THE HISTORY OF SWCW/TEXAS ALL-STAR
SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING:
1978 - 04/1984
PROMOTER: JOE BLANCHARD
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TEXAS ALL-STAR WRESTLING:
04/1985 - 11/1986
PROMOTER: FRED BEHREND
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SOUTHWEST CHAMPIONSHIP WRESTLING was formed in 1978. By long time wrestler/promoter JOE BLANCHARD. Based in SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. They held most of their cards at the HEMISPHERE ARENA and the JUNCTION. SWCW soon became one of the hottest regions in the wresling game presenting some of the greatest and wildest matches with some of the best talent the 80's had to offer. SWCW was extreme long before the term became common place in pro wrestling. For a small independant promotion that was running head to head with FRITZ VON ERICH'S promotion it was able to generate enough excitment and popularity to become the first wrestling program on the USA network. With close to nationwide exposure on the USA network SWCW sponsered a tournament to crown their own world single and tag team champions which was strange because even with a nationwide show and some of the best in the wrestling game they rarely held shows outside of the SAN ANTONIO area except for occasional cards held in the YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO area. that I can verify but still find odd. Results from the tournament can be found in the title history section. Southwest continued on holding some of the best cards ever, LOU THESZ was the acting commissioner and NICK BOCKWINKEL would be brought in to defend his AWA World title. The caliber of competition was simply incredible thanks in part to relationships with Houston, Georgia and St. Louis. Many former and future superstars made stops in the area. For a listing of wrestlers who passed through the region please check out the SuperStar Roster that begins on the next page. Unfortunatly things would turn sour and they were forced to sell their USA timeslot to Vince McMahon Jr. because they could no longer come up with $7000.00 a week to air their program. At the time off the sale it was the number 1 rated program on the network. The working relationship with Houston also came to an end and the relationship with Georgia ended not long after it began due to troubles in their own area. Even through all of that SWCW continued on doing what it did best - presenting kick ass wrestling until around late '84 when it came across a obstacle it could not overcome...Disention from within the promotion. Fred Behrend who was Blanchards partner appearently sold their television timeslot to Fritz Von Erich's World Class Championship Wrestling behind his back leaving the promotion with only Spanish tv and a few american tv outlets. It was a blow SWCW could not survive and Blanchard would soon be forced to sell out to Behrend. This would lead to the promotion first becoming LoneStar Wrestling and than Texas All-Star Wresting.
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THE MOST FAMOUS PICTURE IN WRESTLING HISTORY.
