He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. 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"). [4] Given that Hogan was the top babyface in the 1980s, this iteration of The Hulkster was actually a heel and would depart in 1981 after a dispute with Vince McMahon Sr. over Hogans taking a role in Rocky III. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. @megantheevalium. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. He also began filing his teeth, transitioning from Sailor to The Vampire, as his spiked teeth became effective tools in biting his opponents, creating a macabre presentation and early influence on the hardcore side of pro-wrestling. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? [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 benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. In 1950, he had his first challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, facing championLou Theszin Kentucky. 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. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. Blassie also wanted to clarify through his final memoir that he was an absentee father as he was on the road for most of his sons life growing up. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. 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. He retired from competition in the late 1970's to manage a new generation of wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan and Jesse Ventura, the future governor of Minnesota. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making for the WWF. 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. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. 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. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. . While writingThe Legends of Wrestling, Greenberg got to know Freddie Blassie quite well and mentioned in his appearance on The Genius Cast that Blassie really opened up to him. 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. [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. 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. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. 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. 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. "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. 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. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. Of course, these mobsters thought he was putting them down for real. 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.. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. 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. 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. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). . Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. 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. 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. Let me take care of him in the ring.". He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. 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. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. 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. 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. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. This story has been shared 104,709 times. 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. 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!". By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. [13][6][dubious discuss], While touring Japan in 1965, and by this point divorced, Blassie met the woman who would eventually become his third wife, Miyako Morozumi, at a train station. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. 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. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. Gross tubs? Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. G&K did not respond to calls for comment. [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. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. 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. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . * 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! That year, Blassie was forced to retire from in-ring competition, as a California by-law forbade wrestling licenses for anyone upon reaching 55 years old. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. 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. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. 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. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. 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. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. [8] In 2001, Blassie appeared in a special July 16, 2001 Raw is War segment for the Invasion storyline, wherein he exhorted a gathering of WWF wrestlers to stand tall against The Alliance and later got mocked by Alliance leaders Shane and Stephanie McMahon. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. 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. In [8] Blassie also appeared in a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event in December 2001, where an "undisputed" champion would be crowned. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. (1965 - 1968) ( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964) ( divorced) ( 3 children) Freddie Blassie Net Worth His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Blassie. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. Frederick was an only child. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? 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. However, Blassie wanted nothing to do with him because he too had a massive drinking problem and felt that it would "hit too close to home." Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. 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. Also learn how He earned most of Freddie Blassie networth? He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as 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. 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)). book. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Let's learn more about this classic heel! "No. 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). 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. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, 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 died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. You hit a guy in the neck. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. We've received your submission. We have estimated 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. 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. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. In 1960, he became a regular with World Wrestling Associates (WWA) in Los Angeles, a move that would cement his legacy in pro wrestling, long before he became a manager. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. Anyone can read what you share. 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). 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. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. 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 kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. 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. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. Over the course of his in-ring career, Classy Freddie Blassie would wrestle a number of legends, many of whom have either become legendary wrestlers or became famous in the following decades for non-competitive roles.