Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, North American Wrestling Alliance/Worldwide Wrestling Associates/ NWA Hollywood Wrestling, WWA International Television Tag Team Championship, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate', "Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie", "Blassie toast of Cauliflower Alley Club", "WWF WrestleMania XV Results - 3/28/99 (Stone Cold vs. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. Blassie was a regular on the WWWF's "All-Star Wrestling" and "Championship Wrestling" weekly TV shows that were videotaped at small arenas in Pennsylvania and aired throughout the Northeast. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms were too short. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. 2018 Remaster of Andy Kaufman on The Late Show w/ David Letterman w/ "Classy" Fred Blassie on February 23rd, 1983.More remastered Andy Kaufman - https://goo.. The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. Blassie would eventually come to be known as a manager (see below) in WWE, but in the 1960s and 1970s, he actually wrestled for the promotion, back then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. Heres a look at Classy Freddie Blassies wrestling career, long before he decided to take on clients and become one of the most iconic managers of the 1970s and 1980s. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. "No. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. Blassie appeared alongside Slick to co-manage Sheik and Volkoff for a few television appearances before finally bowing out in November 1986, with Albano, the final member of the Three Wise Men, retiring a few weeks later. He grabs his balls!" So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Lanny was only 12 or 13-years-old at the time. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. Blassie held various regional titles, Walton said, including the WWA World Title on five separate occasions, the Americas Heavyweight Title nine times and tag team belts with various partners over the years. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. He continued to outrage crowds by distracting referees so that his men could cheat and by getting in his own cheap shots when the refs weren't looking. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. He also began filing his teeth, transitioning from Sailor to The Vampire, as his spiked teeth became effective tools in biting his opponents, creating a macabre presentation and early influence on the hardcore side of pro-wrestling. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate",[3] he was a one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. He liked to use a variety of names but had trouble gaining the affection of fans who gravitated toward the likes of Lou Thesz and Gorgeous George. In the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. In the 1970s, Blassie recorded a number of novelty songs, including Pencil Neck Geek, which became a cult favorite via Dr. Dementos radio show, which specializes in sharing wacky tracks. were too short. You hit a guy in the neck. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. As Greenberg shares it, Bruno used to have many people follow him around in the back, many of which were purported to be in the mob. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Breakfast_with_Blassie&oldid=1107033235, Articles needing additional references from June 2021, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 August 2022, at 19:43. Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahons Venomous 25-Year Feud, Bob Backlund Humble Beginnings to Championship Gold, World Wrestling Association: WWA Indianapolis Wrestling Territory, Rise and Sad Demise of The Midnight Express, Greatest Challenge Yet for Pro Wrestling Stories Author Jim Phillips, Adrian Street The British Brawler Who Wore Sequins, Ric Flair and Terry Funk: A Feud to Remember, Lou Thesz The Side Business Hustles of a Champion Wrestler, Velvet McIntyre | WWEs Original Irish Lass Kicker, Big Time Wrestling in San Francisco | Wrestling Territories, Wrestlers Who Shouldnt Have Followed Fathers Footsteps, Jack Donovan Deal One of Wrestlings Most Heinous Attacks. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. In it, Blassie is picked up at the Washington, D.C., airport by a limo full of young women, escorted around the nation's capital, gives his opinions and confronts tourists. switched to professional wrestling. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. for the WWF. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (February 8, 1918 - June 2, 2003), better known as "Classy" Freddie Blassie, was an American professional wrestling villain and manager born in St. Louis, Missouri. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the He was 85. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. However, Miyako Blassie, surviving wife of the legendary "Classy" Freddie Blassie, is offering that chance as the WWE Hall of Famer's Lincoln Town Car becomes available on WWE Auction. [8] He worked for Jack Pfefer, who he claimed would only employ people who looked like sideshow freaks at his shows, and whose wrestlers included Tor Johnson, who made movies with director Ed Wood, and Lillian Ellison, the Fabulous Moolah. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. He was feuding with a wrestler known as The Geek who had a neck like a stack of dimes, making him a literal pencil neck geek. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate", [3] he was a one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Lanny stated that though Freddie Blassie never knew how to save his money well, he always had enough since he was never a drinker and saved a lot of money in that regard. In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. [8] They received acclaim on the Dr. Demento Radio Show, and the latter song was featured on several albums, including Dr. Demento's 20th anniversary collection, The Very Best of Dr. Demento, and Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CDs of All Time. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. ROH Best in the World (7/11/21) Preview and Predictions, Preview: Ice Ribbon 1133 in 176Box (7/11/21), first African-American to hold a World title. Lanny said that if a wrestler had a bottle of cologne in their bag, or even rubbing alcohol, Jerry Graham would take it out and drink it. While there, he won the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, the holder of which was generally first in line to challenge the NWA World Heavyweight Champion whenever he passed through the territory. A wildly popular villain in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, he later managed other wrestlers, including then-bad guy Hulk Hogan and the ever-evil Iron Sheik. Freddie Blassie Also known as Fred Blassie, Fred McDaniel Overview Career Career highlights Titles Matches Match Statistics Matchguide Feuds Promos Tournaments Tag Teams & Stables Entourage Awards Books Wrestling Games Movies Commentary Career Ratings Comments Matches Displaying items 1 to 100 of total 1631 items that match the search parameters. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. (bad guys) got better pay. He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. June 8, 2003 The professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure to fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950's and 1960's, died Monday. He is from USA. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Blassie died of heart failure Monday Freddie Blassie Height 5'10" Weight 220 lbs Hometown St. Louis Signature Move Stomach Claw Career Highlights 1994 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Freddie Blassie: Bio "Classy" Freddie Blassie is one of the most memorable Superstars to ever set foot inside the squared circle. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. book. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned wrestler with a voice from the depths of the earth who made himself a hero to mat fans in the 1950s and 60s by playing the villain, has died. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. Among the men he managed were Nikolai Volkoff,[2] The Iron Sheik,[2] Blackjack Mulligan,[2] High Chief Peter Maivia,[2] "The Crippler" Ray Stevens,[2] Adrian Adonis,[2] Jesse Ventura,[2] Dick Murdoch,[2] Swede Hanson,[2] Killer Khan,[2] George 'The Animal' Steele,[2] Professor Tanaka,[2] Mr. Fuji,[2] Ivan Koloff,[2] Tor Kamata,[2] Masa Saito,[2] Lou Albano,[2] Victor Rivera,[2] Kamala,[2] Hercules Hernandez,[2] and Hulk Hogan. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. Keith Elliot Greenberg has been doing his part to preserve professional wrestling history for the past few decades. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Born: 1921. While writingThe Legends of Wrestling, Greenberg got to know Freddie Blassie quite well and mentioned in his appearance on The Genius Cast that Blassie really opened up to him. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . He was popular in Japan as well. Freddie Blassie managed many heels to success, including the team of The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, who would win the World Tag Team Titles from US Express thanks to Blassies delivering a strategic shot with his cane. Let's learn more about this classic heel! We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. They had no connecting hallways, so he was stuck with a bunch of these people, kayfabing his gimmick as Bruno was being hauled in on a stretcher. 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. the time, get up, stand up and fight. 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He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. Blassie came into the WWWF with his own world title belt, claiming to be the Pacific World Champion, and was coming to Sammartino's "back yard" to unify the world title. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. *Blassie also told Greenberg that women used to come up to him on the street and gawk at him because he was Gods gift to women! Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. On a mid-July 2001 episode of Raw, the Invasion storyline was in full swing, and Blassie was brought in to motivate the WWE in the face of their ongoing war with the WCW/ECW Alliance. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. Following his 1986 on-camera retirement (he remained an executive for the WWE), still made occasional on-camera appearances since then, and his last came on "WWE Raw" in May, just a few weeks before his death (to promote his newly-released biography, "Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks"). Despite being a 7-year pro before his duty in World War II, Blassie was still a journeyman. [9] While recuperating in 1966, he worked as a car salesman and married a second time to a woman whose name Blassie later claimed not to remember. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. He returned to AJPW again in 1973, but the following year in 1974, he jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) for his final tour of Japan. As time goes on, many older wrestlers begin to fade out of the collective memory of wrestling, especially if their primary in-ring work happened before WWE began its takeover of the sport in the 1980s. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. In [3], Upon Blassie's return from the war, he was billed as "Sailor" Fred Blassie to capitalize on the wave of war-time patriotism sweeping the country, but that gimmick was unsuccessful. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. According to Dave Meltzer, "legitimately there were three [deaths] in Japan from elderly men watching a match with Togo in Japan, and it became this myth that [Freddie Blassie] exaggerated.". He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. He also bleached his hair at this time, as many of the other stars of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine, and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. . He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. On an episode of WWF Championship Wrestling, Blassie barged into the announcer booth to proclaim that he had sold half of the contracts of Sheik and Volkoff to a mysterious benefactor for a large sum of money. He was 85.Mr. Following a stint in the California wrestling scene, Freddie Blassie headed southeast to the Georgia territories in the 1950s, where he would enjoy a whopping 17 reigns with the big title of the region, the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship between 1954 and 1960. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. Frederick Kenneth Blassman [2] (February 8, 1918 - June 2, 2003) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name " Classy " Freddie Blassie. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! He was 85. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Blassie, whose late hubby [inset] was known for his gravel-voiced put-down pencil-neck geek, claims to have suffered excruciating pain in the January 2011 tumble, which broke her right wrist, and permanent scarring from a cut eyebrow. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. Fans might recall his interviews with local announcer Dick Lane in which he would proclaim his vast superiority over a number of lesser opponents, branding them all pencil-neck geeks. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. Blassie would continue to make his titles make history in 1963, he lost to Bearcat Wright, making Wright the first African-American to hold a World title in the United States. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. Over the course of his in-ring career, Classy Freddie Blassie would wrestle a number of legends, many of whom have either become legendary wrestlers or became famous in the following decades for non-competitive roles. [3] Blassie, Lou Albano, and The Grand Wizard were named "The Three Wise Men of the East", as the top three heel managers in the company. Hear Keith Elliot Greenbergs share stories about "Classy" Freddie Blassie on The Genius Cast below: Over his 22-year wrestling career, Freddie Blassie had many notable feuds. Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. Professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure for fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950s and 1960s, has died. [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. At Freddie Blassies wake, a family member came up to Keith Elliot Greenberg, saying that Freddies son had read the book and was ready to make peace with his father. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". , money, salary, income, and assets. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. Feb 27. "When hed go to a town, the most powerful Italians would latch themselves onto him and decided they were his protectors, whether Bruno liked it or not. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. Moto-1964 and w/Buddy Austin-1967); NWA America's Heavyweight championships (5); Georgia Heavyweight title; "Beat The Champ" TV Title; NWA America's Brass Knuckles Title. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host.
