.jpg) Lanza in 1971 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Mortl Lanzo (1935-10-14)October 14, 1935 |
| Died | December 8, 2021(2021-12-08) (aged 86) |
| Alma mater | University of Minnesota |
Spouse | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Blackjack Lanza[1] Jack Lanza[1] Joe Lanza[1] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)[1] |
| Billed weight | 253 lb (115 kg)[1] |
| Billed from | Albuquerque, New Mexico[2] Laredo, Texas[3] |
| Trained by | Verne Gagne[1] |
| Debut | 1961 |
| Retired | 1985 |
John Mortl Lanzo[4] (October 14, 1935 – December 8, 2021) was an Americanprofessional wrestler, better known by hisring name,Blackjack Lanza. Along with his long-termtag team partner,Blackjack Mulligan, Lanza was one-half ofThe Blackjacks: "blackcowboy hat-wearing,cowboy boot-stomping, rugged hombres who drew money wherever they went".[5]
From the 1960s to 1980s, Lanza wrestled for promotions such as theAmerican Wrestling Association,World Wrestling Association, and theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation, winning theAWA World Tag Team Championship,WWA World Tag Team Championship, andWWWF World Tag Team Championship alongside Mulligan. He is a member of theWWE Hall of Fame and theProfessional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Lanza was born on October 14, 1935, to William Lanza and Louise Mortl, and attended theUniversity of Minnesota and worked as asociology teacher.[4]
Lanza, fromMinneapolis, Minnesota, was trained by local promoterVerne Gagne and started his wrestling career in 1961. He wrestled a few matches forNWA Mid-America inBirmingham, Alabama, under the name "Joe Lanza". In 1962, he briefly held theNWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship.[2][6][7]
Lanza had a sporadic wrestling career with theSt. 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 ChampionGene Kiniski, solidifying his status as an "instant contender."[8]
In mid-1962, Lanza returned to Minnesota, where he joined Gagne'sAmerican Wrestling Association as Jack Lanza. He teamed withBobby Duncum and was managed byBobby Heenan.[9] During his time in the company, hisgimmick was that of a Western cowboy.[10] The duo won theAWA World Tag Team Championship on July 23, 1976.[11] In the 1970s, Lanza and Mulligan teamed up to form The Blackjacks.[4] Lanza was a main-eventer when the duo began teaming together.[10] They were managed by Bobby Heenan.[9]
In 1963, Lanza joined theCharlotte, North Carolina–basedMid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion, wrestling as "Jack Lanza". He left the promotion the following year.[12]
Lanza wrestled for theIndianapolis, Indiana–basedWorld Wrestling Association from 1967 to 1972.[13] Accompanied by Bobby Heenan, he defeatedWilbur Snyder for theWWA World Heavyweight Championship in September 1967. His reign lasted until August 1969, when he was defeated byDick the Bruiser.[14] In 1971, The Blackjacks began wrestling in the WWA. In November 1971, they defeatedPaul Christy and Wilbur Snyder for theWWA World Tag Team Championship. Their reign lasted until September 1972, when they lost toThe Crusher and Dick the Bruiser.[15]
Lanza debuted in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation in mid-1973 as "Blackjack Lanza". His regular opponents includedAndré the Giant,Chief Jay Strongbow, andDean Ho. He left the promotion in December 1973.[16] In 1975, they joined the WWWF.[10] On August 26, 1975, The Blackjacks defeatedDominic DeNucci andPat Barrett for theWWWF World Tag Team Championship.[17][4] The match was a two-out-of-three falls match, and the Blackjacks won the match by winning the first and third falls.[10] As part of his tenure in WWWF,Vince McMahon Sr. promised Lanza that he would receive one World singles title shot a month.[10]
In January 1974, The Blackjacks joined theDallas, Texas–basedNWA Big Time Wrestling promotion.[18] Later that month, they were named theNWA American Tag Team Champions. Their reign lasted until July 1974, when they were defeated byKen Patera andTex McKenzie.[19][20] In December 1974, he won the vacantNWA American Heavyweight Championship. He lost the championship toFritz Von Erich later that month.[21][22]
In 1979, Lanza wrestled forGeorgia Championship Wrestling. He defeatedBob Armstrong for theNWA Georgia Television Championship in April, holding the championship until August 1979, when he was defeated byRay Candy.[23][24]
After Georgia Championship Wrestling, Lanza was inactive from wrestling until 1983. He returned to AWAAmerican 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.[citation needed]
Lanza married Barbara Jean Kalil on September 28, 1957, and they lived inDouglas County, Minnesota.[4][25]
On December 8, 2021,Jim Ross announced viaTwitter that Lanza had died.[26] He was 86 years old, and had been in poor health.[4]
John M. Lanzo and Barbara Jean Lanzo, husband and wife; ...
,Wrestlingdata,Internet Wrestling Database
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