Texas All-Star Wrestling (TASW) is a professional wrestling promotion that was established by Bob Murphy in Humble, Texas in 1994. It is the oldest independent promotion in the state of Texas and one of three based in the Greater Houston area along with Booker T's Reality of Wrestling and Lone Star Championship Wrestling. It was the first successful wrestling promotion to open in Texas following the close World Class Championship Wrestling in 1990, and the Global Wrestling Federation in 1994. It not only remained the only major "indy" promotion in the state during the 1990s but is one of the oldest wrestling promotions in operation in the United States. The promotion has been profiled by both the Houston Press and the Houston Chronicle. Ken Hoffman, a longtime columnist for the Chronicle, has participated in several wrestling matches for charity. The Galveston County Daily News has called TASW the top promotion in the entire state. Necro Butcher and Shawn Hernandez, both started their careers in TASW. Samoa Joe, Harlem Heat 2000 (Big T and Stevie Ray) from World Championship Wrestling, and Tammy Lynn Sytch, Christy Hemme and Daivari from World Wrestling Entertainment have all made appearances for the promotion as well as older wrestlers such as Abdullah the Butcher, Kamala and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, the latter holding the promotion's heavyweight title in 2003. History Background and early history Texas All-Star Wrestling was started by Bob Murphy, a 10-year veteran who wrestled throughout Texas during the 1980s, who grew frustrated with the unethical business practices of small-time promoters following the collapse of the NWA territory system at the end of the decade. With the civic center yet to be built, he considered using Humble High School or another venue in the local area. Murphy and his then tag team partner rented out a bingo hall by U.S. Route 59 in Humble, Texas and promised the owner, Casey Musick, $500 plus the proceeds from the concession stand. Renaming the building the "Humble Bingo Arena", they held their first show on January 15, 1994, which was attended by 450 fans and brought in over $2,000. The promotion established its first championship titles between December 1994 and December 1996. Professional wrestling had been very popular in Houston, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, but had considerably declined in the years following the retirement of legendary wrestling personality Paul Boesch in 1987. It was not until