[4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. Blassie. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. 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. 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. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Take Linda McMahon, for instance. Fred Blassie had a shocking heel turn during his stint in Georgia, which led to him becoming an extremely hated wrestler! The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. [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. 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. He briefly turned face in 1989, making an appearance on Prime Time Wrestling angry with Bobby Heenan over money Heenan hadn't paid him back. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. 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. in their 1992 song about Kaufman, "Man on the Moon". Using his newfound skills, Blassie became a wrestler starting in the carnival circuit, debuting in 1935 but taking a break in the 1940s to fight in World War II. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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. 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. 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. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. 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. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Gross tubs? If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. [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. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. He held his WWA World title for 289 days and thanks to WWAs alliance with Japan, in particular the Japan Wrestling Alliance (JWA) headed by puroresu icon Rikidozan, Blassie would not only help introduce Japanese pro wrestling to the U.S. market but help validate it in Japan as well. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. the time, get up, stand up and fight. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). 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. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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). He was 85. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. 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. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). [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. 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 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. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! 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). The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. 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. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Originally from Chicago, he has called London home since 2008. [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. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. [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. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. In the early 1970s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since so many fans were cheering his famous antics. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. 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! One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. His first match with Blassie had actually. 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), ? is 6'(1.83m) . Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. 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. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. 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. 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. 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. It was a wonderful look back at "old-school" wrestling as told by one of the masters, both as a wrestler and as a talker. 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. 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. Blassie would eventually come to be known as a manager (see below) in WWE, but in the 1960s and 1970s, he actually wrestled for the promotion, back then known as the World Wide Wrestling Federation. She . [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. 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. 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. In one memorable instance, Blassie, playing up the heel character, would berate Brunos followers backstage with promos, calling them derogatory names such as "grease ball" and "spaghetti bender." Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . He also reportedly excelled as a boxer. 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. [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height [2] During that same title reign, in a match against Lord James Blears a fan threw acid on his back, and he had to return immediately to the locker room to wash it off; over the course of his career, he was also stabbed 21 times and lost vision in his right eye after being struck by a thrown hard-boiled egg. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. , money, salary, income, and assets. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. 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. 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. [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. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. [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. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. In This is in reference . Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. 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. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. 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. Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . 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. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (Classy Freddy Blassie, The Vampire, Sailor Fred Blassie, The Hollywood Fashion Plate, The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling) was born on 8 February, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is an Actor. He was popular in Japan as well. Moto-1964 and w/Buddy Austin-1967); NWA America's Heavyweight championships (5); Georgia Heavyweight title; "Beat The Champ" TV Title; NWA America's Brass Knuckles Title. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. 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. Of course, these mobsters thought he was putting them down for real. Patrick Stewart In A Checkered Coat Wallpaper. 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. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. 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. In March of 1962, Blassie lost the WWA World title to Rikidozan, and for the next four months, Blassie competed in Japan, determined to regain his title from the Japanese wrestling innovator. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. States. 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. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. 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. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. 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". On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His career began in earnest after He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. He also bleached his hair at this time, as many of the other stars of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine, and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. 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. Feb 27. Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. 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. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. [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. [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. He was 85. Blassie, well-known for exaggerating a story or two, stated that when he was wrestling Rikidozan in Japan, 100 Japanese wrestling fans dropped dead of heart attacks because the matches were so gory. 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. We have estimated My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. 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. 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. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. By 1968, WWA rejoined the NWA, becoming NWA Hollywood, but in 1971, Blassie returned to WWWF and challenged new WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales, to no avail. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead.