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Ricky Romero


Last updated by M.A LeBlanc on June 3, 2018

Title History

  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Cyclone Anaya (1958);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. defeating Kurt Von Poppenheim and Great Bolo (July 10, 1958);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Eric Rommel (November 1961);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. (1962);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. defeating The Viking and Nelson Royal (May 10, 1962);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. defeating Fritz Von Erich and Gene Kiniski (October 18, 1962);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. (August 1965);
  • WWA (Los Angeles) World tag team titles w/ Pedro Morales defeating El Shereef and Hard Boiled Haggerty (February 10, 1967);
  • California State heavyweight title defeating Stan Pulaski (April 12, 1967);
  • NWA (Amarillo) North American heavyweight title defeating Pat Patterson (1968);
  • (New Mexico) Rocky Mountain heavyweight title defeating Dick Steinborn (1968);
  • NWA (Texas) World tag team titles w/ Nick Bockwinkel defeating Kurt and Karl Von Brauner (April 25, 1968);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Terry Funk (1969);
  • NWA Western States heavyweight title defeating The Beast (February 2, 1970);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Terry Funk defeating Bull Ramos and The Beast (August 1970);
  • (New Mexico) Rocky Mountain heavyweight title (September 1972);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Moose Morowski defeating Black Gordman and Goliath (1973);
  • NWA Western States heavyweight title defeating Karl Von Steiger (1973);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Moose Morowski defeating Johnny and Don Fargo (May 1973);
  • (New Mexico) Rocky Mountain heavyweight title defeating Karl Von Steiger (October 1973);
  • NWA (Amarillo) Brass Knuckles title defeating Cyclone Negro (October 4, 1973);
  • (New Mexico) Rocky Mountain heavyweight title defeating Bull Ramos (1974);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. defeating The Beast and Leo Burke (March 1974);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Dory Funk Sr. defeating Seigfried Steinke and Karl Von Steiger (November 1974);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Silver Streak defeating The Beast and Leo Burke (February 27, 1976);
  • NWA Western States heavyweight title defeating Bull Ramos (December 1977);
  • NWA Western States heavyweight title (1978);
  • NWA Western States tag team titles w/ Great Kabuki defeating Mr. Pogo and Akio Sato (April 1979);
  • (New Mexico) Rocky Mountain heavyweight title defeating Randy Morse (September 1980);
  • NWA Western States heavyweight title defeating Doug Somers [Tournament] (August 27, 1981);
  • NWA Central States tag team titles w/ Eddie Gilbert defeating Ron McFarlane and Jerry Brown (January 14, 1982);

Career Highlights

  • Ricky Romero is the father of Mark Youngblood, Jay Youngblood and Chris Youngblood (and a 4th son named Rick).
  • Ricky Romero was best known for being a huge draw in the state of Texas in the 1970s.
  • January 15, 2006: Ricky Romero passed away at the age of 74 after years of complications due to diabetes.

    Press Release from Chris Romero

    “Rapid” Ricky Romero passed away Sunday evening January 15, 2006 of natural causes.

    He was the Father of Jay, Rick, Mark and Chris Youngblood.

    Romero, was a catcher for the San Francisco Giants AAA team, but wrestling became his life. He wrestled in every major market between 1955-1980’s tagging with Pedro Morales (WWA) champions in Los Angeles, Terry Funk (NWA) Amarillo, Nick Bockwinkel (NWA) Amarillo, Rito Romero (W.W.W.F.). He got his huge break, when Dory Funk Sr. brought him into the Amarillo area during a time of segregation between races the young “SuperMex” broke attendance records as well as breaking racial barriers and became loved by all people, the first hispanic wrestler in the area that gained a top babyface spot. In 1972 he beat Terry Funk in a most popular wrestler contest in Amarillo, was a top draw for Gory Guererro in El Paso as well as for Fritz von Erich (Dallas) and Paul Boesh (Houston). He was such a top draw in the Rocky Mountain area (Colorado, New Mexico, Texas) that Dory Sr. invented the Rocky Mountain title just for Ricky which he retired in the early 80’s.

    Wrestled Lou Thesz, Gorgeous George, Wild Red Berry, and even defeated Jack Brisco in Lubbock, but the referee reversed the call. He was one of the first pioneers to work for Giant Baba and Antonio Anoki in Japan and had to were a mask (as Mexico Grand) to cover his truly handsome looks as a heel.

    He was dubbed “SuperMex” by PWI and several publications, he was truly the top draw in the Amarillo area and recieved his name “Rapid” by Dory Funk Sr. would listen to the hispanic fans call him “Rapido” for his cat like prowness and extremely quick style. He was trained by the best including “Iron” Mike DiBiase, Bob Geigel, Dory Funk Sr.. He kept in touch with some friends in the business such as Bob Orton Sr., Nick Bockwinkel, and Dory Funk.

    His sons gained fame in wrestling as the Youngbloods (mother is Apache Mescalero) and was preceeded in death by son Jay Youngblood who passed in 1985 due to pancreatic cancer, in Australia.