[2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. He was feuding with a wrestler known as The Geek who had a neck like a stack of dimes, making him a literal pencil neck geek. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. WWE Confidential: The life and times of "Classy" Freddie Blassie He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! [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. Freddie Blassie's net worth [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". 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. 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. book. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. @megantheevalium. 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. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. You hit a guy in the neck. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE 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. Despite Blassie not actually holding any titles to unify, his feud with Sammartino saw Bruno become a national hero, but in the process, Blassie became lifelong friends with another WWWF employee, Gorilla Monsoon. 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). Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. 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. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . 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. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. Worldwide star. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height A gifted gabber and a splashy dresser, Blassie guided The Iron Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight title in 1983, Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff to the WWF World Tag Team titles, as well as managing such clients as Adrian Adonis, Jesse The Body Ventura, Kamala, Hercules Hernandez, and even Hulk Hogan during his first stint in the WWF. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. 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. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. 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. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. After Sheik lost the belt to Blassie's former managed wrestler Hulk Hogan, Blassie managed Sheik in various rematches around the country throughout the first half of 1984, culminating into another major televised rematch on December 28, 1984, once again in Madison Square Garden. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! 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. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. * 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! 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. "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. 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. And more wrestling fans definite need to know about the. 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. As a result, fans may be aware of Classy Freddie Blassie for his appearances during WWEs Golden Era and beyond but that only scratches the surface of his career. Still a motormouth, he gave interviews in which he bragged about himself and his protgs and denounced anybody he didn't like as a "pencil necked geek". [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. [3], Blassie's famous "pencil-neck geek" catchphrase originated early in his career while describing a fellow carnival performer who appeared in a geek show. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. 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. [2] In 1963, Bearcat Wright defeated him to become champion, and it was quite a statement during the fight for civil rights that an African-American had won such a title. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. 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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. 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. He continued to outrage crowds by distracting referees so that his men could cheat and by getting in his own cheap shots when the refs weren't looking. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. 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), ? the time, get up, stand up and fight. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Downloads, [100+] Freddie Blassie While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. This story has been shared 143,593 times. 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. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now Patrick Stewart In A Checkered Coat Wallpaper. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned wrestler with a voice from the depths of the earth who made himself a hero to mat fans in the 1950s and 60s by playing the villain, has died. is 6'(1.83m) . 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. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. 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. Lanny was only 12 or 13-years-old at the time. switched to professional wrestling. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. 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. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. 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. 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. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). 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. for the WWF. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. 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. 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. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Still a motormouth, he gave interviews in which he bragged about himself and his protgs and denounced anybody he didn't like as a "pencil necked geek". 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). 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Three injured in shooting outside Bronx funeral home, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, US home prices just did something they haven't done since 2012, How a retired detective snared his seventh 'Torso Killer' confession, It's insane that NYers can use but not buy pepper spray for self-defense: Change this now, Celeb-loved jewelry brand Dorsey drops dazzling new styles, White Lotus actor jokes about being hit on following shows success, Is this the couple behind the Worst Art Job Listing Ever?, Undertaker transforms coffin into barbecue grill, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. 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. [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. 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! He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 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. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. [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. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. "CLASSY" FRED BLASSIE on Twitter: "Your trad wife, sir. https://t.co Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie - Last Word on Pro In reality, Blassie was a major on-screen figure in wrestling, both in competitive and managerial roles, and had a status in overall pop culture. "No. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - The Internet "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. Born: 1921. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. , money, salary, income, and assets. 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. Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. 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. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. 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. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. 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. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. 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. 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. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. 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.. 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.). 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.". 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. Some wrestlers choose to play a villain as a way of promoting their career, while others are forced to by their promoters.