Steamboat ’87

Hey Scott,

Just wondering, when Steamboat requested time off after the IC win, why didn’t WWF give him a choice b/w time off and losing the title? Why did they immediately take the title off him? I’m sure if Steamboat and Bonnie had a choice b/w Ricky doing the WWF schedule and completely losing his position, they would’ve chosen the former. Was WWF just sending a message to talent?

Also, if Ricky had stayed in the IC position after WM and just worked, how do you see his career going? Would he have gone on to, possibly, the world title after a couple years when the Hogan era ended? As much as I loved Ricky, I have trouble seeing him going beyond the Tito/Jake spot after he settled in.

Thoughts?

No, I don’t see him going beyond the Jake slot either. Really the NWA was his best play.

As for the departure, doing the Observer recaps really helps to see it from the WWF side, in that they put the title on him and gave him a big push and he immediately wanted time off. He could be kind of a pain in the ass if he didn’t get the exact deal be wanted.