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. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow Blassie died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. Discover Freddie Blassie's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. [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. * 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! 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. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (Classy Freddy Blassie, The Vampire, Sailor Fred Blassie, The Hollywood Fashion Plate, The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling) was born on 8 February, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is an Actor. He was 85. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. 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). . By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. . [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. The phrase pencil neck geek is such a common bit of North American English idiom that likely few are aware that it actually comes from pro wrestling, let alone from the mouth of Freddie Blassie. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. 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. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. 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. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. . He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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. 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. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. We have estimated [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. He is from USA. "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. [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. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! Blassie died of heart failure Monday Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. 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. [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. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. @megantheevalium. 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. 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. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. the time, get up, stand up and fight. Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. In 1960, he became a regular with World Wrestling Associates (WWA) in Los Angeles, a move that would cement his legacy in pro wrestling, long before he became a manager. 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. Born in 1918 to German parents who escaped World War I, Blassie took up boxing as a teenager, but found a growing interest in wrestling and actually snuck into matches, eventually befriending catch wrestlers and learning holds from them. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. Ironically, during his WWWF stint, he was managed by another former wrestler who had recently become a manager, in the form of Captain Lou Albano. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. He joined the Navy at the start of World War II and started wrestling under the name of Sailor Fred Blassie while stationed at Port Hueneme in California. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Blassie Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . [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. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. 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. Let's learn more about this classic heel! [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. Sadly, the gimmick was a bomb, and Blassie jumped around territories, including working in New York City for Jess McMahon (grandfather of Vince McMahon Jr.). Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. Worldwide star. 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. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. . Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. He joined the Navy at the start of World War II and started wrestling initially under the name of Sailor Fred Blassie while stationed at Port Hueneme. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. 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). [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. G&K did not respond to calls for comment. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. In (1965 - 1968) ( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964) ( divorced) ( 3 children) Freddie Blassie Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . 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. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. ", 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. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. 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. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. 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. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. This is in reference . 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. His first match with Blassie had actually. [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. 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. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. 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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. 304K views 6 years ago The Dudley Boyz put Rico through a table after getting the call from WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie at ringside. This story has been shared 104,709 times. 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. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. 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. He grabs his balls!" Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. 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. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. 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. 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. Upon his return to the U.S. and the pro-wrestling circuit full time in 1946, he was repackaged by promoters as Sailor Freddie Blassie, as promoters looked to capitalize on U.S. patriotism following the war. 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. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". 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.". Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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.. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling.

Abdominal Aortic Atherosclerosis Calcifications, How Many Times Have The Ravens Beat The Redskins?, Articles F