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Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. Worldwide star. 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. [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. [3], Blassie's famous "pencil-neck geek" catchphrase originated early in his career while describing a fellow carnival performer who appeared in a geek show. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. The suit, filed in federal court in White Plains, accuses the supermarket chain of negligence and recklessness and seeks more than $1 million in damages from corporate parent A&P and mat supplier G&K Services. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. ", In this particular story, Blassie won a match by count-out in Roosevelt Stadium when he kicked Sammartino in the breadbasket while the referee was distracted. 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. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. [8] They received acclaim on the Dr. Demento Radio Show, and the latter song was featured on several albums, including Dr. Demento's 20th anniversary collection, The Very Best of Dr. Demento, and Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CDs of All Time. (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. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. 1 One of the great legends of pro wrestling albeit one whose in-ring career predated the 1980s Golden Era wrestling boom Classy Freddie Blassie was a successful heel who wrestled all over. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. In We have estimated [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. Using a variety of names, he wrestled the top performers of the day including Lou Thesz and Gorgeous George, but did not reach their level of popularity. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. 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. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 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 worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. Replying to. 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). Sportswriter Jim Murray called him the worst villain since Hitler in a 1961 column in The Times. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". This story has been shared 104,709 times. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. Born: 1921. 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. 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. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. 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). Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. States. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). 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.. Let me take care of him in the ring.". [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. He was 85. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now ", to a monstrous applause. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. He kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=My_Breakfast_with_Blassie&oldid=1107033235, Articles needing additional references from June 2021, All articles needing additional references, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 27 August 2022, at 19:43. As a result, fans may be aware of Classy Freddie Blassie for his appearances during WWEs Golden Era and beyond but that only scratches the surface of his career. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! 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. [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. 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. 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. for the WWF. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 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. 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. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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). 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. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. We've received your submission. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! 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 came into the WWWF with his own world title belt, claiming to be the Pacific World Champion, and was coming to Sammartino's "back yard" to unify the world title. . One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. 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 . [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. He was 85. 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). Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. On a mid-July 2001 episode of Raw, the Invasion storyline was in full swing, and Blassie was brought in to motivate the WWE in the face of their ongoing war with the WCW/ECW Alliance. . He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. 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)). "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. 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. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. Freddie Blassie. 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. Following a stint in the California wrestling scene, Freddie Blassie headed southeast to the Georgia territories in the 1950s, where he would enjoy a whopping 17 reigns with the big title of the region, the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship between 1954 and 1960. [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. 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. Blassie was a regular on the WWWF's "All-Star Wrestling" and "Championship Wrestling" weekly TV shows that were videotaped at small arenas in Pennsylvania and aired throughout the Northeast. (bad guys) got better pay. Blassie did not just fade away after he left the ring. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. 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? He joined the Navy at the start of World War II and started wrestling initially under the name of Sailor Fred Blassie while stationed at Port Hueneme.