Joseph Edgar Blanchard (December 7, 1928 – March 22, 2012) was an American football player, professional wrestler and promoter. His son is original Four Horseman member Tully Blanchard and his granddaughter is former Impact Champion Tessa Blanchard.[1]
| Joe Blanchard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Joseph Edgar Blanchard |
| Born | December 7, 1928 Haskell, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | March 22, 2012 (aged 83) San Antonio, Texas, U.S. |
| Children | 2, including Tully Blanchard |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Joe Blanchard Joltin' Joe |
| Billed height | 6 ft (183 cm) |
| Billed weight | 225 lb (102 kg) |
| Debut | 1953 |
| Retired | December 1984 |
Gridiron football career
editBlanchard graduated from Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS where he played football and was a star for the college wrestling team and won the Big 7 Conference wrestling tournament in 1950.[2] He played his first three seasons of professional football with the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League, eventually playing in the 1952 Grey Cup, a 21–11 loss to the Toronto Argonauts.
His teammates included future pro wrestling stars Gene Kiniski and Wilbur Snyder, along with Ted Tully.
His last football season was with the Calgary Stampeders in 1954.
Professional wrestling career
editIn 1953, Blanchard made his debut in pro wrestling in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling. Within all the territories he wrestled, he had the most success in Hawaii for 50th State Big Time Wrestling (twice winning the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship with Lord James Blears) and in Texas for NWA Big Time Wrestling (twice winning the NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship).
In 1978, Blanchard founded Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW) in San Antonio, where he retired from active competition later that year after 25 years. He returned to the ring in December 1984 for one last match losing to Jonathan Boyd. Blanchard ran the promotion until selling it to Fred Behrend in April 1985, changing its name to Texas All-Star Wrestling (TAW). In 1989, he joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA), replacing Stanley Blackburn as President of the company. He would remain with the promotion until its closure in 1991.
Death
editJoe Blanchard died of squamous-cell carcinoma on March 22, 2012. He was 83.[1]
Championship and Accomplishments
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Former wrestler Joe Blanchard dead at 83". My San Antonio. Archived from the original on June 28, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
- ^ Oliver, Greg (March 22, 2012). "JOE BLANCHARD PASSES". Slam Wrestling. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Backlund to enter Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 10, 2016.
- ^ *Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]". Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp. 268–269. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
- ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.
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