Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. He is a writer and editor-in-chief here on the site, a podcast producer, the chief graphic designer of the cover art for the sites articles, the former host of The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo, and an elementary school teacher and assistant principal who enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his lively daughters! the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. [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. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. Freddie Blassies origins are worth knowing about, especially because they involve much earlier days of the pro wrestling world -- as in, within the first half of the 20th century. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. 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. "When hed go to a town, the most powerful Italians would latch themselves onto him and decided they were his protectors, whether Bruno liked it or not. For a brief period of time after World War Two, he was billed as "Sailor" Freddie Blassie in matches, a gimmick that did not prove successful. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. 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. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. [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. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. 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. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. 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. Professional Wrestling Online Museum - Spotlight on Freddie Blassie His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. ", 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. 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. 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. 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. [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. 10 Backstage Stories About Bruno Sammartino WWE Fans Should Know 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. 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." 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.. 'The Destroyer' Dick Beyer story archive | Slam Wrestling Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Keith Elliot Greenberg has been doing his part to preserve professional wrestling history for the past few decades. Worldwide star. We have estimated He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Still a motormouth, he gave interviews in which he bragged about himself and his protgs and denounced anybody he didn't like as a "pencil necked geek". 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. [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. The phrase pencil neck geek is such a common bit of North American English idiom that likely few are aware that it actually comes from pro wrestling, let alone from the mouth of Freddie Blassie. Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. . mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia 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. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff She . He was 85. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. Freddie Blassie - Biography - IMDb Returning to the WWA, Blassie began feuding with the likes of Bobo Brazil, Mil Mascaras, and others, as well as teaming with another known violent savage, Mad Dog Vachon. He hated his father for it. 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. Of course, these mobsters thought he was putting them down for real. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (Wwe S) Paperback - February 1, 2004 by Keith Elliot Greenberg (Author) 115 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $13.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $18.99 13 Used from $4.06 2 New from $38.98 1 Collectible from $15.00 Paperback In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. 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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. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. Freddie Blassie | WWE 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). 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. *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! View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Blassie originally wrestled The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. [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. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. 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 continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. Let me take care of him in the ring.". His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. 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. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. However, Miyako Blassie, surviving wife of the legendary "Classy" Freddie Blassie, is offering that chance as the WWE Hall of Famer's Lincoln Town Car becomes available on WWE Auction. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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"). At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height He spent his time in the Missouri territory, working mainly in St. Louis and Kansas City, but when the U.S. entered the Second World War, he enlisted in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy, where he spent four years (42 months) in combat in the U.S. battles in the Pacific. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. 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. Real Name: Fred Blassie. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. [3] Blassie, Lou Albano, and The Grand Wizard were named "The Three Wise Men of the East", as the top three heel managers in the company. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. 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. 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. [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. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. In Ironically, during his WWWF stint, he was managed by another former wrestler who had recently become a manager, in the form of Captain Lou Albano. 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. ", Bruno kayfabed him. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. ", to a monstrous applause. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie - Last Word on Pro 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. Frederick was an only child. 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), ?