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{{Short description|American professional wrestler}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Sammy Steamboat
| name = Sammy Steamboat
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| weight =
| weight =
| spouse = Sheryll Mokuahi<ref name="Oliver"/>
| spouse = Sheryll Mokuahi<ref name="Oliver"/>
| children = 7
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|05|04}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1934|05|04}}
| birth_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]<ref name="Luis"/>
| birth_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]<ref name="Luis"/>
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| death_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]<ref name="Oliver"/>
| death_place = [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], [[United States]]<ref name="Oliver"/>
| death_cause = Complications from [[Alzheimer's disease]]<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="Luis"/>
| death_cause = Complications from [[Alzheimer's disease]]<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="Luis"/>
| trainer = Lord James Blears<ref name="Oliver"/><br>[[Lou Thesz]]<ref name="Oliver"/>
| trainer = [[Lord James Blears]]<ref name="Oliver"/><br>[[Lou Thesz]]<ref name="Oliver"/>
| debut = 1958
| debut = Mid-1950s<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="Luis"/>
| retired = 1970s<ref name="Oliver"/>
| retired = Late-1970s<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="Luis"/>
}}
}}
'''Samuel K. Mokuahi''' (May 4, 1934 to May 2, 2006) was an [[United States|American]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], better known by his [[ring name]], '''Sam "Sammy" Steamboat'''.<ref name="Almanac">{{cite news|first=Hicks|last=Brady|title=2006: The year in wrestling|work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts|publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=20}}</ref><ref name="Oliver">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/04/1564717.html|author=Oliver, Greg|title=Sam Steamboat was a Hawaiian legend|publisher=[[Quebecor Media]]|work=[[Canoe.ca]]|date=May 4, 2006|accessdate=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Luis">{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/05/19/news/story10.html|author=Luis, Cindy|title=Wrestler Sammy Steamboat promoted paddling|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=May 19, 2006|accessdate=March 10, 2016}}</ref>
'''Samuel K. Mokuahi''' (May 4, 1934 &ndash; May 2, 2006) was an American [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]], better known by his [[ring name]], '''Sammy Steamboat'''.<ref name="Oliver">{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/04/1564717.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311075100/http://slam.canoe.com/Slam/Wrestling/2006/05/04/1564717.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 11, 2016|author=Oliver, Greg|title=Sam Steamboat was a Hawaiian legend|publisher=[[Quebecor Media]]|work=[[Canoe.ca]]|date=May 4, 2006|accessdate=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Luis">{{cite web|url=http://archives.starbulletin.com/2006/05/19/news/story10.html|author=Luis, Cindy|title=Wrestler Sammy Steamboat promoted paddling|work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=May 19, 2006|accessdate=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref name="Almanac">{{cite news|first=Hicks|last=Brady|title=2006: The year in wrestling|work=PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts|publisher=Kappa Publications|id=2007 Edition|page=20}}</ref>


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Mokuahi grew up in [[Honolulu]], attending [[President Theodore Roosevelt High School]], where he played multiple different sports.<ref name="Oliver"/>
Mokuahi grew up in [[Honolulu]], attending [[President Theodore Roosevelt High School]], where he played multiple sports.<ref name="Oliver"/>


== Professional wrestling career ==
== Professional wrestling career ==
Mokuahi was trained to wrestle by Lord James Blears and [[Lou Thesz]]. He debuted in 1958, adopting the ring name "Sam Steamboat", the English translation of his birth name.<ref name="Oliver"/>
Mokuahi was trained to wrestle by [[Lord James Blears]] and [[Lou Thesz]]. He debuted in the 1950s, adopting the ring name "Sam Steamboat, the English translation of his birth name.<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="JohnsonOliver2012">{{cite book|author=Johnson, Steven|title=The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0wxLpfRhZqcC&pg=PT426|date=1 October 2012|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-77090-269-5|pages=426–|display-authors=etal}}</ref>


Steamboat began his career with the Honolulu-based promotion [[50th State Big Time Wrestling]]. He won his first [[championship (professional wrestling)|championship]] on August 5, 1956, [[tag team|teaming]] with [[Billy Varga]] to defeat [[Kazuo Okamura|Great Togo]] and [[Harold Sakata|Tosh Togo]] for the [[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]]. On January 25, 1961, Steamboat defeated [[Dick Hutton]] to win the [[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship]]. He lost the championship to Luigi Macera on April 15, 1961.
Steamboat worked in the midcard in [[Toronto]] in the early 1960s


In the early 1960s, Steamboat competed for the [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]-based promotion [[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]. in 1960, he won the [[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] with [[Dick Hutton]].
In the early 1960s, Steamboat relocated to the [[contiguous United States]], where he competed for the [[Los Angeles]], [[California]]-based promotion [[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]. In 1960, he won the [[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] with Dick Hutton.


He went on to compete in the [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]-based [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]], where he won the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] with [[Eddie Graham]] in 1964, and the [[North Carolina]]-based [[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling]], where he held the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)]] with Graham in 1965.<ref name="Titles"/>
Steamboat went on to compete in the [[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]-based [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]], where he won the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] with [[Eddie Graham]] in 1964, and the [[North Carolina]]-based [[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling]], where he held the [[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)]] with Graham in 1965.<ref name="Titles"/>


In the mid-1960s, Steamboat began wrestling for [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]], where he reformed his alliance with Eddie Graham. Steamboat won the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)]] on five occasions between 1964 and 1967, as well as the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)]] on two occasions in 1965 and the [[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] in 1969.<ref name="Titles">{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|edition=4th|year=2006|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref>
In the mid-1960s, Steamboat began wrestling for [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]], where he reformed his alliance with Eddie Graham. Steamboat won the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)]] on five occasions between 1964 and 1967, as well as the [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)]] on two occasions in 1965 and the [[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] in 1969.<ref name="Titles">{{cite book|author=Royal Duncan & Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|edition=4th|year=2006|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}}</ref><ref name="III2003">{{cite book|author=Harris M. Lentz III|title=Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JyiSCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA132|date=1 January 2003|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-1754-4|pages=132–}}</ref>


Steamboat returned to Hawaii in the late 1960s, winning the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship on three further occasions and the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship on four further occasions. He also won the [[NWA Pacific International Championship|NWA North American Championship (Hawaii version)]] on four occasions. He retired in the late 1970s.<ref name="Oliver"/>
Steamboat returned to Hawaii in the early 1970s, retiring later that decade.<ref name="Oliver"/>


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
Mokuahi was married to Sheryll, with whom he had seven children.<ref name="Oliver"/>
Mokuahi was married to Sheryll, with whom he had seven children.<ref name="Oliver"/>


Mokuhai was an avid [[surfing|surfer]] and [[canoe|canoist]].<ref name="Oliver"/>
Mokuhai was an avid [[surfing|surfer]] and [[canoe]]ist.<ref name="Oliver"/>


Fellow professional wrestler [[Ricky Steamboat]] took his ring name from Mokuahi due to their resemblance and was briefly billed as his son or nephew. However, the two men were unrelated.<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="MeltzerHart2004">{{cite book|author1=Dave Meltzer|author2=Bret Hart|title=Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=00XoU40tLO8C&pg=PA180|date=January 2004|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=978-1-58261-817-3|pages=180–}}</ref><ref name="SymkusCarolan2004">{{cite book|author1=Ed Symkus|author2=Vinnie Carolan|title=Wrestle Radio U. S. A.: Grapplers Speak|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=fhNCxJzOiFAC&pg=PA164|year=2004|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55022-646-1|pages=164–}}</ref><ref name="Reynolds2007">{{cite book|author=R. D. Reynolds|title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&pg=PA109|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-287-3|pages=109–}}</ref>
Fellow professional wrestler [[Ricky Steamboat]] took his ring name from Mokuahi due to their resemblance and was briefly billed as his younger brother, son or nephew. However, the two men were unrelated.<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="MeltzerHart2004">{{cite book|author1=Dave Meltzer|author2=Bret Hart|title=Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers|url=https://archive.org/details/tributesii00dave|url-access=registration|date=January 2004|publisher=Sports Publishing LLC|isbn=978-1-58261-817-3|pages=[https://archive.org/details/tributesii00dave/page/180 180]–}}</ref><ref name="SymkusCarolan2004">{{cite book|author1=Ed Symkus|author2=Vinnie Carolan|title=Wrestle Radio U. S. A.: Grapplers Speak|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fhNCxJzOiFAC&pg=PA164|year=2004|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55022-646-1|pages=164–}}</ref><ref name="Reynolds2007">{{cite book|author=R. D. Reynolds|title=The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HFBTUhnc9DwC&pg=PA109|year=2007|publisher=ECW Press|isbn=978-1-55490-287-3|pages=109–}}</ref>


== Death ==
== Death ==
Mokuahi died in Hawaii from complications from [[Alzheimer's disease]] on May 2, 2006.<ref name="Almanac"/><ref name="Oliver"/>
Mokuahi died in Hawaii from complications from [[Alzheimer's disease]] on May 2, 2006.<ref name="Oliver"/><ref name="Almanac"/>


==Championships and accomplishments==
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[50th State Big Time Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship#Title history|4 times]])
**[[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship#Title history|5 times]]) – with [[Billy Varga]] (1 time), [[Bearcat Wright]] (1 time), [[Peter Maivia]] (2 times), and [[Adnan Al-Kaissie|Billy White Wolf]] (1 time)
**[[NWA Hawaii United States Championship|NWA North American Heavyweight Championship ''(Hawaii version)'']] ([[NWA Hawaii United States Championship#Title history|4 times]])
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
*'''[[Championship Wrestling from Florida]]'''
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with Ciclon Negro
**[[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Florida Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) – with [[Ciclon Negro]]
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Florida version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)#Title history|5 times]]) – with [[Eddie Graham]] (3), Ron Etchison (1), and [[Jose Lothario]] (1)
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Florida version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version)#Title history|5 times]]) – with [[Eddie Graham]] (3 times), Ron Etchison (1 time), and [[Jose Lothario]] (1 time)
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-America version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship#Title History|1 time]]) – with Eddie Graham<sup>1</sup>
**[[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-America version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship#History|1 time]]) – with Eddie Graham<sup>1</sup>

*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Georgia Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] (4 times) – with Eddie Graham
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version)]] (4 times) – with Eddie Graham

*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
*'''[[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling]]'''
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)|NWA Southern Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)#Title history|1 time]]) – with Eddie Graham
**[[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)|NWA Southern Tag Team Championship ''(Mid-Atlantic version)'']] ([[NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version)#Title history|1 time]]) – with Eddie Graham
* '''[[Western States Sports|NWA Western States Sports]]'''

** [[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version)|NWA World Tag Team Championship ''(Amarillo version)'']] ([[NWA World Tag Team Championship (Amarillo version)#Title history|1 time]]) - with Eddie Graham<ref name=NWATagAmarilloWeb>{{cite web | url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/us/tx/w/nwa/wt-world-t.html | title=National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles [W. Texas] | work=Wrestling-Titles | accessdate=February 21, 2017}}</ref>
*'''[[National Wrestling Alliance|NWA Mid-Pacific Promotions]]'''
**[[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship#Title history|2 times]])
**[[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship]] ([[NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship#Title history|5 times]]) – with Bill Varga (1), [[Bearcat Wright]] (1), [[Peter Maivia]] (2), and [[Billy White Wolf]] (1)
**[[NWA Hawaii United States Championship|NWA North American Heavyweight Championship ''(Hawaii version)'']] ([[NWA Hawaii United States Championship#Title history|4 times]])

*'''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]'''
*'''[[Worldwide Wrestling Associates]]'''
**[[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with [[Dick Hutton]]
**[[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship]] ([[WWA International Television Tag Team Championship#Title history|1 time]]) - with [[Dick Hutton]]


<small><sup>1</sup>Steamboat and Graham won this championship by winning a tournament held on a card promoted in the [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] promotion.</small>
<small><sup>1</sup>Steamboat and Graham won this championship by winning a tournament held on a card promoted in the [[Championship Wrestling from Florida]] promotion.</small>
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== External links ==
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name|id=0596381|name=Samuel Mokuahi}}
{{Portal|Professional wrestling}}
* {{professional wrestling profiles}}
*{{IMDb name|id=0596381|name=Samuel Mokuahi}}

{{Navboxes|
|list1=
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Amarillo version)}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version)}}
{{NWA World Tag Team Champions (Mid-America version)}}
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Steamboat, Sammy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Steamboat, Sammy}}
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[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in Hawaii]]
[[Category:Deaths from Alzheimer's disease in the United States]]
[[Category:President Theodore Roosevelt High School alumni]]
[[Category:Native Hawaiian professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Hawaii]]
[[Category:Professional wrestlers from Hawaii]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Honolulu]]
[[Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:NWA Florida Tag Team Champions]]
[[Category:NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version)]]

Latest revision as of 01:39, 14 April 2024

Sammy Steamboat
Birth nameSamuel K. Mokuahi[1]
Born(1934-05-04)May 4, 1934
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States[2]
DiedMay 2, 2006(2006-05-02) (aged 71)[1][2]
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States[1]
Cause of deathComplications from Alzheimer's disease[1][2]
Spouse(s)Sheryll Mokuahi[1]
Children7
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Sam Steamboat
Sammy Steamboat
Trained byLord James Blears[1]
Lou Thesz[1]
DebutMid-1950s[1][2]
RetiredLate-1970s[1][2]

Samuel K. Mokuahi (May 4, 1934 – May 2, 2006) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Sammy Steamboat.[1][2][3]

Early life[edit]

Mokuahi grew up in Honolulu, attending President Theodore Roosevelt High School, where he played multiple sports.[1]

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Mokuahi was trained to wrestle by Lord James Blears and Lou Thesz. He debuted in the 1950s, adopting the ring name "Sam Steamboat,” the English translation of his birth name.[1][4]

Steamboat began his career with the Honolulu-based promotion 50th State Big Time Wrestling. He won his first championship on August 5, 1956, teaming with Billy Varga to defeat Great Togo and Tosh Togo for the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship. On January 25, 1961, Steamboat defeated Dick Hutton to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship. He lost the championship to Luigi Macera on April 15, 1961.

In the early 1960s, Steamboat relocated to the contiguous United States, where he competed for the Los Angeles, California-based promotion Worldwide Wrestling Associates. In 1960, he won the WWA International Television Tag Team Championship with Dick Hutton.

Steamboat went on to compete in the Atlanta, Georgia-based Georgia Championship Wrestling, where he won the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Georgia version) with Eddie Graham in 1964, and the North Carolina-based Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, where he held the NWA Southern Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) with Graham in 1965.[5]

In the mid-1960s, Steamboat began wrestling for Championship Wrestling from Florida, where he reformed his alliance with Eddie Graham. Steamboat won the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Florida version) on five occasions between 1964 and 1967, as well as the NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-America version) on two occasions in 1965 and the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship in 1969.[5][6]

Steamboat returned to Hawaii in the late 1960s, winning the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship on three further occasions and the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship on four further occasions. He also won the NWA North American Championship (Hawaii version) on four occasions. He retired in the late 1970s.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Mokuahi was married to Sheryll, with whom he had seven children.[1]

Mokuhai was an avid surfer and canoeist.[1]

Fellow professional wrestler Ricky Steamboat took his ring name from Mokuahi due to their resemblance and was briefly billed as his younger brother, son or nephew. However, the two men were unrelated.[1][7][8][9]

Death[edit]

Mokuahi died in Hawaii from complications from Alzheimer's disease on May 2, 2006.[1][3]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

1Steamboat and Graham won this championship by winning a tournament held on a card promoted in the Championship Wrestling from Florida promotion.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Oliver, Greg (May 4, 2006). "Sam Steamboat was a Hawaiian legend". Canoe.ca. Quebecor Media. Archived from the original on March 11, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Luis, Cindy (May 19, 2006). "Wrestler Sammy Steamboat promoted paddling". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
  3. ^ a b Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanak and book of facts. Kappa Publications. p. 20. 2007 Edition.
  4. ^ Johnson, Steven; et al. (1 October 2012). The Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame: Heroes and Icons. ECW Press. pp. 426–. ISBN 978-1-77090-269-5.
  5. ^ a b Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). Wrestling Title Histories (4th ed.). Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. ^ Harris M. Lentz III (1 January 2003). Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling, 2d ed. McFarland. pp. 132–. ISBN 978-0-7864-1754-4.
  7. ^ Dave Meltzer; Bret Hart (January 2004). Tributes II: Remembering More of the World's Greatest Professional Wrestlers. Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 180–. ISBN 978-1-58261-817-3.
  8. ^ Ed Symkus; Vinnie Carolan (2004). Wrestle Radio U. S. A.: Grapplers Speak. ECW Press. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-1-55022-646-1.
  9. ^ R. D. Reynolds (2007). The Wrestlecrap Book of Lists!. ECW Press. pp. 109–. ISBN 978-1-55490-287-3.
  10. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Titles [W. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.

External links[edit]