[4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. 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] Blassie, Lou Albano, and The Grand Wizard were named "The Three Wise Men of the East", as the top three heel managers in the company. 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. 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. . Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. "Typical Italian stunt! 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. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. 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. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. And more wrestling fans definite need to know about the. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. 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. He was 85. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. [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. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." In 1960, he became a regular with World Wrestling Associates (WWA) in Los Angeles, a move that would cement his legacy in pro wrestling, long before he became a manager. Fred Blassie would meet his wife, a Japanese actress.. November 15, 1968: Fred Blassie defeated Buddy Austin in a "Stretcher" match in the Olympic Stadium.. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. . View popular celebrities life details, birth signs and real ages. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. "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. 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. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. switched to professional wrestling. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. Among the men he managed were Nikolai Volkoff,[2] The Iron Sheik,[2] Blackjack Mulligan,[2] High Chief Peter Maivia,[2] "The Crippler" Ray Stevens,[2] Adrian Adonis,[2] Jesse Ventura,[2] Dick Murdoch,[2] Swede Hanson,[2] Killer Khan,[2] George 'The Animal' Steele,[2] Professor Tanaka,[2] Mr. Fuji,[2] Ivan Koloff,[2] Tor Kamata,[2] Masa Saito,[2] Lou Albano,[2] Victor Rivera,[2] Kamala,[2] Hercules Hernandez,[2] and Hulk Hogan. Blassie came into the WWWF with his own world title belt, claiming to be the Pacific World Champion, and was coming to Sammartino's "back yard" to unify the world title. 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 retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. He briefly turned face in 1989, making an appearance on Prime Time Wrestling angry with Bobby Heenan over money Heenan hadn't paid him back. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE . [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. 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. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. 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. WrestlingEpicenter.com - RIP Rest in Peace Obituaries Blassie is survived by his wife, Miyako, and three children. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. [2] He was given a commentary tryout in 1986 and 1987 for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). He grabs his balls!" 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. He is from USA. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). Andy Kaufman on Letterman w/ "Classy" Freddie Blassie 02/23/1983 In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. Freddie Blassie | WWE This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As much as governing body politics held back minorities, the wrestlers themselves had even more power. Blassie died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. 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. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on theWWE NetworkandPeacock. As a result, fans may be aware of Classy Freddie Blassie for his appearances during WWEs Golden Era and beyond but that only scratches the surface of his career. Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s).