10 Things You Didn't Know About Ricky Steamboat
1. His Son Was A Top Prospect Who Retired Before Making It To WWE
Ricky Steamboat was a legend in the sport, and his son Richie was poised to become one of the top performers of the 2010s. Signing with WWE in late 2009, Richie reported to Florida Championship Wrestling, quickly earning a reputation as a talented up-and-comer. During his tenure, he'd hold the FCW 15 Championship, win the FCW Tag Team Titles with Seth Rollins, and reign as the final FCW Florida Heavyweight Champion.
Once the developmental territory was rebranded as NXT in 2012, the younger Steamboat continued to be a major player until he suffered a back injury late in the year. Word on his condition remained scarce, with nobody really knowing when to expect him back. In December of 2013, a rumor circulated that he had been released from the company, but it was later reported he was still under contract.
Finally, in April of 2015, Ricky Steamboat confirmed what many fans had feared - the injury was severe enough that his son had to prematurely retire from the wrestling business. It's hard not to wonder what today's WWE would look like with Richie Steamboat on the roster, but it's more important that the former grappler has a healthy post-wrestling life.