. . Blassie came into the WWWF with his own world title belt, claiming to be the Pacific World Champion, and was coming to Sammartino's "back yard" to unify the world title. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United 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! He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. 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 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. However, Blassie wanted nothing to do with him because he too had a massive drinking problem and felt that it would "hit too close to home." You hit a guy in the neck. "Typical Italian stunt! This story has been shared 143,593 times. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. He was popular in Japan as well. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Blassie also wanted to clarify through his final memoir that he was an absentee father as he was on the road for most of his sons life growing up. * 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! After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? 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. for the WWF. 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. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. 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. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. his service in the United States Navy during World War II. He hated his father for it. 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. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. 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 worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. [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. 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. 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. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. 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. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. Born: 1921. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. This story has been shared 104,709 times. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. 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. @megantheevalium. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. 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.". [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. 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 . Vampire". [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. 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. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. 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. [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. Some wrestlers choose to play a villain as a way of promoting their career, while others are forced to by their promoters. 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. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. He was 85. 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. were too short. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. 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. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. 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. 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 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. 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. [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. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. [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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. 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. Even more important than that, Blassie would make a change that would make him an icon. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. 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. 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." [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. 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. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. 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. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. 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. 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. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). [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. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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 also began filing his teeth, transitioning from Sailor to The Vampire, as his spiked teeth became effective tools in biting his opponents, creating a macabre presentation and early influence on the hardcore side of pro-wrestling. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. 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. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). 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. ", 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. 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. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." We have estimated Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. 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. If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. "No. [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. 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 . 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. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The 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. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". 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. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. 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. 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. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II.
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