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 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.
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.