According to Walton, Blassies biggest achievement came Aug. 27, 1971, when he met and defeated Canadian wrestler Golden Greek John Tolos at the Coliseum before 25,000 wrestling fans. [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. 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 . He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. He is from USA. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. He was 85. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms 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. 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 heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. In the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." Now is Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. Blassie originally wrestled 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. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. This story has been shared 143,593 times. @megantheevalium. Blassie died of heart failure Monday He was 85.Mr. [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. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. 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." 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. 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. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" 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. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now 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. 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. 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! The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. 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). [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. 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 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. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. In the early 1970s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since so many fans were cheering his famous antics. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. Sportswriter Jim Murray called him the worst villain since Hitler in a 1961 column in The Times. This is in reference . One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, North American Wrestling Alliance/Worldwide Wrestling Associates/ NWA Hollywood Wrestling, WWA International Television Tag Team Championship, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate', "Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie", "Blassie toast of Cauliflower Alley Club", "WWF WrestleMania XV Results - 3/28/99 (Stone Cold vs. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. 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. 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. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. [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. 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. He bleached his hair and quickly became a 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 the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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. 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. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. 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. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. He was popular in Japan as well. 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. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! 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. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. 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. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. He hated his father for it. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. [3], Upon Blassie's return from the war, he was billed as "Sailor" Fred Blassie to capitalize on the wave of war-time patriotism sweeping the country, but that gimmick was unsuccessful. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. 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. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . 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's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. He was 85. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. 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. 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. * 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! His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. Worldwide star. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. 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. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. 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. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. [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. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. "Typical Italian stunt! Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Replying to. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. 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.