Ricky Romero (wrestler)

Henry Romero (May 24, 1931 – January 15, 2006) was an American professional wrestler better known as "Rapid" Ricky Romero. Romero was best known for being a huge drawing card in the U.S. state of Texas during the 1970s.

Ricky Romero
Birth nameHenry Romero
BornMay 24, 1931
San Bernardino, California, United States
DiedJanuary 15, 2006[1] (aged 74)
ChildrenChris Youngblood
Jay Youngblood
Mark Youngblood
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Ricky Romero
Rapid Rick Romero
Mexico Grand
Billed height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)
Billed fromAmarillo, Texas
Trained byBob Geigel
Dory Funk
Michael DiBiase
Debut1955

Pro wrestling career

He wrestled in every major market between 1955 into the 1980s. Ricky tagged with the likes of Pedro Morales in the World Wrestling Association (WWA), Terry Funk and Nick Bockwinkel in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and Rito Romero in the WWF. He got his huge break, when Dory Funk Sr. brought him into the Amarillo, Texas area during a time of segregation between races. Ricky Romero was the first Hispanic wrestler in the area and gained a fan given nickname "SuperMex".

Legacy in Amarillo

In 1972 he beat Terry Funk in a most popular wrestler contest in Amarillo, was a top draw for Gory Guerrero in El Paso, Texas as well as for Fritz Von Erich in Dallas, Texas, and Paul Boesch in Houston, Texas. He was such a top draw in the Rocky Mountain area Colorado, New Mexico and Texas, that Dory Sr. invented the Rocky Mountain Title just for Ricky which he retired in the early 80s.

Singles wrestler

Ricky Romero as a singles wrestler, went up against the likes of Lou Thesz, Gorgeous George, Wild Red Berry, and Jack Brisco. Romero was also one of the first pioneers to work for Giant Baba and Antonio Inoki in Japan, wearing a mask as Mexico Grand' as a heel.[1] Ricky Romero retired as a professional wrestler in the early 1980s.

In 1981 Romero appeared in Portland wrestling as "Chief Youngblood" and was kayfabe injured by Buddy Rose in an angle involving Romero's son Jay Youngblood.

Personal life

Ricky Romero was married to Stella Marrujo on December 17, 1949. He was the father of wrestlers Ricky Romero Jr., Steven Romero, Mark Romero and Chris Romero and was also the brother of wrestler Al Romero, who wrestled in NWA Hollywood Wrestling under the ring name the Oregon Lumberjack.[2] All four of Romero's sons wrestled using the gimmick last name "Youngblood". Ricky also served as manager to sons Mark and Chris throughout the late 1980s. Ricky's grandson is also a professional wrestler who used to wrestle under the name "Radical" Ricky Romero III until 2009 when he started using Ricky Youngblood Jr, following the tradition of the rest of his family.

On January 15, 2006 Ricky Romero died at the age of 74 after years of complications due to diabetes.[1] He was buried in Llano Cemetery in Amarillo, Texas, beside his wife Stella Marrujo and son Steven Nicolas Romero, aka Jay Youngblood.

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. Brady, Hicks. "2006: The year in wrestling". PWI Presents: 2007 Wrestling Almanac and book of facts (2007 ed.). Kappa Publications. pp. 16–17.
  2. Al Romero profile at WrestlingData.com
  3. Johnson, Steve (April 5, 2015). "Many years of hard work pay off for Dennis Brent with CAC's historian award". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  4. Hoops, Brian (January 14, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/14): Christian wins NWA World Title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  5. Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
  6. "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  7. Hoops, Brian (February 10, 2017). "DAILY PRO WRESTLING HISTORY (02/10): MASA SAITO WINS AWA GOLD AT THE TOKYO DOME". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved February 10, 2017.
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