Paul Boesch Paul Max Boesch ( October 2 , 1912 – March 7 , 1989 ) was a professional wrestling promoter most famous for his work as an announcer and promoter for Houston Wrestling . He also spent several stints working with the Universal Wrestling Federation , World Class Championship Wrestling , Jim Crockett Promotions , and the World Wrestling Federation . Biography . Paul Boesch was born in Brooklyn , New York on October 2 , 1912 . In 1929 , he graduated from Long Beach High School . In 1932 , he placed third in the North Atlantic Coast Lifeguard Competition . Shortly thereafter , he became a professional wrestler . Boesch ' s first well known match was a 90 minute draw against Pat Meehan in Calgary , Alberta , Canada on November 25 , 1938 . During World War II , Boesch left wrestling to enlist in the United States Army , where he earned a Purple Heart , Silver Star and cluster , Bronze Star and cluster , and French Croix de Guerre with star . He also earned a Combat Infantryman Badge , a Distinguished Unit Citation , and Distinguished Citizen ' s Award from the 121st Infantry Association . After World War II , Boesch returned to wrestling , competing all over North America . In 1947 , he was injured in a car accident , forcing his retirement from the ring . It was at this time that Houston Wrestling promoter Morris Sigel approached him to work for the growing Texas promotion . Boesch became an advisor to Sigel as well as a radio announcer , and two years later became the promotion ' s first television commentator when the show went live on television . He remained in that capacity for over 30 years as KHTV channel 39 ( now KIAH , a CW Network affiliate ) picked up the show for national broadcasting . Houston Wrestling . After Sigel died in 1966 , Boesch bought out Houston Wrestling from Sigel ' s widow , realizing that he was in the best position to run the promotion and that he ' d unintentionally been training the past twenty years for this time . It was at this point that Houston Wrestling gained its legacy as one of the most popular and lucrative promotions of its time . Promoters such as Gary Hart ( World Class Championship Wrestling ) and wrestlers such as Barry Darsow would repeatedly praise Boesch ' s abilities and honesty as a promoter . Boesch is also credited with the invention of mud wrestling , as he came up with the concept for the match when booking a feud between Gus Sonnenberg and Harnam Singh in Seattle , Washington . Together with his nephew Peter Birkholz , Boesch promoted Houston Wrestling as a top show , creating affiliations with Mid - South Wrestling , World Wrestling Federation , Universal Wrestling Federation , and World Class Championship Wrestling to ensure that top talent from all over the country would appear on his weekly Friday Night shows . During the time of professional wrestling nationalizing in the 1980s , most of Boesch ' s affiliates joined the National Wrestling Alliance . Boesch eventually shut down Houston Wrestling in favor of signing with Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation , an affiliation that lasted only four months . After 55 years of working in the industry as a wrestler , announcer , and promoter , Paul Boesch retired on August 28 , 1987 due to health concerns . The now - WWE hosted the Paul Boesch Retirement Show in Houston in his honor , which drew a sell - out 12 , 000 fans . During the show , personal friend ( and then - Vice President ) George Bush had a telegram delivered praising and honoring Boesch . Death and Legacy . Boesch died on March 7 , 1989 after suffering a heart attack in Sugar Land , Texas . He was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame as a charter member in 1996 . He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2005 as a non - wrestler participant in the business . Houston Wrestling ' s legacy has been praised by many , including articles and books written about Boesch and the promotion by various participants within the wrestling business . The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame states that " his influence in professional wrestling cannot be overestimated " due to his expansive promoting throughout East and Central Texas . WWE wrestler Booker T ' s Pro Wrestling Alliance promotion has been stated ( by Booker T himself ) to be a means of continuing and reviving the Houston Wrestling legacy . WWE commentator Jim Ross has stated in his blog that he believes Boesch deserves a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame . Bibliography . During his life , Boesch wrote four books :