Chief Jay Strongbow: Early CareerJoltin’" Joe Scarpa debuted in 1947 (although his brother Sal stated he debuted in a tag team match in 1956), spending over two decades with the NWA.
Scarpa eventually emerged as a significant star in various wrestling territories, notably in Southern regions like Atlanta. He even contended for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship against formidable opponents like Buddy Rogers and Lou Thesz.
Becoming Chief Jay StrongbowAs Joe Scarpa, he saw his fair share of success, although it was not until donning the eagle’s feathers and tomahawk as Chief Jay Strongbow that he indeed became a megastar.
In a somewhat surprising turn of events, Scarpa did not make his first appearance in the World Wide Wrestling Federation until 1970, when he was 42 years old.
Joe Scarpa was repackaged as a Native American tribesman. But, as Larry Zbyszko once observed, “Strongbow looked more like an Indian than Geronimo, and he was Italian.”
RANDY SAVAGE:"Strongbow killed more young wrestlers’ careers than drugs!"HONKY TONK MAN: "If he were dying right now, I wouldn’t even s*** in his mouth.”