freddie blassie wife

Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries when she tripped near the entrance to a Pathmark in Westchester. 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. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". Still claiming to be the West Coast Champion, entered into a feud with Bruno Sammartino to unify the titles. Freddie Blassie, 85, died of heart failure on June 2, 2003. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. , money, salary, income, and assets. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. "When hed go to a town, the most powerful Italians would latch themselves onto him and decided they were his protectors, whether Bruno liked it or not. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. 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). Blassie died of heart failure Monday Stats: 6' 0" 220 lbs. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. In 1964, Blassie once again captured the WWA World title for the third time (again from Carpentier), but upon losing to Dick The Bruiser in April, he headed to the newly minted World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. In that storyline, he is menaced by Eric Bischoff and his henchmen, before calling on the Dudley Brothers to "Get the tables!" [6] In later years, Blassie also appeared on The Mike Douglas Show when Philbin was a guest host. 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. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. (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. He won the WWA World Heavyweight Wrestling Championship from French star Edouard Carpentier at the L.A. Sports Arena in 1961. Freddie had been estranged from his children for the majority of their lives. Blassie later challenged Morales for the WWWF Championship, but came up short. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. For a brief period of time after World War Two, he was billed as "Sailor" Freddie Blassie in matches, a gimmick that did not prove successful. Blassie unsuccessfully campaigned along with the other managers to manage "Macho Man" Randy Savage when Savage first entered the WWF in June 1985. [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. 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. 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. Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. Blassie. In it, Blassie is picked up at the Washington, D.C., airport by a limo full of young women, escorted around the nation's capital, gives his opinions and confronts tourists. He was 85. While writingThe Legends of Wrestling, Greenberg got to know Freddie Blassie quite well and mentioned in his appearance on The Genius Cast that Blassie really opened up to him. Returning to the WWA, Blassie began feuding with the likes of Bobo Brazil, Mil Mascaras, and others, as well as teaming with another known violent savage, Mad Dog Vachon. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. He has written several wrestling biographies including Freddie Blassies The Legends of Wrestling, Ric Flairs To Be The Man, "Superstar" Billy Grahams Tangled Ropes,and the unreleased biography of The Iron Sheik which, despite being chockful of stories that would be sure to make your jaw drop, will never see the light of day. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. Gross tubs? Head on over to theLWOS Boardsto engage in conversation with fellow fans! In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. 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. Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. . 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. 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.. Freddie Blassie managed many heels to success, including the team of The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff, who would win the World Tag Team Titles from US Express thanks to Blassies delivering a strategic shot with his cane. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks (Wwe S) Paperback - February 1, 2004 by Keith Elliot Greenberg (Author) 115 ratings See all formats and editions Kindle $13.99 Read with Our Free App Hardcover $18.99 13 Used from $4.06 2 New from $38.98 1 Collectible from $15.00 Paperback Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. 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)). My Breakfast with Blassie is a 1983 film starring Andy Kaufman and professional wrestler "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. 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. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. 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. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. 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. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. Backstage, Jilly Rizzo club owner, Frank Sinatra's bodyguard, and . [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. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. [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. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. He grabs his balls!" One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. 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. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. After four decades, trainer Ed Moger gets his first Triple Crown starter, An exclusive look at details of Chip Kellys two-year contract extension from UCLA, His shoe game is pretty tight. Why Dodgers hope Miguel Rojas play matches his swag, Rats in the laundry? heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans on the other side of the ropes. For example, in the 1970s, he took on Cowboy Bill Watts, whod become a promoter and booker for Mid-South Wrestling and WCW. Freddie Blassie's net worth Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Hell, the article is entitled "Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between)" for crying out loud. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. his service in the United States Navy during World War II. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. The Rock for the WWF Title)", "TJR Retro: WWE Royal Rumble 2000 Review (The Rock wins Rumble, Triple H vs. Cactus Jack)", "Freddie Blassie - Dick Van Dyke Show - 1962", "My Breakfast with Blassie: An appreciation", NWA North American Heavyweight Title (Hawaii version) history, NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Florida) history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Florida) history, NWA International Tag Team Title (Georgia) history, NWA Southern Heavyweight Title (Georgia) history, NWA World Tag Team Title (Georgia) history, "NWA Hall of Fame Class for 2011 announced", WWA International Television Tag Team Title history, NWA Southern Junior Heavyweight Title history, Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum Inductees, 1853 Shepherd Circle SW, Blassie's Atlanta home (1960), 1950 Campbellton Road SW, Blassies Atlanta home (1966), WWE Hall of Fame Profile of Freddie Blassie, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Freddie_Blassie&oldid=1142698000, NWA World Tag Team Champions (Florida version), Professional wrestling managers and valets, United States Navy personnel of World War II, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in American English, Pages using infobox military person with embed, Articles with disputed statements from February 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, The Mysterious Medics (Mysterious Medic #1 and Mysterious Medic #2), This page was last edited on 3 March 2023, at 22:16. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". In order to impress a girl, he entered a carnival show match in a shoot fight and won. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. . From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). Who Is Freddie Blassie's Wife? Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. 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. He began wrestling professionally in 1935 and it was soon after that he came up with his famous pencil neck geek insult. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. Linda's dual role (as director and actress) was scripted as an irritating fan who requests Andy's autograph after he washes his hands. 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. Blassie died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. This helps us provide free content for you to enjoy! 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). 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. 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. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. Freddie accomplished that goal and did so in grand style, as only he could. 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. At an early age, Blassie was enamored with pro wrestling, particularly the shooters of the early era of pro wrestling in the 1930s, and would often sneak into a local gym to watch the technical masters stretch and submit their opponents. 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. [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. Despite Blassie not actually holding any titles to unify, his feud with Sammartino saw Bruno become a national hero, but in the process, Blassie became lifelong friends with another WWWF employee, Gorilla Monsoon. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. 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. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. He was 85. He was now hooked, and he decided that pro wrestling was his destiny and not his backbreaking work in the meatpacking plant. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. 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. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. [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. 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. switched to professional wrestling. At the age of 13, after Jacob had beaten Anna again, Frederick threatened his father with a baseball bat; instead he lived with his aunt for six months until his mother asked him to return home. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. He was feuding with a wrestler known as The Geek who had a neck like a stack of dimes, making him a literal pencil neck geek. 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), ? "No. By 1968, WWA rejoined the NWA, becoming NWA Hollywood, but in 1971, Blassie returned to WWWF and challenged new WWWF World Champion Pedro Morales, to no avail. In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. As time goes on, many older wrestlers begin to fade out of the collective memory of wrestling, especially if their primary in-ring work happened before WWE began its takeover of the sport in the 1980s. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. At an early age, Blassie was enamored with pro wrestling, particularly the "shooters" of the early era of pro wrestling in the 1930s, and would often sneak into a local gym to watch the technical masters stretch and submit their opponents. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. 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. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. [9], In 1968, Blassie returned to Japan and was reunited with Miyako. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. ", In this particular story, Blassie won a match by count-out in Roosevelt Stadium when he kicked Sammartino in the breadbasket while the referee was distracted. Blassie originally wrestled 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 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. He was 85.Mr. ", Bruno kayfabed him. WWE Confidential presents a feature on the life and times of the fashion plate of professional wrestling, "Classy" Freddie 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. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. In the early 1970s, Blassie "turned face", or became a good guy, since so many fans were cheering his famous antics. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. On an episode of WWF Championship Wrestling, Blassie barged into the announcer booth to proclaim that he had sold half of the contracts of Sheik and Volkoff to a mysterious benefactor for a large sum of money. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". 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. 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. 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. [17] In 2000, Blassie made an appearance at the Royal Rumble as a judge in the Miss Rumble 2000 Swimsuit contest, which was won by Mae Young. He kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. is 6'(1.83m) . Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. His eagerness to learn from 1935 to 1942 led to many of the circuits top stars sharing knowledge with Blassie, and when he returned home to the U.S. in 1946, he was determined to make an honest run as a professional wrestler. comes a time when every man must fight for that he believes in. His first public wrestling match was a shoot fight which he accepted hoping to impress a girl he brought to the show. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. 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. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. 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". He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. ", to a monstrous applause. "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. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. In 1950, he had his first challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, facing championLou Theszin Kentucky. The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. The professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure to fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950's and 1960's, died Monday. 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. He was popular in Japan as well. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. "Classy" Freddie Blassie WWE Hall of Fame Induction Speech [1994]June 9, 1994 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! Freddie Blassie Height 5'10" Weight 220 lbs Hometown St. Louis Signature Move Stomach Claw Career Highlights 1994 WWE Hall of Fame Inductee Freddie Blassie: Bio "Classy" Freddie Blassie is one of the most memorable Superstars to ever set foot inside the squared circle. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. [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. June 8, 2003 The professional wrestler Freddie Blassie, who became a cult figure to fans by playing the villain inside the ring during the 1950's and 1960's, died Monday. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. [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. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. 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). were too short. Funeral services will be held at noon Friday at Hitchcock Presbyterian Church in Scarsdale, N.Y. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. You hit a guy in the neck. 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. 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. 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. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Blassie was a contemporary of six-time NWA world champion Thesz, who died in 2002 at the age of 86. 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