Written & Produced by Tony Richards
December 7th in the Time Tunnel:
Happy Birthday to those who have passed on and to those great wrestlers still with us:
In Memoriam:
Wee Willie Davis 1906
Joe Blanchard 1928
Skull Murphy 1930
Billy McGuire 1946
Benny McGuire 1946
Rick Rude 1958
Ian William Croitoru\Bruiser Bedlam 1963
Happy Birthday:
Curtis Hughes\Mr. Hughes (61)
Tammy Lynn Sytch\Sunny (53)
Kelly wolfe\Wolfie D (52)
Jonathan Good\Jon Moxley (40)
Albert Hordie, Jr\ACH (38)
RIP Memorial: We stop & remember those who have passed on this day and gave themselves to the business for us, the fans. We salute you and thank you.
William D. Calhoun\Haystacks Calhoun 12-7-1989 at the age of 55
The Life and Career of Joe Blanchard
Joseph Edgar Blanchard, better known as “Joltin’ Joe Blanchard,” was a multifaceted figure in American sports and entertainment, excelling as a football player, professional wrestler, and promoter. Born on December 7, 1928, in Haskell, Oklahoma, Blanchard grew up in Parsons, Kansas, where he distinguished himself as a high school football standout. His athletic prowess led him to Kansas State University, where he lettered in football from 1947 to 1949 and captured the Big 7 Conference wrestling championship in 1950 by defeating the defending champion, Mike DiBiase.
After college, Blanchard pursued a brief but notable career in professional football. He played for the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL), contributing to a team that reached the Grey Cup finals but ultimately fell short. Lasting four years in the CFL, this experience honed his physical resilience and discipline, qualities that would serve him well in his next venture. In 1953, Blanchard transitioned to professional wrestling, making his debut in Calgary for Stampede Wrestling. Over the next 24 years, he competed as both a singles and tag team wrestler, earning a reputation for his rugged, fundamentals-based style rooted in his amateur background. His signature move, the abdominal stretch, became a hallmark of his in-ring arsenal.
Blanchard’s wrestling career spanned numerous territories, including memorable stints in Hawaii under promoter Al Karasick, where he appreciated the laid-back schedule and cultural diversity. He held prestigious titles such as the NWA Texas Championship in 1963 and 1964, and the World Class Texas title in 1966. Beyond performing, Blanchard mentored emerging talents, training legends like Dusty Rhodes, King Curtis Iaukea, and his own son, Tully Blanchard. He also played a key role in breaking Wahoo McDaniel into the business, later leading to a notable feud between McDaniel and Tully in Texas. Retiring from active competition in 1977, Blanchard shifted focus to promotion, founding Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW) in San Antonio, Texas, in 1978. SCW catered to a diverse audience, particularly the local Hispanic community, featuring stars like Jose Lothario and Mil Mascaras. The promotion gained national exposure through syndication but faced challenges and closed in the mid-1980s.
In 1989, Blanchard was appointed president of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), a largely ceremonial role he held until the company’s demise in 1991 amid talent losses and industry shifts. Post-retirement, he largely stepped away from wrestling, embracing his deep Christian faith and working at San Antonio’s Cornerstone Church. Known for his humility, fairness, and warmth—qualities that made him a trusted promoter and announcer—Blanchard influenced many, including his family wrestling dynasty: son Tully, an original Four Horsemen member, and granddaughter Tessa, a former Impact Champion. Blanchard passed away on March 22, 2012, at age 83 from squamous-cell carcinoma.
One Thing I Learned About Wee Willie Davis
In 1959, while attending a minor-league hockey game in Louisville, Davis jumped into a penalty box brawl to break it up, got hit in the head by a goalie’s stick, required 35 stitches, and sued the teams and venue for $12,500, later admitting he “shoulda kept my nose out.”
Thank You for Reading
I’m Tony Richards, Pro Wrestling Historian, Author and Storyteller. I share pro wrestling historical items in each issue of the Time Tunnel Pro Wrestling History Newsletter. Thanks for reading! If you enjoy my information on select events, matches and insights, please share it with folks you think might like to be a subscriber!
Remember, paid subscribers get access to exclusive and special content such as some special issues including a multi-part deep dives on wrestling territories, wrestler bios and championship title histories, special audio and video interviews on territory pro wrestling and more available in the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel for Premium Subscribers.
Joe Blanchard had GREAT stories about the Dungeon. Joe was a firsthand witness to the Sunday afternoon shoot fights in the Dungeon during the 1950's. Sunday was the day off for wrestlers in Calgary and what would happen every Sunday is the guys who knew how to shoot would go up to Hart House and they'd barbecue hot dogs and hamburgers and get into the homemade beer Stu Hart brewed for his wrestlers to enjoy although Stu didn't touch alcohol. Soon the challenges would start and all the shooters would go down to the basement and the full-fledged submission wrestling at 100% effort would go down. I know Joe Blanchard was particularly impressed by George Gordienko, Luther Lindsay and Stu Hart who would have FIERCE submission matches against each other in which Luther was able to escape Stu's gnarliest holds and slap them right back on Stu. That was a matter of pride for Stu Hart as Luther Lindsay was taught the art of submission wrestling by Stu himself. Some of the other guys who would shoot fight in the Dungeon on Sundays were an older Earl McCready, the Miller Brothers, and Gene Kiniski. Being a witness to the real submission wrestling in the Dungeon in the 50's left a lasting impression on Joe Blanchard who passed many of the tales onto his son Tully - who was born in Calgary while Stu Hart trained his father Joe. A similar situation to Lanny Poffo being born in Calgary while his dad, Angelo, was wrestling for Stu Hart.