Blackjack Lanza dead at 86 – WWE Hall of Fame icon passes away after success with tag-team partner Blackjack Mulligan
WWE Hall of Famer Blackjack Lanza, who found success as one-half of The Blackjacks tag team, has passed away at 86.
WWE Chairman Vince McMahon announced the wrestling icon’s death on Wednesday; however, no cause of death was revealed.
HALL OF FAMER
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Jack Lanza. He was a man’s man, respected and beloved by all,” McMahon said on his social media page.
Lanza began his wrestling career in the early 1960s and gained fame after teaming up with Blackjack Mulligan.
The two, known as The Blackjacks, went on to become one of the most legendary tag team duos in wrestling, and even starred in McMahon’s World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s.
Lanza was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006 after retiring from wrestling in the 1980s but continuing to work with McMahon and the WWE for years afterward.
“His loyalty and dedication will never be forgotten,” McMahon added.
TAUGHT US SO MUCH
Paul Michael Levesque, better known as his stage name of Triple H, posted a photo of himself standing with Lanza with the caption of “The legendary Jack Lanza…One of the greatest minds in the business, thank you for letting me sit under the learning tree…”
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Jim Ross, also a WWE Hall of Famer, equally expressed sorrow at Lanza’s passing.
“Just heard from old, Winnipeg friend Bob Holliday that Jack Lanza has passed away at the age of 86,” Ross tweeted. “Jack was our lead agent during the Attitude Era. Helluva hand.”
Pro wrestler Matt Hardy paid homage to Lanza as helping him get started in wrestling.
“Jack Lanza was the lead road agent when my brother & I first started full time with WWE. Jack treated us great & taught us so much about working & surviving on the road. Saddened to hear about Jack’s passing. My thoughts go out to his family & loved ones.”