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Together with his nephew Peter Birkholz, Boesch entered Houston Wrestling into affiliations with [[Mid South Wrestling]], [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]], [[Universal Wrestling Federation (Bill Watts)|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; he would offer his fans dream matches<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Slagle|first=Stephen Von|date=April 15, 2020|title=Houston Territory|url=https://historyofwrestling.com/houston-territory/|access-date=December 2, 2021|website=History of Wrestling}}</ref> and one card would see [[Jack Brisco]] capture the [[NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship|NWA World Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Harley Race]] on July 20, 1973.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=March 28, 2002|title=Boesch book a classic|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2002/03/28/boesch-book-a-classic/|access-date=December 2, 2021|website=Slam! Wrestling}}</ref> As professional wrestling became a major entertainment business 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.<ref name=":4" />
After 55 years in the industry as a wrestler, announcer and promoter, Paul Boesch retired on August 28, 1987, due to health concerns.<ref name=":2" /> The now-WWE hosted the Paul Boesch Retirement Show in Houston in his honor, which drew a sell-out crowd of 12,000 to the [[Sam Houston Coliseum]].<ref name=":6" /> During the show, personal friend and then-[[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[George H. W. Bush|George Bush]]<ref name=":2" /> had a telegram delivered praising Boesch for his lifelong commitment to service.<ref name=":4" /> Approximately a year later, he made a brief return and helped Jim Crockett promoting in Houston, and served as a figurehead NWA Board member, soon retiring.<ref name=":6" />
==Death==
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