Blackjack Lanza

Last updated: March 14, 2025

 

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.
nickname: Blackjack Lanza
hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
height: 6'3"
weight: 245 lbs
trained by: Verne Gagne
debut: 1962
previous names: Cowboy Jack Lanza,
Jack Lanza,
Joe Lanza
finishing move(s): The Piledriver,
The Clawhold
notable feuds: Pat O'Conner,
Ed Carpontier,
Dick The Bruiser
gender: Male
status: Deceased
type: Single
current promotion: Inactive

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