Debuting in the mid-1970s, Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat is an icon of pro wrestling across three decades in the National Wrestling Alliance, WWE, and WCW. Amid legendary battles with Ric Flair, Macho Man Randy Savage, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts, Steamboat proved to not only be a top babyface but also the rare Asian-American star who wasn’t slotted into a “foreign bad guy” position.

RELATED: 10 Rivalries That Defined 1980s Wrestling, Ranked

However, Ricky Steamboat quietly retired as an active competitor in 1994, so it’s possible that modern fans don’t know much about him. In other words, it’s time for a crash course on a legend of the squared circle.

10 His Origins

young Ricky Steamboat

Starting off with a background in amateur wrestling, Ricky Steamboat was trained by Verne Gagne and The Iron Sheik and debuted in Gagne’s American Wrestling Association in 1976 as Rick Blood, which -- believe it or not -- is his real name. It wasn’t until he moved on to Championship Wrestling from Florida that he got his famous moniker, which was suggested by promoter Eddie Graham because he kind of resembled Hawaiian wrestler Sammy Steamboat. Before long, Ricky Steamboat would go to Jim Crockett Promotions, where he’d become a three-time NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and have his first major encounters with Ric Flair.

9 His WWE Run

Ricky Steamboat and Jake Roberts

Ricky Steamboat would sign with WWE in 1985, adopting the nickname “The Dragon” and wearing karate-style gear to play up his Japanese heritage. His first big storyline would be a feud with Jake Roberts, during which Roberts would deliver a DDT on the concrete floor to Steamboat on Saturday Night’s Main Event. This would lead to a No Disqualification “Snake Pit Match” at The Big Event followed by a rematch of the same stipulation at another SNME, during which Steamboat would combat Roberts’ snake-based terror by bringing out a small crocodile identified as a komodo dragon

8 WrestleMania III Classic

Ricky Steamboat vs. Randy Savage at WrestleMania 3

In late 1986, a title shot at Randy Savage’s Intercontinental Championship turned into a full-on feud thanks to Savage staging a post-match attack on Steamboat with a ring bell. Steamboat disappeared from TV for months but staged a dramatic return in early 1987 to set up a climatic match at WrestleMania III.

RELATED: Macho Man vs. Ricky Steamboat: 10 Things Most Fans Don’t Realize About Their Rivalry

Their ‘Mania bout would not only be a show-stealer but would rank among the best WWE matches of all time, full of fast-paced, dramatic sequences that were the result of months of meticulous planning on the part of the two competitors. Ricky Steamboat would come off on top and with the IC Strap in an iconic win.

7 Legendary Feud With Ric Flair

Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair in 1989

After leaving WWE in 1988, Ricky Steamboat would resurface in WCW (formerly JCP) the following year as the surprise partner of Eddie Gilbert in a tag match against Ric Flair and Barry Windham, pinning Flair in the process. This would lead to a title feud with Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship and a classic trilogy of matches at Chi-Town Rumble, Clash of the Champions 6, and then WrestleWar. These weren’t just great matches -- their bout at Clash is considered THE best match of all time, only recently topped by Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada in 2018.

6 The Dragon

Ricky Steamboat breathes fire as The Dragon

Ricky Steamboat returned to WWE in March of 1991, but the execution was frankly bizarre. Rather than capitalize on the big return of a former Intercontinental Champion, Steamboat was presented as a new character named The Dragon, who breathed fire as part of his gimmick and whose past history with WWE was barely acknowledged. He’d only have one major match during this short run -- a six-man tag at SummerSlam ‘91 -- and then jump ship back to WCW by October.

5 More Success in WCW

Ricky Steamboat vs. Steve Austin

Ricky Steamboat’s WCW return was once again as a surprise tag partner, this time with Dustin Rhodes at Clash of the Champions 17. During this run, Steamboat would enjoy continued success, winning the Tag Team Championship and taking on the Dangerous Alliance in WarGames at WrestleWar ‘92. He also had several memorable matches with a young Steve Austin, winning the United States Title from the future Stone Cold but quickly vacating it due to energy.

4 Rekindled His Feud With Flair

Ricky Steamboat vs. Ric Flair in 1994

In 1994, Ricky Steamboat would once again enter a rivalry with Ric Flair, this time for the WCW World Title, as the company had broken ties with the National Wrestling Alliance in 1991. This trilogy of matches would also prove to be great but are far less talked about by fans for some reason.

RELATED: Every Major Ric Flair vs. Ricky Steamboat Match, Ranked

Their first encounter in this trilogy at Spring Stampede ended in a double pin, forcing the World Title to be vacated, which Flair would end up winning back in a 36-minute classic on WCW Saturday Night. Their final singles match would fly under the radar months later on an episode of WCW Worldwide, with Steamboat winning by DQ.

3 Retirement

Ring of Honor: Ricky Steamboat referees a match between CM Punk and Bryan Danielson

Soon after his aforementioned injury, Ricky Steamboat would be unceremoniously fired by WCW boss Eric Bischoff, after which Steamboat would quietly retire from the wrestling business until the early 2000s. In 2002, he took part in the early days of Impact Wrestling as both an authority figure and a guest referee, officiating the matches that crowned the first NWA World Champion in Impact as well as the first X Division Champion. In 2004, he’d also be a big figure in Ring of Honor, almost wrestling CM Punk and engaging in a rivalry by proxy with Mick Foley over their differing approaches to wrestling.

2 Returning To Wrestling

Backlash: Chris Jericho vs. Ricky Steamboat

In 2005, Ricky Steamboat signed with WWE yet again, working backstage and making the odd “WWE Legend” appearance onscreen. Following his 2009 Hall of Fame induction, he got into a rivalry with Chris Jericho, making a return to the ring after 15 years at WrestleMania 25, losing a handicap match alongside Jimmy Snuka and Roddy Piper against Chris Jericho. This would lead to a surprisingly well-received singles match between Steamboat and Jericho at Backlash weeks later.

1 He Never Turned Heel

Ricky Steamboat

Ricky Steamboat is one of the greatest pure babyfaces of all time, and one that notably never had a Hulk Hogan moment and turned heel. It wasn’t for lack of trying, however -- during his less-than-stellar early ‘90s WWE run, Steamboat pitched a story where a masked figure would stage cruel attacks on the heroes only to be shockingly revealed as The Dragon, but WWE producer Pat Patterson talked him out of the idea, arguing that Steamboat was SUCH a good guy that it couldn’t possibly work. To put it in perspective, even STING has been a heel.