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Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. 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. County in crackdown on fraudulent benefit cards, UCLAs senior trio has persevered in restoring the Bruins to national prominence, UCLA stuns top-seeded Stanford in Pac-12 womens basketball tournament semifinals, Harvard-Westlakes Bryce Rainer fires out 92-mph fastballs in first start since 2021, Hes taken the next step: How Boogie Ellis found his game as USCs point guard, Even after Gavin Lux injury, Andrew Friedman hints at patient approach with roster, Elliott: After trading away Jonathan Quick, Kings make more deals ahead of trade deadline, Hidden, illegal casinos are booming in L.A., with organized crime reaping big profits, Look up: The 32 most spectacular ceilings in Los Angeles, Elliott: Kings use their heads over hearts in trading Jonathan Quick, This fabled orchid breeder loves to chat just not about Trader Joes orchids. 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. Freddie Blassie. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. He is from USA. [3], Blassie returned to WWA in 1968 just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to rejoin the NWA. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). 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. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? 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. Frederick was an only child. 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. We've received your submission. [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. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. 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. He is a member of famous Actor with the age 85 years old group. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. 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. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. "Typical Italian stunt! Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. 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. [1] 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. [6] Blassie described this performer as "having a neck like a stack of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek". 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." 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. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. the time, get up, stand up and fight. 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 heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned wrestler with a voice from the depths of the earth who made himself a hero to mat fans in the 1950s and 60s by playing the villain, has died. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 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. Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. He was popular in Japan as well. A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. book. 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. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. Fred Blassie had a shocking heel turn during his stint in Georgia, which led to him becoming an extremely hated wrestler! ROH Best in the World (7/11/21) Preview and Predictions, Preview: Ice Ribbon 1133 in 176Box (7/11/21), first African-American to hold a World title. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. 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. [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. Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. [8] Blassie also appeared in a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event in December 2001, where an "undisputed" champion would be crowned. 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 finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. for the WWF. He was 85. [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. Let's learn more about this classic heel! comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. 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. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. Let me take care of him in the ring.". 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. Freddie Blassie's net worth You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. 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. 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. 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). He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. This story has been shared 104,709 times. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." 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 According to Dave Meltzer, "legitimately there were three [deaths] in Japan from elderly men watching a match with Togo in Japan, and it became this myth that [Freddie Blassie] exaggerated.". ", Bruno kayfabed him. He was 85.Mr. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? 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 nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. Blassie died of heart failure Monday In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. 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. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. [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. 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. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. . 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. 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. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel.