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Joe Blanchard

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Joe Blanchard
Birth nameJoseph Edgar Blanchard
Born(1928-12-07)December 7, 1928
Haskell, Oklahoma, United States
DiedMarch 22, 2012(2012-03-22) (aged 83)
San Antonio, Texas, United States
Children2, including Tully Blanchard
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Joe Blanchard
Joltin' Joe
Billed height6 ft (183 cm)
Billed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Debut1953
Retired1978

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]

Gridiron football career

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

In 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. 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

Joe Blanchard died of squamous-cell carcinoma on March 22, 2012. He was 83.[1]

Championship and Accomplishments

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Former wrestler Joe Blanchard dead at 83". My San Antonio. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  2. ^ "Bob Backlund to enter Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2016-02-10.
  3. ^ *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.
  4. ^ "NWA Texas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved March 30, 2017.


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