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[8] He worked for Jack Pfefer, who he claimed would only employ people who looked like sideshow freaks at his shows, and whose wrestlers included Tor Johnson, who made movies with director Ed Wood, and Lillian Ellison, the Fabulous Moolah. He returned to AJPW again in 1973, but the following year in 1974, he jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) for his final tour of Japan. He was popular in Japan as well. Fans might recall his interviews with local announcer Dick Lane in which he would proclaim his vast superiority over a number of lesser opponents, branding them all pencil-neck geeks. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. 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. Outside of being an award-winning television producer, the New York Times best-selling author began writing about professional wrestling for several newspapers and magazines in the 90s. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. [6] The final match of their series took place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and set new California records for both attendance and gate. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! 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. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. 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. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. 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. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Let me take care of him in the ring.". )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". Using his newfound skills, Blassie became a wrestler starting in the carnival circuit, debuting in 1935 but taking a break in the 1940s to fight in World War II. [6] One of his most famous feuds took place in southern California in 1971, against Tolos. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie lead an interesting life as one of . He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Returning to the WWA, Blassie began feuding with the likes of Bobo Brazil, Mil Mascaras, and others, as well as teaming with another known violent savage, Mad Dog Vachon. Sportswriter Jim Murray called him the worst villain since Hitler in a 1961 column in The Times. This story has been shared 104,709 times. 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. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? . During his time on the West Coast, he was a frequent guest and/or interruption on a local show hosted by Regis Philben, and Blassies appearances thanks to his massive appeal as a wrestling draw helped push Philben into a national celebrity. 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. [9] While recuperating in 1966, he worked as a car salesman and married a second time to a woman whose name Blassie later claimed not to remember. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. 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. 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. [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. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. 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. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. 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 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.. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. [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. [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. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". 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). He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. 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 . 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. 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? September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. 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. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." [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. 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). One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. Born: 1921. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. 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. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. . He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. 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. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. 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. 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. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. 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. In He was 85.Mr. 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), ? Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school.