Tully Blanchard

photo credit: World Wrestling Entertainment

Real name: Tully Blanchard
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 240 lbs.
Date of birth: January 22, 1954
From: San Antonio, TX
Pro debut: 1975
Trained by: Joe Blanchard & Jose Lothario
Finishing move: Slingshot Suplex

Biography

– In July 1978, Blanchard defeated Al Madril in San Antonio, TX for the SCW (Southwest Championship Wrestling) Television title.
– On January 10, 1979, Blanchard defeated Dale Valentine (Buddy Roberts) to regain the SCW Television title. One day after dropping the title to Valentine, Blanchard regained it on January 12, 1979 in Austin, TX. (The title was renamed the Southwest Heavyweight title in February 1979).
– Between 1981 and March 1983, the Dynamic Duo (Blanchard and Gino Hernandez) captured five SCW Southwest Tag Team titles. However on March 21, 1983, Blanchard attacked Hernandez with one of the championship belts.
– Blanchard claimed eight SCW Television/Heavyweight titles. His eight title reign began on June 13, 1983, when Blanchard defeated Bob Sweetan in San Antonio.
– On January 26, 1984, Blanchard defeated Buzz Tyler in Kansas City, KS for the Central States Heavyweight title.
– Blanchard, managed by Paul Jones, defeated Mark Youngblood on March 28, 1984 for the NWA Mid-Atlantic Television title.
– At Starrcade ’84, Blanchard defeated Ricky Steamboat.
– With valet Baby Doll in his corner on April 28, 1985, Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes in Charlotte, NC to capture the NWA Television title.
– On July 21, 1985, Blanchard defeated Magnum T.A. in Charlotte, NC for the NWA United States title.
– On March 4, 1986, Blanchard defeated Rhodes in Spartanburg, SC for the NWA National Heavyweight title.
– Blanchard, Arn and Ole Anderson, and Ric Flair formed the original Four Horseman group, managed by James J. Dillon.
– Blanchard defeated Rhodes in a “first blood” match on November 27, 1986 in Greensboro, NC to regain the NWA Television title.
– On September 29, 1987, Blanchard and Arn Anderson defeated the Rock ‘n’ Roll Express in Misenheimer, NC for the WCW World Tag Team title.
– Blanchard and Anderson regained the WCW World Tag Team title on April 20, 1988 from Barry Windham and Lex Luger, when Windham turned on his partner to join the Four Horseman.
– By the end of 1988, Blanchard and Anderson agreed to join the WWF, and became the Brain Busters, managed by Bobby “The Brain” Heenan.
– At Wrestlemania V, the Brain Busters defeated Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana).
– On July 18, 1989, the Brain Busters defeated Demolition two out of three falls to capture the WWF World Tag Team title in Worcester, MA.
– At the 1989 Summerslam, the Brain Busters successfully defended the WWF Tag Team title against the Hart Foundation.
– In November 1989, Blanchard and Anderson agreed to a contractual terms to rejoin WCW. However, Blanchard failed a drug test by the WWF, and as a result, was suspended. When word reached the offices of WCW, Blanchard’s contract offer was taken off the table.
– Blanchard and Anderson were voted Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s tag team of the year for 1989.
– At AWA’s Superclash IV on April 8, 1990, Blanchard pinned Tommy Jammer in St. Paul, MN.
– Prior to Slamboree 1993, WCW contacted Blanchard about returning as a Horseman, but the offer was not to Tully’s liking.
– Blanchard did return to WCW to face Terry Funk at the 1994 Slamboree (the match ended in a double disqualification).
– In 1995, Blanchard wrestled then ECW champion Shane Douglas to a 60 minute time limit draw.
– On October 10, 1999 in St. Louis, MO, Blanchard defeated Stan Lane at the “Heroes of Wrestling” PPV.
– Blanchard defeated Dusty Rhodes on November 19, 2005 in Spartanburg, SC to win the CCW (Carolina Championship Wrestling) title.
– In October 2006, Blanchard was hired as a WWE agent, but quit the position within weeks.
– On April 1, 2012, The Four Horsemen (Blanchard, Arn Anderson, Ric Flair, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon) were inducted into the WWE hall of fame.
– On December 28, 2018, Blanchard was voted into the GERWECK.NET Hall of Fame.
– Blanchard made a surprise appearance during a sit down interview with Jim Ross and Shawn Spears on AEW’s “Road to All Out” YouTube series that premiered July 17, 2019. It was announced the following day that Blanchard had signed a multi-show deal to serve as an “exclusive advisor” for Shawn Spears in All Elite Wrestling.
– On the March 3, 2021 special episode of Dynamite (entitled “The Crossroads”), Tully had his first match in 14 years, teaming with FTR to defeat Jurassic Express in a match where they were managed by J. J. Dillon.
– On the March 9, 2022 episode of Dynamite Tully was fired by FTR as their manager after a disagreement of what FTR’s focus as a team should be.