He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. [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.. 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. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. He had been in poor health for quite a while, and it was as if he wanted to wait to get his story out before he passed on. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. Gross tubs? 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. [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. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". 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)). 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 defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. 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. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. is 6'(1.83m) . heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. He was 85. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Worldwide star. 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. Frederick was an only child. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. 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. Some wrestlers choose to play a villain as a way of promoting their career, while others are forced to by their promoters. 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. 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. 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. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. 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. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between) Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. Freddie Blassie Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. At Freddie Blassies wake, a family member came up to Keith Elliot Greenberg, saying that Freddies son had read the book and was ready to make peace with his father. 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. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. [1] 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. 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). In this match Hogan was once again victorious. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. Fred Blassie had a shocking heel turn during his stint in Georgia, which led to him becoming an extremely hated wrestler! [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. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. 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. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. WWE Confidential: The life and times of "Classy" Freddie Blassie ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. 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. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. 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 Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). He was 85. 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. . Professional Wrestling Online Museum - Spotlight on Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. Freddie Blassie was one of the most hated heels of his time. Death Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. 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. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. He hated his father for it. 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. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. ", Bruno kayfabed him. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. Blassie She . 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). The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. *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! The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. 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. (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. 'The Destroyer' Dick Beyer story archive | Slam Wrestling "Classy" Freddie Blassie lead an interesting life as one of . 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. John Tolos: Wrestler celebrated as one of the finest ring villains His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. [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. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. My Breakfast with Blassie - Wikipedia By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. 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. 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. 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. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. [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. Replying to. 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. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. 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. 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. 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 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. 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 . 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. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. He was popular in Japan as well. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! You pencil neck geek! For those who were brought up on pro wrestling in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most colorful managers of the day was WWF stalwart, Classy Freddie Blassie. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. 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. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. His first match with Blassie had actually. 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. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. 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. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. G&K did not respond to calls for comment. One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. Let's learn more about this classic heel! News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. 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. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. 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. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85 Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' were too short. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. Freddie Blassie - Biography - IMDb We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. Vampire". By 1952, Blassie was getting disillusioned by the East Coast and headed for California, although he did still work for various NWA territories in the South, particularly Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). [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. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. 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. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? Even more important than that, Blassie would make a change that would make him an icon. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. Now is Blassie originally wrestled One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Tolos moved first to Vancouver, where he married his wife Ingrid in 1967 (they later divorced), then worked his way south until he reached Los Angeles. [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.