Discover Freddie Blassie's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. 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. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. [7] When Philbin had a late-night weekend talk show in San Diego, Blassie would routinely show up to yell at the audience, throw furniture, and threaten Philbin; the confrontations were wholly kayfabe and both of them were friends when the cameras weren't rolling. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. He was 85. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. He was popular in Japan as well. 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. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. [8] Blassie also appeared in a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event in December 2001, where an "undisputed" champion would be crowned. 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. 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. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. Now is 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. You hit a guy in the neck. In 1961, he defeated Eduoard Carpentier for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship, a title that held prominence in the pro-wrestling world, since WWA was an outlaw territory outside the realm of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). [2] During that same title reign, in a match against Lord James Blears a fan threw acid on his back, and he had to return immediately to the locker room to wash it off; over the course of his career, he was also stabbed 21 times and lost vision in his right eye after being struck by a thrown hard-boiled egg. Blassie, who became a cult figure outside the ring and starred with comedian Andy Kaufman in My Breakfast With Blassie, died of heart failure June 2 in Hartsdale, N.Y., according to Jeff Walton, a onetime wrestling publicist in Los Angeles who knew Blassie well. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. When meeting someone, he would ask where they were from, and no matter their response, he would reply with, "Oh, that's God's country!". He has written several wrestling biographies including Freddie Blassies The Legends of Wrestling, Ric Flairs To Be The Man, "Superstar" Billy Grahams Tangled Ropes,and the unreleased biography of The Iron Sheik which, despite being chockful of stories that would be sure to make your jaw drop, will never see the light of day. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. 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. [13][6][dubious discuss], While touring Japan in 1965, and by this point divorced, Blassie met the woman who would eventually become his third wife, Miyako Morozumi, at a train station. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. ", to a monstrous applause. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). "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. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). [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. [spoken to the WWF wrestlers during Invasion 2001] Gentleman, there He bleached his hair and quickly became a ", In this particular story, Blassie won a match by count-out in Roosevelt Stadium when he kicked Sammartino in the breadbasket while the referee was distracted. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. KyleEnjoysWrestling wrote on 30.07.2019: [ 9.0] "People mostly know Blassie for his manager roles, but he was also a pro in the ring. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" For the first installment, we look at one of the most iconic villains in pro wrestling history as both a wrestler and a manager in Classy Freddie Blassie. In the segment he is interviewed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund when the two are interrupted by a little old lady in a housekeeper outfit that Blassie claims to be his own mother. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. Despite Blassie not actually holding any titles to unify, his feud with Sammartino saw Bruno become a national hero, but in the process, Blassie became lifelong friends with another WWWF employee, Gorilla Monsoon. *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! Blassie died of heart failure Monday [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. 10 Things Fans Should Know About Classy Freddie Blassie, 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore, 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager, 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. [3], Blassie's famous "pencil-neck geek" catchphrase originated early in his career while describing a fellow carnival performer who appeared in a geek show. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Sportswriter Jim Murray called him the worst villain since Hitler in a 1961 column in The Times. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms [11], On June 12, 1961, Blassie defeated the "Flying Frenchman" douard Carpentier in a best-of-three-falls match for his first WWA World Heavyweight Championship. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? [1] It is a mostly improvised parody of the art film My Dinner with Andre and is set in a Sambo's restaurant where Kaufman and Blassie have a discussion over breakfast. [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. Let me take care of him in the ring.". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. In 1972, ten years after his last match in Japan with Rikidozans JWA, he returned to Japan and began working for Giant Babas All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. 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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United Blassie, well-known for exaggerating a story or two, stated that when he was wrestling Rikidozan in Japan, 100 Japanese wrestling fans dropped dead of heart attacks because the matches were so gory. 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. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. Hed adopt a bleach-blond look, start biting his opponents in the ring, and would often be seen filing down his teeth to better sink his teeth in his opponent. 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. The Rock for the WWF Title)", "TJR Retro: WWE Royal Rumble 2000 Review (The Rock wins Rumble, Triple H vs. Cactus Jack)", "Freddie Blassie - Dick Van Dyke Show - 1962", "My Breakfast with Blassie: An appreciation", NWA North American Heavyweight Title (Hawaii version) history, NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida) history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida) history, NWA International Tag Team Title (Georgia) history, NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Georgia) history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Georgia) history, "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced", WWA International Television Tag Team Title history, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title history, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Inductees, 1853 Shepherd Circle SW, Blassie's Atlanta home (1960), 1950 Campbellton Road SW, Blassies Atlanta home (1966), WWE Hall of Fame Profile of Freddie Blassie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freddie_Blassie&oldid=1142698000, NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version), Professional wrestling managers and valets, United States Navy personnel of World War II, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Articles with disputed statements from February 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Mysterious Medics (Mysterious Medic #1 and Mysterious Medic #2), This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:16. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. 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. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! By 1952, Blassie was getting disillusioned by the East Coast and headed for California, although he did still work for various NWA territories in the South, particularly Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). 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. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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"). [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/sports/freddie-blassie-pro-wrestler-popular-as-villain-dies-at-85.html. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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). (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 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. 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. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. 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. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. In this series, we will look at some of pro wrestlings greatest and most well-known managers and/or valets, but explore their prior career as an in-ring professional wrestler. It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. He grabs his balls!" . He is from USA. 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. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). "Classy" Freddie Blassie also made a cameo appearance as himself, along with "Wrestling's Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, and Ric Flair in the 1986 film Body Slam starring Dirk Benedict, "Captain" Lou Albano, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. His career began in earnest after One of Blassies most notable clients during his run with WWE, however, was Hulk Hogan, who he managed as soon as Hogan debuted in the company in 1979. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. You pencil neck geek! For those who were brought up on pro wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most colorful managers of the day was WWF stalwart, Classy Freddie Blassie. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. He was 85. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. book. 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. This resulted in a weak relationship between the two. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' The "Shakespeare of WWE" made an appearance on our podcast The Genius Cast in 2018, and he certainly had a few good stories up his sleeves! Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. Gross tubs? 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. He is a writer and editor-in-chief here on the site, a podcast producer, the chief graphic designer of the cover art for the sites articles, the former host of The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo, and an elementary school teacher and assistant principal who enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his lively daughters! In reality, Blassie was a major on-screen figure in wrestling, both in competitive and managerial roles, and had a status in overall pop culture. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. 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. Freddie Blassies origins are worth knowing about, especially because they involve much earlier days of the pro wrestling world -- as in, within the first half of the 20th century. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. That year, Blassie was forced to retire from in-ring competition, as a California by-law forbade wrestling licenses for anyone upon reaching 55 years old. "Classy" Freddie Blassie lead an interesting life as one of . [6] The final match of their series took place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and set new California records for both attendance and gate. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. "The Fashion Plate of Wrestling" Freddie Blassie calls his interviewer and the fans "pencil neck geeks" and shows why he will always be remembered as one of the greatest managers in WWE history. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. 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. 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. [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". [2] In 1963, Bearcat Wright defeated him to become champion, and it was quite a statement during the fight for civil rights that an African-American had won such a title. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. 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. the time, get up, stand up and fight. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. He retired from competition in the late 1970's to manage a new generation of wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura, the future governor of Minnesota. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. In 1964, the legendary "Classy" Freddie Blassie was still an in-ring competitor when he took on local hero Bruno Sammartino in front of a hostile New Jersey crowd, where he cheated for a cheap countout victory over the champ. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. [21] The segment featured Blassie, his wife, and Raw co-General Manager Eric Bischoff, who was about to allow 3 Minute Warning to attack him, until Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Dudley Boyz stepped in. 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.". Take Linda McMahon, for instance. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Blassie originally wrestled Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. 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