Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat [Videos]

Born in New York in 1952, Richard Blood became one the best and most popular professional wrestlers in history, as Ricky Steamboat. Born to an English-American father and Japanese-American mother, Steamboat grew up in New York and Florida. After completing training with Verne Gagne, Steamboat began his professional wrestling career in 1976 with the American Wrestling Association. After years of success with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), Steamboat signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1985. While in the WWF, Steamboat was given the gimmick of "The Dragon" to play up his Asian heritage. In 1987, Steamboat won the WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship but only held the title for a short period of time. Steamboat left the company in 1988 and returned to the NWA in 1989. From 1989 to 1994, Steamboat wrestled for several organizations including a brief return to the WWF in 1991.

During his career, Steamboat had numerous high-quality televised matches, including three well-known matches against Ric Flair in 1989. In what is considered one of the best matches in WWF history, Steamboat also had an amazing match with Randy Savage in 1987 at Wrestlemania III. Steamboat's quality of matches lasted up to his last major match in 1994 against "Stunning" Steve Austin. In what is perhaps one of his lesser known matches, Steamboat's match against Austin would cause him a career-ending injury when he suffered two herniated spinal discs.

For his contribution to the industry, Steamboat has been recognized in numouros Hall of Fames which include the following: Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 1996), Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (Class of 2002), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2009), and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame (Class of 2012).

Ricky Steamboat Interview with Gene Okerlund

March 1986

Ricky Steamboat confronts "Stunning" Steve Austin

WCW Saturday Night - July 23, 1994

Interviewer: Mean Gene Okerlund

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship Match with Steve Austin

Clash of Champions - August 28, 1994
Commentators: Booby Heenan and Tony Schiavone

WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship

WRESTLEMANIA III - March 29, 1987

Commentators: Gorilla Monsoon and Jesse Ventura

WWE Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

April 4, 2009