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His eagerness to learn from 1935 to 1942 led to many of the circuits top stars sharing knowledge with Blassie, and when he returned home to the U.S. in 1946, he was determined to make an honest run as a professional wrestler. 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. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. 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. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) 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. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. 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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Feb 27. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. . His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . In 1964, Blassie once again captured the WWA World title for the third time (again from Carpentier), but upon losing to Dick The Bruiser in April, he headed to the newly minted World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. 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. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. Freddie Blassie. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. The closest I ever saw him to loosing the mask was against Cowboy Bob Ellis, I believe in the mid 60's. I can still remember old Dick Lane calling the action. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. 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. He was 85.Mr. The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. During his time on the West Coast, he was a frequent guest and/or interruption on a local show hosted by Regis Philben, and Blassies appearances thanks to his massive appeal as a wrestling draw helped push Philben into a national celebrity. 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. 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. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. During these runs, hed take part in a couple of title feuds for the WWE Championship, challenging Bruno Sammartino in the 1960s and Pedro Morales in the 1970s, not to mention coming after Bobo Brazils US Heavyweight Title. But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. 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. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. He held his WWA World title for 289 days and thanks to WWAs alliance with Japan, in particular the Japan Wrestling Alliance (JWA) headed by puroresu icon Rikidozan, Blassie would not only help introduce Japanese pro wrestling to the U.S. market but help validate it in Japan as well. 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. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Originally from Chicago, he has called London home since 2008. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Replying to. This story has been shared 143,593 times. [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Blassie died of heart failure Monday 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. The evocative turn of phrase stuck and became Blassies catchphrase to the point where it inspired the name of his autobiography and a novelty single (see below). Hed also engage in big title feuds with serious GOATs like Japans Rikidozan and Americas Lou Thesz, both of whom are considered among the most influential wrestlers of all time. 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. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. book. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? 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. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. But for nearly 40 years, Fred Blassie was an in-ring talent who ruled the West Coast, a multi-time World Champion, and one of the most feared villains in pro wrestling history. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. In March of 1962, Blassie lost the WWA World title to Rikidozan, and for the next four months, Blassie competed in Japan, determined to regain his title from the Japanese wrestling innovator. . After managing Sheik through a brief feud with Andre the Giant, he also became the manager of Nikolai Volkoff, with Sheik and Volkoff later becoming a tag team. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. [17] In 2000, Blassie made an appearance at the Royal Rumble as a judge in the Miss Rumble 2000 Swimsuit contest, which was won by Mae Young. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. Vampire". [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. 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. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United 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. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. For a brief period of time after World War Two, he was billed as "Sailor" Freddie Blassie in matches, a gimmick that did not prove successful. 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. Given that Hogan was the top babyface in the 1980s, this iteration of The Hulkster was actually a heel and would depart in 1981 after a dispute with Vince McMahon Sr. over Hogans taking a role in Rocky III. "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. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. This resulted in a weak relationship between the two. 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. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (Classy Freddy Blassie, The Vampire, Sailor Fred Blassie, The Hollywood Fashion Plate, The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling), Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? Real Name: Fred Blassie. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. . 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. 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). "Typical Italian stunt! In 1950, he had his first challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, facing championLou Theszin Kentucky. [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. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. "No. *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 also told Greenberg that women used to come up to him on the street and gawk at him because he was God's gift to women! [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. 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. In one memorable instance, Blassie, playing up the heel character, would berate Brunos followers backstage with promos, calling them derogatory names such as "grease ball" and "spaghetti bender." His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! [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. [6] One of his most famous feuds took place in southern California in 1971, against Tolos. You hit a guy in the neck. Notable Title Wins Include: NWA Southern Heavyweight title (14); WWA (Los Angeles) World Heavyweight title (4); WWA World Tag Team title (2 times w/Mr. He was 85. His first match with Blassie had actually. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). Returning to the WWA, Blassie began feuding with the likes of Bobo Brazil, Mil Mascaras, and others, as well as teaming with another known violent savage, Mad Dog Vachon. 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. He was popular in Japan as well. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." He returned to the company in 1971, reaching the final of a tournament in January for the vacant WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship before losing to Pedro Morales. [10] He was so hated there that uniformed police officers were regularly brought in to protect him as he made his way to and from the ring. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 1 One of the great legends of pro wrestling albeit one whose in-ring career predated the 1980s Golden Era wrestling boom Classy Freddie Blassie was a successful heel who wrestled all over. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! 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. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. 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. 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. 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. 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)). [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. When he asked for her parents' blessing, they were hesitant because of his reputation with Rikidzan and because he was 28 years older than she. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. 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!". Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. He returned again in 1990 briefly to do color commentary for Prime Time in April with Vince McMahon, as an emergency fill-in after Tony Schiavone quit, playing a heel once again. In January 1962, Blassie and Mr. Moto defeated Hans Hermann and Jesus Ortega for the California version of the WWA International TV Tag Team title. 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. 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). Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. 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. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. It was a wonderful look back at "old-school" wrestling as told by one of the masters, both as a wrestler and as a talker. the time, get up, stand up and fight. [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. [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. were too short. He kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. Worldwide star. He was 85. 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. 10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On, Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling, The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body, Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and "The Fossil Jostle" Atrocity in 85, Roddy Piper: From The Streets to the Big Time, Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers The 1963 WWWF Title Screwjob, Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. [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. 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"). Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". [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. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. 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. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. The two of them had a great relationship off-camera, but because kayfabe was well and truly protected during this time in the business unless you were on the inside, you never were to know that a heel and face got along in real life.