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Dave Meltzer at wrestlingobserver.com is reporting that pro wrestling legend Jack Brisco died Monday at the age of 68.
According to Meltzer, Brisco had been battling many health problems in recent years, including circulatory problems and emphysema. He underwent open-heart surgery a few weeks ago and collapsed while undergoing rehab a little over a week ago.
"He was my best friend and my hero growing up," Brian Blair told Meltzer, echoing comments made by several wrestlers and people in wrestling who grew up when Brisco was a larger-than-life personality promoted as the greatest technical wrestler and someone who could not be beat in a fair match.
Brisco was wrestling as part of a tag team with his brother, Gerald,
in 1984 when he told his sibling he was flying home. He went home and
never wrestled again.
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Memories of The Great One, Jack Brisco
Mike Lano
Just after losing wrestling's greatest friend(Georgie Makropoulos), today we've lost it's modern-day greatest athlete with those amazing amateur credentials of his that Kurt Angle told me in 2001, "blow me away. This guy was and will always be an incredible talent and legend I've respected."
Jack Brisco was a tremendously devoted husband to wife Jan "from the day we met" he said. It helped that she shared his passion for traveling around the country taking in major Nascar events as well as some of the top amateur wrestling championships which of course took him to Iowa almost annually. Jan told me in 2004 that "it's our way of getting some quality time together. I don't get to see him all the time he's at his (car) shop, but we try to make the most of all the rest of our time together and we have the same things we like doing together. We love planning out our trips and were surprised at how much we enjoyed Las Vegas. Jack didn't care for it too much during all those NWA meetings each year in the seventies. We especially love traveling around and seeing the U.S." Jack added "most of the time I was defending the belt or just being sent here and there, I never really got to see this country(America) or Canada the right way during my career. Always on a plane and exhausted. Kiniski and Junior can tell you, and Harley. We were given insane schedules and I dropped to Terry because like Bruno, I wanted out. That was enough and I asked Sam to take it off me many times. Now if I go somewhere to help support amateur wrestling and the NCAA, Dan Gable, whatever; I make sure we get to see the sites. Traveling is no longer stressful, but something I usually look forward to now."
"About the only place I did make sure I took in everything I could was in Japan which Jerry and I just loved going to. You couldn't ask for nicer people over there and what a great promoter Baba was. A great man concerned about us, and who made sure we got the culture and could see how proud he was of his beautiful country. So I'm trying to make up for my regrets by finally seeing the sites and smelling the roses in the U.S."
Jack loved fishing and just taking in nature("I've always been an outdoorsy guy" he'd said on my radio show on a conference call with Bruno Sammartino. "Bruno, we really never got a chance to meet properly, but I hope you know I always idolized you. You stood for a lot of great things, and have always shown the business respect and done it the right way.") Jack at one of our few Cauliflower Alley Club events on the East Coast, told me in Tampa in 1995 that besides Bruno, Lou Thesz and Danny Hodge were his all-time favorites in wrestling. "They each had a lot of class and even more ability. They're the very best and I'm not taking anything away from (Dory) Junior or Harley."
"When I walked away from wrestling, or me wrestling in it, I just walked away. Just like that. I still loved the business, but after I finished what became my last match and saw that I was on WWF's list for some other towns, enough. I just phoned in that I'd had enough and that I was physically and emotionally done. I was just so tired and ready to walk away and get on with the rest of my life. It was more than just my body aching. We all made so many sacrifices for all our time in it, being away from our families the main problem. Jerry still loved working, he wasn't ready yet. I didn't want to let him down because we've always been close, but that was it for me. I was lucky for all the time I did get to spend with Jerry on the road though. I can't complain, I've had a great life so far."
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Wrestling legend and great friend Jack Brisco passes
away Monday morning
Mon, 02/01/2010 - 12:47pm — J.R.
Posted in:Wrestling
It with a heavy heart that I have to share the news of this morning's untimely death in Tampa of my dear friend, fellow Oklahoman, and true wrestling great Jack Brisco.
Jack and Jerry Brisco were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame at WM24 in Orlando. Jack was a former NWA Champion who was universally considered as one of the greatest in ring technicians to ever lace up a pair of boots.
Jack passed away Monday morning at the at of 68 as a result of complications after under going heart surgery a week or so ago.
Brisco was a national champion at 191 pounds at Oklahoma State for HOF coach Myron Roderick. Oklahoma football coach Bud Wilkinson did his best to recruit the Choctaw/Chickasaw Native American to come to OU to play fullback and linebacker in addition to wrestling for the Sooners. Roderick closed the deal when he promised to get life long pro wrestling fan Jack into pro wrestling via OSU alum and former NCAA Champion Lee Roy McGuirk who was the promoter in the Oklahoma area territory. Jack had been a fan of pro wrestling his entire life of which Roderick parlayed.
After winning three state championships in high school at Blackwell, Oklahoma, Jack capped his Oklahoma State career with an undefeated Junior season and his National Championship.
After his Junior year at OSU Roderick kept his recruiting promise and with Jack needing to provide for his young family, Roderick arranged for Jack to break into pro wrestling in 1965 with promoter McGuirk. I was 13 years of age at that time and Jack Brisco became one of my true heroes in sports like other Oklahomans Jim Thorpe, Dan Hodge and Mickey Mantle.
Jack eventually went to Florida to work for HOF Promoter Eddie Graham. Eddie wanted to see just how tough Jack really was and a gut check workout was arranged with Graham "hit men/tough guys" Hiro Matsuda and Don Curtis. Brisco passed the test quickly and with flying colors. The rest of Jack's distinguished and respected career is history.
I recall in the 70's refereeing several Jack Brisco vs Danny Hodge bouts for Jack's NWA Title around the Oklahoma territory. These bouts usually went an hour with no falls or occasionally the two would split falls and then go to the 60 minute time limit. Some of my fondest and most vivid moments in the wrestling business are donning the stripped shirt to ref matches involving two of my all time favorite athletes. Their matches were jaw droppers and were as athletic and compelling as any I ever witnessed.
I got to know Jack on a more personal level when I went to work in WWE in 1993 as I worked closely with Jack's brother Jerry in the talent relations department. Jerry recruited our best ever signees from the amateur ranks. Plus, Jerry and I joined forces to sign both Chris Jericho and the Big Show w/ "in home" recruiting visits in Tampa. Jerry became my closest confidant and with that came another blessing for me...getting to know, on a personal level, Jerry's big brother, the great Jack Brisco.
Hopefully many of you who are not familiar w/ Jack's work will go on WWE 24/7 or You Tube and watch this silky smooth, highly skilled, legitimately tough, easy going man have some of the greatest matches that ANY, NWA Champion ever had.
Jack's rivalry with the Funks was priceless as the two families put on a clinic whenever they were in the ring together. There's a good reason that I've used "Brisco-Funk" classic during commentary over the years and that's because it's true. The Briscos and the Funks had a natural Oklahoma vs Texas rivalry that fueled their spirited bouts even if that matter wasn't a part of the TV story. They created mat magic.
Jack and Jerry's tag bouts against Ricky Steamboat and Jay Youngblood in the Mid Atlantic territory are still talked about today.
When Jack decided to abruptly leave the WWWF, he went to the Newark Airport in the midst of a bitterly cold , snow storm and much to brother Jerry's surprise and asked to buy a plane ticket for the first flight out going South no matter the location. That was the unceremonious end to the in ring wrestling carer of one of wrestling's all time greats.
Coming off the heels of losing Steve Williams recently and now this it certainly gives one pause to stop and evaluate what's important in one' life and to certainly count one' blessings.
I feel so blessed that I got to know Jack Brisco on a personal level and I loved him like family. Jack Brisco was revered within our business but he was always just a poor kid from Oklahoma, raised without a father who always wanted to be a pro wrestler, and through hard work and dedication became one of the most famous men to ever wrestle for a living.
Jack lived his dream and helped make another poor kid from Oklahoma see that dreams can true for all of us.
God Bless you Jack and say hi to Doc when you see him.
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Former NWA world champion Jack Brisco dies
Jack Brisco, one of pro wrestling top stars in the 1970s, died today due
to complications from open heart surgery, according to multiple reports.
He was 68.
Brisco had undergone the surgery a few weeks ago, and a little over a week ago he collapsed while undergoing rehab and was in rough shape, according to wrestlingobserver.com. There are no further details at this point.
For longtime fans as well as younger fans who know the industry’s history, Brisco’s name is synonymous with wrestling excellence. His long program with then-NWA world champion Dory Funk Jr. in the early 70s is considered the standard for outstanding technical wrestling.
Shortly after winning the 1965 NCAA wrestling championship at 191 pounds while at Oklahoma State, Brisco made a seamless transition from amateur to pro wrestler. Regarded as one of the greatest in-ring workers of all time, Brisco won the NWA world title – which at the time was considered the true world championship – from Harley Race in July 1973 and held it for nearly a year and a half, except for a week in December 1974 when he lost and then regained the title from Shoehei “Giant” Baba in Japan.
In addition to being a singles star in various NWA territories into the early 80s, he also formed a very successful tag team with his brother, Gerald “Jerry” Brisco. In any discussion about the greatest tag teams of all time, the Briscos and the Funks (Terry and Dory Jr.) are often the first two mentioned. The Briscos had a classic feud against Rick Steamboat and Jay Youngblood over the NWA world tag team title in 1983, culminating in a match at the inaugural Starrcade that was billed just below the NWA world title match between Race and Ric Flair.
The Brisco brothers also played a huge role behind the scenes in changing the course of wrestling history. In 1984, Jack and Jerry gained a majority interest in Georgia Championship Wrestling and sold the company to Vince McMahon, which resulted in the WWF taking over the coveted 6:05 p.m. Saturday time slot on SuperStation TBS. A year later, McMahon sold the slot to Jim Crockett Promotions.
In the 1970s, the Briscos discovered a twenty-something blonde-haired muscleman in Florida who was interested in becoming a pro wrestler. The young man’s name was Terry Bollea. They referred him to trainer Hiro Matsuda, and Bollea eventually became the biggest star in wrestling history as Hulk Hogan.
Having grown up in Baltimore, a traditional WWWF/WWF city, I only got to see Jack Brisco wrestle in person on a couple occasions, although I knew about him from wrestling magazines. When I began following wrestling, Brisco, Bruno Sammartino (WWWF) and Verne Gagne (AWA) were the three world champions.
I was excited the first time I actually got to see the legendary Brisco in action. It was April 1984 at The Baltimore Arena shortly after the Georgia territory began expanding into the Northeast. Brisco was in the main event, challenging another superstar who I had never seen in person until that night for the NWA world title – Flair.
After the Briscos had cut the deal with McMahon for the sale of Georgia Championship Wrestling in the summer of ’84, the Briscos came to the WWF as a tag team later that year, and I saw them unsuccessfully challenge then-WWF tag team champions Dick Murdoch and Adrian Adonis at the Arena.
Jack Brisco retired not long after that at 43. According to The Wrestling Observer, while the Briscos were wrestling in the WWF in late ’84, there was a blizzard in the Northeast and Jack told his brother that he was flying home and calling it a career. He never wrestled again.
The Briscos were inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2008, and Jack also is a member of The Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame and the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum.
I extend my condolences to Brisco’s family and friends.
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Funk's Corner - Jack Brisco, He Brought Respect and Credibility
to Professional Wrestling
Sometime around 10 am February 1st, 2010 I received a call from Bob Ryder,
the first of many to let me know that Jack Brisco had passed away. Like
some shocking events I will always remember where I was at the time, in
front of Publix listening to country music while waiting for Marti to
return to the car with groceries. I left the car and went into the store
to let Marti know that Jack Brisco had passed away.
I have spent more time in the ring with Jack Brisco than any other wrestler in my career. I would have to say some 200 wrestling matches wrestling for the NWA World Championship, most of them lasting the full 1 hour time limit and one 90 minute match in Jacksonville, Florida.
Above all, Jack Brisco brought credibility to professional wrestling and to the NWA World Championship first as a challenger then as the Champion. I never had a match with Jack Brisco less than spectacular for the wrestling fans. Jack was a great worker and exceptional athlete and a beautiful person to work with in the ring.
Our condolences to Jack's Wife Jan, His Brother Gerald, Nephew Wes and
the entire Jack Brisco Family.
Photos and Video of myself wrestling Jack Brisco at http://www.dory-funk.com.
Dory and Marti Funk
Jack Brisco Services
Fri, 02/12/2010 - 12:44am — J.R.
Thursday in Tampa I was bestowed one of the greatest honors of my career when I was given the opportunity to eulogize the legendary Jack Brisco. Here are a few thoughts on a long, emotional day.
Several notable figures from the world of wrestling were in attendance.
WWE Hall of Famers included Gerald Brisco, Pat Patterson, Dusty Rhodes, Dory Funk, and Terry Funk.
Others there paying their respects to the Oklahoman of Choctaw and Chickasaw decent included: Michael Hayes, Edge, Bruce Prichard, Chavo Guerrero, Sr, Hector Guerrero, Mike Graham, Steve Keirn, Tom Prichard, Norman Smiley, Mike Graham, George Scott, Brian Blair, Haku, Ricky Santana, Dan Spivey, David Sierra, Lanny Poffo and John Laurinaitis. I apologize if I have inadvertently left anyone out but its been a long day and I'm going from memory.
Several members of the Florida Championship Wrestling roster were at the services as well. I hope those kids fully realize how special Thursday was.
When the two time All American wrestler from Oklahoma State made his pro debut in my home territory in 1965 it was huge, sports news in every newspaper and TV station in Oklahoma.
Ironically it was 41 years to the day of Jack's services that he won his first, major, singles title, the Southern Heavyweight Championship, right here in Tampa at the Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory when virtual mirror image of Lou Thesz defeated the Missouri Mauler.
In 1974, Brisco befriended a rookie referee and in a span of three days taught him not only how one should conduct one's self in the wrestling business but in life as well. Jack showed me genuine respect and carried himself with dignity and class. I was lucky to meet Jack so early in my career and even luckier to be able to ref some Brisco vs. Danny Hodge NWA Title bouts. To see two of my greatest heroes competing in one match was pretty awesome especially being the proverbial 'third man in the ring.
Jack and Dory Funk, Jr were the 'Lennon and McCartney' of their genre. Those two, left handed grapplers made beautiful and timeless music together. Their matches still hold up today and are rarely equaled in today's business.
I got to spend a few hours Thursday night with Gerald Brisco and we toasted our memories of his late brother who influenced countless wrestling stars.
Jack Brisco was the 'Norman Rockwell' of wrestling in that Jack had the skills and desire to paint memorable and unduplicated portraits on the wrestling canvas. No wrestler I ever saw perform blended amateur and pro wrestling techniques better than the humble and reserved man from Blackwell, Oklahoma.
To illustrate just how great an all around an athlete Jack was, right after he left OSU, Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry contacted Jack and offered the two time wrestling All American a free agent contract to join the NFL team. Even though Jack had not played football since his high school days with the Blackwell Maroons, Landry felt that Brisco had the potential to be a NFL linebacker.
So Jack until we meet again please allow me to say "So long from the Sunshine State of Florida."
J.R.
