Blackjack Lanza Wrestling
The Blackjacks were a professional wrestling tag team. The team consisted of Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza. After forming in the 1970s, they wrestled in a variety of professional wrestling promotions, including the American Wrestling Association and World Wide Wrestling Federation. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006. Jack Lanza, Actor: AWA All-Star Wrestling. Jack Lanza was born on October 14, 1935 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He is an actor, known for AWA All-Star Wrestling (1972), WWF Championship Wrestling (1972) and World Wrestling Federation (1973). John Lanza (born October 14, 1935) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Blackjack Lanza.Along with his long-term tag team partner, Blackjack Mulligan, Lanza was one-half of The Blackjacks: 'black cowboy hat-wearing, cowboy boot-stomping, rugged hombres who drew money wherever they went'. He would later join the American Wrestling Association and moved to the World Wide Wrestling Federation. During his time in the WWWF, Windham became a villain called Blackjack Mulligan. Windham would later team with Jack Lanza which he formed the tag team, The Blackjacks with. John Lanza(born October 14, 1935) is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Blackjack Lanza. Along with his long-term tag teampartner, Blackjack Mulligan, Lanza was one-half of The Blackjacks: 'black cowboy hat-wearing, cowboy boot-stomping, rugged hombres who drew money wherever they went'.
| Blackjack Mulligan | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 26, 1942 Sweetwater, Texas |
| Died | 7 april 2016 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Blackjack Mulligan Big Bob Windham Big Machine |
| Billed height | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) |
| Billed from | Eagle Pass, Texas |
| Trained by | Verne Gagne |
| Debut | 1967 |
| Retired | 1988 |
Robert Jack Windham (born November 26, 1942 in Sweetwater, Texas - April 7, 2016) better known by his ring name, Blackjack Mulligan, was a retired American professional wrestler, author and former American football player.
Career[change change source]
Before he started his professional wrestling career, Windham played football at Texas Western College, which is now known as the University of Texas at El Paso. He then left UTEP to play the pre-season for the New York Jets of the National Football League.
Wahoo McDaniel told Windham to train for professional wrestling and he trained with Verne Gagne. He would later join the American Wrestling Association and moved to the World Wide Wrestling Federation.
During his time in the WWWF, Windham became a villain called Blackjack Mulligan. Windham would later team with Jack Lanza which he formed the tag team, The Blackjacks with. He won the NWA American Tag Team Championship, NWA Texas Tag Team Championship, WWA World Tag Team Championship and the WWWF World Tag Team Championship during his time in The Blackjacks.
He also wrestled as a singles competitor and once competed for the WWWF Championship against Pedro Morales in Boston. During the match, Morales slashed Windham across his leg and arm with a knife. The wound became infected but Windham recovered.[1]
He also teamed with André the Giant and Bill Eadie in the wrestling stable, The Machines.
Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan inducted The Blackjacks into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.[2]
Personal[change change source]
He is part of the Windham wrestling family and is the father of wrestlers Barry and Kendall Windham, the father-in-law of Mike Rotundo, and the grandfather of Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas.
Blackjack Lanza Wrestling
Championships[change change source]
Windham held many championships during his professional wrestling career:
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (one time)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (one time) - with Dusty Rhodes
- European Wrestling Union
- EWU World Super Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- International Pro Wrestling
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Larry Hennig
- International Wrestling Federation
- IWF Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (three times)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (one time) - with Ric Flair
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Blackjack Lanza
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Blackjack Lanza
- NWA Western States Sports
- NWA International Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (two times)
- NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Dick Murdoch
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- He was named the PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year in 1978.
- He was ranked #159 of the 500 best singles wrestlers by PWI during the 'PWI Years' in 2003.
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA World Heavyweight Championship (one time)
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Blackjack Lanza
- World Wide Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006)
- WWWF World Tag Team Championship (one time) - with Blackjack Lanza
References[change change source]
- ↑'Hall of Heroes Class of 2009: Blackjack Mulligan'. Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
- ↑'The Blackjacks: 2006 WWE Hall of Fame Inductees'. WWE. Retrieved 2013-07-12.
Other websites[change change source]
- The Blackjacks on WWE.com
Hometown
Texas
Career Highlights
World Tag Team Champions; 2006 WWE Hall of Fame Inductees
The Blackjacks were one of the most infamous and merciless tag teams ever. They were two tough Texans who could back up their intimidating look with relentless offense and rule-breaking.
Blackjack Mulligan was a brutish 6-foot-9, 340-pound native of Sweetwater. In addition to many regional championships, Mulligan was NWA World Tag Team Champion (with Ric Flair), NWA United States Heavyweight Champion and NWA World Heavyweight champion, defeating WWE Hall of Famer Bobo Brazil. Mulligan also had many memorable battles with WWE Hall of Famer Andre the Giant, as well as matches with Pedro Morales and Bruno Sammartino.
Jack Lanza, with his devastating Iron Claw, was mean and sadistic in the ring. The AWA superstar was once referred to as 'the embodiment of evil.' The Laredo, Texas, native made his debut in 1962 and achieved early success under the tutelage of Bobby Heenan. With Heenan at his side, Lanza & Bobby Duncum won the AWA World Tag Team Championship from Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher. Lanza also had memorable battles with WWE Hall of Famer 'Big Cat' Ernie Ladd, among many others.
While both Mulligan and Lanza had stellar singles careers, they seemed destined to join one another and formed the infamous Blackjacks tag team in the 1970s. Along with their manager, Bobby 'The Brain' Heenan, they won championships everywhere they competed.
More than a decade after the Blackjacks dominated, Mulligan's son Barry Windham and Bradshaw would form the new Blackjacks, paying homage to the WWE Hall of Famers who inspired them.