Blackjack Lanza is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame.
16 Facts About Blackjack Lanza
2.
Blackjack Lanza was born on October 14,1935 to William Blackjack Lanza and Louise Mortl, and attended the University of Minnesota and worked as a sociology teacher.
3.
Blackjack Lanza wrestled a few matches for NWA Mid-America in Birmingham, Alabama under the name "Joe Lanza".
4.
Blackjack Lanza had a sporadic wrestling career with the St Louis Wrestling Club from 1962 to 1963 and again from 1966 to 1978.
5.
In mid-1962, Blackjack Lanza returned to Minnesota, where he joined Gagne's American Wrestling Association as Jack Blackjack Lanza.
6.
Blackjack Lanza teamed with Bobby Duncum and was managed by Bobby Heenan.
7.
Blackjack Lanza was a main-eventer when the duo began teaming together.
8.
In 1963, Blackjack Lanza joined the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling promotion, wrestling as "Jack Blackjack Lanza".
9.
Blackjack Lanza wrestled for the Indianapolis, Indiana-based World Wrestling Association from 1967 to 1972.
10.
Blackjack Lanza lost the championship to Fritz Von Erich later that month.
11.
Blackjack Lanza defeated Bob Armstrong for the NWA Georgia Television Championship in April, holding the championship until August 1979, when he was defeated by Ray Candy.
12.
Blackjack Lanza returned to AWA American Wrestling Association where he feuded with Bobby Heenan in bunkhouse matches defeating Heenan in all of them.
13.
That same year he reunited with Blackjack Lanza Mulligan working St Louis and AWA.
14.
Blackjack Lanza retired from wrestling in 1985 and worked for WWF as a road agent.
15.
Blackjack Lanza married Barbara Jean Kalil on September 28,1957, and they lived in Douglas County, Minnesota.
16.
Blackjack Lanza was 86 years old, and had been in poor health.