12 years after he last got into the ring, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat will return to action as part of “Return of the Dragon” — a Big Time Wrestling event in Raleigh, North Carolina on Sunday, November 27th.
The match itself was not announced.
The 69-year-old last wrestled alongside his son, Richie Steamboat, in June 2010 at an FCW show against Trent Beretta & Caylen Croft.
Steamboat has become more of a regular on wrestling TV this year. He appeared at a February MLW event, was part of the NWA 74th anniversary weekend and subsequent TV tapings, and was the special guest timekeeper for the mid-August AEW Dynamite & Rampage that was House of the Dragon-themed. A future A&E WWE documentary is also expected for this year.
He revealed that he declined an offer to take part in Ric Flair’s July retirement match after reports emerged that he would be.
Steamboat notably had a 2009 run in WWE, returning after 15 years out of the ring. It kicked off at that year’s WrestleMania where he, Jimmy Snuka & Roddy Piper lost to Chris Jericho in a handicap match. That was also the same weekend he was inducted into their Hall of Fame.
He worked 12 matches for WWE in total that year, including house shows and two PPVs, against Jericho, Drew McIntyre and Sheamus as part of that stretch.
The Diamond Mine has remained a big part of WWE NXT’s weekly TV with a main focus of late being their growing dissent with Roderick Strong.
Meltzer reported that were was supposed to be an angle involving Strong and the Diamond Mine this past Tuesday, but it was delayed due to a Strong injury.
Strong did cause a distraction during Tuesday’s trios match between the Diamond Mine and Gallus when he wanted to show Damon Kemp a video on his phone to help support a point he was making earlier. Kemp stomped on the phone and as security was taking Strong away, Joe Coffey took advantage and hit Kemp with a lariat for the pin and win, further deepening the issues.
The severity or specificity about the injury wasn’t reported.
Ricky Steamboat A&E documentary
Ricky Steamboat has been all over the wrestling map in recent months, acting as guest timekeeper for a recent AEW Dynamite and appearing on-screen during NWA’s 74th anniversary weekend and subsequent TV tapings.
Meltzer notes that Steamboat will now be a focus of a future WWE A&E documentary that is currently being worked on.
Earlier this year, WWE and A&E announced an expanded partnership deal for more documentaries and general content.
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat will appear on Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, serving as special guest timekeeper for the event.
AEW president Tony Khan made the announcement on Twitter on Tuesday night.
Wednesday’s Dynamite will be presented by HBO’s Game of Thrones “House of the Dragon” in a Warner Bros. Discovery tie-in.
For tomorrow’s Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite presented by @HBO’s @HouseofDragon, we have the perfect special guest timekeeper for the event: Ricky The Dragon Steamboat, one of the greatest pro wrestlers of all-time, making his return to @TBSNetwork tomorrow night @ 8pm ET/7pm CT!
Steamboat made headlines earlier this year when he announced that he had turned down an offer to participate in the Ric Flair’s Last Match event, stating that he wanted fans’ last memories of him in the ring to be from his WWE run with Chris Jericho in 2009.
Steamboat is also set to appear at the NWA television tapings on August 29 in Nashville, Tennesee.
Here is the lineup for Dynamite:
Two-out-of-three falls: Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia
AEW World Trios tournament: The Young Bucks & a mystery partner vs. Andrade El Idolo, Rush & Dragon Lee
Toni Storm vs. KiLynn King
The Gunn Club vs. The Varsity Blonds
Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat appears as special guest timekeeper
The promotion announced on Monday that Steamboat will take part in a meet and greet session on August 29 in Nashville. Those who purchase a ticket to meet him will also be granted access to the NWA Power and USA tapings that night from Skyway Studios.
“Known for being one of the most genuine people in wrestling both inside and outside the ring, Ricky Steamboat’s athleticism won over crowds while also winning him the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship from Ric Flair in 1989,” an NWA press release reads. “A multiple-time Pro Wrestling Illustrated Match of the Year award winner, this is your opportunity to meet the legend himself!”
A VIP ticket to meet Steamboat includes a photo and autograph, Q&A with William Patrick Corgan and NWA talent, and early entrance to the tapings. Tickets are available at NWATix.com.
The NWA will be holding five straight nights of shows to close out August. They will be in St. Louis on August 27 & 28 for the NWA 74th Anniversary Fan Fest and pay-per-view shows. The promotion then heads to Nashville from August 29 to 31 to tape from Skyway Studios in Nashville.
Ricky Steamboat won’t be wrestling on “Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match.”
Recent reports suggested that Flair and Steamboat would be on opposing sides of a tag team match on the July 31 show. Dave Meltzer commented that the rumor was Flair and FTR would team up to take on the Rock N Roll Express and a partner. During a recent Highspots Auctions signing, however, Steamboat revealed that he turned down an offer to be in the match.
“I was approached and [I’ve] given it some really serious thought,” Steamboat said. “A lot of respect for the guy in the ring. Both of us are night and day when it comes to stuff out of the ring.”
“I thought about it for a week and just recently declined on it. I know when I wrestled Jericho at WrestleMania 25 and then we had the return match at Backlash in a singles. At 69, and I know it’s a six man tag and I can get a little this and that in, but with all due respect to our fans, I want them to remember me that last time I was in there with Jericho when they chanted, ‘You still got it!’ I don’t want to scar that phrase.”
“It would be a great payday, sure, but I don’t want them thinking ‘maybe he should have stayed retired,'” Steamboat continued.
“Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match” is scheduled as part of Starrcast V on July 31 from the Nashville Fairgrounds.
One of the most iconic rivalries in pro wrestling history is expected to be renewed when Ric Flair makes his return to the ring this summer.
Fightful reported on Monday that the plan is for Flair and Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat to face off in a tag team match at “Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match” on Sunday, July 31.
Dave Meltzer reported last week that it was rumored Flair & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) would be facing The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) and someone else.
That someone else will apparently be Steamboat.
The report said while the match isn’t finalized, it’s been in the cards for Starrcast for several weeks and that Conrad Thompson met with Steamboat in person recently. Fightful also reported that Tony Khan hasn’t signed off on FTR’s inclusion yet and that it’s “far from a done deal.”
This would be the 73-year-old Flair’s first match since 2011 and the 69-year-old Steamboat’s first match since 2010.
Flair and Steamboat’s 1989 trilogy is widely regarded as having produced three of the greatest matches in pro wrestling history.
“Jim Crockett Promotions Presents: Ric Flair’s Last Match” is taking place at the Nashville Fairgrounds in Nashville, Tennessee. The show, which is in conjunction with Starrcast V, will air live on Fite TV.
Starrcast V is happening in Nashville on the same weekend as WWE SummerSlam.
An all-time great will be in attendance when MLW comes to Charlotte, North Carolina later this month.
MLW has announced that pro wrestling legend Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat will be appearing at their SuperFight tapings in Charlotte on Saturday, February 26. The tapings are being held at the Grady Cole Center.
“Major League Wrestling today announced Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat is coming to MLW SuperFight hosted by the Grady Cole Center in Charlotte on Saturday February 26, featuring an MLW Fusion TV taping,” MLW wrote.
“The legend returns to the hallowed grounds of the Grady Cole Center where ‘The Dragon’ emerged as a main eventer and forever became a part of Charlotte’s rich wrestling history.”
In storyline, Steamboat will be the matchmaker for the SuperFight tapings. MLW questioned how authority figure Cesar Duran will react to Steamboat’s presence.
Steamboat will also be available for autograph and photo opportunities before the SuperFight show starts.
The SuperFight tapings will be headlined by Alex Hammerstone putting his MLW World Heavyweight Championship on the line against Davey RIchards. Richards was the winner of last year’s MLW Opera Cup tournament.
Ricky Steamboat is recovering after undergoing hip replacement surgery.
Steamboat, who turned 65 years old this past February, underwent surgery yesterday. He then wrote a positive update on Twitter later in the day where he thanked everyone for the support they sent him: “Got up and walked down the hall about 4 hours after surgery with zero pain. Thx for all the love and prayers sent my way….prayer works!”
Steamboat had tweeted a video on Sunday asking everyone to wish him well and noting that the surgery was to get his hip totally replaced. Prior to having surgery, he appeared and signed autographs at the Fanboy Expo in Knoxville, Tennessee over the weekend. Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham, JJ Dillon, Magnum TA, Tessa Blanchard, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, Teddy Long, and The Nasty Boys were also advertised for the event.
The last match that Steamboat wrestled was in 2010.
Minneapolis, Minnesota:
– Pat O’Connor wrestled AWA Champion Mr. M to a 1 hour time limit draw
– AWA Tag Team Champions Bob Geigel & Stan Kowalski beat Joe Scarpello & Tiny Mills
– Nikita Kalmikoff beat Roy Collins
– Duke Hoffman beat Jack Daniels
1964
Kansas City, Kansas:
– Bill Miller & Bob Geigel defeated Pat O’Connor & Sonny Myers in three falls
– The Stomper defeated Fritz Von Erich via DQ
1965
Minneapolis, Minnesota:
– AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon beat The Crusher
– Mighty Igor Vodik beat Larry Hennig by DQ
– Billy Red Cloud beat Bill Green
– Ivan Kalmikoff beat Jack Allen
– Bob Boyer drew Sid Freeman
1967
Chicago, Illinois:
– AWA Champion Mad Dog Vachon beat Verne Gagne by DQ
– Dick the Bruiser & the Crusher no contest Devils Duo, Angelo Poffo & Chris Markoff
– Wilbur Snyder beat El Mongol
– Jack Lanza drew Moose Cholak
– Mitsu Arakawa beat Reggie Parks
1973
Tampa, Florida:
– Florida Title: Buddy Colt defeated Jack Brisco to win the title
– Lights Out Match: Mark Lewin defeated Hans Schmidt
– Florida Tag Titles: Mike Graham & Kevin Sullivan defeated Bobby Shane & Gorgeous George, Jr. to win the titles
– Johnny Walker defeated Black Jack Slade
– Great Malenko defeated John Wolfman Smith
1974
Miami Beach Florida:
– Canadian Death Match: Dusty Rhodes defeated Jos LeDuc
– Paul Jones defeated The Texan by DQ
– Florida Title: Buddy Colt no contest Ron Fuller
– Cowboy Bill Watts defeated The Jackal
– Kevin Sullivan & Haystacks Calhoun defeated Skull Von Stroheim & Tony Romano
– The Psycho defeated Tom Jones
1975
Kansas City, Kansas:
– Oki Shikina & Chuck O’Connor defeated Tony Russo & Omar Atlas
– Mike George defeated Bobby Jaggers
– Central States Women’s Champion Jean Antone defeated Betty Niccoli via DQ in two straight falls
– The Interns (w/ Dr. Ken Ramey) fought Lord Alfred Hayes & Bob Brown to a double-DQ
– Jerry Oates & Ted Oates defeated Terry Martin & Tommy Martin in three falls
1977
St. Paul, Minnesota:
– Andre the Giant ddq AWA Champion Nick Bockwinkel
– Ray Stevens beat Bobby Duncum
– Chris Taylor beat Super Destroyer by DQ
– Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Roger Kirby & Blackjack Lanza (sub Bobby Heenan)
– Pedro Morales beat Blackjack Lanza
– Angelo Mosca beat Bill Francis
1978
Madison Square Garden: New York City:
– SD Jones defeated Baron Mikel Scicluna via disqualification
– Spiros Arion defeated Chief Jay Strongbow via referee’s decision
– Dusty Rhodes pinned WWWF Tag Team Champion Prof. Toru Tanaka
– Ken Patera defeated Peter Maivia via count-out
– Mil Mascaras pinned WWWF Tag Team Champion Mr. Fuji
– WWF Jr. Heavyweight Champion Tatsumi Fujinami pinned Ted Adams
– Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham to win the WWWF World Heavyweight Title
– Wee Willie Wilson & Hillbilly Pete defeated Little John & Billy the Kid in a Best 2 out of 3 falls
– Tony Garea & Larry Zbyszko defeated Butcher Vachon & Stan Stasiak in a Best 2 out of 3 falls bout
1981
St. Paul, Minnesota:
– AWA Champion Verne Gagne beat Nick Bockwinkel
– Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell beat Jerry Blackwell & John Studd
– AWA Tag Team Champions Adrian Adonis & Jesse Ventura beat Tito Santana & Ray Stevens
– Brad Rheingans beat Steve Regal
– Buck Zumhofe beat Bill Howard
– Curt Hennig beat Kenny Jay
1986
AWA/NWA Star Wars: Baltimore, Maryland:
– Cage match: Road Warriors beat Ivan Koloff & Nikita Koloff
– NWA Champion Ric Flair beat Dusty Rhodes by DQ
– Sgt. Slaughter beat AWA Champion Stan Hansen by DQ
– Midnight Express beat Rock & Roll Express
– Magnum TA beat Baron Von Raschke
– Nick Bockwinkel no contest Larry Zbyszko
– Tully Blanchard beat Jimmy Valiant
– Scott Hall beat Boris Zhukov
1989
WCW Chi-Town Rumble: Chicago, Illinois:
– Mike Rotundo defeated Rick Steiner to win the NWA Television Title
– Lex Luger defeated Barry Windham to win the United States Title
– NWA World Tag Team Champions The Road Warriors defeated Steve Williams & Kevin Sullivan
– Ricky Steamboat defeated Ric Flair to win the NWA World Heavyweight Title
1992
Niagara Falls, New York:
– WWF Intercontinental Champion Rowdy Roddy Piper defeated WWF World Champion Ric Flair in a non-title, steel cage match
Dallas, Texas:
– Ricky Morton pinned Mike Graham
– Van Hammer defeated Abdullah the Butcher via disqualification
– Rick & Scott Steiner defeated Steve Armstrong & Tracy Smothers
– Tom Zenk pinned Terrence Taylor with a roll up
– Sting & Ricky Steamboat defeated WCW US Champion Rick Rude & WCW TV Champion Steve Austin
– Ron Simmons, Dustin Rhodes, & Barry Windham defeated Larry Zbyszko & WCW Tag Team Champion Arn Anderson in a steel cage match
1993
Bland, Virginia:
– Brian Lee defeated Killer Kyle
– Bobby Eaton defeated Greg Maddox
– Tim Horner defeated The Nightstalker
– Tracy Smothers defeated SMW Heavyweight Champion the Dirty White Boy
– Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson defeated SMW Tag Team Champions Stan Lane & Tom Prichard
2005
WWE No Way Out: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
– Rey Mysterio and Eddie Guerrero defeated WWE Tag Team Champions Doug and Danny Basham to win the titles
– Chavo Guerrero Jr. won the Cruiserweight Title in a gauntlet match
– John Cena defeated Kurt Angle
2011
WWE Elimination Chamber: Oakland, California:
– Heath Slater & Justin Gabriel defeated WWE Tag Team champions Vladimir Kozlov & Santino Marella to win the titles
– WWE Champion the Miz retained the title over Jerry Lawler
– John Cena won the Raw Elimination Chamber over CM Punk, Randy Orton, R-Truth, John Morrison and Sheamus
