Tully Blanchard American wrestler best known as a member of the Four Horsemen. Date of Birth: 22.01.1954 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Career
2. Southwest Championship Wrestling
3. NWA and Four Horsemen Dominance
4. Break with the NWA
5. Return to Wrestling and Retirement
6. Later Career and Legacy
7. Personal Life

Early Life and Career

Tully Blanchard, son of wrestler and promoter Joe Blanchard, began his foray into wrestling at a tender age. He distributed flyers at age 10 and later served as a referee. After graduating high school, Blanchard attended West Texas State University, where he played football and befriended future wrestlers Tito Santana and Ted DiBiase.

Southwest Championship Wrestling

Upon graduating, Blanchard trained and debuted as a wrestler in the Southwest Championship Wrestling (SCW). He became both a wrestler and an administrator, managing the league alongside his father. He teamed with Gino Hernandez, forming "The Dynamic Duo" and capturing the league's tag team championship. However, Hernandez left for WCCW, and Blanchard moved to the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).

NWA and Four Horsemen Dominance

On March 24, 1984, Blanchard became NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, holding the title for an impressive 353 days. He lost the belt to Dusty Rhodes but regained it before again losing it to Rhodes. Blanchard's feud with Rhodes ended, but he soon found a new rival in Magnum T.A. Their intense rivalry featured bloody battles and the involvement of allies and weapons.

In late 1985, Blanchard joined forces with Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson, and Ric Flair, forming the legendary "Four Horsemen." The group dominated the NWA, with the Andersons winning the tag team championship, Arn capturing the NWA World Television Championship, and Blanchard holding the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.

Break with the NWA

In 1988, Blanchard and Arn Anderson left the NWA for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) due to salary disputes. They quickly won the WWF World Tag Team Championship. However, Blanchard's career took a turn when he failed a drug test in November 1989. He was fired from WWF and rejected by the NWA. After briefly wrestling in the AWA, Blanchard retired from wrestling and turned to religion.

Return to Wrestling and Retirement

In 1992, Blanchard became an assistant coach at Charlotte Christian School, leading the team to victory in the NC/SC Independent School Athletic Association championship. He returned to the ring in the 1990s, winning the NWA World Tag Team Championship again with Barry Windham in 1998.

Later Career and Legacy

In 2006, Blanchard became a producer for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He continued to perform occasionally until 2008 and served as a broadcaster for WWE. Blanchard was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2012.

Personal Life

Blanchard has been married twice. His first marriage was to Elizabeth Diane Boyles from 1978 to 1980. He later married Courtney Shattuck, with whom he had four children: Taylor, Tanner, Tessa, and Tully. The couple eventually divorced, and Courtney remarried Blanchard's former rival, Magnum T.A.