Blackjack Lanza

**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 as Texas' rule breakers who drew money wherever they went".

## Professional wrestling career

Originating from Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lanza was trained by local promoter Verne Gagne. He began his career in late-1961, wrestling a handful of matches for the Birmingham, Alabama-based NWA Mid-America promotion as "Joe Lanza". In 1962, he briefly held the promotion's NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship.

Lanza wrestled sporadically for the St. Louis Wrestling Club from 1962 to 1963, then again from 1966 to 1978. In February 1969, Lanza wrestled former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Gene Kiniski to a 60-minute draw, establishing him as an "instant contender".

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. In the 1970s, Lanza and Mulligan teamed up to form The Blackjacks. Lanza was a main-eventer when the duo began teaming together. They were managed by Bobby Heenan.

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.

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.

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. 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 promised Lanza that he would receive one World singles title shot a month.

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.

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.

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.

After retiring from the ring, Lanza worked for the World Wrestling Federation as a road agent and producer. In 2004, Lanza inducted his longtime manager Bobby Heenan into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2004.

    On April 1, 2006, Lanza, along with his former partner, Blackjack Mulligan, were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by Heenan.

He was inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016 as a member of the Blackjacks. Stan Hansen accepted the award, as Lanza was too ill to attend.

## Death

On December 8, 2021, Jim Ross announced via Twitter that Lanza died. He was 86 years old, and had been in poor health.