Jay Youngblood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jay Youngblood |
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Youngblood, around 1979
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| Birth name | Steven Nicolas Romero |
| Born | June 21, 1955 Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Died | September 2, 1985 (aged 30) Parkville, Victoria, Australia |
| Family | Ricky Romero (father) Chris Youngblood (brother) Mark Youngblood (brother) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jay Youngblood The Renegade Silver Streak |
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) |
| Billed weight | 212 lb (96 kg) |
| Debut | 1975 |
Steven Nicolas Romero (born June 21, 1955 – died September 2, 1985) was an American professional wrestler. He was much better known by his ring name Jay Youngblood. He became famous for wrestling in a tag team with Ricky Steamboat. They wrestled for a company called Jim Crockett Promotions, which was part of the National Wrestling Alliance. Jay Youngblood also wrestled for other groups like Championship Wrestling from Florida and Pacific Northwest Wrestling.
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Jay Youngblood's Wrestling Journey
Steven Romero started his wrestling career in 1975. At first, he wore a mask and called himself "Silver Streak." Later, he moved to Pacific Northwest Wrestling. There, he started using the name Jay Youngblood. This name came from a Native American character he played. In the Pacific Northwest, he won tag team titles with Joe Lightfoot. They were known as "The Indians."
Teaming Up with Ricky Steamboat
Jay Youngblood became very well known when he teamed up with Ricky Steamboat. They were a regular tag team in Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP). In JCP, Jay was also sometimes called "The Renegade."
In 1982, Steamboat and Youngblood had a big rivalry. They were fighting against Boris Zhukov, Don Kernodle, and their manager Sgt. Slaughter. This rivalry led to an exciting match inside a steel cage. On March 12, 1983, about 15,000 fans watched this match in Greensboro, North Carolina. Steamboat and Youngblood won the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Slaughter and Kernodle that night.
Other Championships and Teams
In June 1982, while wrestling for Maple Leaf Wrestling, Youngblood won another title. He defeated The Destroyer to become the NWA Canadian Television Champion. He later lost this title to Private Jim Nelson. Steamboat and Youngblood also had big matches against brothers Jack and Jerry Brisco.
In September 1984, Jay Youngblood went to Championship Wrestling from Florida. There, he teamed up with his brother, Mark Youngblood. Together, they won the Florida version of the NWA United States Tag Championship two times. Jay also wrestled in Puerto Rico for the World Wrestling Council (WWC) in 1984. In 1985, he wrestled in other places like Memphis, Mexico, and for Pro Wrestling USA.
Jay Youngblood's Family Life
Steven Romero was part of a wrestling family. His father, Ricky Romero, was also a wrestler. Jay's brothers, Chris and Mark Youngblood, were also professional wrestlers. Jay was married and had a daughter named Ricca. He also had a son, Daniel, who later served in the US Army.
Jay Youngblood's Passing
While on a wrestling tour in Australia, Jay Youngblood became very sick. He had severe pain in his stomach and went to the hospital. Doctors found that he had a serious problem with his pancreas. His body then developed other serious health issues, and he had several heart problems. He was in a coma for two weeks. Jay Youngblood passed away on September 2, 1985, in Parkville, Victoria, Australia. He is buried in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas, next to his parents.
Remembering Jay Youngblood
People still remember Jay Youngblood's wrestling legacy. In April 2006, a wrestling show in Amarillo, Texas, held a special tournament. It was called the WTWL Jay Youngblood Memorial Tag Team Cup Tournament. Jay's nephew, "Radical" Ricky Romero III, and Mike DiBiase won the first tournament. They were called "Team 3G," meaning "Team Third Generation Wrestlers." The tournament was held again in 2007.
Jay Youngblood's Achievements
Jay Youngblood won many championships and awards during his wrestling career:
- All Japan Pro Wrestling
- World's Strongest Tag Determination League New Wave Award (1982) – with Ricky Steamboat
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Family Wrestling Award (2015) – with Ricky Romero, Mark Youngblood, and Chris Youngblood
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (2 times) – with Mark Youngblood
- Maple Leaf Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Television Championship (1 time)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Porkchop Cash (1), Johnny Weaver (1) and Ricky Steamboat (1)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (5 times) - with Ricky Steamboat
- NWA All-Star Wrestling
- NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) – with Joe Ventura
- NWA Pacific Coast Heavyweight Championship (Vancouver version) (1 time) (last)
- Pacific Northwest Wrestling
- NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship (4 times)
- NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Joe Lightfoot
- Salem City Tournament (1981)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 308 of the top 500 single wrestlers in the "PWI Years" in 2003
- Ranked No. 19 of the 100 best tag teams of the "PWI Years" with Ricky Steamboat in 2003
- Western States Sports
- NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ricky Romero
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Tag Team of the Year (1983) with Ricky Steamboat
See also
- List of premature professional wrestling deaths
