Ricky Steamboat Siblings: All About Victor Hersey Blood

Richard Henry Blood Sr., better known to the world as Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat, is a legendary figure in professional wrestling.

Born on February 28, 1953, in West Point, New York, Steamboat was raised in a military family, with his father serving as a U.S. Army officer and his mother hailing from Japan, which infused his persona with a unique blend of American grit and Eastern flair.

Growing up in St. Petersburg, Florida, young Richard excelled in amateur wrestling at Boca Ciega High School, securing two New York State titles and a Florida State Championship.

Steamboat debuted professionally in 1976 under his real name in the American Wrestling Association, but it was his rebranding as Ricky Steamboat, inspired by the Hawaiian grappler Sam Steamboat, that catapulted him to stardom.

Throughout his tenure in promotions like Jim Crockett Promotions, World Championship Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Federation, Steamboat was renowned for his technical precision, high-flying maneuvers like the diving crossbody, and an unyielding commitment to storytelling in the ring.

Siblings

Ricky has a younger brother, Victor Hersey Blood, who carved out his own path in the industry under the ring name Vic Steamboat.

Born on April 18, 1960, in Honolulu, Hawaii, Vic followed in his brother’s footsteps, embracing the family legacy with a career that echoed Ricky’s emphasis on athleticism and reliability.

Vic competed in various independent circuits and territories, often teaming with or facing off against familiar names from the Mid-Atlantic scene where the Blood brothers first made their marks.

Career

Steamboat’s professional odyssey began in earnest in 1976 when he stepped into the ring for Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association, initially wrestling as Richard Blood before promoter Eddie Graham rechristened him Ricky Steamboat to capitalize on his resemblance to the veteran Sam Steamboat.

This name change marked the start of a meteoric rise, as he quickly transitioned to Jim Crockett Promotions in the Mid-Atlantic territory, where from 1977 to 1985 he became a cornerstone of the roster.

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There, Steamboat engaged in epic feuds with the likes of Ric Flair and Roddy Piper, showcasing his aerial arsenal and mat-based mastery in matches that defined territorial wrestling at its peak.

His 1985 leap to the World Wrestling Federation introduced “The Dragon” to a national audience, where he dazzled in rivalries against Don Muraco and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, though backstage politics led to an abrupt departure after a brief stint.

Returning to the National Wrestling Alliance in 1989 via World Championship Wrestling, Steamboat ignited one of his most storied chapters by dethroning Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in a trilogy of bouts, Chi-Town Rumble, Clash of the Champions VI, and WrestleWar, that are etched in history as technical masterpieces.

Feuds with the Dangerous Alliance and a tag team resurgence alongside Dustin Rhodes kept him relevant through the early 1990s, but a debilitating back injury forced his retirement in 1994 following a brief WCW Television Championship reign.

Post-retirement, Steamboat transitioned seamlessly into mentorship roles, serving as a WWE producer from 2005 onward and making poignant comebacks, including a heartfelt WrestleMania 25 clash with Chris Jericho in 2009 that drew thunderous “You still got it!” chants from adoring fans.

Accolades

Steamboat captured the NWA World Heavyweight Championship once in 1989, etching his name alongside immortals like Ric Flair through their legendary exchanges.

In the WWF, his crowning jewel came at WrestleMania III in 1987, where he unseated “Macho Man” Randy Savage for the Intercontinental Heavyweight Championship in a match widely regarded as one of the greatest ever contested, blending athleticism and drama into pure spectacle.

Steamboat’s tag team prowess shone brightly, amassing six NWA World Tag Team titles across various partnerships, including stints with Paul Jones and Jay Youngblood, while securing three Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championships and two WCW World Tag Team belts later in his career.

As a singles competitor, he reigned as NWA/WCW United States Champion four times between 1977 and 1994, claimed the Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship twice in the early 1980s, and hoisted the WCW Television Championship twice in the 1990s.

Beyond belts, Steamboat’s accolades include induction into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009, recognizing his babyface purity and in-ring excellence; the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame in 1996 for his innovative style; the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame as part of its 2002 charter class; and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2012.