chicago on February
20, 1989.  The night was presented on pay-television, labeled the “Chi-Town Rumble.”
Steamboat beat an old rival, Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title.  He
immediately toured Japan, taking the NWA Title overseas and successfully defending his
championship against Shinji Takano, Sinichi Nakano and Tiger Mask.  Flair was awaiting
back in the U.S.  

Promoters matched Steamboat and Flair at the Clash in New Orleans on April 2nd.  A
special best two-of-three-falls match was scheduled.  The bout was a classic.  Flair won
the initial fall in 19:35, but Steamboat tied things more than fifteen-minutes later by
submission.  After 20:31 of the final fall, the NWA Champ pinned his opponent and
retained.

On May 7, 1989 in Nashville, Steamboat lost the title back to Flair in yet another classic
match.  Afterwards, Terry Funk attacked Flair and broke his neck.  Steamboat wrestled
Funk at Clash of the Champions VII in Fayetteville, North Carolina on June 14th.  He won
by disqualification.  During the summer, Steamboat challenged Lex Luger for the NWA
United States Title with the hopes of regaining that championship.  At the Great American
Bash on July 23rd in Baltimore, Steamboat lost to Luger by disqualification.  He failed to
win the title.  He soon left the organization and once again went into semi-retirement.  
Steamboat went to Japan for a September 30, 1990 match against the Great Muta in
Yokohama.  He lost by pinfall.

In 1991, he signed to return to the WWF.  Steamboat went to the ring and often sprayed
a mist into a fireball, electrifying the crowd.  He was very popular and many hoped he
would strive towards gold.  But he was seemingly going in the other direct.  Steamboat
teamed with Davey Boy Smith and Kerry Von Erich, another former NWA World Champ,
on August 26, 1991 in New York City against Power and Glory and Warlord.  He pinned
Paul Roma for the victory.

Within months, he was back in Atlanta working for World Championship Wrestling.  
Steamboat’s first appearance was a big one.  On November 19th, he replaced Barry
Windham at the Civic Center in Savannah in a tag team encounter against the Enforcers,
Larry Zbyszko and Arn Anderson, for the WCW World Tag Team Title.  His partner was
Dustin Rhodes, a very talented young grappler.  Windham had been put out of action
when his arm was slammed in a car door.  Steamboat pinned Anderson for the victory.  
Members of the Dangerous Alliance beat the champs for the tag straps on January 16,
1992 in Jacksonville.  It was Anderson and Bobby Eaton, who were accompanied by their
manager Paul E. Dangerously and Madusa Micelli.  Steamboat was disqualified in the first
fall of the three-fall match for sending Eaton over the top rope, and Larry Zbyszko played
a part in the outcome.  The title changed hands.

Steamboat met Rick Rude for the United States Title on February 29th in Milwaukee at
the Mecca Arena.  After twenty-minutes of action, the champion pinned Steamboat with
the assistance of Paul E. and his cellular telephone.  During the War Games event in
Jacksonville at WrestleWar, Steamboat teamed with a group of highly successful
athletes.  Among them were Dustin Rhodes, Sting, Barry Windham and Nikita Koloff.  
Their opponents were the Dangerous Alliance, Anderson, Eaton, Larry Zbyszko, Rude
and Steve Austin.  During the May 17th event, Sting forced Eaton to submit for the victory.

The “Dragon” formed a team with Koloff for the vacant NWA World Tag Team Title
Tournament.  They beat the Malenko Brothers in the initial round on June 16th in
Charleston.  Four nights later in Mobile, Steamboat wrestled Rude for the United States
Belt.  The bout was a special Ironman Challenge, non-title bout.  After thirty-minutes, the
man with the most falls would be declared the winner.  Steamboat captured his fourth fall
at the 29:25 mark, ending the 3-3 tie.  Seconds later, he won the bout.  In the
quarterfinals of the tag tournament, Steamboat and Koloff defeated Brian Pillman and
Jushin Liger in Albany, Georgia during the Great American Bash pay-per-view.  He got
the pin on Pillman.  Steamboat and Koloff lost in the semis to Terry Gordy and Steve
Williams, the eventual NWA Champs.

Steamboat won the WCW World Television Title at Clash XX in Atlanta on September 2nd
from Steve Austin.  Later in the month, he lost the title to Scott Steiner during a television
taping.  He pinned the high-flying Pillman in a singles match at Halloween Havoc in
Philadelphia.  In November, he formed a tag team with Shane Douglas, a former Dynamic
Dude.  On Wednesday, November 18th, the duo defeated Windham and Rhodes for both
the NWA and WCW World Tag Team Championships.  They defeated Pillman and
Windham at the Omni in Atlanta on December 28th to retain their title.  At the Clash on
January 13, 1993, a new tag team challenged them for the belts.  The Hollywood Blonds
were comprised of Steve Austin and Brian Pillman, who had since turned heel.  The
Blonds met Douglas and Steamboat in Milwaukee and lost the match by disqualification.  
Steamboat and his partner remained the champs in a dangerous contest.  Many thought
it was the final night of their reign.  They lost the belts to the Blonds in Atlanta on March
2nd.

Steamboat took a new partner and donned a mask at Slamboree on May 23rd.  Tom
Zenk joined him in Dos Hombres, a masked duo from Mexico.  Douglas was injured and
unable to compete.  The Hombres wrestled the Blonds in a title cage match.  Austin
pinned Zenk to retain the belts.  On August 18th, Steamboat regained the TV Title with a
victory over Paul Orndorff in Daytona Beach, Florida.  He later lost the belt to Lord
Steven Regal on September 19th in Houston at Fall Brawl.  In New Orleans on October
24th, Orndorff defeated Steamboat by countout.  Ironically, he was forced to tag with
Regal during the Lethal Lottery on November 20th in Pensacola.  They were eliminated
by Orndorff and Shockmaster.  Regal was the man pinned.  In front of an estimated 8,000
fans, Steamboat wrestled Regal for the TV Title on December 27th at Starrcade.  The
time-limit expired after fifteen-minutes.

After the event, he took a little time off, but returned in March.  Steamboat challenged Ric
Flair for the WCW World Heavyweight Title.  Promoters signed the match for Spring
Stampede in Chicago on April 17, 1994.  Just as expected, Steamboat and Flair wrestled
a technical classic.  In the finish, both men were pinned at the same time by the other.  
Steamboat got up as if he had captured the belt and the fans cheered.  Others were
confused.  The bout was listed as a no-contest, which would mean that Flair retained the
championship.  Later in the month on WCW Saturday Night, Flair gave the belt to the
commissioner to be held-up until they could clearly settle the situation in the ring.  On
May 14th in Atlanta, Flair beat Steamboat in a rematch to capture the belt at a television
taping.

On July 17th in Orlando before 14,000, the “Dragon” lost to Steve Austin by pinfall in a U.
S. Title Match.  He received a second shot on August 24th in Cedar Rapids at the Clash.  
The no-disqualification match ended with a pin for Steamboat.  He captured the United
States Heavyweight Title.

Reoccurring back problems began to catch up with him.  Steamboat was unable to
defend his belt and on September 18th, the title was returned to Austin by forfeit.  The
new champ lost to Jim Duggan minutes later.  He retired from active duty and focused on
running his gym in North Carolina.

Steamboat made an appearance at the 2nd annual Brian Pillman Memorial Event held in
Cincinnati on May 19, 1999.  He returned again in both 2000 and 2001.  Steamboat
appeared in the independents in 2000 and many wondered if he would make a return to
the ring.

Rick Steamboat is one of professional wrestling’s greatest.  A true Hall of Famer.

TITLE HISTORY:
-A two-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Television Champion
       -Defeated Ric Flair (1977)
       -Defeated Paul Jones (1979)
-A three-time co-holder of the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title
       w/ Paul Jones (1977) defeated Ric Flair and Greg Valentine
       w/ Paul Jones (1978) defeated Ric Flair and John Studd
       w/ Jay Youngblood (1982) defeated Don Kernodle and Jim Nelson
-A three-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion
       -Defeated Ric Flair (1977)
       -Defeated Ric Flair (1978)
       -Defeated Dick Slater (1984)
-A six-time co-holder of the NWA World Tag Team Title
       w/ Paul Jones (1978) defeated Masked Superstar and Ken Patera, tournament
          final
w/ Jay Youngblood (1979) defeated Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke
w/ Jay Youngblood (1980) defeated Ray Stevens and Greg Valentine
       w/ Jay Youngblood (1983) defeated Don Kernodle and Sgt. Slaughter
       w/ Jay Youngblood (1983) defeated Jack and Jerry Brisco
       w/ Jay Youngblood (1983) defeated Jack and Jerry Brisco
-A two-time NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Champion
       -Defeated Iron Sheik (1980)
       -Defeated Ivan Koloff (1981)
-WWF Intercontinental Title (1987) defeated Randy Savage
-NWA World Heavyweight Title (1989) defeated Ric Flair
-A two-time co-holder of the WCW World Tag Team Title
       w/ Dustin Rhodes (1991-’92) defeated The Enforcers
       w/ Shane Douglas (1992-’93) defeated Dustin Rhodes and Barry Windham
-A two-time WCW World Television Champion
       -Defeated Steve Austin (1992)
       -Defeated Paul Orndorff (1993)
-WCW United States Heavyweight Title (1994) defeated Steve Austin


Copyright 2010 by Tim Hornbaker
Ricky Steamboat Wrestling History
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