WWE Hall of Famer Ricky Steamboat is set for a sensational return to the ring at the age of 69 over a decade since he last competed.
Ricky ‘The Dragon’ Steamboat’s legendary wrestling career stretches back to the mid-seventies when he broke into the business as part of AWA. His legacy grew as part of the NWA and he is probably best remembered for a series of matches with Ric Flair in 1989 that saw The Dragon capture the NWA World Heavyweight Championship for the only time in his career.
Steamboat also spent some time in WWE where he had a mat classic with Macho Man Randy Savage at WrestleMania 3 that is still rightly discussed as one of the greatest matches of all time.
Ricky Steamboat stepped away from the ring in 1994 but made a sensational return at WrestleMania 25 as part of a bout that pitted a trio of legends against Chris Jericho. So impressive was The Dragon that he returned for a one-on-one bout with the current AEW star at the following month’s Backlash before sharing the ring with Drew McIntyre on a series of live events over the summer of 2009.
The WWE Hall of Famer’s last bout came in 2010 when he teamed with his son Richie Steamboat in FCW but all that is about to change as The Dragon returns.
Steamboat will be a part of Big Time Wrestling’s ‘Return of The Dragon’ event in Raleigh, North Carolina on the 27th of November.
Ricky Steamboat was last seen on wrestling television as part of AEW Dynamite’s partnership with the HBO show House of the Dragon. On that occasion, Steamboat was subjected to a diatribe from Jericho before the legend delivered a devastating chop to Cool Hand Angelo Parker.
The Dragon’s return to the ring might come as a surprise to some given the fact he very publicly turned down the chance to be involved in Ric Flair’s final match earlier in 2022. During a Highspots Superstore signing, Steamboat seemed to have misgivings about getting in the ring at his age as he said:
“You know, and I could get out there and maybe pull it off and say, ‘Well, you know, for a guy who’s 69 years old, he sure did pretty good,’ but that’s the double-edged sword right? So, you know, The Dragon does have a lot of pride in his work and the way the fans remember me in the ring, and I want that lasting impression. I know my physical capabilities right now.
“I would love to be able to go out there and perform like I did with Jericho. I was 56 or 57 years old, but I think I want my fans to remember me as that guy and not have a chance of disappointing. That’s how much I love my fans.”
Fans will get to show their love for Ricky Steamboat in November, Big Time Wrestling is yet to announce Steamboat’s opponent for the show.
In recent news, Ricky Starks will look to challenge Ricky Steamboat to a match at All Out.