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. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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. The film My Breakfast With Blassie, which came out in 1983, was a spoof of My Dinner With Andre. The camera followed Blassie and Kaufman as they ate and discussed life at a local restaurant that looked like a Dennys. Vampire". Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. Blassies father was a heavy alcoholic and was abusive towards his beloved mother. [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. 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. 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. [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. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. 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. Freddie Blassie - Online World of Wrestling WrestlingEpicenter.com - RIP Rest in Peace Obituaries Feb 27. 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. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. 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. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. After a 39-year in-ring career in the sport, Blassie retired as a wrestler as a 4x WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a 17x NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Champion, NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion, as well as dozens more regional titles in multiple NWA territories. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Fred Blassie had a shocking heel turn during his stint in Georgia, which led to him becoming an extremely hated wrestler! This is in reference . He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. . Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. 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 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. It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. His ex-manager would turn out to be an enemy, representing The Iron Sheik in the match where Hulk Hogan won the WWE Championship and held it for a shade over four years. 10 Backstage Stories About Bruno Sammartino WWE Fans Should Know In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - The Internet WWE Confidential presents a feature on the life and times of the fashion plate of professional wrestling, "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. [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. Freddie Blassie, 85; Became a Cult Figure in Professional Wrestling by 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. 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. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. Let me take care of him in the ring.". He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". Freddie Blassie. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. [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. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. You hit a guy in the neck. "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 was 85. He was 85. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . [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. for the WWF. 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. 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. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. We have estimated His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". . 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. This story has been shared 104,709 times. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. She . Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate' One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. [22][2] Rose Marie's character Sally Rogers brought him on at the end of the episode claiming to have discovered another new dance sensation. Matches Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database - CAGEMATCH View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height Blassie would gain even more gold when Volkoff and Sheik defeated The US Express for the WWF Tag Team Championship at the first ever Wrestlemania. He came up with it back in his carnival days, when describing a literal carnival geek -- as in, a performer who bites the heads off of chickens -- who had a slender neck. switched to professional wrestling. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Even more important than that, Blassie would make a change that would make him an icon. 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. ", 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. 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. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. 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. [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. 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. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. 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." Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. 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. ", Bruno kayfabed him. [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. 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. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling "Typical Italian stunt! 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. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. 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). * 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! 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. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. Freddie Blassie's net worth 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. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. The suit, filed in federal court in White Plains, accuses the supermarket chain of negligence and recklessness and seeks more than $1 million in damages from corporate parent A&P and mat supplier G&K Services. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Downloads, [100+] Freddie Blassie [6] One of his most famous feuds took place in southern California in 1971, against Tolos. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. A third-generation wrestling fan and senior writer for World Wrestling Entertainment publications, Greenberg is the author of more than thirty nonfiction children's books, and has written for The New York . Replying to. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. [8], In 1975, Blassie recorded voiceovers for the songs "Blassie, King of Men" and "Pencil Neck Geek", which were performed by Johnny Legend, featuring Billy Zoom on guitar, Jay Phillips on guitar, Lon Osgood on bass and Steve Clark on drums. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. Originally from Chicago, he has called London home since 2008. Gross tubs? His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. 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"). Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. In the early 1970s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since so many fans were cheering his famous antics. He spent his time in the Missouri territory, working mainly in St. Louis and Kansas City, but when the U.S. entered the Second World War, he enlisted in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy, where he spent four years (42 months) in combat in the U.S. battles in the Pacific. 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. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. And more wrestling fans definite need to know about the. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (Wwe S) Paperback - February 1, 2004 by Keith Elliot Greenberg (Author) 115 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $13.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $18.99 13 Used from $4.06 2 New from $38.98 1 Collectible from $15.00 Paperback 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. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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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. According to Walton, Blassies biggest achievement came Aug. 27, 1971, when he met and defeated Canadian wrestler Golden Greek John Tolos at the Coliseum before 25,000 wrestling fans. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. 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. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune 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)). 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. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. 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. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? Blassie originally wrestled Freddie Blassie was one of the most hated heels of his time. Death By the mid-1970s, Freddie Blassie was in his 50s and began to settle into a role as a manager in WWE, though he would still occasionally wrestle a match. 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. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. He briefly turned face in 1989, making an appearance on Prime Time Wrestling angry with Bobby Heenan over money Heenan hadn't paid him back. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. Fred Blassie would meet his wife, a Japanese actress.. November 15, 1968: Fred Blassie defeated Buddy Austin in a "Stretcher" match in the Olympic Stadium.. 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. [3][8][9], In 1960, Blassie returned to Strongbow's promotion in Los Angeles, where he was a big star for Worldwide Wrestling Associates (WWA) of southern California, drawing many fans to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. 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. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money?