JR announces the passing of WWE Hall of Famer

[TheDoctor]

One of true greats of the ring, Chief Jay Strongbow has passed away, he was 83. Jim Ross announced his passing on Tuesday afternoon on Twitter, offering his condolences along with several current and former WWE stars.

Strongbow, whose real name was Joe Scarpa, began his wrestling career in 1947 with the National Wrestling Alliance. He competed there from 1947 until 1970, when he took off for the World Wide Wrestling Federation that was run by Vince McMahon Sr. While he was there, he feuded with legendary names such as "Handsome" Jimmy Valiant and "Superstar" Billy Graham, while nearly capturing the WWWF Championship.

He did manage to catch the WWWF Tag Team Titles on two seperate occasions. The first time came in 1972, as he and Sonny King held the belts for about a month before losing them. He would have a second run with the tag titles in December 1976, and would hold them for nearly eight months when his partner Billy White Wolf suffered an injured neck at the hands of Ken Patera.


Strongbow would return to the newly-formed World Wrestling Federation in 1979, and would stay there until 1983. Shortly after his return to the company, he found himself engulfed in a feud with Greg "The Hammer" Valentine. During a match with Valentine, Strongbow suffered a broken leg.

After he recovered from that injury, he formed a tag team with his on-screen brother Jules Strongbow and together they would trade the WWF Tag Team Titles on a pair of occasions with Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito as well as The Wild Samoans.

Strongbow announced his retirement in 1985, but would stay onboard with the WWF until 1994. He remained as a road agent for the company, and was an on-screen mentor to Tatanka throughout 1994.

Throughout his career, Strongbow would capture several championships including the NWA Florida Heavyweight Championship and the NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship. He is also a member of the WWE Class of 1994 Hall of Fame, as he was inducted by Tatanka.

In late 2011, he suffered a fall at his home and never fully recovered from it. No official cause of death has been announced as of yet. Our thoughts and condolences go out his family and friends, as our industry has lost a true great.