Anyone with a passing interest has likely heard of Tully Blanchard at some point. A legend in his own right, Blanchard is one of the iconic members of the beloved stable, The Four Horseman. One of the wrestlers who often seemed ahead of his time, Blanchard put on some of the best matches in wrestling history in his prime.
Blanchard was a decorated NWA champion, eventually ending up in their hall of fame in 2009. While he was only with the WWE for a short time, he did pick up tag team gold with Arn Anderson as The Brain Busters. They’d go on to be inducted into the WWE hall of fame as members of the Four Horseman in 2012. That’s only scratching the surface of the life of Tully Blanchard.
10 He Began Work In Professional Wrestling At A Young Age
While many wrestlers discover their love for wrestling at an early age, few actually have the opportunity to be involved with the business before they have any kind of training. Blanchard was not only able to help out at various shows, he even began working as a referee once he was old enough.
It almost isn’t surprising that he turned out as skilled as he did since he was so close to the wrestling business his entire life. Growing up and learning from the best the industry had to offer each night was probably a large factor in his success down the road.
9 He Was Trained By His Father
When someone is as skilled in the ring as Tully Blanchard was, many likely wonders who it was that trained him. While he was trained by the incredible Jose Lothario, he was also trained by none other than his own father, Joe Blanchard.
Wrestling fans may not know who Joe Blanchard was, but he was a champion in his own right. He was a two-time tag team champion and a two-time world heavyweight champion for the NWA. He even earned himself a spot in the professional wrestling hall of fame for his work.
8 He Went To University With Other Wrestling Legends
It is often surprising how many old-school wrestlers actually attended school together in some form. When Blanchard was attending university, he played football with Tito Santana and Ted Dibiase by his side.
One can only imagine how charismatic of a football team that West Texas State University had on their hands at the time, but it’s likely they had no idea they had multiple future WWE hall of farmers in their midst. If his life had gone a bit differently, maybe Blanchard could have ended up as a legendary enforcer for The Million Dollar Man.
7 His First Feud Was Against Two Wrestling Icons
Many wrestlers’ first feuds aren’t anything special. Many wrestlers are still learning the ropes, so putting them in a high-profile feud wouldn’t make all that much sense. It may come as a surprise to learn that Blanchard's first feud was against Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk.
For those that may not know, Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk are two of the most decorated professional wrestlers of all time. The pair are brothers and held tons of different tag team championships together. As far as first feuds go, Blanchard could have done worse.
6 He Slapped A Woman On Television
Tully Blanchard fans may remember his time with his manager Baby Doll. What they may not remember is their rather tumultuous split. The split was an important part of two careers, but the shocking moment is better left mostly forgotten.
Witnessing the event is shocking, but it can’t be said that it didn’t work wonders for not only his career but also the career of Dusty Rhodes. The slap solidified Blanchard as one of the hottest heels of the era, while Rhodes seized the opportunity to further solidify his babyface appearance.
5 He Originally Left The NWA Due To A Pay Dispute
It’s hard to argue with the fact that, at one point, The Four Horsemen were the biggest draw in all of professional wrestling. That kind of star power is the thing that tends to lead to pay disputes, and that is exactly what led to him severing ties with NWA.
The dispute wasn’t Blanchard alone however, Arn Anderson was right there with him in the dispute with Dusty Rhodes and Jim Crockett. The dispute led to the pair ending up working for the WWE as The Brainbusters.
4 A Failed Drug Test Put Him Through Some Issues
While Blanchard was planning on jumping back to the NWA from the WWE, a small drug test derailed his plans. He tested positive for cocaine, which not only ended his time with WWE but also caused the NWA to rescind their offer.
The positive test was likely a serious setback for not only Blanchard but also his partner Arn Anderson. Returning to the NWA after their serious impact on the WWE would have brought a lot of eyes to the product, which could have ended up earning both men even more money.
3 At One Point, He Was Offered $500 Per Appearance By WCW
While $500 may not seem like a lot of money for someone as high-profile as Tully Blanchard, it is worth noting that when adjusted, it was actually a lot closer to what would be $1000 today. That pay wasn’t even necessary to wrestle but to simply appear for WCW.
While we may not know what the specific plans for Blanchard would have been other than to reform the Four Horsemen, that appearance-based pay could have ended up being quite beneficial if the popularity of the group brought in more views than expected.
2 His Final Loss Was Against Dustin Rhodes
A wrestler’s final matches are rarely something special. Many performers tend to go on for far longer than they should, taking losses to talents that are forgotten about only a short time later. Tully Blanchard’s final loss was, thankfully, to the talented Dustin Rhodes.
While he would have been into his fifties at that point, it’s likely that the match wasn’t anything astounding, but the appearance was probably still appreciated by remaining NWA fans. The match took place at the NWA Legends Fanfest back in 2007.
1 He Has A Prison Ministry
Regardless of your opinions on religion, there are many that find it rewarding in their own right. Back in 1989, Blanchard became a born-again Christian and has actually gone on to preach to various prisoners.
He's gone a step further in his mission to help those that seem to have lost their way as he joined the International Network Of Prison Ministries back in 2010. He actually serves on the board of advisors for them as well. It’s respectable to see that Blanchard cares enough to do what he can to help others.