Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . In the segment he is interviewed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund when the two are interrupted by a little old lady in a housekeeper outfit that Blassie claims to be his own mother. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. 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." WWE Confidential: The life and times of "Classy" Freddie Blassie "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. book. His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. He hated his father for it. ", 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. 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. 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! Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Freddie Blassie - Biography - IMDb . Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. His first match with Blassie had actually. 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). [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. 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. [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. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. Worldwide star. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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. WrestlingEpicenter.com - RIP Rest in Peace Obituaries Sadly, the gimmick was a bomb, and Blassie jumped around territories, including working in New York City for Jess McMahon (grandfather of Vince McMahon Jr.). 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. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. This story has been shared 143,593 times. . Blassie appeared alongside Slick to co-manage Sheik and Volkoff for a few television appearances before finally bowing out in November 1986, with Albano, the final member of the Three Wise Men, retiring a few weeks later. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. 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 You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. for the WWF. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? 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. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube Professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure for fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950s and 1960s, has died. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. [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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. 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. "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. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. 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. 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. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! [spoken to the WWF wrestlers during Invasion 2001] Gentleman, there Discover Freddie Blassie's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. He returned to AJPW again in 1973, but the following year in 1974, he jumped to New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) for his final tour of Japan. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. 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. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994] He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. "Typical Italian stunt! 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. He has written several wrestling biographies including Freddie Blassies The Legends of Wrestling, Ric Flairs To Be The Man, "Superstar" Billy Grahams Tangled Ropes,and the unreleased biography of The Iron Sheik which, despite being chockful of stories that would be sure to make your jaw drop, will never see the light of day. . [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. 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. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. "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. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. 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. Freddie Blassie | WWE Frederick was an only child. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. Let's learn more about this classic heel! [6] One of his most famous feuds took place in southern California in 1971, against Tolos. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. 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. In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. In 1960, he became a regular with World Wrestling Associates (WWA) in Los Angeles, a move that would cement his legacy in pro wrestling, long before he became a manager. 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. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. He grabs his balls!" My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.[1]. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. At the age of 13, after Jacob had beaten Anna again, Frederick threatened his father with a baseball bat; instead he lived with his aunt for six months until his mother asked him to return home. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. 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. We have estimated 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. Even more important than that, Blassie would make a change that would make him an icon. It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making 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. 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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. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." 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. 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. Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. In the early 1970s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since so many fans were cheering his famous antics. The Dudleyz get the tables with "Classy" Freddie Blassie's help: Raw In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. were too short. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil 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. 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. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. Blassie. RELATED: 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore. [21] His book, Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks, was released on May 13, 2003. 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).
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