freddie blassie wife

Keith Elliot Greenberg has been doing his part to preserve professional wrestling history for the past few decades. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). 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). My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. By doing this, he saved Freddie Blassies life. [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. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. 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 lives in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with his wife and son. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. In 1972, ten years after his last match in Japan with Rikidozans JWA, he returned to Japan and began working for Giant Babas All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. [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. [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. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. After Sheik lost the belt to Blassie's former managed wrestler Hulk Hogan, Blassie managed Sheik in various rematches around the country throughout the first half of 1984, culminating into another major televised rematch on December 28, 1984, once again in Madison Square Garden. He was 85. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. 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! Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." 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. Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. Worldwide star. 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . [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. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." [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. . [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. His career began in earnest after He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. This story has been shared 143,593 times. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. [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. We've received your submission. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. Blassies father was a heavy alcoholic and was abusive towards his beloved mother. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making He retired from competition in the late 1970s to manage a new generation of gladiators such as Hulk Hogan. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. 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 . He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 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. 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. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. [8] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered a "Yankee". document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. 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 News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Many people close to him actually had no idea that he had children in the first place. 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. However, Blassie wanted nothing to do with him because he too had a massive drinking problem and felt that it would "hit too close to home." 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. The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. 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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. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September1968 - 2 June2003)( his death), ? [8] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this time for biting his opponents and filing his teeth during interviews and promos. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". 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. 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. Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? 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. States. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. [7] When Philbin had a late-night weekend talk show in San Diego, Blassie would routinely show up to yell at the audience, throw furniture, and threaten Philbin; the confrontations were wholly kayfabe and both of them were friends when the cameras weren't rolling. 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. A fierce competitor in the ring known for unorthodox methods and a penchant for bloodletting, Blassie was verbose and boastful. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. Hed also regularly tag with Gorilla Monsoon, another wrestler better known for his non-wrestling roles. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. His parents, Anna (ne Sind) and Jacob Blassman, were German immigrants who arrived in the United States prior to World War I.[3]. Upon his return to the U.S. and the pro-wrestling circuit full time in 1946, he was repackaged by promoters as Sailor Freddie Blassie, as promoters looked to capitalize on U.S. patriotism following the war. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. 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. Blassie died of heart failure Monday Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. 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. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. 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. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . 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. 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. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. 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. 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. Im not implying that Bruno would ever have any dealings with the mafia on his own. Hed also engage in big title feuds with serious GOATs like Japans Rikidozan and Americas Lou Thesz, both of whom are considered among the most influential wrestlers of all time. 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). 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. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. 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! Blassie. 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. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. As Greenberg shares it, Bruno used to have many people follow him around in the back, many of which were purported to be in the mob. But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. His ex-manager would turn out to be an enemy, representing The Iron Sheik in the match where Hulk Hogan won the WWE Championship and held it for a shade over four years. He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. He hated his father for it. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. [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. 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 on the other side of the ropes. book. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. were too short. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he Lanny was only 12 or 13-years-old at the time. [22], Filmed in 1982, My Breakfast with Blassie featured Andy Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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. . Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. G&K did not respond to calls for comment. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. 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. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. 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. [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. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. 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. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. Now is He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. ", to a monstrous applause. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. 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. 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 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. Blassie, whose late hubby [inset] was known for his gravel-voiced put-down pencil-neck geek, claims to have suffered excruciating pain in the January 2011 tumble, which broke her right wrist, and permanent scarring from a cut eyebrow. blackrock china office,

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