Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. 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. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. Blassies father was a heavy alcoholic and was abusive towards his beloved mother. 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. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. 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. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! [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. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". In 1961, he defeated Eduoard Carpentier for the WWA World Heavyweight Championship, a title that held prominence in the pro-wrestling world, since WWA was an outlaw territory outside the realm of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Let me take care of him in the ring.". [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. 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. Fred McDaniel "Ayatollah" Blassie The Vampire The Hollywood Fashion Plate Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Weight 220 lbs (100 kg) Born February 8, 1918 Birth Place St. Louis, Missouri Died June 2, 2003 (aged 85) Death Place Hartsdale, New York Trainer Billy Longson Everett Marshall Warren Bockwinkle Billy Hanson Debut 1935 Retired 1986 Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. 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. 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. 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.". 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. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. 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. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie also made a cameo appearance as himself, along with "Wrestling's Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, and Ric Flair in the 1986 film Body Slam starring Dirk Benedict, "Captain" Lou Albano, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. 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. Classy car for a class act | WWE You hit a guy in the neck. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. 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. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. 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. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. 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. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. 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. 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.. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. 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.). Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). 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. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. 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. 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. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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. . His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? 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). 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. switched to professional wrestling. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). 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. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. 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. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil My Breakfast with Blassie - Wikipedia 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. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. Blassie. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Freddie Blassie - Biography - IMDb (bad guys) got better pay. [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. 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. 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. 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. . Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". 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 . 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. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. [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. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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". Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. He is from USA. . 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. He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. 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!". Freddie Blassie Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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"). Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. Fred Blassie had a shocking heel turn during his stint in Georgia, which led to him becoming an extremely hated wrestler! [17] In 2000, Blassie made an appearance at the Royal Rumble as a judge in the Miss Rumble 2000 Swimsuit contest, which was won by Mae Young. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. 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. book. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. WWE Confidential: The life and times of "Classy" Freddie Blassie Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. [4] In It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . [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. Freddie Blassie. 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. 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. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Anyone can read what you share. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. 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. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Let's learn more about this classic heel! 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. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Downloads, [100+] Freddie Blassie Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/sports/freddie-blassie-pro-wrestler-popular-as-villain-dies-at-85.html. Recommended:The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, Lanny Poffo, speaking to his friend Keith Elliot Greenberg on The Genius Cast, shared the story of the time he and Freddie Blassie were in Hawaii in 1968. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. 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. Freddie Blassie Height 5'10" Weight 220 lbs Hometown St. Louis Signature Move Stomach Claw Career Highlights 1994 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Freddie Blassie: Bio "Classy" Freddie Blassie is one of the most memorable Superstars to ever set foot inside the squared circle. This is in reference . Freddie Blassie | Pro Wrestling | Fandom Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. WrestlingEpicenter.com - RIP Rest in Peace Obituaries 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. 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. In March of 1962, Blassie lost the WWA World title to Rikidozan, and for the next four months, Blassie competed in Japan, determined to regain his title from the Japanese wrestling innovator. [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. 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. Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). 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 Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. . [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. 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..