. Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks by Classy Freddie Blassie - Goodreads Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. 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. ", 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. One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? his service in the United States Navy during World War II. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. Recommended:The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, Lanny Poffo, speaking to his friend Keith Elliot Greenberg on The Genius Cast, shared the story of the time he and Freddie Blassie were in Hawaii in 1968. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. 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 achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. 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). Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. 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. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85 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. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. 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. ", to a monstrous applause. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. 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. [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. [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. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. 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. Freddie Blassie | Pro Wrestling | Fandom Vampire". 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. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. 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 order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. 10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On, Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling, The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body, Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and "The Fossil Jostle" Atrocity in 85, Roddy Piper: From The Streets to the Big Time, Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers The 1963 WWWF Title Screwjob, Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. On a mid-July 2001 episode of Raw, the Invasion storyline was in full swing, and Blassie was brought in to motivate the WWE in the face of their ongoing war with the WCW/ECW Alliance. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! 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. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. Tolos moved first to Vancouver, where he married his wife Ingrid in 1967 (they later divorced), then worked his way south until he reached Los Angeles. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb 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. [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. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. Patrick Stewart In A Checkered Coat Wallpaper. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) He returned again in 1990 briefly to do color commentary for Prime Time in April with Vince McMahon, as an emergency fill-in after Tony Schiavone quit, playing a heel once again. He was 85. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . the time, get up, stand up and fight. [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." 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. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. Blassie The Dudleyz get the tables with "Classy" Freddie Blassie's help: Raw Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. 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. . 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 . [22][2] Rose Marie's character Sally Rogers brought him on at the end of the episode claiming to have discovered another new dance sensation. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. "No. He is from USA. "CLASSY" FRED BLASSIE on Twitter: "Your trad wife, sir. https://t.co Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. 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. He hated his father for it. 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. 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. 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. Blassie. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. 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. 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. 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. Download 100+ Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Images & 500,000+ Wallpapers for Free. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Freddie Blassie was one of the most hated heels of his time. Death Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. 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"). [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. His career began in earnest after He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. 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. By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. 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. Anyone can read what you share. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. 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." The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. 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. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". 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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. [4] 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. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." My Breakfast with Blassie - Wikipedia 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), ? [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. 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. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. 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. "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie - Last Word on Pro Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. During his time on the West Coast, he was a frequent guest and/or interruption on a local show hosted by Regis Philben, and Blassies appearances thanks to his massive appeal as a wrestling draw helped push Philben into a national celebrity. 10 Backstage Stories About Bruno Sammartino WWE Fans Should Know His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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". [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. Professional Wrestling Online Museum - Spotlight on Freddie Blassie [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? 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). Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. 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. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki.
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