WWE Hall of Famer Blackjack Mulligan passes away

Robert Windham, better known to wrestling fans as WWE Hall of Famer Blackjack Mulligan, has died at the age of 73, WWE.com reports.

Reports the man who rose to fame as one half of the Blackjacks tag team was ill circulated in February when his grandsons, current WWE Superstars Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas, missed Raw to be at his bedside. The family never officially commented on his illness or condition, but he had been in poor health for years following a case of the Bends from a diving accident and a subsequent heart attack.

After starting his career in the 1960s as Big Bob Windham, his greatest fame came in the then WWWF when he was paired with Blackjack Lanza and managed by Bobby Heenan. In part due to a tag title reign during that decade, The Brain inducted the Blackjacks into WWE's Hall of Fame back in 2006.

Prior to and after that partnership, he had success as a singles wrestler througout the Midwest and Southeastern territories. Before Andre the Giant headed to Vince McMahon's promotion, he and Mulligan feuded across several different companies in the early 1980s.

In addition to his grandsons, the Mulligan family tree includes pro wrestlers Barry and Kendall Windham, and his son-in-law Mike Rotunda.

Please join us in sending our thoughts and prayers to Mulligan's family and friends.