He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. This story has been shared 104,709 times. 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. He returned to the company in 1971, reaching the final of a tournament in January for the vacant WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship before losing to Pedro Morales. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. 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). [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. (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. 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. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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 an episode of WWF Championship Wrestling, Blassie barged into the announcer booth to proclaim that he had sold half of the contracts of Sheik and Volkoff to a mysterious benefactor for a large sum of money. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. "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 doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. 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. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. 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. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. were too short. 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. 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. The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. Lanny said that if a wrestler had a bottle of cologne in their bag, or even rubbing alcohol, Jerry Graham would take it out and drink it. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. *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! 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. 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 was 85. Replying to. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. 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. Patrick Stewart In A Checkered Coat Wallpaper. 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. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. Born in 1918 to German parents who escaped World War I, Blassie took up boxing as a teenager, but found a growing interest in wrestling and actually snuck into matches, eventually befriending catch wrestlers and learning holds from them. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Three injured in shooting outside Bronx funeral home, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, US home prices just did something they haven't done since 2012, How a retired detective snared his seventh 'Torso Killer' confession, It's insane that NYers can use but not buy pepper spray for self-defense: Change this now, Celeb-loved jewelry brand Dorsey drops dazzling new styles, White Lotus actor jokes about being hit on following shows success, Is this the couple behind the Worst Art Job Listing Ever?, Undertaker transforms coffin into barbecue grill, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. 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. book. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). ", Bruno kayfabed him. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. . Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Blassie. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. 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. 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, 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. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. [spoken to the WWF wrestlers during Invasion 2001] Gentleman, there His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. 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], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. 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." 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. Feb 27. One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. 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. 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. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. The "Shakespeare of WWE" made an appearance on our podcast The Genius Cast in 2018, and he certainly had a few good stories up his sleeves! He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. [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. 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). [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. Frederick Kenneth Blassman[2] (February 8, 1918 June 2, 2003) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 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), ? You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. 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. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. 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. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. He joined the Navy at the start of World War II and started wrestling under the name of Sailor Fred Blassie while stationed at Port Hueneme in California. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. [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 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. 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. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. 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. 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. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". 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. 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 [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power.