freddie blassie wife
One of Blassies most notable clients during his run with WWE, however, was Hulk Hogan, who he managed as soon as Hogan debuted in the company in 1979. My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb 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. 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. in their 1992 song about Kaufman, "Man on the Moon". 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)). Fans might recall his interviews with local announcer Dick Lane in which he would proclaim his vast superiority over a number of lesser opponents, branding them all pencil-neck geeks. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. 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). 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. 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. 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. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United 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. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). 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. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." Fred McDaniel "Ayatollah" Blassie The Vampire The Hollywood Fashion Plate Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) Weight 220 lbs (100 kg) Born February 8, 1918 Birth Place St. Louis, Missouri Died June 2, 2003 (aged 85) Death Place Hartsdale, New York Trainer Billy Longson Everett Marshall Warren Bockwinkle Billy Hanson Debut 1935 Retired 1986 Professional Wrestling Online Museum - Spotlight on Freddie Blassie . 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. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. [8], In 1975, Blassie recorded voiceovers for the songs "Blassie, King of Men" and "Pencil Neck Geek", which were performed by Johnny Legend, featuring Billy Zoom on guitar, Jay Phillips on guitar, Lon Osgood on bass and Steve Clark on drums. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. 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. 10 Things Fans Should Know About Classy Freddie Blassie - TheSportster After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg, NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, WWWF United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA North American Heavyweight Championship, NWA World Junior Heavyweight Championship, North American Wrestling Alliance/Worldwide Wrestling Associates/ NWA Hollywood Wrestling, WWA International Television Tag Team Championship, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Championship, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum, Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame, "Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate', "Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie", "Blassie toast of Cauliflower Alley Club", "WWF WrestleMania XV Results - 3/28/99 (Stone Cold vs. If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. [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. [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. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. 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 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. 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. We've received your submission. In His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Worldwide star. He was 85. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. 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. "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. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. 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. Freddie Blassie Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family 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. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. . Blassie. Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahons Venomous 25-Year Feud, Bob Backlund Humble Beginnings to Championship Gold, World Wrestling Association: WWA Indianapolis Wrestling Territory, Rise and Sad Demise of The Midnight Express, Greatest Challenge Yet for Pro Wrestling Stories Author Jim Phillips, Adrian Street The British Brawler Who Wore Sequins, Ric Flair and Terry Funk: A Feud to Remember, Lou Thesz The Side Business Hustles of a Champion Wrestler, Velvet McIntyre | WWEs Original Irish Lass Kicker, Big Time Wrestling in San Francisco | Wrestling Territories, Wrestlers Who Shouldnt Have Followed Fathers Footsteps, Jack Donovan Deal One of Wrestlings Most Heinous Attacks. heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the 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. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. [12], In 1962, Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling icon Rikidzan that established his reputation in Japan. 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. is 6'(1.83m) . Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. 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". egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). 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. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. Hed adopt a bleach-blond look, start biting his opponents in the ring, and would often be seen filing down his teeth to better sink his teeth in his opponent. [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. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. [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. And more wrestling fans definite need to know about the. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. In 1964, the legendary "Classy" Freddie Blassie was still an in-ring competitor when he took on local hero Bruno Sammartino in front of a hostile New Jersey crowd, where he cheated for a cheap countout victory over the champ. In this series, we will look at some of pro wrestlings greatest and most well-known managers and/or valets, but explore their prior career as an in-ring professional wrestler. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Vampire". For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. 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. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. RELATED: 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". 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 . At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. 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. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. A third-generation wrestling fan and senior writer for World Wrestling Entertainment publications, Greenberg is the author of more than thirty nonfiction children's books, and has written for The New York . 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks by Classy Freddie Blassie - Goodreads 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. [4] 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. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. his service in the United States Navy during World War II. [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. Freddie Blassie Also known as Fred Blassie, Fred McDaniel Overview Career Career highlights Titles Matches Match Statistics Matchguide Feuds Promos Tournaments Tag Teams & Stables Entourage Awards Books Wrestling Games Movies Commentary Career Ratings Comments Matches Displaying items 1 to 100 of total 1631 items that match the search parameters. He had been in poor health for quite a while, and it was as if he wanted to wait to get his story out before he passed on. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. Hell, the article is entitled "Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between)" for crying out loud. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. 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. Blassie By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. 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. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. Blassie originally wrestled He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. Let me take care of him in the ring.". Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. 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