[9] 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. [9] On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to The Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). 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 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. Still, a wrestler as popular as Jay Strongbow couldn't help but pick up a fair share of championships. In 2009, Chief Jay Strongbow was inducted into the Pro Wrestling Hall of Famein Texas. On April 3, 2012, he died in his home in Griffin . As both a main event and mid-card performer, Strongbow was one of the most reliable, professional wrestlers of his, or any, day. On April 3, 2012, Joe Chief Jay Strongbow Scarpa passed away at the age of 83. An unfortunate truth about Strongbow is that the end of his career is mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success. 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. [Photo courtesy of @allan_cheapshot on Twitter]"Oh, Flair was great," Valentine said. Together, they defeated Nicolai Volkoff & Tor Kamata in the finals of a tournament for the then-vacant WWWF Tag Team championship. The team won the title in a three-team tournament, defeating The Executioners and Nikolai Volkoff and Tor Kamata. 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. But this time, the company was much bigger. Strongbow wrestled in the NWA territories before joining the WWE in 1970, where he was a big draw for two decades. Some people have their careers cut short due to injury or waning fan popularity, while others work for decades. Net Worth: Undisclosed. sponsored by: 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. 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 . He spoke later in life about the stress of his role as a supervisor backstage at WWF events. 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. He's won multiple awards for reporting and opinion writing, and his sports journalism has garnered several Associated Press Managing Editors Awards. What are you waiting for? 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. you think that it was all a harmless charade, it wasnt. Anthony Bowens AKA A man who truly loved the wrestling business, when his ring career ended, Strongbow . The Valiant Brothers main evented Madison Square Garden in 1974 and 1975, then finally returned in 1979but things just werent the same. It wouldn't be unfair to credit Strongbow with the advent of such a concept. 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. 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. Officers Strongbow's career started in 1947, using . From that point forward, it was back to singles wrestling for Jay. hometown of Nutley and who later went on to win his first title on April Chief Jay Strongbow. Historical Society is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to serve 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. Many people have wondered about his heritage over the years, and unfortunately he wasn't native at all. [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. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! A Valentine found himself the No. Im going to lead the match, and I just dont work that way.". It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. Strongbow's career started in 1947, using his given name Joe Scarpa. 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. Web SiteNutley Historical In 1982, Strongbow formed a tag team with his on-screen brother, Jules Strongbow. And despite working heel for almost the entirety of his career, Valentine has a smile and friendly word for everyone. 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. The championship belt had undergone a makeover from the days of Pedro Morales and Don Muraco, but with national expansion, McMahon again wanted something new, an even sharper image for the championship. Museum It makes some wonder how much more success he would have had if he took up the Native American character much sooner. Society, Sal Scarpa, brother of Joe AKA Chief Jay Strongbow, who Dead wrestler database Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. passed away in Georgia on April 3, 2012. Jay retired in 1985, but took a job in the WWWFs front office. "It was just incredible how much you would get paid, and then you had all of this money on you. "club" wrestling team at Nutley High School (1961) the first varsity Historical Society. As Chief Jay Strongbow, Scarpa wore a feathered headdress, smeared on This time, the Native American duo held on to the title belts, and defended them against the WWF's best teams. Copyright & Vince Russo mentioned him recently on Austin's show. Sound off in the comments section below. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Even if fans didn't have the pleasure of seeing him wrestle, they can come to appreciate his immense accomplishments. 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. STICK TO WRESTLING! What went wrong? 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. I dont know about you, but give me cash every time!". Late in his career, he took on a tag team partner who had adopted the persona of Jules Strongbow. But, the popular Strongbows were not to be denied and they regrouped, again defeating Saito & Fuji on October 26, 1982. Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito in a famous match in Madison Square Garden. You havent heard of him, you say? ), Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. And, like all great wrestlers, past and present, he never allowed his ego to get the best of him. It was alleged that Strongbow had previously jumped Albano in the locker room, breaking his arm. 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. 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. He first began using the gimmick for the WWWF in the early '70s, and would continue with it for the rest of his career. Chief 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. Valentine, the son of the legendary Johnny Valentine, is best known for the long and brutal feuds he put on with top babyfaces in both the NWA and WWE. Official was winning world fame, he adopted a ring name and wrestling persona Then dropped the title on December 20 to Danny Condrey. But Lou Albano, McCord's manager, interfered by smashing a cast on the Chief's forehead. They defeated the team of Baron Mikel Scicluna and King Curtis Iaukea. John shares his theory of how Hanson got that spot. In case January 7, 1989 - AWA: Chief Jay Strongbow defeated Mike Enos. 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. 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. 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 suffered from a heart condition that required him to undergo surgery to have two heart valves replaced. 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. Nutley Sons Honor While it wasn't a lengthy storyline, Strongbow did wind up returning to the WWE in order to guide Tatanka to domination. Lou Albano's rulebreaking team quickly regained the title, though, on July 13, 1982. Wahoo McDaniel for example, was of both Choctaw and Chickasaw descent, and was the first famed man to use the Native American gimmick long before Strongbow came around. Anthony Bowens AKA While he was able to be released from the hospital, he never really recovered from the incident. Street hosted 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling, a program that explored Nutley a call to action that he was all too glad to answer by doing a war Strongbow enjoyed a successful career and even after his retirement, remained connected to professional wrestling. 2 babyface, Chief Jay Strongbow, where he broke Strongbows leg. Cameron Miller is a writer with over five years of creative writing experience - both personally and for clients around the world. Related: 10 Things Fans Should Know About Butch Reed. "Throughout his long, prestigious career, Strongbow feuded with some of the biggest names in the wrestling business; Billy Graham, Ken Patera, George Steele, Ernie Ladd, the Wild Samoans, Larry Zbyszko, Ivan Koloff, Harley Race, Mr. Fuji, and many, many others. His larger than life persona as a Native American wrestler ran from 1947 to 1985. Chief Jay Strongbow. to change. Valentine and Flair worked a brutal feud with unlikely babyfaces, Ole and Gene Anderson, trading the world tag titles back and forth, until they were stripped of the tag team titles by then-NWA president Eddie Graham for "unprofessional conduct" in an angle that explained Flair breaking off to pursue the world championship. Back then, many pro wrestlers adopted ethnic personas. 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. Still, having a plan once a career is over is always a good idea. During this time, Strongbow was seemingly impervious to pain as he would absorb strikes, but continue to dance around the ring before finishing off his opponent. Actor: Spectrum Wrestling. [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. His age was listed as 79 0r 83 and his family declined to say how he died nor provide a cause. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. 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. Strongbow was inducted by Tatanka, who Strongbow was managing at the time. 10 Things WWE Fans Should Know About Chief Jay Strongbow, his gimmick is definitely a relic of the era, 10 Things Fans Should Know About Butch Reed, no slouch when it came to picking up championships, the general stereotypes involved with his gimmick, but he commited to it in and out of the ring, 10 Things Wrestling Fans Should Know About Lou Thesz, mostly forgettable despite him seeing plenty of tag team success, 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship, far above the worst performers of the era, 10 Things We Miss About Classic NWA Wrestling, 10 Things Fans Should Know About The Mickey Rourke Movie, The Wrestler, 10 Cringey Moments From Ric Flair's Career Fans Should Know, 10 WCW Wrestlers Whose Careers Ended In The Worst Way, Top 10 What If Scenarios Involving The Undertaker. Then he feuded with Baron Von Raschke in Georgia. .more .more 3 Dislike Share Save. The first thing that should be known to just about everyone is that Strongbow wasn't actually Native American. On the March 8, 1983 episode of Championship Wrestling, the Strongbows lost the titles to the Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika). Related: 10 Women Who Held The NWA Women's Championship. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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. Born October 4, 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. 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. In retirement, Strongbow became a WWF road agent and worked in the company's front office. 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. Chief Jay Strongbow vs. Kamala: August 25, 1984 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. Chief Jay Strongbow is a Wrestler, zodiac sign: Libra. Arion was now a heel, and pinned Strongbow in eastern arenas as he went on to challenge champion Bruno Sammartino. "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. Chief Jay Strongbow? He golfed and fished and lived a peaceful life on his farm in Griffin, Georgia. 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. 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. After losing their belts, the Strongbows remained a top WWF tag team, until Jules left the promotion. Nutley, New Jersey, News & History Archives, Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media. 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. 50 Years of Nutley Wrestling guest speakers included Strongbow won his first WWWF World Tag Team Championship on May 22, 1972 with partner Sonny King. brought lots of memorabilia; Reprinted from Nutley Neighbors, May 2017; Best Version Media He died in that hospital on April 3, 2012, at the age of 83. Many people have wondered about his heritage over the years, and unfortunately he wasnt native at all. 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