Jack Brisco

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Jack Brisco
Oklahoma State University
FamilyGerald Brisco (brother)
Wes Brisco (nephew)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Jack Brisco
Tiger Brisco[1]
Uvalde Slim[2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[4]
Billed weight234 lb (106 kg)[4]
Billed fromBlackwell, Oklahoma, U.S.
Trained byLeroy McGuirk[1]
DebutMay 15, 1965[1][2]
RetiredFebruary 28, 1985[1]
Sports career
Medal record
Collegiate Wrestling
Representing the Oklahoma State Cowboys
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
Gold medal – first place 1965 Laramie 191 lb
Silver medal – second place 1964 Ithaca 191 lb

Freddie Joe "Jack" Brisco (September 21, 1941 – February 1, 2010) was an American

NWA World Tag Team Champion with his brother Gerald Brisco
.

Brisco is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of his era. Legendary champion Lou Thesz described him as "one of the toughest and most highly skilled wrestlers of the last 50 years".[5] Don Leo Jonathan called him "probably the greatest champion of the 20th century."[6] In the late 1970s, the Brisco brothers discovered Terry Bollea, the future wrestling legend best known as Hulk Hogan, whom they introduced to Hiro Matsuda for training.

Amateur wrestling career

Brisco was raised in

National Championship
. [8] During this senior campaign, he wasn't taken down once during the entire season.

Professional wrestling career

Early years (1965–1969)

Brisco's first documented professional wrestling championship reign began on October 16, 1965, when he defeated

Haystacks Calhoun for his first reign as co-holder of the Tri-State version of the NWA United States Tag Team Championship.[12] He later held the title again, as he teamed with Gorgeous George, Jr. to win the belts on May 9, 1967.[12]

National Wrestling Alliance (1969–1984)

Championship Wrestling from Florida (1969–1972)

Brisco then moved to the Florida area, where he wrestled for

Ciclon Negro.[14] Although he and Negro dropped the tag team belts the following month, Brisco held the Southern Heavyweight Title until November 1969, when he left the area to wrestle in Japan and Australia.[13]

When Brisco returned to Florida, he began teaming with his brother, who he had trained in professional wrestling. He also continued competing as a singles wrestler, winning the

Dory Funk, Jr. and Terry Funk and regained them from the Funks in April.[14] That month, Brisco also beat Terry Funk in a singles match to win the NWA Florida Television Championship again.[15] Brisco's next major success was regaining the Southern Heavyweight Championship from Dick Murdoch on June 8, 1971.[13] The title was later held up after a controversial rematch with Murdoch.[13]

Brisco then took a short break from Florida wrestling to work for Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. While there, he won the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship twice by defeating The Missouri Mauler and Rip Hawk.[16]

Upon his return to Florida, he quickly won the

NWA Florida Brass Knuckles Championship from Paul Jones on June 13, 1972, and vacated it the same day.[17] He then won his third and final Television Championship on November 7, 1972.[15] Nine days later, he won the Tag Team Championship, again with his brother.[14]

NWA World Heavyweight Champion (1973–1975)

Brisco (left) in June 1973

Brisco's first

Houston, Texas, on July 20, 1973.[18] He defended the championship in NWA-affiliated promotions across the world facing top names like Johnny Valentine, Stan Stasiak, Abdullah The Butcher, Gene Kiniski, The Sheik and Bobby Shane until losing to Giant Baba on December 4, 1974. He regained it four days later.[18] Brisco then defended the title until losing it to Terry Funk on December 10, 1975. His loss continued the extensive feud between the Briscos and Funks,[18] which went on for several more years.[7] During his initial reign as champion, Brisco toured Australia where he successfully defended his title against local favorite, Spiros Arion
.

Various territories (1976–1977)

In 1976, Brisco wrestled in several promotions and continued to add to his list of titles. He won the Memphis version of the NWA Southern Heavyweight Championship on August 10, 1976, by defeating local favorite Jerry Lawler.[19] He won the NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship from Bob Backlund on November 26.[20] At this time, the Briscos were also awarded the ESA International Tag Team Championship, although they did not wrestle as a team in the area.[21]

Return to CWF (1977–1978)

Wrestling in Florida again, Brisco teamed with his brother to win several more championships. In 1977, they defeated

Mr. Sato that year: they lost the belts and quickly won them back.[22] The Briscos also defeated Saito and Sato to regain the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship.[14] The following year, another victory over Saito and Sato earned the Briscos their final United States Tag Team Championship reign.[22]

Georgia Championship Wrestling (1978–1980)

The Briscos also had success in

The Masked Superstar to win the belts a second time.[23] Jack gave up his share of the title, however, to Ole Anderson.[23] Later that year, Brisco became the first NWA National Heavyweight Champion by defeating Terry Funk in a tournament final.[24]

Second return to CWF (1980–1982)

In 1980, Brisco resumed wrestling in Florida. He won the NWA Florida Tag Team Championship again, teaming with Jimmy Garvin this time.[14] After losing the belts, Brisco teamed with his brother to win them for a final time.[14]

In 1981, Brisco won his final Southern Heavyweight Championship by defeating Bobby Jaggers.[13] He finished his time in Florida with two reigns as co-holder of Florida's version of the NWA North American Tag Team Championship. He and his brother won a tournament to win their first title, defeating Assassin #1 and Bobby Jaggers in the finals.[25] They lost the belts to the Funks on January 9, 1982, and regained them in a rematch one week later.[25]

Puerto Rico and Mid-Atlantic (1981–1984)

Brisco, c. 1982

Brisco also wrestled in

The Fabulous Kangaroos.[27] Brisco also returned to Missouri in 1981, defeating Ted DiBiase to win a second NWA Missouri Heavyweight Championship.[20] He held the belt for three weeks before losing it to Ken Patera.[20]

In 1982, Brisco returned to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. He regained the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (formerly called the NWA Eastern States Heavyweight Championship) by defeating Roddy Piper on May 10, 1982.[28] He dropped the title back to Piper on July 7 and regained it in August.[28] After his matches with Piper, Brisco traded the title back and forth with Paul Jones several times. He lost the belt to Jones on September 1 and won it back on October 18.[28] Jones won the belt again a week later, and dropped it back to Brisco in November.[28]

Brisco teamed with his brother to win the Mid-Atlantic version of the NWA World Tag Team Championship three times. As heels, they beat Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood for the belts on June 18, 1983.[29] This set up a rivalry in which the belts switched hands several times. Steamboat and Youngblood regained the belts on October 3, but the Briscos won them back on October 21.[29] They held the title for a little over a month before dropping it back to Steamboat and Youngblood.[29] The Briscos again won the belts the following year, from Wahoo McDaniel and Mark Youngblood.[29]

World Wrestling Federation (1984–1985)

The Briscos acquired minority interests in Georgia Championship Wrestling and, in 1984, convinced a majority (52%) of the shareholders to sell their shares to Vince McMahon, enabling him to increase his dominance of the professional wrestling world. The popular story that the Briscos were offered lifetime jobs with the WWF in exchange for selling their interests in Georgia Championship Wrestling was refuted by Jack Brisco in a 1996 interview for Wrestling Perspective.[30]

On December 28, 1984, the Briscos challenged the North-South Connection (

WWF Tag Team Championship in Madison Square Garden
. The match ended in a double count-out, and was Jack Brisco's last high-profile bout.

Jack left the business entirely in February 1985, at the age of 43, after becoming disillusioned with the direction of the sport, citing a lack of amateur wrestlers in the professional ranks and the growing reliance on soap opera storylines.[31]

Post retirement and death

Brisco, c. 1988

Brisco was inducted into the

promos. Brisco and his brother Gerald were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
Class of 2008.

Over the final few years of his life Jack suffered from bouts of pneumonia and back problems. He had been a heavy smoker. On February 1, 2010, Brisco died at the age of 68 from

open heart surgery.[6] He was survived by his wife of over 30 years. At the time of his death, he was being treated under the caring of his friend, fellow retired wrestler-turned-nurse Bugsy McGraw
.

Championships and accomplishments

Amateur wrestling

Professional wrestling

Brisco (left) with his brother Gerald during their WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony on March 29, 2008

Notes

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-1-55022-741-3
    .
  2. ^ a b c "Wrestler Profiles: Jack Brisco". Online World of Wrestling. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  3. ^ OWOW
  4. ^ a b "OWOW yearbook". oww.com.
  5. ^ "Jack Brisco". National Wrestling Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  6. ^
    Canadian Online Explorer
    . Retrieved February 1, 2010.
  7. ^ a b c "A Definitive Look At Jack Brisco; his life and times". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. February 17, 2010.
  8. ^ "The Jack Brisco Interview". The Wrestling Perspective. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c "N.W.A. Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  10. ^ a b "Oklahoma Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
  11. ^ a b "N.W.A. Arkansas Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  12. ^ a b c "N.W.A. United States Tag Team Title (Tri-State)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "N.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Florida Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  15. ^ a b c d "N.W.A. Florida Television Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  16. ^ a b "N.W.A. Eastern States Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  17. ^ a b "N.W.A. Florida Brass Knuckles Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  18. ^ a b c d "N.W.A. World Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  19. ^ a b "N.W.A./A.W.A. Southern Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  20. ^ a b c d "N.W.A. Missouri Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  21. ^ a b "Eastern Sports Association International Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 6, 2008.
  22. ^ a b c d e f "N.W.A. United States Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  23. ^ a b c d e "N.W.A. Georgia Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  24. ^ a b "N.W.A. National Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  25. ^ a b c "N.W.A. North American Tag Team Title (Florida)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  26. ^ a b "Caribbean Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  27. ^ a b "W.W.C. North American Tag Team Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  28. ^ a b c d e "N.W.A. Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  29. ^ a b c d e "N.W.A. World Tag Team Title (Mid-Atlantic/W.C.W.)". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  30. ^ "Wrestling Perspective: Jack Brisco Interview".
  31. ^ Meacham, Andrew. "Jack Brisco's good looks and charisma helped take wrestling to the next level". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  32. ^ a b "Jack Brisco". The Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  33. ^ Slagle, Steve. "Jack Brisco". Professional Wrestling Online Museum. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  34. ^ a b Hoops, Brian (January 17, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/17): Vader wins IWGP heavyweight title". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  35. ^ Hoops, Brian (January 16, 2019). "Pro wrestling history (01/16): Arn Anderson & Bobby Eaton win WCW Tag Team Titles". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  36. Canadian Online Explorer
    . August 4, 2003. Retrieved November 6, 2018.
  37. ^ "Louisiana Heavyweight Title". Wrestling Titles. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  38. ^ Champion Carnival '81 results, from PuroLove.com
  39. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Wrestler of the Year". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 19, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  40. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on September 21, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2008.
  41. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 500 Wrestlers of the PWI Years". Wrestling Information Archive. Archived from the original on June 16, 2008. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  42. ^ "Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame". Professional Wrestling Illustrated Online. Archived from the original on July 14, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2008.

References

External links

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