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WWE Hall of Famer Jack Lanza reportedly passes away at the age of 86

Aaron Rift

Jim Ross noted on Twitter that WWE Hall of Famer Jack Lanza has passed away at the age of 86. Lanza was one half of The Blackjacks tag team along with Blackjack Mulligan. Lanza later worked as an agent for WWE and The Blackjacks were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2006.

Here was JR’s statement…

“Just heard from old, Winnipeg friend Bob Holliday that Jack Lanza has passed away at the age of 86.

Jack was our lead agent during the Attitude Era.

Helluva hand. 🙏”

Here is an excerpt from WWE’s bio of The Blackjacks…

Jack Lanza, with his devastating Iron Claw, was mean and sadistic in the ring. The AWA superstar was once referred to as “the embodiment of evil.” The Laredo, Texas, native made his debut in 1962 and achieved early success under the tutelage of Bobby Heenan. With Heenan at his side, Lanza & Bobby Duncum won the AWA World Tag Team Championship from Dick the Bruiser and The Crusher. Lanza also had memorable battles with WWE Hall of Famer “Big Cat” Ernie Ladd, among many others.

While both Mulligan and Lanza had stellar singles careers, they seemed destined to join one another and formed the infamous Blackjacks tag team in the 1970s. Along with their manager, Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, they won championships everywhere they competed.