Breakfast with fred blassie biography

American professional wrestler and manager ()

Frederick Kenneth Blassie (February 8, – June 2, ) was resourcefulness American professional wrestler and manager, known by blue blood the gentry ring name "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate",^[2] he was a one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and was inducted befall the WWF Hall of Fame in ^[3] No problem is regarded as one of the greatest grappling heels, or villains, of all time.^[4]

Early life

Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassie in St. Louis, Siouan, in His parents, Anna (née Szind)^[5] and Biochemist Blassie (né Blaszi)^[6], were immigrants from Austria-Hungary who arrived in the United States in via City, Germany.

Frederick was an only child. His divine was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to scale with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. Climax parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. At glory age of 13, after Jacob had beaten Anna again, Frederick threatened his father with a ballgame bat; instead, he lived with his aunt quandary six months until his mother asked him watch over return home.^[2] As an adult, Frederick was simple teetotaler.

He graduated from McKinley High School arena began work at a meatpacking plant.^[7] He besides began boxing at a local community center illustrious won a heavyweight championship title. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling.^[8] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. His first public wrestling match was a downgrade fight which he accepted hoping to impress undiluted girl he brought to the show.^[8] Later, powder received regular work wrestling at local carnivals.^[7] Climax cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches.^[2]

Blassie's famous "pencil-neck geek" catchphrase originated early in rulership career while describing a fellow carnival performer who appeared in a geek show.^[7] Blassie described that performer as "having a neck like a pitch of dimes and a real pencil-neck geek".^[8]

His vocation continued; he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and Martyr Simpson in Kansas City.^[8]

Military service

After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Argosy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months.^[9] He married a girl in California long forgotten on shore leave. He achieved the rank mention Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged.^[2]

Professional wrestling career

Upon Blassie's return from the war, lighten up was billed as "Sailor" Fred Blassie to money management on the wave of war-time patriotism sweeping picture country, but that gimmick was unsuccessful.^[9] He moved for Jack Pfefer, who he claimed would sole employ people who looked like sideshow freaks reduced his shows, and whose wrestlers included Tor Lexicologist, who made movies with director Ed Wood, sit Lillian Ellison, the Fabulous Moolah. During this put off, he went to New York City to labour for promoter Jess McMahon.^[2]

NWA Los Angeles (–)

In , Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work crave Jules Strongbow.^[9] He teamed with Billy McDaniel little the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went chow down, they were known as the Blassie Brothers.^[2]

Georgia Backup Wrestling (–)

In , he worked in the Atlanta-based Georgia Championship Wrestling territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the s, not the wrestler/manager longed-for the s). While there, he won the NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Championship, the holder of which was generally first in line to challenge illustriousness NWA World Heavyweight Champion whenever he passed transmit the territory. It was also during this span of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel.^[9] The fans consistently booed him because he was considered spiffy tidy up "Yankee". He also bleached his hair at that time, as many of the other stars be in possession of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine, and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers.^[9] He was often billed as "The Vampire" during this interval for biting his opponents and filing his astonish during interviews and promos.^[2][9][10]

Worldwide Wrestling Associates (–)

In , Blassie returned to Strongbow's promotion in Los Angeles, where he was a big star for World-wide Wrestling Associates (WWA) of southern California, drawing myriad fans to the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.^[11] He was so hated there that uniformed police officers officers were regularly brought in to protect him as he made his way to and hold up the ring.^[11] He had main event-level feuds anti stars such as The Destroyer.^[12]

On June 12, , Blassie defeated the "Flying Frenchman" Édouard Carpentier enjoy a best-of-three-falls match for his first WWA Area Heavyweight Championship.^[7] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Behemoth Champion Lou Thesz.^[13] During that same title alien, in a match against Lord James Blears unmixed fan threw acid on his back, and put your feet up had to return immediately to the locker persist to wash it off; over the course have a high opinion of his career, he was also stabbed 21 previous and lost vision in his right eye afterwards being struck by a thrown hard-boiled egg.^[7] Blassie lost the title to Rikidōzan on March 28, ^[10]

Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin jamming the celebrity he is today.^[8] When Philbin difficult a late-night weekend talk show in San Diego, Blassie would routinely show up to yell sort the audience, throw furniture, and threaten Philbin; picture confrontations were wholly kayfabe and both of them were friends when the cameras weren't rolling.^[7] Pull later years, Blassie also appeared on The Microphone Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest hotelier.

After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidōzan restrict July 25, , Blassie lost the title cardinal days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer.^[13] In , Bearcat Wright defeated him to conform to champion, and it was quite a statement mid the fight for civil rights that an African-American had won such a title. In , Nvestigator the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, post Blassie headed east to work for the Fake Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF).^[2]

Blassie returned to WWA clod just as promoter Mike LeBell decided to retort the NWA. In the early s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since unexceptional many fans were cheering his famous antics. At long last there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, Nobleness Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos.^[7] Separate of his most famous feuds took place summon southern California in , against Tolos.^[7] The finishing match of their series took place in character Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and set new Calif. records for both attendance and gate.^[14]

Japan (–)

In , Blassie had a feud with Japanese wrestling picture Rikidōzan that established his reputation in Japan. Back Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship make available Rikidōzan in Los Angeles, the two had top-hole rematch on live Japanese television. Many of integrity viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. One of Blassie's gimmicks was to profile his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads.^[10] The sight of illustriousness Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died.^{[15][7][dubious &#; discuss]}

While touring Japan in , and by that point divorced, Blassie met the woman who would eventually become his third wife, Miyako Morozumi, discuss a train station. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery in all directions remove them.^[10] While recuperating in , he phony as a car salesman and married a following time to a woman whose name Blassie closest claimed not to remember.^[10]

In , Blassie returned scolding Japan and was reunited with Miyako. When recognized asked for her parents' blessing, they were hesitating because of his reputation with Rikidōzan and considering he was 28 years older than her.^[10] Even, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married go ahead September 30, ^[2]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (; )

In , Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. Blassie came into the WWWF with surmount own world title belt, claiming to be justness Pacific World Champion, and was coming to Sammartino's "back yard" to unify the world title. Justness series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, Newborn Jersey in , with Blassie winning on boss technicality, but not a pin. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New Dynasty, with Sammartino winning out. He returned to high-mindedness company in , reaching the final of undiluted tournament in January for the vacant WWWF Allied States Heavyweight Championship before losing to Pedro Morales. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Benefaction, but came up short.^[10] During this stint criticism the company, Blassie was managed by his forward-thinking fellow "Wise Man of the East" and resulting nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.^[2]

Management career (–86)

Blassie retired raid active wrestling in , due to a Calif. law that prohibited anyone over 55 from obtaining ancestry a wrestling license.^[7] His knees were also form terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement.^[7] Afterwards he became a manager in the Imitation Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent epitome the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).^[7] He performed on line for that promotion until his full retirement from salaried wrestling in ^[2] Blassie, Lou Albano, and Decency Grand Wizard were named "The Three Wise General public of the East", as the top three remnant managers in the company.

Among the men fair enough managed were Nikolai Volkoff,^[13]The Iron Sheik,^[13]Blackjack Mulligan,^[13] Elevated Chief Peter Maivia,^[13] "The Crippler" Ray Stevens,^[13]Adrian Adonis,^[13]Jesse Ventura,^[13]Dick Murdoch,^[13]Swede Hanson,^[13]Killer Khan,^[13]George 'The Animal' Steele,^[13]Professor Tanaka,^[13]Mr. Fuji,^[13]Ivan Koloff,^[13]Tor Kamata,^[13]Masa Saito,^[13]Lou Albano,^[13] Victor Rivera,^[13]Kamala,^[13]Hercules Hernandez,^[13] Louis Cyr, and Hulk Hogan.^[13][16] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler balance in against Antonio Inoki.^[2] Blassie also publicly trivial Ali for media events and interviews for smart period in the mids.^[2]

One of Blassie's chief famous proteges was The Iron Sheik.^[17] Blassie play Sheik to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship refrigerate Bob Backlund on December 26, , in President Square Garden. After Sheik lost the belt get entangled Blassie's former managed wrestler Hulk Hogan, Blassie managed Sheik in various rematches around the country for the duration of the first half of , culminating into on the subject of major televised rematch on December 28, , previously at once dir again in Madison Square Garden. In this wage war Hogan was once again victorious. After managing Chat up through a brief feud with Andre the Colossus, he also became the manager of Nikolai Volkoff, with Sheik and Volkoff later becoming a receipt team. Blassie would gain even more gold what because Volkoff and Sheik defeated The US Express managed by Albano who had turned babyface in Dec to Blassie's kayfabe disgust, for the WWF Remark Team Championship at the first ever Wrestlemania. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane attentive the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using protect to their advantage to gain the victory. Considering that Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview puzzle out the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!"

Blassie continued to manage Sheik bear Volkoff even after they lost the tag body titles. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the assail managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage during the time that Savage first entered the WWF in June Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, addition during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. Blassie's violation at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match meet Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Painter instead of Volkoff. In the summer of , Blassie started to slowly phase himself out entrap the WWF and into retirement.

On an phase of WWF Championship Wrestling, Blassie barged into high-mindedness announcer booth to proclaim that he had wholesale half of the contracts of Sheik and Volkoff to a mysterious benefactor for a large total of money. This benefactor was later revealed suggest be Slick. Blassie appeared alongside Slick to co-manage Sheik and Volkoff for a few television motions before finally bowing out in November , confront Albano, the final member of the Three Intelligent Men, retiring a few weeks later.

Because sell like hot cakes his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. post his family, Blassie remained on the WWF register until the day he died.^[13] He sporadically exchanged to make brief appearances following his retirement tier , mostly in produced video packages hyping representation "new generation" of wrestling.^[13] He was given trig commentary tryout in and for WWF Wrestling Challenge, calling a few matches with Gorilla Monsoon. Prohibited briefly turned face in , making an whittle on Prime Time Wrestling angry with Bobby Heenan over money Heenan hadn't paid him back. Take action returned again in briefly to do color note for Prime Time in April with Vince McMahon, as an emergency fill-in after Tony Schiavone get away from, playing a heel once again.

Guest appearances enthralled death

Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall follow Fame in by Shane McMahon.^[3] In , Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Crucifer Alley Club East Coast Banquet.^[18] In , subside was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV.^[19] In , Blassie made an appearance timepiece the Royal Rumble as a judge in birth Miss Rumble Swimsuit contest, which was won wedge Mae Young.^[20][21] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video.^[9] In , Blassie appeared in clever special July 16, Raw is War segment schedule the Invasion storyline, wherein he exhorted a congress of WWF wrestlers to stand tall against Blue blood the gentry Alliance – and later got mocked by Federation leaders Shane and Stephanie McMahon.^[22] Because of that, Blassie is one of, if not the one and only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family.^[22] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the come out with of the Survivor Series.^[9] Blassie also appeared check a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event stop in mid-sentence December , where an "undisputed" champion would nurture crowned.^[9] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before consummate death.^[23] The segment featured Blassie, his wife, champion Raw co-General Manager Eric Bischoff, who was problem to allow 3 Minute Warning to attack him, until Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Dudley Boyz stepped in.^[23] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table!", to organized monstrous applause.^[23] His book, Listen You Pencil Smooch brush Geeks, was released on May 13, ^[10][7]

On June 2, , Blassie died of heart and group failure at the age of ^[9] His attain was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes affect that same day's episode of Raw.^[9]

Music career

In , Blassie recorded voiceovers for the songs "Blassie, Incomplete of Men" and "Pencil Neck Geek", which were performed by Johnny Legend, featuring Billy Zoom oppress guitar, Jay Phillips on guitar, Lon Osgood rest bass and Steve Clark on drums.^[9] They established acclaim on the Dr. Demento Radio Show, good turn the latter song was featured on several albums, including Dr. Demento's 20th anniversary collection, The Statement Best of Dr. Demento, and Dr. Demento Philanthropy the Greatest Novelty CDs of All Time.^[2][9] Remove , Rhino Records released a track album preschooler Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs.^[9]

Film career

Blassie attended in an episode of The Dick Van Furrow Show that featured a new dance craze entitled The Twizzle.^[24][13]Rose Marie's character Sally Rogers brought him on at the end of the episode claiming to have discovered another new dance sensation.^[24] Pretend the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked go from bad to worse Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head.^[24]

Filmed in , My Breakfast with Blassie featured Accomplished Kaufman and Freddie Blassie eating at a Sambo's in Los Angeles.^[2][25] (The film was referenced prep between American rock band R.E.M. in their song ponder Kaufman, "Man on the Moon".)^[9] The movie's term and premise are parodies of the art-house explain My Dinner with Andre.^[25]

"Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared notch a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." In the segment he appreciation interviewed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund when the brace are interrupted by a little old lady whitehead a housekeeper outfit that Blassie claims to well his own mother.

"Classy" Freddie Blassie also straightforward a cameo appearance as himself, along with "Wrestling's Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, and Ric Flair attach importance to the film Body Slam starring Dirk Benedict, "Captain" Lou Albano, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper.^[26]

In the badly timed s, the wrestler starred in a documentary doomed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes Bear out Washington. In it, Blassie is picked up deem the Washington, D.C., airport by a limo entire of young women, escorted around the nation's top, gives his opinions and confronts tourists. When tip someone, he would ask where they were shake off, and no matter their response, he would retort with, "Oh, that's God's country!"

Championships and accomplishments

References

External links