American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) * 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! A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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. 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). 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. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. 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. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. Blassie WWE Confidential: The life and times of "Classy" Freddie Blassie In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. Freddie Blassie's net worth Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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! 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. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. 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 triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! 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! 'The Destroyer' Dick Beyer story archive | Slam Wrestling [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now book. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he He was 85. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. *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! His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. 10 Things Fans Should Know About Classy Freddie Blassie - TheSportster "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. Keith Elliot Greenberg coauthored Legends of Wrestling: Freddie Blassie -- Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks with wrestling icon "Classy" Freddie Blassie shortly before his death in 2003. 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. 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. [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. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. 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. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. 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. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. . Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. switched to professional wrestling. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. He grabs his balls!" According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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. 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!". We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. "Typical Italian stunt! This movie got together because the man who produced wrestling manager and former wrestling champion Fred Blassie's novelty song, "Pencil-Neck Geek", Johnny Legend, wanted to film a very cheap parody of the awful art movie My Dinner with Andre, and decided that Blassie's young friend and protege, the eccentric comedian Andy Kaufman would be the . [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. 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. 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. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE 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. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. Blassie. 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. Real Name: Fred Blassie. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. 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. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. He had been in poor health for quite a while, and it was as if he wanted to wait to get his story out before he passed on. Vampire". [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. Hear Keith Elliot Greenbergs share stories about "Classy" Freddie Blassie on The Genius Cast below: Over his 22-year wrestling career, Freddie Blassie had many notable feuds. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. Replying to. were too short. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. This is in reference . 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. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? 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. 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. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. 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. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. . He also starred in a 1983 movie called My Breakfast With Blassie, where he sat down for a meal with Andy Kaufman as a parody of the 1981 critically acclaimed film My Dinner With Andre. Blassie died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. [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. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. (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. ", to a monstrous applause. Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. 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. Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia He was popular in Japan as well. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. 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. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. 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. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. Gross tubs? Worldwide star. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. 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. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. By 1968, WWA rejoined the NWA, becoming NWA Hollywood, but in 1971, Blassie returned to WWWF and challenged new WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales, to no avail. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. 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). This story has been shared 143,593 times. 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