Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboats Intercontinental Championship Reign

Naturally, first thing that comes to mind when one mentions Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat WWF Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion is WrestleMania 3 and his victory of "Macho Man" Randy Savage. 

For many it is still the greatest WrestleMania match of all time, and the one that was the most talked about for decades.  Many, like myself, remember watching the build towards the match, the heinous Macho Man dropping the ring bell onto Steamboats throat numerous times from the top rope.  The damage to the larynx of the perennial fan favorite.  The vignettes of long recovery and and learning to speak again.

These are very prominent memories for me, but you know what isn't, his title reign.  I recall one tv match where Steamboat wrestled Hercules and Savage ran down and grabbed Hercules ankle in a awkward moment to prevent him from beating Steamboat.  The next thing I knew The Honky Tonk Man was the Intercontinental Champion.  Until I started this post I had never seen the match where he lost the title.

Steamboat held championship for a mere 64 days from March 29, 1987 to June 2, 1987.  Let's take a look at the matches.

March 29, 1987 Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan

WrestleMania III

Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat with George "The Animal" Steel pinned Intercontinental Champion: Randy "Macho Man" Savage with Miss Elizabeth to win the Championship

April 23, 1987 Worcester Centrum, Massachusetts

WWF Superstars - Aired May 5, 1987

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated Tiger Chung Lee

April 24, 1987 New Haven Coliseum, Connecticut 

Wrestling Challenge- Aired May 3, 1987

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated Terry Gibbs

April 24, 1987 New Haven Coliseum, Connecticut 

Wrestling Challenge- Aired May 17, 1987

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Natural" Butch Reed by count-out

April 25, 1987 Baltimore Arena, Maryland

"Macho Man" Randy Savage defeated Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  

by count-out

April 26, 1987 Market Square Arena, Indianapolis, Indiana

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

April 27, 1987 Columbus, Ohio

Elimination Match: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Billy Jack Haynes & Jake "The Snake" Roberts defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage, The Honky Tonk Man and Hercules

April 28, 1987 South Bend, Indiana

Saturday Night's Main Event - Aired May 2, 1987 

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated Hercules by disqualification

April 29, 1987 Syracuse, New York

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 1, 1987 Nassau Coliseum, Long Island, New York

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 2, 1987 Rosemont Horizon, Illinois

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 3, 1987 Cobo Hall, Detroit, Michigan

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 4, 1987 Peoria, Illinois

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 7, 1987 Cincinnati, Ohio

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 8, 1987 Springfield, Massachusetts

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 9, 1987 Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis, Missouri

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 10, 1987 Kansas City, Missouri 

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 11, 1987 Oakland, California

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 12, 1987 Anaheim, California

WWF Superstars - Aired May 30, 1987

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat pinned Dusty Wolfe

May 13, 1987 San Diego, California

Wrestling Challenge - Aired May 24, 1987

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat pinned "Iron" Mike Sharpe

May 15, 1987 Houston, Texas

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 24, 1987 Peterborough, Ontario, Canada

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 25, 1987 Verdun, Quebec, Canada

"Macho Man" Randy Savage defeated Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat by count-out

May 26, 1987 Lake Placid, New York

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 29, 1987 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 30, 1987 St. Paul, Minnesota 

Steel Cage: Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

May 31, 1987 California, Pennsylvania 

Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  defeated "Macho Man" Randy Savage

June 2, 1987 Buffalo, New York

WWF Superstars - Aired June 13, 1987

The Honky Tonk Man with "Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart pinned Intercontinental Champion: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat  to win the championship

This match with Honky Tonk Man was short just under 4 minutes, Steamboat went for a small package near the ropes, Honky grabbed the ropes reversing it and holding on through the three count.  

Steamboat defended the title 26 times from coast to coast and in 3 Canadian provinces.  As you can see the schedule was demanding and all over the place.  Allegedly  Steamboat asked for time off the home for the birth of his son and it angered McMahon who was going to have him drop the title to Butch Reed, but he no showed the card so instead he lost to the Honky Tonk Man.  In an interview Steamboat said Hogan was mad at him for outshining Hogan and Andre at Mania.  

Steamboat was not pushed through the remainder of his run in the WWF and finished up at WrestleMania IV losing to Greg "The Hammer" Valentine in the opening round of the WWF Championship tournament.

Steamboat was one of the all time best wrestlers, except for the build to WrestleMania III I really feel he was wasted in the WWF during this 3 year run and his short return in 1991.  The NWA territories is where he really was able to shine.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!

Leilani Kai's WWF Women's Championship Reign

Forty years ago today, on February 18, 1985 Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter to capture the WWF World Women's Championship.  Let's take a look at her title matches in that run.  

Leilani Kai trained with the Fabulous Moolah and debuting in 1975.  She rose to prominence in the mid 1980's WWF Rock n' Wrestling era defeating Wendi Richter to capture the WWF Women's World Championship.  She would hold the title for 41 days defending it 13 times with 12 successful defenses.  

February 18, 1985, Madison Square Garden, New York City

The War to Settle The Score - match aired March 2nd on Championship Wrestling

Leilani Kai with The Fabulous Moolah defeated World Women's Champion: Wendi Richter with Cyndi Lauper to win the championship

February 20, 1985 Brantford, Ontario

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 2, 1985 WTBS Studios, Atlanta, Georgia

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai with The Fabulous Moolah pinned Wenona Little Heart

March 2, 1985 Baltimore, Maryland

Wendi Richter defeated World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai by count-out

March 3, 1985 Salisbury, Maryland

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 4, 1985 Elmira, New York

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 5, 1985 Poughkeepsie, New York

Championship Wrestling TV taping at the Mid-Hudson Civic Center

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai with The Fabulous Moolah pinned Susan Starr

aired March 23, 1985

March 7, 1985 Warren, New Jersey

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai wrestled Wendi Richter to a double count-out

March 8, 1985 Highland Heights, Ohio

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 9, 1985 Dover, Delaware

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 10, 1985 Maple Leaf Garden, Toronto, Ontario Canada

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai pinned Wendi Richter holding her tights

March 11, 1985 Brantford, Ontario

All Star Wrestling Taping - Aired March 30th

Jesse Ventura & Jack Reynolds interviewed Kai about her upcoming match with Wendi Richter at WrestleMania

March 12, 1985 Tom's River, New Jersey 

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 13, 1985 Kalamazoo, Michigan

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai defeated Wendi Richter

March 31, 1985 Madison Square Garden, New York City

WrestleMania

Wendi Richter with Cindy Lauper pinned World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai with The Fabulous Moolah to win the championship

World Women's Champion: Leilani Kai

Her last match in December 2015 brought to and end her 40 year career.  During that time she captured the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling All Pacific Championship holding the title for 249 days.  She is also a former NWA Worlds Women's Champion holding the title for 465 days.

  

With her partner Judy Martin, known as The Glamour Girls they are two time WWF and two time NWA Women's World Tag Team Champions.  They held the WWF titles a combined 1,157 days with their first reign a record 906 days. 

I thinks it's very remarkable that Leilani Kai was able to win the championship at the world's most famous arena, a SOLD OUT Madison Square Garden with 26,092 fan in attendance.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time! 

Zack Sabre Jr's 1st IWGP Championship Reign

Zack Sabre Jr. is one of my favorite active wrestlers to watch today.  I have been a fan of his for many years and have written about him more than a few times in the past on this blog.  I've had the pleasure of seeing him wrestling live on a few occasions from the American Legion post in Orono, Maine to the world famous Madison Square Garden.  Every interaction I have had with him has been a genuine pleasure.

ZSJ started his 2024 losing the NJPW World Television Championship to Hiroshi Tanahashi at WrestleKingdom 18 at the Tokyo Dome.  At New Beginning in Osaka 2024 on February 11, 2024 he avenged his loss the Bryan Danielson pinning him in 33 minutes.  He regained the NJPW World Television Championship defeating champion Matt Riddle on April 12th in Chicago at Windy City Riot, then lost it to Jeff Cobb on May 3rd in Fukuoka, Japan.  One June 30th he defeated Orange Cassidy at Forbidden Door on Long Island, New York.

In the 2024 G1 Climax he finished the A block with 14 points, the most points achieved by any competitor in the tournament, going on the win the tournament submitting Yota Tsuji in the finals.  He is the first gaijin to win the tournament since Kenny Omega in 2016.  

Typically the winner of the tournament earns the right to face the IWGP World Champion at the Tokyo Dome, however Zack cashed in his opportunity on October 14 at King of Pro Wrestling 2024 at Ryogoku in Tokyo to win the championship.

Sadly, on February 11, 2025 at New Beginning in Osaka 2025 he lost the title to Hirooki Goto ending his run at just 120 day. 

During his all too short 120 days as Champion he successfully defended it four times including retaining it in two back to back Main Event matches at the Tokyo Dome.  

October 20, 2024 

NJPW Royal Quest IV London, England

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated SANADA

November 4, 2024

NJPW Power Struggle Osaka, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shingo Takagi

January 4, 2025

NJPW WrestleKingdom 19 Tokyo Dome, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Shota Umino

January 5, 2025

Wrestle Dynasty, Tokyo Dome, Japan

IWGP World Heavyweight Champion: Zack Sabre Jr. submitted Ricochet

After winning the title I don't feel NJPW promoted Zack as champion very well.  He was placed in the World Tag League with partner Ryohei Oiwa finishing in a five way tie for 4th place with only 6 points.  After the World Tag League he competed in multi-man matches with his TMDK stable mates with the only other singles match, besides those listed above, was a non-title victory over Hechicero at Battle in the Valley 2025 in San Jose, California.

I'm very thankful that I got to see him wrestle live as the title holder, granted it was in a tag team match and his team lost.  I was really hoping for a singles match that night in Lowell.

I don't think this is the only World Title reign for ZSJ, I am confident that he will be a World Champion again in the future and the greatest technical wrestler in the world will get the title reign that he deserves.  

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment, check out my other posts, and if you want like my blogs Facebook page.  You can also head over to Amazon and pick up a copy of my book the 2024 Limitless Wrestling Almanac, or any of my other books.

Until next time!