Dusty Rhodes, Tugboat, and Jerry Saggs - brothers-in-law: Mike Rotundo and Blackjack Mulligan's daughter - so Mike Rotundo becomes brother- in- law to Kendall and Barry Wyndham: Larry Zbyskzo and Cathy Gagne (Verne's daughter). Watch Kevin Sullivan/Blackjack Mulligan Promo (Florida 1987) - Roy Lucier's Wrestling Classics on Dailymotion.
The Almanac
Dusty Rhodes And Blackjack Mulligan Wife
Championship Picture This Month:
NWA WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT---Harley Race
Dusty Rhodes (August 21, 1979 in Tampa, Florida)
Harley Race (August 26, 1979 in Orlando, Florida)
NWA WORLD TAG TEAM--- Paul Jones and Baron Von Raschke
Ric Flair and Blackjack Mulligan (August 12, 1979 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina)
Paul Jones and Baron von Raschke (August 22, 1979 at the WRAL TV studios in Raleigh, North Carolina)
UNITED STATES HEAVYWEIGHT--- Ric Flair
Dusty Rhodes Vs Blackjack Mulligan
VACANT (When Flair captures one-half of the NWA World Tag Team Championship, he vacates the United States Title on the August 15, 1979 taping of the Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling TV show in Raleigh, NC, with a Tournament later set on September 1, 1979 in Charlotte, NC to crown a new U.S. Champion)
MID-ATLANTIC HEAVYWEIGHT---Ken Patera
NWA TELEVISION---Ricky Steamboat
CANADIAN HEAVYWEIGHT---- Dino Bravo
MID-ATLANTIC TAG TEAM---VACANT ( Ken Patera and John Studd were not announced as Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champions on television during the month of August, nor did they defend the Titles in August)
Newspaper clippings courtesy of Mark Eastridge.
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Blackjack Mulligan Death – Undisclosed Causes
Blackjack Mulligan – Dead at 73. Here he is on a 1986 episode of Prime Time Wrestling. photo: wwe.com
1942-2016 (age 73)
Blackjack Mulligan, real name Robert “Bob” Windham, enjoyed a storied life and career, and not just in the wrestling ring. Mulligan played football in college, and had tryouts for several NFL teams in the mid 60s.
After football, Mulligan moved to wrestling, debuting in the AWA, and eventually moving over to the WWWF (now WWE) where he was managed by the late Grand Wizard.
Mulligan is most remembered for his run with tag partner Blackjack Lanza, where they formed The Blackjacks.
The Blackjacks take on Tony Parisi and Louis Cerdan. Madison Square Garden, Nov. 17, 1975
The Blackjacks had an impressive run throughout the 70s with the WWWF, winning tag team gold in 1975. Mulligan’s profile would continue to shine in the upper card, feuding with Andre the Giant.
In the mid 80s, Mulligan moved over to Jim Crockett Promotions, notably teaming up with Dusty Rhodes to win the NWA U.S. Tag Team Championship.
A Wrestling Family
The father of Kendall and Barry Windham, and grandfather of Bray Watt and Bo Dallas, Mulligan’s family connections to wrestling run deep.
His son in law is Mike Rotunda, better known as I.R.S. during his WWF run in the early 90s.
Blackjack Mulligan takes on Ric Flair in a Texas Death Match
Blackjack Mulligan Lawsuit, Death, Legacy
Blackjack Mulligan was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for 2006’s ceremony.
Blackjack Mulligan takes on Brutus Beefcake. photo: wwe.com
In a fairly surprising twist, less than 10 years later, Windham would end up suing the WWE for concussions he sustained while working. The suit is not unlike (and is possibly directly related to) the 2016 concussion suit against the WWE in which 50 former wrestlers are named.Blackjack Mulligan’s cause of death hasn’t been revealed, although it’s clear his health was suffering in recent years. Mulligan suffered a heart attack in June of 2015. According to PWInsider, Mulligan was set to undergo brain surgery prior to his heart attack.
Blackjack Mulligan died on April 7th, 2016. He was 73.