Blackjack Mulligan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blackjack Mulligan |
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Mulligan, circa 1979
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| Birth name | Robert Deroy Windham |
| Born | November 25, 1942 Sweetwater, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 7, 2016 (aged 73) Tampa, Florida, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Texas Western College |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Windham |
| Children | 3, including Barry Windham and Kendall Windham |
| Family | Mike Rotunda (son-in-law) Bo Dallas (grandson) Bray Wyatt (grandson) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Big Bob Windham Big Machine Blackjack Mulligan The Texan |
| Billed height | 6 ft 9 in (206 cm) |
| Billed weight | 300 lb (136 kg) |
| Billed from | Eagle Pass, Texas, U.S. El Paso, Texas U.S. (1982) |
| Trained by | Verne Gagne |
| Debut | 1967 |
| Retired | May 23, 1993 |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 Marine Corps |
Robert Deroy Windham (born November 25, 1942 – died April 7, 2016) was a famous American professional wrestler. Most people knew him by his exciting ring name, Blackjack Mulligan. Before becoming a wrestling star, he also played American football.
Blackjack Mulligan came from a family of wrestlers. His sons, Barry Windham and Kendall Windham, also became professional wrestlers. His son-in-law, Mike Rotunda, wrestled too. Even his grandsons, Bo Dallas and Bray Wyatt, followed in his footsteps!
Contents
Early Life and Sports
Robert Windham grew up in Sweetwater, Texas. As a young man, he loved sports. He played American football at Texas Western College, which is now called the University of Texas at El Paso.
After college, Windham served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed in Guam for a time. When he returned, he tried out for professional football teams. He played for the New York Jets in 1966 and also had tryouts with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos.
Becoming a Wrestling Star
After his football career, Robert Windham decided to try professional wrestling. His friend, Wahoo McDaniel, encouraged him. He trained hard with wrestling legends like Joe Blanchard and Verne Gagne. Soon, he joined the American Wrestling Association.
Windham was a very big wrestler, standing 6 feet 9 inches tall and weighing over 300 pounds. He had a tough, cowboy style, much like other famous wrestlers of his time.
Wrestling in Japan
In 1970, Robert Windham traveled to Japan to wrestle. He teamed up with Larry Hennig. Together, they won the IWA World Tag Team Championship. This was a big achievement early in his career.
The Birth of Blackjack Mulligan
In 1971, Windham joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). This is where he became the character "Blackjack Mulligan." He wore black wrestling trunks, a black hat, and a black fingerless glove. He also grew a mustache. His special move was the "iron claw," where he would squeeze his opponent's head with his hand.
When he first arrived in the WWWF, a manager named The Grand Wizard helped him. Blackjack Mulligan quickly became a top wrestler. He even challenged the WWWF Champion, Pedro Morales.
Teaming with Blackjack Lanza
After some time, Mulligan returned to the Midwest. He formed a famous tag team called the Blackjacks with another wrestler named Blackjack Lanza. Even though Mulligan was a big star on his own, they became a very successful team.
The Blackjacks won many tag team championships. They even won the WWWF World Tag Team Championship in 1975.
Singles Success and Rivalries
Blackjack Mulligan also had a great career as a singles wrestler. He joined Jim Crockett Promotions and won the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship four times! He also won the NWA World Tag Team Championship with Ric Flair.
Mulligan often had big matches against the legendary André the Giant. They wrestled each other in many different places in the early 1980s. Mulligan once said that Andre had "no limit to his strength."
Return to WWF and New Characters
In 1984, Mulligan returned to the WWF (which used to be the WWWF). He hosted a fun interview segment called Blackjack's Barbecue. This was similar to Roddy Piper's popular Piper's Pit.
In 1986, Mulligan wrestled under a mask as "Big Machine." He was part of a team called The Machines, which included "The Giant Machine" (who was André the Giant) and "Super Machine" (Bill Eadie). They had many exciting matches against the Heenan family.
After this, Mulligan wrestled as himself in the WWF until 1987. He also wrestled in other promotions like World Class Championship Wrestling and in Florida. He often teamed with his son, Barry Windham, and other famous wrestlers like Dusty Rhodes and Dick Murdoch.
Final Match and Hall of Fame
Blackjack Mulligan's last wrestling match was on May 23, 1993. It was a special event called Slamboree '93: A Legends' Reunion.
Later, Mulligan worked behind the scenes as a match booker and promoter. He even owned a wrestling promotion with Dick Murdoch. In 2006, Blackjack Mulligan and his tag team partner, Jack Lanza, were honored. They were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by their manager, Bobby Heenan.
Personal Life
In 2007, Robert Windham wrote a book about his life called True Lies and Alibis. It shared stories about his personal life and his exciting wrestling career.
In 2012, Windham became an ordained minister. He was a born-again Christian and wanted to spend his time sharing his faith.
Health and Passing
Blackjack Mulligan faced some health challenges in his later years. He was hospitalized in 2015 after having a heart attack. He passed away on April 7, 2016. He was laid to rest at the Florida National Cemetery.
Legacy
Blackjack Mulligan left a lasting mark on the wrestling world. His son, Barry Windham, even wrestled as Blackjack Mulligan Jr. early in his career. Barry later adopted his father's signature black glove.
Decades later, Mulligan's grandson, Bo Dallas, also started wearing a black glove as a tribute to his grandfather. Another grandson, Windham Rotunda, became a very popular WWE superstar until his passing in 2023.
Mulligan was known for his "hulk up" style comeback in matches, where he would suddenly get a burst of energy. He did this long before Hulk Hogan became famous for it.
Championships and Accomplishments
- Championship Wrestling from Florida
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Florida version) (1 time)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (Florida version) (1 time) – with Dusty Rhodes
- European Wrestling Union
- EWU World Super Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- International Wrestling Enterprise
- IWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Larry Hennig
- International Wrestling Federation
- IWF Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (4 times)
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Mid-Atlantic version) (1 time) – with Ric Flair
- NWA Big Time Wrestling
- NWA American Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA American Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Lanza
- NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- NWA Texas Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Lanza
- NWA Brass Knuckles Championship (Texas version) (1 time)
- NWA Western States Sports
- NWA International Heavyweight Championship (Amarillo version) (2 times)
- NWA Western States Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Dick Murdoch
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
- Class of 2016 - Inducted as a member of The Blackjacks
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (1978)
- PWI ranked him #159 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.
- World Wrestling Association
- WWA World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- WWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Lanza
- World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Blackjack Lanza
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2006) as a member of The Blackjacks
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Disgusting Promotional Tactic (1984) Fake heart attack angle
Images for kids
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Mulligan, circa 1979
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Flag of the United States Marine Corps
See also
In Spanish: Blackjack Mulligan para niños
