Heenan and the Blackjacks were the original monster heels. I remember when they tore apart Bobby Bald Eagle's ancestral headdress and made him weep. Lanza was kind of rangy compared to the refrigerator-sized Mulligan. He did the bumping. The fact that they had Heenan to cheat for them even when they didn't need it made them really villainous.
No wonder those Austin vs Rock matches were always magic. Lanza was a master of laying out matches during the Attitude Era and one of the best agents of all-time.
They didn't lay out matches then like they do now. They gave the finish and some basic info and the wrestlers worked out the details but the agents like Lanza did have input so yea I guess he did somewhat
With Pat's Creative mind and Lanza's knowhow, it'd be hard not to have excellent stories told and matches produced. Then there's people like Brisco, Gorrea, Slaughter etc... All knew what they were doing
Being an Indianapolis kid, Blackjack Lanza was the greatest heel WWA Heavyweight Champion in the history of the territory, with Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan as his manager. Blackjack Mulligan then later came into Indianapolis and they became the greatest heel Tag Team Champions ever in the Indy-based WWA. Bruiser & Crusher vs the Blackjacks & Bobby Heenan may have been the most brutal series of cage matches in wrestling history. Check out what you can on UA-cam if you haven't seen those matches, they define what steel cage battles were supposed to be. #RIPBlackjackLanza
I grew up in Chicago and got to see him first as a babyface "Cowboy" Jack Lanza. He would sign autographs for the kids before getting into the ring, etc. Then I think I remember seeing the actual heel to "Blackjack" turn on TV. His first interview was with Heenan as Mgr. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
All I knew is Blackjack was a real nice man, an unsung agent, & one of those tremendous almost forgotten workers of the 70s. Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza with manager Capt Lou Albano was a heat seeking missle back when they were champs back in 76
I also recall The Blackjacks managed by Bobby the Brain during my days in Chicago. they had some great matches vs Bruiser and Crusher. after Mulligan left, Bobby Duncum took his spot.
As a kid, watching Wrestling At The Chase, I hated Lanza with a passion, so I guess he did his job right. Some 50+ years later I can still remember how elated I was when he and The Bruiser turned on each other in a match against Luis Martinez and Tommy Martin. We weren't treated to that kind of mayhem on St. Louis TV that often.
Lanza was such a great heel in the day, especially when tagging with Mulligan in the WWWF. He would laugh at his opponents in such a dastardly way, and that would get him heat with the fans for doing that...damn, good times to watch wrestling. Rest in peace, Blackjack Lanza.
@@jamirimaj6880 brian needs to stop smokin the Wacky Weedus so he can be Cornys spare memory..a few episodes I found myself correcting him about shit I heard from him for the umpteenth time for the new listeners
He was instrumental to many of the good things that happened when he was an agent. This is why we need to make sure to give people their flowers while they're alive.
Back in the early 70's Lanza was the Champion in Indianapolis with Bruisers WWA, at the same time headlining show in NWA headquarters St Louis against guys like Briscoe and Funk. And also facing AWA Champ Verne Gagne in Minnesota. No one else accomplished that. The top guy in 3 of the top promotions at that time.
I unfortunately didn’t get to know much about Jack Landsa, but what I do know is that he was one of the original Blackjacks, and he was a legend in the business. To me: that’s simply enough to earn respect from anyone. Nobody throughout the years has ever had one bad thing to say about the man. But I would rather imagine that if they did, they would quickly be set straight by the man himself. Regardless: he will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace Mr, Landsa. Until we meet again!
I was too young to see Lanza in the ring in a live setting, but I have watched a few of his matches that I was able to find, and he was a talented guy. More than his in ring career, I respect him for what he did for the business behind the curtain. Her had a hand in shaping the careers of countless guys and girls during one of the most successful periods in the history of professional wrestling, and did it while receiving little to no recognition for his contributions to the business. I only hope that people will one day realize how much he contributed to the business, and he will become the legend that he deserves to be. RIP
Remember seeing Jack Lanza in the late 1960's as a baby face, a few weeks later he was a bad guy managed by a young Bobby heenan as a 13 year old I was shocked at that time, also remember him using the same finishing move bill watts used as the Oklahoma stampede but he really stood out better as a heel, may he forever R.I.P.
Victor Rivera left WWWF for IWA and replaced by Irish Pat Barrett who just recently passed away he and DeNucci then dropped the tag belts to the BlackJacks
I know I read as a kid that Bradshaw was his nephew, but I don't remember now if that was an actual kayfabe deal WWE put out there, of just a weird thing one of the Apter mags made up.
@@Cobralalalala Pretty sure it was a kayfabe deal by WWE when they partnerned Bradshaw up with Windham as The New Blackjacks, think they billed him as Windham's cousin if I remember rightly despite the fact that I'm pretty sure he was Justin Hawk Bradshaw in WWE for a year or two prior to that
There was a WWE book years ago talking about major names in the WWWF, they mentioned Mulligan and Lanza were among the first to use the cowboy persona in a heel context, which later laid out the groundwork for Bradshaw, Hansen, James Storm and others. RIP
I want to hear more about Rene goulet! As a kid I always wondered who the "officials coming from the back" were and why that blonde haired guy was always one of them. lol
I'm not an old guy but I have watched some blackjack lanza matches on the internet and I thought that he looked legit I also thought he had good matches. May he rest in peace.
I got in a fight One Night with a biker in the bar and Lanza jumped my case about it... told me you're not going to make it far doing that... I said you're prejudging the situation. Needless to say we started off on the wrong foot our first meeting.... but I sure do respect his career! 👍🤠
Talking about the Mulligan blood line, I've always wondered why Rotunda agreed to the "IRS" gimmick right after his father in law and brother in law were busted for counterfeiting. Either way... RIP Lanza
RIP. I'm old enough to remember the Blackjacks. When I was a little kid, they scared the hell out of me
same here...the only wrestler that scared me more than the Blackjacks was Luscious Lars Anderson.
Times where Wrestlers still had a aura of intimidation...
Heenan and the Blackjacks were the original monster heels. I remember when they tore apart Bobby Bald Eagle's ancestral headdress and made him weep. Lanza was kind of rangy compared to the refrigerator-sized Mulligan. He did the bumping. The fact that they had Heenan to cheat for them even when they didn't need it made them really villainous.
Same. Ass hit, we're all getting old. Thoughts to The Windham Family. Black Jacks are first tag team I remember.
No wonder those Austin vs Rock matches were always magic. Lanza was a master of laying out matches during the Attitude Era and one of the best agents of all-time.
They didn't lay out matches then like they do now. They gave the finish and some basic info and the wrestlers worked out the details but the agents like Lanza did have input so yea I guess he did somewhat
At that level, the wrestlers worked it out among themselves.
With Pat's Creative mind and Lanza's knowhow, it'd be hard not to have excellent stories told and matches produced. Then there's people like Brisco, Gorrea, Slaughter etc... All knew what they were doing
I agree.
I agree.
I had to listen to this after Cornett wonder whatever happened to Jack Lanza while reviewing the WWE Hall of Fame
I remember when I was a kid in the 60/70.
AWA...
The blackjacks vs bruiser and the crusher....a lot of blood....
Stone Cold Steve Austin has talked about Lanza being a big supporter of his, after his initial push in 1996
Being an Indianapolis kid, Blackjack Lanza was the greatest heel WWA Heavyweight Champion in the history of the territory, with Pretty Boy Bobby Heenan as his manager. Blackjack Mulligan then later came into Indianapolis and they became the greatest heel Tag Team Champions ever in the Indy-based WWA. Bruiser & Crusher vs the Blackjacks & Bobby Heenan may have been the most brutal series of cage matches in wrestling history. Check out what you can on UA-cam if you haven't seen those matches, they define what steel cage battles were supposed to be. #RIPBlackjackLanza
I grew up in Chicago and got to see him first as a babyface "Cowboy" Jack Lanza. He would sign autographs for the kids before getting into the ring, etc. Then I think I remember seeing the actual heel to "Blackjack" turn on TV. His first interview was with Heenan as Mgr. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Here after the most recent episode, iykyk
Yes! 😂😂😂😂😂 how did Jim forget!?
Funny shit 😂
😂😂😂
😂 Same!
Us old farts who remember Cowboy Jack Lanza, then the turn in Bruiser's WWA to Blackjack Lanza ... Great performer!
Listening to the Experience 476, during HOF segment, Jim & Brian forgot Jack Lanza had died and they talked about it. RIP Blackjack.
How did Jim forget!?
All I knew is Blackjack was a real nice man, an unsung agent, & one of those tremendous almost forgotten workers of the 70s. Blackjack Mulligan & Blackjack Lanza with manager Capt Lou Albano was a heat seeking missle back when they were champs back in 76
I also recall The Blackjacks managed by Bobby the Brain during my days in Chicago. they had some great matches vs Bruiser and Crusher. after Mulligan left, Bobby Duncum took his spot.
One of my all-time favorites in the A.W.A. Also loved his promos. Blackjacks had GREAT matches with Bruiser and Crusher.
I saw Monsoon pick Lanza up over his head and walked around the ring with him in a battle royal at the Philadelphia Spectrum in 1974 when I was a kid
As a kid, watching Wrestling At The Chase, I hated Lanza with a passion, so I guess he did his job right. Some 50+ years later I can still remember how elated I was when he and The Bruiser turned on each other in a match against Luis Martinez and Tommy Martin. We weren't treated to that kind of mayhem on St. Louis TV that often.
Lanza was such a great heel in the day, especially when tagging with Mulligan in the WWWF. He would laugh at his opponents in such a dastardly way, and that would get him heat with the fans for doing that...damn, good times to watch wrestling. Rest in peace, Blackjack Lanza.
Loved the Blackjacks and Jack Lanza in particular. Remember: he taught philosophy in college becoming a wrestler.
The depth of these guy’s wrestling knowledge never ceases to amaze me.
we can only hope it doesn't decline drastically as he's going to be in his 60s now
@@jamirimaj6880 brian needs to stop smokin the Wacky Weedus so he can be Cornys spare memory..a few episodes I found myself correcting him about shit I heard from him for the umpteenth time for the new listeners
There are Blackjack matches on the Wrestling Gold DVD set. Good times.
RIP Lanza
Who's here after the 2023 Hall of Fame review?
me too haha
Lanza and Mulligan were awesome as a tag team.
This fan had a huge reaction. Was privileged to grow up in AWA country and Lanza was a huge presence there. He and Bobby Heenan were a top draw.
Remember the Blackjacks and Bobby Heenan when they worked for Verne Gagne. Loved when they came to Winnipeg.
He was instrumental to many of the good things that happened when he was an agent. This is why we need to make sure to give people their flowers while they're alive.
Damn. Now I want Corny to find some of his old agent reports.
Austin 🆚 HBK WM 14 you can see BlackJack Lanza at the gorilla position.
One of my earliest memories is setting with my grandfather watching Blackjack Lanza beat the crap out of some poor schlip on Wrestling at the Chase.
Love the song Corny. You should open for Fozzy. RIP Jack Lanza
Back in the early 70's Lanza was the Champion in Indianapolis with Bruisers WWA, at the same time headlining show in NWA headquarters St Louis against guys like Briscoe and Funk. And also facing AWA Champ Verne Gagne in Minnesota. No one else accomplished that. The top guy in 3 of the top promotions at that time.
Lanza Worked For The AWA and They Went Out Of Business and Went To Work For Vince, Same Like Russo Went To WCW and Closed Soon After
We will miss him
Jack lanza is with god
Blackjack Lanza was great with Mulligan, but was also a great team with Bobby Duncum Sr.
I unfortunately didn’t get to know much about Jack Landsa, but what I do know is that he was one of the original Blackjacks, and he was a legend in the business. To me: that’s simply enough to earn respect from anyone. Nobody throughout the years has ever had one bad thing to say about the man. But I would rather imagine that if they did, they would quickly be set straight by the man himself. Regardless: he will be sorely missed. Rest In Peace Mr, Landsa. Until we meet again!
Blackjack Mulligan is who I grew up with. He was a real tough guy. My Dad loves him.
I was too young to see Lanza in the ring in a live setting, but I have watched a few of his matches that I was able to find, and he was a talented guy. More than his in ring career, I respect him for what he did for the business behind the curtain. Her had a hand in shaping the careers of countless guys and girls during one of the most successful periods in the history of professional wrestling, and did it while receiving little to no recognition for his contributions to the business. I only hope that people will one day realize how much he contributed to the business, and he will become the legend that he deserves to be. RIP
Remember seeing Jack Lanza in the late 1960's as a baby face, a few weeks later he was a bad guy managed by a young Bobby heenan as a 13 year old I was shocked at that time, also remember him using the same finishing move bill watts used as the Oklahoma stampede but he really stood out better as a heel, may he forever R.I.P.
Channel 26 Bob Luce show?
Praying for the family
Victor Rivera left WWWF for IWA and replaced by Irish Pat Barrett who just recently passed away he and DeNucci then dropped the tag belts to the BlackJacks
One of the last of the great ones
Jack Lanza was Bradshaw's uncle wasn't he? Heard once that was why he was chosen for the New Blackjacks with Barry Windam
No relation, but he was a father figure to Bradshaw. They thought about making him his kayfabe son, but decided not to.
I know I read as a kid that Bradshaw was his nephew, but I don't remember now if that was an actual kayfabe deal WWE put out there, of just a weird thing one of the Apter mags made up.
@@Cobralalalala Pretty sure it was a kayfabe deal by WWE when they partnerned Bradshaw up with Windham as The New Blackjacks, think they billed him as Windham's cousin if I remember rightly despite the fact that I'm pretty sure he was Justin Hawk Bradshaw in WWE for a year or two prior to that
lanza was the one who unmasked Dr. X. It was strange because they were both heels
There was a WWE book years ago talking about major names in the WWWF, they mentioned Mulligan and Lanza were among the first to use the cowboy persona in a heel context, which later laid out the groundwork for Bradshaw, Hansen, James Storm and others. RIP
RIP Blackjack !
One hell of a mind and hand when it comes to the business
A Sargeant Jacques Goulet reference. 👍
Except for Garea and Brisco, all the WWF Road Agents from the 80s are gone. Sad : (
Blackjacks are one of my favorites teams.
I want to hear more about Rene goulet! As a kid I always wondered who the "officials coming from the back" were and why that blonde haired guy was always one of them. lol
Worzel!
RIP blackjack Lanza
I'm not an old guy but I have watched some blackjack lanza matches on the internet and I thought that he looked legit I also thought he had good matches. May he rest in peace.
I have a created wreatler on Fire Pro World named Texas Ted. Blackjack Lanza heavily influenced that edit.
According to Bret, Randy Savage wasn't too fond of Lanza, but it could have just been a bad night.
Neither was Honky Tonk Man.
Sad news 😢
R.I.P Blackjack Jack Lanza
Sad news . remember watching him working for the sheik in Detroit .
The Embodiment Of Evil
I got in a fight One Night with a biker in the bar and Lanza jumped my case about it... told me you're not going to make it far doing that... I said you're prejudging the situation. Needless to say we started off on the wrong foot our first meeting.... but I sure do respect his career! 👍🤠
Lol you got your butt kicked
I'm 47 and I know Lanza only from shoot videos as "longtime WWF agent" Jack Lanza...thanks to UA-cam. I'm aware of The Blackjacks only via UA-cam.
I am blackjack mike
@5:00 Cowboys are soo super hot right now,Yellowstone with Kevin Costner as John Dutton,Cole Hauser as Rip Wheeler(My Personal Favorite Series on Tv)
P.S Blackjack Lanza RIP😪
Let's not forget after Mulligan left,Blackjack Lanza brought up a young Bobby Duncan Sr. to make the 3rd Blackjack😉
Corny clearly didnt read B Hart's book lol. Not a fan of Lanza the agent
neither honky tonk man lol
Lackback janza, legend rip
Talking about the Mulligan blood line, I've always wondered why Rotunda agreed to the "IRS" gimmick right after his father in law and brother in law were busted for counterfeiting. Either way... RIP Lanza
Check out this 1960s photo from Dave Drason, featuring Jack Lanza and a VERY young Bobby Heenan: ua-cam.com/video/DkC-I87-zxk/v-deo.html
1 like 1 prayer for Jack lanza
Lanza chokes verne gagne
Was Blackjack a reverse nickname? He sure looked real white to me lol
First?
😂😂
??
K.
Who is this jabroni blackjack