5 Greatest WWE Superstars with a “Cowboy” Gimmick

#4. WWE’s Texas tycoon, JBL.

WWE’s John Layfield Bradshaw had two if not three characters that utilized the “cowboy” gimmick. His initial run was as Justin “Hawk” Bradshaw, which was an extension of himself. Bradshaw was a rough and tough Texan who would "brand" his opponent with the initials JB after his wins. He would go on to have a feud with The Undertaker and Savio Vega before he updated his character.

JBL continued the “cowboy” theme by becoming one half of the New Blackjacks with his real life cousin Barry Windham. The pair had handlebar mustaches and wore leather vests and cowboy hats in honor of the original Blackjacks tag team that featured Windham’s real life father Black Jack Mulligan. Unfortunately, Windham was unable to stay healthy and the pairing never took off. JBL went off to become a member of the Acolytes and left the “cowboy” gimmick behind.

JBL got his biggest and greatest push after the Acolytes were disbanded. Returning as a brash-talking Texas Tycoon, JBL became one of the biggest heels on SmackDown. He would go on to capture the WWE title and have a great run as a despised champion. By the time his title run was over, JBL’s Hall of Fame credentials were solidified.

Through multiple character adjustments, JBL proved that there was more than one way to play a “cowboy” in the WWE.

#3. Starting a legacy, WWE’s Blackjack Mulligan.

Wearing a black hat, black fingerless gloves, black trunks and a black hat, Blackjack Mulligan was one of the most feared men in WWE history. At 6’7” and over 300 lbs, Mulligan started out as a formidable challenger to Pedro Morales for the WWE title. Mulligan was slashed by a fan in a match at Boston Garden which badly injured his leg. In a true showing of cowboy toughness, Mulligan was able to take on Bruno Sammartino in an important match at Madison Square Garden.

Mulligan returned to WWE as part of a tag team with Blackjack Lanza, forming the Blackjacks tag team. The pair would go on to win tag team gold. Mulligan would eventually return south to the NWA where he would be #1 contender to Ric Flair’s world championship. His size, attitude and toughness made Mulligan an attraction in any territory he entered. Mulligan would have another big run left in him.

Mulligan’s return to WWE in the early 80s led to another big run as a rugged cowboy heel. Mulligan got a shot at Bob Backlund’s WWE championship on several occasions. His biggest feud, literally and figuratively, was with Andre the Giant. Mulligan and Andre would feud all over the Northeast, drawing sold-out shows in every arena. Mulligan last run in WWE in the mid 80s, this time as a fan favorite. Mulligan’ career would soon come to an end.

Mulligan was the living embodiment of a tough-talking Texas cowboy. Blackjack Mulligan has passed, but his legacy lives on. The WWE hall-of-famer is the father to wrestling legend Barry Windham and father-in-law to Mike Rotunda. His grandsons are Bray Wyatt and Bo Dallas.