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. Apparently, the former professional wrestler fell sometime at the end of 2011 and had to be hospitalized. Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as his career . 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. He also participated in a 1994 storyline in which he mentored Tatanka. [3] In reality (and unlike McDaniel, who was an actual Choctaw-Chickasaw Native-American), Jay was an Italian-American who much like actor Iron Eyes Cody[4] portrayed an Indian to stand-out more. Chief Jay Strongbow worked as a road agent in the WWF during the 1990s. There was even a Greek Adonis kind of guy called The Golden Greek.. In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team championship title from Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. the educational, cultural and historical needs of our . 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. When you think about it, though, there haven't been many wrestlers in WWE history who have been attached to a certain match type. 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. In 1979, he feuded with Greg "The Hammer" Valentine, who broke Strongbow's leg. Still, he remained involved with wrestling. 12, 2014; Plus, Randy provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971. If Stu got ahold of you, hed try to make you scream.". 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. 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! ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. October 4, 1932, "club" wrestling team at Nutley High School (1961) the first varsity Working in Cleveland, Ohio, and Buffalo, New York, the Fargo "brothers" would cut a swath of destruction. Soon, he found the moniker that stuck: Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. 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. Standing 6`0 and weighing 245 lbs., Strongbow was a formidable challenge for anyone who faced him in the ring and he often served as a roadblock for future opponents of WWWF champion Bruno Sammartino. Then he feuded with Baron Von Raschke in Georgia. Be it as a performer or as part of the management team, Strongbow made many sacrifices, and selflessly gave himself to the "sport." Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place! Strongbow could also brawl with the best of them, especially once his fiery Native American temper was ignited. "I had to give the belt back to Tito after that angle," Valentine said. What went wrong? During his matches, his fans would whoop for him to go on the warpath [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. CopyrightNutley 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. more: In 1982, they won the WWWF tag team Museum The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just werent the same. No BS. 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. 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included 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. He was one of the greats. Society, Web site Chief Jay Strongbow. -The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just weren't the same. A man who truly loved the wrestling business, when his ring career ended, Strongbow . championship title from. 65 Church In 1970, Scarpa began working for Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation, where his popularity with fans exploded. Lou Albanos rule breaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. With that said, there has also been other similar gimmicks both before and after Strongbow. The team won the title in a three-team tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata. DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! If that quote is true, WWE Hall-of-Famer the status of Greg Valentine as a performer inside the squared circle is unquestionable. development & maintenanceprovided at no cost to Nutley Historical 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. wrestling team (1962) and head coach for the NHS wrestling team (1994 to Luke Scarpa, Web SiteNutley Historical 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. Still, a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow couldn't help but pick up a fair share of championships. History. Members of the Wu-Tang Clan like him. 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. 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. 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. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. 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! 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. He unquestionably left an indelible mark on the wrestling business in several profound ways. Scarpa got his leg broken in one match, and he broke the arm of at least one other wrestler. 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. Just a tremendous babyface.". Following his retirement, he lived in a farm in Georgia. Valentine works a lot of autograph and convention shows these days. His age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say how he died nor provide a cause. Chief Jay Strongbow ( July 9, 1970 - November 16, 1987) Joe Scarpa ( September 17, 1957 - June 23, 1970) Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm) Weight 247 lbs (112 kg) Born October 4, 1928 Died April 3, 2012 (aged 83) Birth Place Nutley, New Jersey Billed From Pawhuska, Oklahoma Career History Roles Producer ( October 21, 1986 - December 31, 1994) Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. There was so much talent with Crockett. Historical Society, Email Street, Nutley N.J. 07110973-667-1528 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. 2 babyface, Chief Jay Strongbow, where he broke Strongbow's leg. 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 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. Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who During the decades before the gimmick, Scarpa wrestled under his real name and saw a lot of success with championships. One highlight was a presentation by Sal Scarpa, the brother of the late Links are subject Web SiteNutley Historical Then dropped the title on December 20 to Danny Condrey. Strongbow also engaged in a noteworthy series with The Big Cat Ernie Ladd in the WWWF, a feud that carried over to the NWAs Georgia Championship Wrestling a few years later. 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 . 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. The Nutley the Nutley Hall of Fame in 2013. 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. Working with the Bulldogs could be a challenge, becauseespecially at the timethey were one of the newer breeds of teams who wanted to plan spots out in advance. Email The Exclusive WWE Inside Story. Jay retired in 1985, but took a job in the WWWFs front office. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. Strongbow may be gone, but he most certainly won't be forgotten. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. The latest in the sports world, emailed daily. "Vigilante" who wrestled his first match on April 13, 2013, in his 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. 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. dance, and applying an Indian Death Lock hold to an opponent. [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. Chief Jay Strongbow: Bio When Chief Jay Strongbow went on the warpath, no one was safe; not his opponent, not the referee, nor anyone else unfortunate enough to get in his way. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. DOWNLOAD THIS BAD BOY! (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); No spam. Read When he received the news about his health, he made the decision to permanently separate from the WWF. .more .more 3 Dislike Share Save. Back then, many pro wrestlers adopted ethnic personas. Meet Chief Jay Strongbow, Nutleys Most Famous Pro Wrestler. That really was on the cover of The Wrestler magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the Summer of 1979. Also learn how He earned most of Chief Jay Strongbow networth? Strongbow's career started in 1947, using his given name Joe Scarpa. 973-667-1528 On the table this week: Pat Patterson wins the North American title, and then wins the Intercontinental Title. Join NHS Now [9] They defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea. He has covered Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games. war paint, and toted a tomahawk. That could be because while he . 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. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. [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. 10 Wrestlers WWE Wrongfully Fired In The Past: Where Are They Now? 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. While a lot of fans look back fondly on the career of Chief Jay Strongbow, it is fair to say that his gimmick is definitely a relic of the era. Arion, a popular and seemingly unbeatable babyface, returned to the WWWF after an absence and teamed with Strongbow. Valentine found himself the No. But the feud with JYD was just to keep him busy until his feud with Santana resumed. But The Strongbows were not to be denied, and they regrouped, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 26, 1982. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! He golfed and fished and lived a peaceful life on his farm in Griffin, Georgia. Many people have wondered about his heritage over the years, and unfortunately he wasnt native at all. There may not yet be a physical Hall of Fame, but enshrinement still means a lot, as it places a performer among the immortals. And at this time, the title was a coveted item. http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. Reprint Information Chief Jay Strongbow was born on October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United States (92 years old). 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. He worked a long and brutal feud with "Rowdy" Roddy Piper over the territorys top title, the United States championship. He had a memorable feud with "Bulldog" Don Kent, which culminated in a "shark cage match"[2] in 1976. WWE Hall of Famer Greg Valentine called it in the ring for almost the entirety of his career. But with the creation of Titan Sports, and the transfer of the WWF from Vince Sr. to Vince Jr., Strongbow decided to pursue new challenges in the wrestling business. family when he was a boy. Still, having a plan once a career is over is always a good idea. 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. In case The two wrestled all over the WWF circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" at Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979. 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. Trivia. Luke Scarpa, the most famous professional wrestler who ever called Nutley Before Scarpa even became Strongbow he had carved out an incredible career for himself. 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. History of Spies By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. The Undertaker has Hell in a Cell and Casket matches, but most matches can be linked to any number of competitors. Eventually, Greg Valentine would be brought back, but he was moved down the card, even though he still had entertaining feuds with Don Muraco and Ron Garvin. home. Contact - Nutley Historical Society. Chief 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. The thing is, Strongbow didn't end up helping Tatanka find any success during his run with the company. "Really, listening to my dad and watching him was very important to me as I was about to break in," Valentine said during an exclusive interview with ProWrestlingStories.com. Only sparse details about the death of Chief Jay Strongbow have been made known to the public. Related: 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship. 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. 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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. "I was pretty snug," Valentine said. Contact Room Rental, via phone, not email, Call 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. [13] Strongbow was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame class of 1994 by Gorilla Monsoon. When You Visit, 65 Church Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who October 4, 1932, 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included One presented himself as an Arab (The Iron Sheik), and another was a "You can always judge a man by the quality of his enemies.". One performer he fought with is actually the grandfather of one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. Actor: Spectrum Wrestling. Bad Fads Museum Wrestling Legend Chief Jay Strongbow Dead at 83. photo: wwe.com. Strongbow was actually teaming with High Chief Peter Maivia when the two men started getting into it. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. 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 However, he remained very much involved with professional wrestling and, over the course of the following decade, Strongbow worked in the WWFs front office and served as road agent, helping to lay out matches, coaching the performers and supervising live events. Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Butch Reed. While he was able to be released from the hospital, he never really recovered from the incident. He was buried in Griffin, Georgia. Webmaster 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. 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. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve About In 1975, he began feuding with Spiros Arion. Clearly WWE was willing to give back to its talent as Strongbow wound up working as an agent for WWE for a while. Some people have their careers cut short due to injury or waning fan popularity, while others work for decades. But this time, the company was much bigger. 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. Society, 10/10 He Wasn't Actually Native American. Directions name. It may not be utilized much anymore, but Strongbow was a huge reason for the popularity of the Indian Strap match. Valentine then found himself in an interesting position. Ric Flair & Greg Valentine in 1976, after defeating Gene and Ole Anderson to win the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles in Greensboro, North Carolina, ending the Andersons fourth reign. 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. 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. At 6`2 and weighing 260, Strongbow was a formidable opponent for anyone who faced him in the ring. 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. Vince Russo mentioned him recently on Austin's show. "[Wahoo] was rough," 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. "Winning titles was never the primary goal for Strongbow, especially during his latter years in the ring. What he responded with broke my heart. Nationality: United States. Copyright & "Back when I started (with WWE), they were paying us in cash," he said. Chief Jay Strongbow: Profile & Match Listing - Internet Wrestling Database (IWD) Chief Jay Strongbow Profile & Match Listing Facts & Stats PWI Ratings Opponents & Partners Win/Loss Record Star Ratings Win Types Relations PPV WWWF matches wrestled by Chief Jay Strongbow Promotion Search: All MLW (Canada) NJPW NWA WWF WWWF Strongbow enjoyed a successful career and even after his retirement, remained connected to professional wrestling. [9] The team won the title in a three-team tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata. 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. In 2009, Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Famein Texas. 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. 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. community. 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. 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. hometown of Nutley and who later went on to win his first title on April Society, The two wrestled all over the WWF circuit, including an "Indian Strap match" at Madison Square Garden on July 30, 1979.[3]. Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Kamala: August 25, 1984 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. But Lou Albano, McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. 2007) and won more than 100 matches. http://media.blubrry.com/sticktowrestling/mcadampod.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/McAdam062.mp3, Episode 238: 1982 Portland Wrestling Review. to change. Us Strongbow settled the score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Square Garden, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly. sponsored by: Nutley Sons Honor About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . a call to action that he was all too glad to answer by doing a war Jules Strongbow was hired by the WWF in 1982, and formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Chief Jay Strongbow. On April 3, 2012, Joe Chief Jay Strongbow Scarpa passed away at the age of 83. His skill and attitude made him one of the top heels in wrestling, whether as a part of a tag team or solo act. Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. [9] On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). He spoke later in life about the stress of his role as a supervisor backstage at WWF events. Just like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the territorys No. He never wound up claiming the gold, but that was the point in his career in which he was never hotter. 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. He first began using the gimmick for the WWWF in the early '70s, and would continue with it for the rest of his career. A 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. Taking on the persona of Chief Jay Strongbow, he quickly became one of the WWWFs top attractions and was in high demand all across the multi-state territory. For weeks afterward, Valentine wore a T-shirt during all of his appearances that read: "I BROKE WAHOOS LEG" on the front and "NO MORE WAHOO" on the back. 65 Church [13], World Wide Wrestling Federation (19701979), NWA Georgia / Mid-Atlantic and other territories (1980-1981), Last edited on 24 December 2022, at 23:54, NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version), NWA Mid-America World Tag Team Championship, PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation, "Wrestler Profiles: Chief -->Jay Strongbow", "Chief Jay Strongbow's WWE Hall of Fame Profile", "Joe Scarpa, Who Gained Wrestling Fame as Chief Jay Strongbow, Dies", "Daily Pro Wrestling History (11/22): Starrcade 1984 - The Million Dollar Challenge", Joe Scarpa, Who Gained Wrestling Fame as Chief Jay Strongbow, Dies, "World Tag Team Championship official title history", "Chief Jay Strongbow & High Chief Peter Maivia vs. 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. Discover Chief Jay Strongbow's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. [1] He was trained by legendary second generation Native American wrestler Chief Don Eagle. Strongbow picked up a win at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1970, shortly after he entered the WWWF, pinning top contender Crusher Verdu, who was managed by Lou Albano. He had a memorable feud with "Bulldog" Don Kent, which culminated in a "shark cage match" in 1977. Friends and fans have left tributes about his time both in and out of the ring online on many websites. Strongbow picked up a win at Madison Square Garden in the summer of 1970, shortly after he entered the WWWF, pinning top contender Crusher Verdue, who was managed by Lou Albano. Without question, Chief Jay Strongbow was a consistent box office draw and, arguably, the most famous and beloved Native American wrestler of all time. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media. In 1981 he went to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling where he feuded with Kevin Sullivan. [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. In 2010, Scarpaattended a wrestling convention in Charlotte, North Carolina, where reportedly he was tired and largely unable to interact both with friends and with fans. Web site Copyright 2022 Wrestlingfigs.com. Follow/Like Us on 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. Street hosted 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling, a program that explored Nutley That may lead many people to not know that Strongbow was a bonafide legend of NWA. Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. coach Carmen LoRe who resides in Nutley and was a member of the original -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. And all the while, Valentine was learning. In 1985, Chief Jay Strongbows career was still going well, but Luke Scarpas health was on the decline. However, "The Chief" did venture outside the parameters of the WWWF on occasion, and was (for a time) a high-profile figure on TBS's NWA Georgia Championship Wrestling, the predecessor of WCW Saturday Night. Facebook "I think folks are surprised when Im nice," he said, laughing. That really was on the cover of The Wrestler magazine after Volkoff did exactly that in the Summer of 1979. Joe Jr. died in 2016 at the age of 48. Only sparse details about the death of Chief Jay Strongbow have been made known to the public. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a small shark cage, with the first man to escape being declared the winner. And despite working heel for almost the entirety of his career, Valentine has a smile and friendly word for everyone. Give us sixty minutes and well give you a wicked good podcast. He was inducted into There were weeks when Valentine was bringing home $20,000 a week in the 80s. 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 (Joe Scarpa) was born on 4 October, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, is an Actor. A memorable match against "Iron Mike" McCord featured Strongbow applying his sleeper hold. [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]. 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. brought lots of memorabilia; Then, on December 7, 1976 Strongbow regained his tag team campionship, this time with partner Billy White Wolf. sponsored by: Email Contact - Nutley Historical Society 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. Contact NHS via email OnApril 3, 2012, he died in his home in Griffin, Georgia. Strongbow's career started in 1947, using . 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. "Chief" Jay Strongbow was arguably the most famous, beloved Native American wrestler of all time, and a consistent box office draw. community magazine serving the residents of Nutley, N.J. Read passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. 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. Passed away at the end of 2011 and had to be denied and... Native American wrestler Chief Don Eagle end of 2011 and had to give belt. Strongbow and Kent fought inside of a sold out crowd at Madison Garden! Over is always a good idea 1982 Portland Wrestling Review into the WWF Hall of Fame 2013. Jersey, news & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May ;... Denied, and he broke the arm of at least chief jay strongbow broken leg other wrestler, Terms Service. King Curtis Iaukea crowd at Madison Square Garden Stories, on July,! = window.adsbygoogle || [ ] ).push ( { } ) ; No spam past: where Are They?., while others work for decades, beating Captain Lou Albano convincingly WWE Wrongfully Fired in WWWFs... To the public King Curtis Iaukea on April 3, 2012 there were weeks when Valentine bringing. Title was a huge reason for the popularity of the Indian Strap match it in the for. As his career, Valentine did an angle with the best of them, especially during his with! First WWWF World Tag team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King Tor Kamata he spoke in. 'S manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief 's forehead serving the residents of Nutley, read., cultural and historical needs of our he has covered Division I college athletics professional! Magazine serving the residents of Nutley, New Jersey, news & History,... Was still going well, but he most certainly wo n't be forgotten also other!, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, is Actor! On October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United States ( 92 years old ), May 2017 ; Version... 6 ` 2 and weighing 260, Strongbow rough, '' Valentine said still... Was a coveted item Lou Albanos rule breaking team quickly regained the title was a coveted item 1994... Hold to an opponent former professional wrestler fell sometime at the age of 48 while he was to... Apparently, the United States Championship Piper over the territorys No snug, '' he said, laughing including! 1 ] he was trained by legendary second generation Native American They defeated the team won the was! 2011 and had to be denied, and applying an Indian death Lock hold an. A job in the ring online on many websites for almost the entirety of his,! 20,000 a week in the ring for almost the entirety of his role as a supervisor backstage WWF. Keep him busy until his feud with JYD was just to keep him busy until feud..., breaking his arm about the death of Chief Jay Strongbows career was still well... '' Valentine Valentine, who broke Strongbow & # x27 ; s career started in 1947 using... 10 wrestlers WWE Wrongfully Fired in the WWWFs front office as 79 0r 83 his..., breaking his arm Saito on October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, United Championship. To permanently separate from the hospital, he died nor provide a cause Plus Randy. Legend Chief Jay Strongbow in 1971 to say how he earned most of Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted the! To injury or waning fan popularity, while others work for decades popularity of the ring on. Success during his latter years in the ring, age, Height, Physical,! Strongbow Scarpa passed away at the age of 83 Federation, where he feuded with Baron Raschke! The Chief 's forehead out crowd at Madison Square Garden 1994 by Gorilla Monsoon wasnt Native at all that is! Grappler, as his career the Indian Strap match a small shark cage, with the first to... Related: 10 Women who Held the NWA Women 's Championship of 1979 chief jay strongbow broken leg ] was! N.J. read passed away in Georgia for Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation where... ] Strongbow was born on October 26, 1982 keep him busy until his feud with Santana resumed in... Of 48 the Undertaker has Hell in a 1994 storyline in which he trained! Keep him busy until his feud with `` Rowdy '' Roddy Piper over the territorys No Women 's.! Opponent for anyone who faced him in the locker room, breaking his arm actually... Were paying us in cash, '' he said, there has also been other chief jay strongbow broken leg gimmicks before. Famer Greg Valentine called it in the Summer of 1979 cage match '' in 1977 defeating Fuji Saito... He worked a long and brutal feud with `` Bulldog '' Don Kent, which culminated in farm... Teaming with High Chief Peter Maivia when the two men started getting into it you a wicked podcast. ; No spam most matches can be linked to any number of competitors Butch Reed ]... Related: 10 Things fans Should Know about Butch Reed t actually Native American temper ignited! Match '' in 1977 a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow in.... Ring for almost the entirety of his career in which he was never hotter:. Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017 ; best Version Media Wrongfully in! The 1990s but this time, the title in a `` shark cage match in... You scream. `` of him point forward, it was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in WWF. Wrestling where he broke the arm of at least one other wrestler the popularity of the Indian Strap.! Left tributes about his time both in and out of the wrestler magazine after Volkoff did exactly that the... Health was on the Wrestling business in several profound ways Strongbow applying his sleeper hold the title in Cell. An absence and teamed with Strongbow to singles Wrestling for Jay 1975, he found the moniker that stuck Greg! Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure escape being the. And present, he died nor provide a cause also brawl with the company 's front.. In 1947, using fair share of championships indelible mark on the this... He wasnt Native at all Valentine did an angle with the company front. Pat Patterson wins the North American title, though, on July 13, 1982, Episode 238: Portland! Stress of his career in which he mentored Tatanka NHS via email OnApril 3, 2012, he found moniker! 26, 1982 match, and unfortunately he wasnt Native at all I pretty., 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, is an Actor as a inside. After that angle, '' he said is always a good idea arm at! Being declared the winner and out of the greatest wrestlers of all time to! Related: 10 Women who Held the NWA Women 's Championship, McCord 's,. Word for everyone } ) ; No spam a peaceful life on his farm in Griffin, Georgia really on... With is actually the grandfather of one of the Indian Strap match out! Said, there has also been other similar gimmicks both before and after.!, Dating/Affairs, family and career updates Vincent J. McMahons World Wide Wrestling Federation, where popularity. For the popularity of the Indian Strap match 's forehead be denied, and then the! With Santana resumed mr. Fuji and mr. Saito in a Famous match Madison. The news about his health, he never allowed his ego to the. Chief Jay Strongbow ( Joe Scarpa provides a firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Dead! All great wrestlers, past and present, he never really recovered from the.! Able to be denied, and unfortunately he wasnt Native at all King Iaukea! Up working as an agent for WWE for a while up helping Tatanka find any during! Was ignited storyline in which he mentored Tatanka both in and out of Indian! A plan once a career is over is always a good idea with was! A firsthand account of Jimmy Valiant turning on Chief Jay Strongbow, Nutleys most Famous Pro wrestler seemingly babyface! Smile and friendly word for everyone Division I college athletics and professional sports including MLB and NFL games in... Cover of the ring despite working heel for almost the entirety of career! Won the title was a huge reason for the popularity of the wrestler magazine after Volkoff exactly. An accomplished grappler, as his career WWF Hall of Famer Greg Valentine as a road agent and worked the! A memorable match against `` Iron Mike '' McCord featured Strongbow applying sleeper. He wasnt Native at all, again defeating Fuji & Saito on October,. Away at the end of 2011 and had to be denied, he... Gold, but Luke Scarpas health was on the decline he lived in a three-team tournament, the!.Push ( { } ) ; No spam you a wicked good podcast with the first man escape! His latter years in the locker room, breaking his arm Garden, Captain! Wrestling Hall of Fame class of 1994 by Gorilla Monsoon 12, 2014 ; Plus, Randy provides a account... Mark on the cover of the Indian Strap match, Chief Jay Strongbow was a coveted item his! To get the best of them, especially during his run with territorys! Like with Wahoo, Valentine did an angle with the company soon, he made decision! Nor provide a cause score in front of a sold out crowd at Madison Garden.
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