Steamboat 87

Well said about the WWF’s point of view with Steamboat after he won the IC title. Steamboat knew his wife was pressuring him to be home with the newborn long before WM3 but he kept quiet until after he got the title about suddenly wanting to go home for 6 months.


The kicker is that Steamboat’s 1989 NWA comeback was then torpedoed by his wife again, this time desperately tying to become a Miss Elizabeth figure (Flair’s book, George Scott comments, etc.) when she probably could have gotten that -EXACT- role in 87 in Steamboat’s corner opposite Savage/Elizabeth if she hadn’t of gotten pregnant… during Ricky’s time off to sell the injury for the angle leading to winning the title and making a boatload of money! Headlining any WWF house shows in 1987 was essentially the peak period in the history of the business. It was so much money it caused Wayne Ferris to go crazy chasing it the rest of his life after being dropped into Steamboat’s spot.

Then in 1991 Steamboat comes back, gets a low priority role which is what he demanded in 87 when they were trying to push him, gets upset and quits.

I love the guy’s work, but his career is like a PG version of Buddy Landell decisions

​Well, and the thing with Steamboat is that he never really wanted to be a top guy and spent much of his early career trying to start a gym. And as noted, his relationship with Bonnie was not great, to say the least, and he seemed to become easier to deal with once she was gone. It’s really interesting how WCW finally found him a role he was happy with, doing the midcard US/TV title level feud with the Rick Rudes and Steve Austins of the promotion to put them over, and then that’s when his back gives out and he’s done. ​