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. 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" 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. Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. 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. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. 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. 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. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. In 1972, ten years after his last match in Japan with Rikidozans JWA, he returned to Japan and began working for Giant Babas All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). Freddie Blassie's net worth Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. Vampire". This story has been shared 143,593 times. He was 85. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". *Blassie also told Greenberg that women used to come up to him on the street and gawk at him because he was Gods gift to women! [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. Freddie Blassie managed many heels to success, including the team of The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, who would win the World Tag Team Titles from US Express thanks to Blassies delivering a strategic shot with his cane. 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. In [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. Lanny said that if a wrestler had a bottle of cologne in their bag, or even rubbing alcohol, Jerry Graham would take it out and drink it. While there, he won the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, the holder of which was generally first in line to challenge the NWA World Heavyweight Champion whenever he passed through the territory. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. [10] He was so hated there that uniformed police officers were regularly brought in to protect him as he made his way to and from the ring. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. 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. [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. Originally from Chicago, he has called London home since 2008. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. 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. [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. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). 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!". 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. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. 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] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. [8] Blassie also appeared in a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event in December 2001, where an "undisputed" champion would be crowned. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. At an early age, Blassie was enamored with pro wrestling, particularly the "shooters" of the early era of pro wrestling in the 1930s, and would often sneak into a local gym to watch the technical masters stretch and submit their opponents. [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. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. 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. 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. 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. 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. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. 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.. Despite being a 7-year pro before his duty in World War II, Blassie was still a journeyman. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. In the 1970s, Blassie recorded a number of novelty songs, including Pencil Neck Geek, which became a cult favorite via Dr. Dementos radio show, which specializes in sharing wacky tracks. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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)). 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. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. 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. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he States. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. [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. But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. 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. 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. 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. 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). 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. 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. This is in reference . After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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. 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. During these runs, hed take part in a couple of title feuds for the WWE Championship, challenging Bruno Sammartino in the 1960s and Pedro Morales in the 1970s, not to mention coming after Bobo Brazils US Heavyweight Title. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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County in crackdown on fraudulent benefit cards, UCLAs senior trio has persevered in restoring the Bruins to national prominence, UCLA stuns top-seeded Stanford in Pac-12 womens basketball tournament semifinals, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Even after Gavin Lux injury, Andrew Friedman hints at patient approach with roster, Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. Born: 1921. 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. 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. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. 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. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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), ? book. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United "No. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. He was 85. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 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. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Anyone can read what you share. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. 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. 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. 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. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. 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. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. Blassie died of heart failure Monday His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. He bleached his hair and quickly became a Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. 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 delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. 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, 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. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. Blassie would continue to make his titles make history in 1963, he lost to Bearcat Wright, making Wright the first African-American to hold a World title in the United States.
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