2018 Remaster of Andy Kaufman on The Late Show w/ David Letterman w/ "Classy" Fred Blassie on February 23rd, 1983.More remastered Andy Kaufman - https://goo.. Keith Elliot Greenberg has been doing his part to preserve professional wrestling history for the past few decades. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. [2] In 1963, Bearcat Wright defeated him to become champion, and it was quite a statement during the fight for civil rights that an African-American had won such a title. 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. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. They had no connecting hallways, so he was stuck with a bunch of these people, kayfabing his gimmick as Bruno was being hauled in on a stretcher. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). Heres a look at Classy Freddie Blassies wrestling career, long before he decided to take on clients and become one of the most iconic managers of the 1970s and 1980s. 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.
My Breakfast with Blassie (1983) - IMDb 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. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. 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. She . [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). He hated his father for it. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. Vampire".
Freddie Blassie - Biography - IMDb 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. [2] During that same title reign, in a match against Lord James Blears a fan threw acid on his back, and he had to return immediately to the locker room to wash it off; over the course of his career, he was also stabbed 21 times and lost vision in his right eye after being struck by a thrown hard-boiled egg. [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] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. "Classy" Freddie Blassie lead an interesting life as one of . He is from USA. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. This story has been shared 143,593 times. 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. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. 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. 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. 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), ? On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. 304K views 6 years ago The Dudley Boyz put Rico through a table after getting the call from WWE Hall of Famer "Classy" Freddie Blassie at ringside. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. . "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. 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. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968.
The Dudleyz get the tables with "Classy" Freddie Blassie's help: Raw The suit, filed in federal court in White Plains, accuses the supermarket chain of negligence and recklessness and seeks more than $1 million in damages from corporate parent A&P and mat supplier G&K Services. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. book. 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. 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. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. 10 Things Fans Should Know About Classy Freddie Blassie, 10 Managers With The Best Claim To Be On A Wrestling Mount Rushmore, 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager, 10 All-Time Greats You Forgot Had Managers.
(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. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie.
Before The Client List: "Classy" Freddie Blassie - Last Word on Pro Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. He was 85. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. in their 1992 song about Kaufman, "Man on the Moon". 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. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. He lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. After a 39-year in-ring career in the sport, Blassie retired as a wrestler as a 4x WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a 17x NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Champion, NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion, as well as dozens more regional titles in multiple NWA territories.
Freddie Blassie Biography, Age, Height, Wife, Net Worth, Family If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. [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. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height 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. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. Using his newfound skills, Blassie became a wrestler starting in the carnival circuit, debuting in 1935 but taking a break in the 1940s to fight in World War II. [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. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre.
"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. 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. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. He grabs his balls!" 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. 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"). 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. Anyone can read what you share. 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. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 The film My Breakfast With Blassie, which came out in 1983, was a spoof of My Dinner With Andre. The camera followed Blassie and Kaufman as they ate and discussed life at a local restaurant that looked like a Dennys. He was 85. The phrase pencil neck geek is such a common bit of North American English idiom that likely few are aware that it actually comes from pro wrestling, let alone from the mouth of Freddie Blassie. 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! 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. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. Moto-1964 and w/Buddy Austin-1967); NWA America's Heavyweight championships (5); Georgia Heavyweight title; "Beat The Champ" TV Title; NWA America's Brass Knuckles Title. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. 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". Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he [11], On June 12, 1961, Blassie defeated the "Flying Frenchman" douard Carpentier in a best-of-three-falls match for his first WWA World Heavyweight Championship. . Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. Outside of being an award-winning television producer, the New York Times best-selling author began writing about professional wrestling for several newspapers and magazines in the 90s. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. ", Bruno kayfabed him. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series.
My Breakfast with Blassie - Wikipedia In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Keith Elliot Greenberg coauthored Legends of Wrestling: Freddie Blassie -- Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks with wrestling icon "Classy" Freddie Blassie shortly before his death in 2003. switched to professional wrestling. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! He triggered heart attack-related deaths in Japan, was stabbed by angry fans 21 times and was once doused with acid! The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos.
Freddie Blassie, 85; Became a Cult Figure in Professional Wrestling by 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 retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. 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. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. Replying to. The closest I ever saw him to loosing the mask was against Cowboy Bob Ellis, I believe in the mid 60's. I can still remember old Dick Lane calling the action. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. 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. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network..
Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube Wrestler's widow goes to the mat - New York Post 10 Wrestlers Managed By Classy Freddie Blassie Fans Should Know About Free Freddie Blassie Wallpaper Downloads, [100+] Freddie Blassie He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the
(1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. We have estimated 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. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? 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). ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. 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)). [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. He was popular in Japan as well. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet.
We've received your submission. "The Fashion Plate of Wrestling" Freddie Blassie calls his interviewer and the fans "pencil neck geeks" and shows why he will always be remembered as one of the greatest managers in WWE history. 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. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. Born: 1921. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9].
Freddie Blassie | WWE In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. This is in reference .