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Blackjack Lanza

 

Title History

  • WWA (Indianapolis) World Tag Team titles w/Blackjack Mulligan defeating Paul Christy & Wilbur Snyder (November 26, 1971);
  • NWA (Texas) Brass Knuckles title (December 1972);
  • NWA American Tag Team titles w/Blackjack Mulligan defeating Jose Lothario & Mil Mascaras (1973);
  • NWA American Tag Team titles w/Blackjack Mulligan defeating Tex McKenzie & Ken Patera (1974);
  • NWA (Texas) Brass Knuckles title defeating Jose Lothario (October 1974);
  • NWA (Texas) American Heavyweight title defeating Fritz Von Erich (December 2, 1974);
  • NWA Texas Tag Team titles w/Blackjack Mulligan (1975);
  • WWWF World Tag Team titles w/Blackjack Mulligan defeating Dominic DeNucci & Pat Barrett (August 26, 1975);
  • AWA World Tag Team titles w/Bobby Duncum Sr. defeating Dick the Bruiser & The Crusher (July 23, 1976);
  • NWA (Georgia) Television title defeating Bob Armstrong (May 14, 1979);

Career Highlights

In The Beginning:

  • July 6, 1966– JWA (Japan): Michiaki Yoshimura & Giant Baba defeated Blackjack Lanza & Killer Karl Kox..
  • November 24, 1966– WWA (Indianapolis): Angelo Poffo & Chris Markoff defeated Blackjack Lanza & Wilbur Snyder.
  • December 10, 1966– WWA: Blackjack Lanza defeated Bob Rowland.
  • 1968: Jack Lanza’s first great push and heel run came in St. Louis area where he was top villain managed by Bobby Heenan.
  • January 2, 1969– Blackjack Lanza defeated Wesley Hutchins in Cleveland, Ohio.
  • April 3, 1969– Blackjack Lanza defeated Donn Lewin in Cleveland, Ohio..
  • May 15, 1969– Johnny Powers defeated Blackjack Lanza in Cleveland, Ohio..
  • December 5, 1969: Dick The Bruiser defeated Black Jack Lanza w/Bobby Heenan in a Texas Death Match..

American Wrestling Association:

  • August 14, 1970 – AWA Comiskey Park: Blackjack Lanza and Ernie Ladd fought to a Double Disqualification.
  • Jack Lanza was teamed up with Jack Mulligan as the Blackjacks, becoming Blackjack Mulligan and Blackjack Lanza..
  • 1972–AWA Soldiers Field: The Crusher & Dick the Bruiser defeated The Blackjacks inside of a Steel Cage….

World Wrestling Association:

  • January 8, 1972– WWA (Indianapolis): The Blackjacks defeated Art Thomas & Dick the Bruiser..
  • May 23, 1972– WWA: Crusher defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • June 12, 1972– WWA: The Blackjacks defeated Dick the Bruiser & Crusher..
  • September 1, 1972– AWA Soldiers Field: Dick the Bruiser & Crusher defeated The Blackjacks in a Steel Cage Match..
  • November 24, 1972– WWA: Bob Ellis defeated Blackjack Lanza..

Pittsburgh:

  • February 23, 1973– Blackjack Lanza & Blackjack Mulligan defeated Frank Holtz & Larry Zbyszko in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania..
  • May 4, 1973– Dominic DeNucci & Tony Parisi & Bill Miller beat Blackjack Lanza & Baron Mikel Scicluna & George Steele..

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

  • June 4, 1973– WWWF: Blackjack Lanza defeated Manuel Soto..
  • June 30, 1973– WWWF: Blackjack Lanza defeated Lee Wong..
  • July 23, 1973– WWWF: Blackjack Lanza defeated El Olympico..
  • October 14, 1973– WWWF: Andre the Giant defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • November 12, 1973– WWWF: Andre the Giant & Jay Strongbow defeated Blackjack Lanza & Stan Stasiak..
  • December 10, 1973– WWWF: Jay Strongbow defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • August 26, 1975: The Blackjacks defeated Dominic Denucci & Pat Barrett for the WWWF World Tag Team titles..
  • November 19, 1975: Tony Parisi & Louis Cerdan (aka Gino Brito) defeated The Blackjacks to capture the WWF Tag Team titles..

NWA Texas:

  • January 14, 1975– NWA (Texas): Fritz Von Erich defeated Blackjack Lanza in a No DQ, Falls Count Anywhere Match..
  • February 8, 1975– NWA (Texas): Blackjack Lanza defeated Red Bastien..
  • April 8, 1975– NWA (Texas): Fritz Von Erich defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • May 5, 1975– NWA (Texas): Jose Lothario defeated Blackjack Lanza..

World Wide Wrestling Federation:

  • August 9, 1975– WWWF: Dominic DeNucci & Pat Barrett defeated The Blackjacks..
  • October 25, 1975– WWWF: The Blackjacks defeated Dominic DeNucci & Pat Barrett..
  • November 20, 1975– WWWF: Bruno Sammartino defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • December 15, 1975– WWWF: Ivan Putski defeated Blackjack Lanza..

American Wrestling Association:

  • June 25, 1976 – AWA Chicago Stadium: The Crusher & Dick the Bruiser defeated Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum..
  • August 27, 1976– AWA Comiskey Park: Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum defeated Dick the Bruiser & Crusher in a cage..
  • 1976–AWA Chicago Stadium: The Crusher & Dick the Bruiser defeated Blackjack Lanza & Bobby Duncum..

Georgia Championship Wrestling:

  • January 6, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Chick Donovan..
  • February 2, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Tommy Rich..
  • February 16, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Rufus R. Jones..
  • February 24, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Marvin Turner..
  • March 4, 1979– GCW: Tommy Rich & Bob Armstrong defeated Blackjack Lanza & Stan Hansen..
  • March 16, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Bob Armstrong..
  • April 1, 1979– GCW: Wahoo McDaniel defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • April 14, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Frank Dusek..
  • April 27, 1979– GCW: Norvell Austin & Tony Atlas defeated Blackjack Lanza & Angelo Mosca..
  • May 3, 1979– GCW: Mr. Wrestling I & Bob Armstrong defeated Blackjack Lanza & Ivan Koloff..
  • May 26, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza & Masked Superstar defeated Jerry Roberts & Bill Dromo..
  • June 4, 1979– GCW: Ray Candy & Tony Atlas defeated Blackjack Lanza & Masked Superstar..
  • June 16, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza & Masked Superstar defeated Genichiro Tenryu & Norvell Austin..
  • June 25, 1979– GCW: Wahoo McDaniel defeated Blackjack Lanza to retain the GCW Heavyweight title..
  • July 6, 1979– GCW: Tony Atlas & Stan Hansen defeated Blackjack Lanza & Masked Superstar in a Texas Tornado Match..
  • July 31, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Bob Armstrong in a No DQ Match..
  • August 4, 1979– GCW: Blackjack Lanza defeated Genichiro Tenryu..
  • September 21, 1979– GCW: Stan Hansen defeated Blackjack Lanza..
  • April 24, 1983– AWA: Blackjack Lanza & Ken Patera & Jesse Ventura defeated Rick Martel & Jim Brunzell & Greg Gagne..
  • August 15, 1984–AWA: Blackjack Lanza defeated Bobby Heenan.
  • November 19, 1984–AWA: Blackjack Lanza defeated Steve Regal.
  • November 25, 1984–AWA: Blackjack Lanza defeated Chris Markoff.
  • June 15, 1985–AWA: Blackjack Lanza defeated Rick Renslow.
  • August 2, 1985–AWA: The Fabulous Freebirds (Michael Hayes & Terry Gordy) & Ray Stevens defeated Blackjack Lanza, Dick The Bruiser & The Crusher.

Retirement:

  • 15 years later, Mulligan’s son, Barry Windham, and Lanza’s nephew, Justin Bradshaw would team up as the NEW Blackjacks..
  • Jack Lanza spent many years in the 1990s and 2000s as a Road Agent for the World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment.
  • April 1, 2006: The Blackjacks were inducted as a team inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by their manager Bobby Heenan.
  • December 8, 2021: Jack Lanza has passed away at the age of 86.
Updated: January 31, 2024 @ 7:10 am

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Trained By

Verne Gagne

Debut

1962-1984

Birthday

Hometown

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Gender

Male

Height

6'3"

Weight

245 lbs

Finishing Move(s)

The Piledriver,
The Clawhold

Favorite Move(s)

Notable Feuds

Pat O'Conner,
Ed Carpontier,
Dick The Bruiser

Status

Deceased