You can have your Wrestlemania's and you big events, but nothing brings the wrestling family together, no matter who you support and who you don't, like a death. And just over a month since we lost Doug Furnis, the wrestling world mourns the passing of a true legend.
Chief Jay Strongbow, real name, Jay Scarpa, passed away on Tuesday April 3rd aged 83. A four time tag team champion, Strongbow who made his ring debut in 1947 was a solid worker and true professional. His later career included a brief stint as the the manager / advisor of former WWE Superstar Tatanka, a job working in WWE'S front office and a rightful inclusion into the WWE Hall of Fame, class of 1994.
Those who witnessed Strongbow in action, will be able to attest to his star power inside the squared circle, his ability was before its time and head and shoulders above the rest, as he did battle with many a legened, including tag teams as distinguised in wrestling royalty as 'The Wild Samoans'.
It's a sad time when we lose a wrestler, whether he's part of a main company or an indie promotion. The fact that we knew these people put their lives on the line every night for our entertainment, lends a strong aura of guilt to the fact that they're now gone. Though a pssing in the wrestling world is not to be mourned, but to be looked back on as a carrer that gave happiness to millions around the world.
Terry Funk made a poignent speech in his Hall of Fame induction a few years ago. Stating that the friends he'd lost and those who were unfortunatley to come next were not gone, just up above us in that wrestling ring in the sky. All of them battling it out in a never ending Battle Royal, where they were most happy and in the one place they loved the most.
So now we have to let the Cheif go, because if you listen carefully you can just about hear the announcement as the buzzer goes and those who have already passed on and are battling it out, such as Andre the Giant, Chris Benoit, Owen Hart, Eddie Guerrero, Yokozuna, Public Enemy, Chris Kanyon, Mike Awesome, Test and Bam Bam Bigelow to name a few, look to the curtain with interest and a great deal of sadness to see which of their brothers and which of our heroes is the next entrant...
'Ladies and Gentlemen, be upstanding. The next wrestler into the eternal Battle Royal - Chief Jay Strongbow!'
And it is with great sadness that we pass over Jay Scarpa. For those of us who love the sport and the business. Then don't feel too sad. Becuase when our time comes, we're going to have a front seat, to the greatest match in history.
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| Chief Jay Strongbow 1928 - 2012 |
