Wrestling legend Chief Jay Strongbow, whose real name was Joseph Scarpa, died on Tuesday at the age of 83, according to ProWrestling.net. Strongbow was an accomplished grappler, as his career began in 1947. Strongbow wrestled in the NWA territories before joining the WWE in 1970, where he was a big draw for two decades.
Many of today's wrestling fans may not know much about Strongbow, but he had a hand in the development of many legendary wrestlers and did many things in the ring that are still being done today. 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.
Strongbow may be gone, but he most certainly won't be forgotten. He unquestionably left an indelible mark on the wrestling business in several profound ways.
WWE Hall of Fame
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. There may not yet be a physical Hall of Fame, but enshrinement still means a lot, as it places a performer among the immortals.
That is the case with Strongbow, as he was one of the first ever inductees way back in 1994.
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. Strongbow was inducted by Tatanka, who Strongbow was managing at the time.
Although there is no timetable set, there will inevitably be an actual Hall of Fame that fans can visit one day, and Strongbow will be among the first plaques that people see. Even if fans didn't have the pleasure of seeing him wrestle, they can come to appreciate his immense accomplishments.
Going on the Warpath
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. As a face, Strongbow always had the crowd behind him, and he often used that to his advantage.
Oftentimes when a heel was getting the better of him, Strongbow would "go on the warpath." 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.
This type of comeback sequence has been mimicked by many of the years. The most notable is Hulk Hogan, as he would end most of his matches by "hulking up" as he would no-sell his opponent's punches and ultimately end the match with a big boot and a leg drop.
While today's comeback sequences aren't as pronounced as Strongbow's, John Cena and many other top stars employ a signature move sequence that they use every match. It wouldn't be unfair to credit Strongbow with the advent of such a concept.
Indian Strap Match
It may not be utilized much anymore, but Strongbow was a huge reason for the popularity of the Indian Strap match. 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.
Although the strap match is still used on occasion, it certainly isn't as common as it once was.
When you think about it, though, there haven't been many wrestlers in WWE history who have been attached to a certain match type. The Undertaker has Hell in a Cell and Casket matches, but most matches can be linked to any number of competitors.
Strongbow was the man when it came to Indian Strap matches, however, and when you consider how prominent strap matches once were, he deserves plenty of recognition.
