Blackjack Lanza
{{short description|American professional wrestler (1935–2021)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
| name = Blackjack Lanza
| birthname = John Mortl Lanzo
| image = Black Jack Lanza & Bobby Heenan - The New Illustrated Wrestling News A.W.A. Edition - 1971 No.46 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Lanza in 1971
| names = Blackjack Lanza
Jack Lanza
Joe Lanza
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|10|14}}
|spouse = {{marriage|Barbara Kalil|1957}}
| birth_place = Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|12|8|1935|09|14}}
| death_place =
| death_cause =
| alma_mater = University of Minnesota
| billed = Albuquerque, New Mexico
Laredo, Texas
| trainer = Verne Gagne
| debut = 1961
| retired = 1985
}}
John Mortl Lanzo (October 14, 1935 – December 8, 2021) was an American 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".
From the 1960s to 1980s, Lanza wrestled for promotions such as the American Wrestling Association, World Wrestling Association, and the World Wide Wrestling Federation, winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship, WWA World Tag Team Championship, and WWWF World Tag Team Championship alongside Mulligan. He is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Early life
Lanza was born on October 14, 1935, to William Lanza and Louise Mortl, and attended the University of Minnesota and worked as a sociology teacher.{{Cite web|last=Oliver|first=Greg|date=December 8, 2021|title='World's meanest wrestler' Blackjack Lanza dies|url=https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/12/08/worlds-meanest-wrestler-blackjack-lanza-dies/|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|website=Slam! Wrestling|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208223000/https://slamwrestling.net/index.php/2021/12/08/worlds-meanest-wrestler-blackjack-lanza-dies/ |archive-date=2021-12-08 }}
Professional wrestling career
= Early career (1961–1962) =
Lanza, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, was trained by local promoter Verne Gagne and started his wrestling career in 1961. He wrestled a few matches for NWA Mid-America in Birmingham, Alabama, under the name "Joe Lanza". In 1962, he briefly held the NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship.
= St. Louis Wrestling Club (1962–1963, 1966–1978) =
Lanza had a sporadic wrestling career with the St. Louis Wrestling Club from 1962 to 1963 and again from 1966 to 1978. In February 1969, he had a 60-minute draw against former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski, solidifying his status as an "instant contender."
= American Wrestling Association (1962–1979) =
{{also|The Blackjacks}}
In mid-1962, Lanza returned to Minnesota, where he joined Gagne's American Wrestling Association as Jack Lanza. He teamed with Bobby Duncum and was managed by Bobby Heenan. During his time in the company, his gimmick was that of a Western cowboy. The duo won the AWA World Tag Team Championship on July 23, 1976.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/awa/awa-t.html|title=AWA World Tag Team Title History|publisher=wrestling-titles.com|access-date=2007-08-17}} In the 1970s, Lanza and Mulligan teamed up to form The Blackjacks. Lanza was a main-eventer when the duo began teaming together.{{cite web|url=http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/interviews/mulligan/blackjack01.htm|title=Blackjack Mulligan interview|author=David Chappell|publisher=Mid-Atlantic Gateway|access-date=2008-04-10|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422013145/http://www.midatlanticgateway.com/Resource_Center/interviews/mulligan/blackjack01.htm|archive-date=2008-04-22}} They were managed by Bobby Heenan.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/blackjacks/bio/|title=Hall of Fame: The Blackjacks|publisher=WWE.com|access-date=2007-08-17 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070703044752/http://www.wwe.com/superstars/halloffame/blackjacks/bio/ |archive-date = 2007-07-03}}
= Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (1963) =
In 1963, Lanza joined the Charlotte, North Carolina–based Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion, wrestling as "Jack Lanza". He left the promotion the following year.
= World Wrestling Association (1967–1972) =
Lanza wrestled for the Indianapolis, Indiana–based World Wrestling Association from 1967 to 1972. Accompanied by Bobby Heenan, he defeated Wilbur Snyder for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship in September 1967. His reign lasted until August 1969, when he was defeated by Dick the Bruiser. In 1971, The Blackjacks began wrestling in the WWA. In November 1971, they defeated Paul Christy and Wilbur Snyder for the WWA World Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted until September 1972, when they lost to The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser.
= World Wide Wrestling Federation (1973, 1975) =
Lanza debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in mid-1973 as "Blackjack Lanza". His regular opponents included André the Giant, Chief Jay Strongbow, and Dean Ho. He left the promotion in December 1973. In 1975, they joined the WWWF. On August 26, 1975, The Blackjacks defeated Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett for the WWWF World Tag Team Championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|title=World Tag Team Title History|publisher=WWE|access-date=2007-08-17}} The match was a two-out-of-three falls match, and the Blackjacks won the match by winning the first and third falls. As part of his tenure in WWWF, Vince McMahon Sr. promised Lanza that he would receive one World singles title shot a month.
= NWA Big Time Wrestling (1974–1975) =
In January 1974, The Blackjacks joined the Dallas, Texas–based NWA Big Time Wrestling promotion. Later that month, they were named the NWA American Tag Team Champions. Their reign lasted until July 1974, when they were defeated by Ken Patera and Tex McKenzie. In December 1974, he won the vacant NWA American Heavyweight Championship. He lost the championship to Fritz Von Erich later that month.
= Georgia Championship Wrestling (1979) =
In 1979, Lanza wrestled for Georgia Championship Wrestling. He defeated Bob Armstrong for the NWA Georgia Television Championship in April, holding the championship until August 1979, when he was defeated by Ray Candy.
= Late career (1979–1985) =
After Georgia Championship Wrestling, Lanza was inactive from wrestling until 1983. He returned to AWA American Wrestling Association where he feuded with Bobby Heenan in bunkhouse matches defeating Heenan in all of them. That same year he reunited with Blackjack Mulligan working St. Louis and AWA. The Blackjacks broke up in 1984. He retired from wrestling in 1985 and worked for WWF as a road agent.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
Personal life
Lanza married Barbara Jean Kalil on September 28, 1957, and they lived in Douglas County, Minnesota.{{cite web |title=911022 Summons - QUT |url=https://www.echopress.com/news/1608651-911022-summons-qut |website=EchoPress News |access-date=15 December 2021 |date=June 10, 2009 |quote=John M. Lanzo and Barbara Jean Lanzo, husband and wife; ...}}
Death
On December 8, 2021, Jim Ross announced via Twitter that Lanza had died.{{cite web|author=Middleton|first=Marc|date=December 8, 2021|title=WWE Legend Blackjack Lanza Passes Away|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/12/wwe-legend-blackjack-lanza-passes-away/|url-status=live|access-date=December 8, 2021|work=Wrestling Inc|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208211517/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/news/2021/12/wwe-legend-blackjack-lanza-passes-away/ |archive-date=2021-12-08 }} He was 86 years old, and had been in poor health.
Championships and accomplishments
File:Blackjack Lanza WWWF Tag Team Champion.png
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Bobby Duncum
- AWA British Empire Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Georgia Championship Wrestling
- NWA Georgia Television Championship (1 time)
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Mulligan
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (3 times)
- NWA Mid-America
- NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Mike|date=November 20, 2015|title=PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING HALL OF FAME MOVING FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO TEXAS|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/article/97943/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-moving-from-upstate-new-york-to-texas.html?p=1|url-status=live|access-date=November 20, 2015|work=PWInsider|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151120231837/http://www.pwinsider.com/article/97943/professional-wrestling-hall-of-fame-moving-from-upstate-new-york-to-texas.html?p=1 |archive-date=2015-11-20 }} - Inducted as a member of The Blackjacks
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 338 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.{{cn|date=December 2021}}
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time){{cn|date=December 2021}}
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Mulligan
- World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Mulligan
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006) as a member of The Blackjacks
References
{{reflist|refs=
{{cite web |url=https://www.solie.org/titlehistories/whtwwai.html |title=WWA World Heavyweight Title History |work=Solie.org |access-date=August 11, 2020 |date=1997 |first1=Royal |last1=Duncan |first2=Gary |last2=Will}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ttwwai.html |title=WWA World Tag Team Title History |work=Solie.org |access-date=August 11, 2020 |date=1998 |first1=Royal |last1=Duncan |first2=Gary |last2=Will}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.solie.org/titlehistories/gtvgcw.html |title=NWA Georgia Television Title History |work=Solie.org |access-date=August 11, 2020 |date=1999 |first1=Royal |last1=Duncan |first2=Gary |last2=Will}}
{{cite book|author=Tim Hornbaker|title=Legends of Pro Wrestling: 150 Years of Headlocks, Body Slams, and Piledrivers|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8G2CDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT442|date=2017|publisher=Sports Publishing|isbn=978-1-61321-875-4|pages=442}}
{{cite book|author-link1=Jim Ross|first1=Jim|last1=Ross|first2=Jan|last2=Ross|title=J. R.'s Cookbook: True Ringside Tales, BBQ, and Down-Home Recipes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HL4B3UPk_VgC&pg=PA258|year=2003|publisher=Simon & Schuster|isbn=978-0-7434-6504-5|pages=258}}
{{cite web |url=https://www.wwe.com/superstars/blackjacks |title=The Blackjacks |publisher=WWE |work=WWE.com |access-date=August 10, 2020 }}
}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{WWE superstar|blackjacks|The Blackjacks}}
- {{IMDb name|1071336|Jack Lanza}}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
{{AWA World Tag Team Championship}}
{{WWE Hall of Fame}}
{{World Tag Team Championship (WWE)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lanza, Blackjack}}
Category:American male professional wrestlers
Category:Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
Category:Professional wrestlers from Minneapolis
Category:American professional wrestling executives
Category:Heenan Family members
Category:WWE Hall of Fame inductees
Category:University of Minnesota alumni
Category:20th-century male professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century American professional wrestlers
Category:AWA World Tag Team Champions
Category:WCWA Brass Knuckles Champions
Category:NWA National Television Champions
Category:World Tag Team Champions (WWE, 1971–2010)