Former NCAA and NWA Champion Jack Brisco Dies
Posted: Feb 2nd 2010 By: mikeiles
Former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and NCAA amateur wrestling champion Jack Brisco died Monday morning at the age of 68 following complications from heart surgery.
Brisco had been dealing with health issues for the past few years which included emphysema. Just a few weeks ago, he visited with his doctor and was told he needed heart surgery. He then underwent triple bypass surgery and had been living in a rehab center.
"He was terrific," said former NWA World Champion Dory Funk, Jr. "I knew him well as a person and a wrestler. There was nothing I enjoyed better than being in the ring with Jack. He brought so much credibility to wrestling. He was the champion for everybody."
"He loved professional wrestling and was proud of his career but he never let it define who he was," said close friend Mark Nulty. "He was just a special guy."
Brisco became a wrestling fan at a very early age and aspired to become a professional wrestler. While growing up, he began amateur wrestling and quickly excelled at the sport. He moved on to become a four-time Oklahoma high school champion and went undefeated.
He continued the sport while attending Oklahoma State. During his two seasons there, he was a two-time NCAA All-American and lost only once which was in the 1964 finals. The following season, he went undefeated and capped off the 1965 season by winning the NCAA National Championship at 191 pounds.
At that point, Brisco decided to leave college and went into professional wrestling. On that stage, he became one of the best technical wrestlers the business has ever seen. His rivalry with Dory Funk, Jr. in the early 1970s is considered one of the best, pure in-ring series of matches that wrestling has ever seen.
"He was the ideal opponent for me and we wrestled over 400 times in about four years," remembered Funk. "He was a super athlete and a super nice guy. Everything that happened between him and me in the ring was terrific and a pleasure."
On July 20, 1973, he reached the top of the mountain when he defeated Harley Race to become the NWA World Heavyweight Champion, a title he held until December 10, 1975 when he lost to Terry Funk.
"He was probably the smoothest wrestler of his era," explained Nulty, who is also a wrestling historian and operates the Web site WrestlingClassics.com. "He was just a smooth athlete. There was nothing that he couldn't do."
Brisco also held multiple tag-team championships while teaming with his brother Gerald who most notably feuded with the brother combination of Terry and Dory Funk, Jr.
While still a very good in-ring performer in 1984, Brisco was tired of the grueling schedule and retired from wrestling at the age of 42. He stayed true to his word and never returned to the squared circle.
"He was the most self-assured person of accomplishment that I've ever met," said Nulty. "He had no desire or no need to tell anybody who he was or what he had accomplished. He was the most comfortable person to live in his own skin that I've even seen."
Jack along with his brother Gerald were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class in 2008.
"I think Jack Brisco's career itself is an example for young wrestlers to follow," says Funk. "He's nothing but a shining example for young athletes to watch."
Supplemental Information
Latest News
Andre the Giant to be Featured on N.C. Highway Historical Marker
A man who achieved global fame as a professional wrestler and movie star soon will be recognized with a No... Read More
The Scoop
NEWS Exodus Prime announced his impending retirement via social media last week: “I’m for real. This is my farewell tour. It was a fun ride but I’v... Read More
John Morrison on shaving his head, his place in AEW, Elimination Chamber, and more
John Morrison sat down with Chris Van Vliet at West Coast Creative Studio in Hollywood, ... Read More
Upcoming Events
- UWO · Apr 24 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- EPW · Apr 25 2:00pm · Spencer
- RWE · Apr 25 6:00pm · Spencer
- WAH · Apr 25 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WWE · May 1 6:30pm · Tulsa
- ASP · May 2 11:30am · Noble
- UWO · May 2 3:00pm · Noble
- WFC · May 2 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- BCW · May 2 7:00pm · Guthrie
- BCW · May 3 4:00pm · Guthrie
- RDW · May 8 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- NAW · May 9 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- UWE · May 16 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- EPW · May 16 6:00pm · Arcadia
- NAW · May 16 6:30pm · Bunch (Greasy)
- TexPro · May 16 7:00pm · Ardmore
- FIW · May 16 7:00pm · Enid
- UWO · May 22 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- ASP · May 2 11:30am · Noble
- BCW · May 2 7:00pm · Guthrie
- BCW · May 3 4:00pm · Guthrie
- EPW · Apr 25 2:00pm · Spencer
- EPW · May 16 6:00pm · Arcadia
- FIW · May 16 7:00pm · Enid
- NAW · May 9 6:30pm · Watts (Chewey)
- NAW · May 16 6:30pm · Bunch (Greasy)
- RDW · May 8 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- RWE · Apr 25 6:00pm · Spencer
- TexPro · May 16 7:00pm · Ardmore
- UWE · May 16 6:00pm · Tahlequah
- UWO · Apr 24 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- UWO · May 2 3:00pm · Noble
- UWO · May 22 7:00pm · Oklahoma City
- WAH · Apr 25 6:00pm · Tulsa
- WFC · May 2 7:00pm · Broken Arrow
- WWE · May 1 6:30pm · Tulsa
Spotlight in History
- 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
- 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25
- 04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 04-19 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Nathan Sensation for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
- 04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2014 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
- 04-19 2014 Erica def. Miss Diss Lexia for the IZW Queens Title
- 04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
- 04-19 2024 Kari Wright def. Tommy Prince for the TexPro Dynasty Title
- 04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 04-19 2025 Rook Tyler def. Auzzy for the TexPro Dynasty Title
- 04-19 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
- 04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
- 04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
- 04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
- 04-20 2019 B. M. F. (Kareem Sadat & Maniac Mike) became the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
- 04-20 2019 Double D became the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-20 2024 Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
- 04-20 2024 Kevin James Sanchez def. Montego Seeka for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
- 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
- 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
- 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
- 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Title
- 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
- 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Title
- 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
- 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
- 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
- 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
- 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
- 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
- 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
- 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
- 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
- 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
- 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
- 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
- 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
- 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
- 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
- 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
- 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
- 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
- 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
- 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
- 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
- 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
- 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
- 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
- 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
- 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
- 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
- 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
- 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
- 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
- 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
- Moose Apr 23rd Today!
- Tony Atlas Apr 23rd Today!
- Blade [2nd] Apr 23rd Today!
- Terry Gordy Apr 23rd Today!
- Ethan Price Apr 24th
- Lou Thesz Apr 24th
- Lance Von Erich Apr 24th
- Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th
- Walker Stewart Apr 25th
- Zack Zilla Apr 25th
- Max Mercer Apr 25th
- Brett Stopp Apr 25th
- Crash Davis Apr 25th
- Eric Roberts Apr 25th
- Carl Fergie Apr 25th
- Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
- Havoc Apr 26th
- Karl Kox Apr 26th
- Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
- Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
- Siva Afi Apr 28th
- Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
- Sunshine Apr 29th
- Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
- Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
- Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
- Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
- Prince Maivia May 1st
- Big Bossman May 2nd
- Kari Wright May 2nd
- Don Fields May 2nd
- Americos May 2nd
- Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
- Barrett Brown May 2nd
- Johnny Humble May 3rd
- Lily McKenzie May 3rd
- Lester Welch May 3rd
- Bull Schmitt May 4th
- Jay Hazzard May 4th
- Dory Funk May 4th
- El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
- Malik Mayfield May 4th
- Bill Watts May 5th
- El Matador Dos May 5th
- El Gallardo May 5th
- Olivier Vegos May 5th
- Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
- Zane Morris May 5th
- Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
- Princess Victoria May 5th
- Maria Brigitte May 5th
- Claire Watson May 6th
