Dusty Rhodes And Blackjack Mulligan

TOURNAMENT BRACKETING & RESULTS

The” Family” consisted of Dusty Rhodes and his business partner, Blackjack Mulligan. Mulligan and Rhodes co-owned the Headlock Two Ranch. As well, Mulligan’s son, Barry Windham, became part of the “Family.” Fuel was added to the fire between the “Family” and Kevin Sullivan by a mystery man known only as “The Bonebuster.”. Dusty Rhodes Blackjack Mulligan deposit offers are very Dusty Rhodes Blackjack Mulligan popular among Dusty Rhodes Blackjack Mulligan recreational players. It’s a good way to test out a new casino without risking any of your own money. Most online casinos (but not all) have a wagering requirement attached to any Dusty Rhodes Blackjack Mulligan.

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. Dusty Rhodes (August 21, 1979 in Tampa, Florida) Harley Race (August 26, 1979 in Orlando, Florida). Blackjack Mulligan-The big man from Eagle Pass, Texas was.

PARTICIPANTS WERE NOT SEEDED. PAIRINGS WERE DETERMINED IN ADVANCE THROUGH A RANDOM DRAWING.

DETAILED RESULTS

ROUND ONE

Rufus R. Jones defeated Steve Strong by pinfall. Rufus pinned Strong with a backslide.

Terry Funk defeated Red Bastien by pinfall. Funk and Bastien wrestled clean until Funk turned, kicking Bastien until finally pinning him.

Blackjack Mulligan defeated Ken Patera by pinfall. Mulligan pinned Patera after coming off the top rope with a knee to Patera's throat.

Dusty Rhodes defeated Professor Boris Malenko by pinfall. Dusty pinned Malenko after delivering the bionic elbow drop.

Wahoo McDaniel defeated Superstar Billy Graham by pinfall. Graham had Wahoo in his full nelson when Wahoo kicked off the turn buckle. Both men fell to the mat with Graham maintaining the full nelson on Wahoo. Wahoo was on top of Graham and Graham's shoulders were to the mat, and the referee counted him out.

Harley Race defeated Tiger Conway Jr. by pinfall. Conway rolled Race into a reverse cradle out of the turnbuckle. Race continued the roll, and cradled Conway for the pin.

Paul Jones defeated Ole Anderson by pinfall. Anderson Irish-whipped Jones into the ropes and Jones caught him with body press coming out of the ropes for the pin.

Johnny Weaver defeated Gene Anderson by Judge's Decision following a 20 minute draw. Weaver had Gene Anderson in the sleeper when time ran out. The panel of five judges voted Weaver the winner. The judges were (1) NWA President Jack Adkisson, (2) Raleigh promoter Joe Murnick, (3) wrestler and broadcaster Les Thatcher, (4) longtime Crockett Promotions associate and ring announcer Wally Dusek, and (5) New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner (and father of Larry Sharpe) Augie Wilde.

ROUND TWO - QUARTER FINALS

Terry Funk defeated Rufus R. Jones by pinfall. Terry Funk was re-entering the ring and Rufus picked him up for a slam. Funk held to the ropes causing Rufus to lose his balance falling backwards with Funk on top of him. Funk held him for the three count.

Dusty Rhodes defeated Blackjack Mulligan by pinfall. Rhodes had Mulligan in a headlock when Mulligan shot him into the ropes. The two collided and Dusty fell to the ringside floor, landing on top of one of the official judges Augie Wilde. Blackjack fell to his back in the ring. The referee was distracted by Rhodes and Wilde, and began issuing the ten-count on Rhodes to return to the ring. While this was going on, Tim Woods, who had his hand broken by Mulligan some weeks earlier, entered the ring. Woods hit Mulligan with his cast, knocking Mulligan unconscious. Rhodes beat the ten count and returned to the ring, and then covered the unconscious Mulligan for the three count.

Harley Race defeated Wahoo McDaniel by disqualification. Wahoo threw Race into the ropes. Rather than bouncing off the ropes back toward Wahoo, Race jumped slightly, falling backward over the top rope to the floor, making it look as though Wahoo had thrown him over the top rope. The referee made the judgment that Wahoo had intentionally thrown Race over the top rope and disqualified McDaniel. An angry Wahoo brawled with Race outside of the ring, hitting him with a chair and also hitting referee Greg Peterson with a chair. Wahoo was later fined for these actions.

Paul Jones defeated Johnny Weaver by pinfall. Jones and Weaver wrestled a very scientific match with Jones pinning Weaver with an inside cradle.

ROUND THREE - SEMI-FINALS

Terry Funk defeated Dusty Rhodes by disqualification. This match was a brawl from the beginning, much of it taking place outside the ring until Rhodes was eventually disqualified.

Paul Jones defeated Harley Race by pinfall. Race held the advantage most of the match, using his trademark flying head butts and knee-drops. Jones caught him by surprise with the same maneuver he used earlier to defeat Ole Anderson, coming out of the ropes with a body press for the pinfall. A major advance for Jones as he defeats former United States champ and former NWA champ Race to advance to the finals.

FINAL ROUND - CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

Terry Funk defeated Paul Jones by pinfall to win the United States Heavyweight Championship. Both wrestlers, exhausted from their earlier encounters, wrestled a methodical, scientific match early on. At the end, there were several back-and-forth near falls. Referee Greg Peterson was inadvertently knocked down, and while he was down, Jones was able to pin Funk for what seemed like a five or six count. Peterson, who was also physically involved earlier during the Wahoo/Race brawl, was unable to get into position to count the pin. Eventually, an exhausted Jones lifted Funk for a vertical suplex, but could not get Funk over. Funk quickly cradled Jones for a three count to win the match and the United States Heavyweight Championship.

* * * * *

ORIGINAL PUBLISHED BRACKET

Ray Stevens and Tim Woods were scheduled to meet each other in the opening round of the tournament. Stevens was announced as having 'travel difficulties' and did not make the show. he was replaced by Johnny Weaver. Woods was injured prior to the tournament, but was not replaced. Instead, Weaver (replacing Stevens) met Gene Anderson in the first round. Anderson was originally scheduled for a bye in the original 19-man field.

Dusty Rhodes And Blackjack Mulligan Poker

This is what the original tournament bracket looked like before the substitution of Weaver for Stevens and the re-bracketing to 18 participants:

Dusty Rhodes Vs Blackjack Mulligan

Historical note: Weaver made it to the finals of a previous tournament held in Florida for the vacant US title. He was defeated by Harley Race in the finals of that tournament, which was a fictitious tournament created as the back-story for Race when he first brought the title to Greensboro in July 1975 and lost it to Johnny Valentine. Also see United States Title History.

A FAN'S BRACKET:

DAVE ROUTH'S ORIGINAL FILLED OUT BRACKET FROM THE NIGHT OF THE TOURNAMENT

OFFICIAL JUDGES:

(1) NWA President Jack Adkisson

(2) Raleigh promoter Joe Murnick

(3) longtime Crockett Promotions associate and ring announcer Wally Dusek

(4) wrestler and broadcaster Les Thatcher

(5) New Jersey State Athletic Commissioner (and father of Larry Sharpe) Augie Wilde. (Not Pictured)

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)

Dusty Rhodes And Blackjack Mulligan Slot Machine

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.