He liked to use a variety of names but had trouble gaining the affection of fans who gravitated toward the likes of Lou Thesz and Gorgeous George. [6] He performed for that promotion until his full retirement from professional wrestling in 1986. He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. 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. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. It made Japanese wrestling a commodity on the West Coast and had given Rikidozan the credibility of conquering America. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. [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. Some of the guys were businessmen, some were political types, and some others Im sure were mobsters. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. You can watch him on Autopsy: The Last Hours of on Reelz in the United States and Channel 5 in Great Britain. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. He grabs his balls!" 3 Saving Freddie Blassie Thanks To Kayfabe. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie also made a cameo appearance as himself, along with "Wrestling's Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino, and Ric Flair in the 1986 film Body Slam starring Dirk Benedict, "Captain" Lou Albano, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. 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. [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. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. 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. G&K did not respond to calls for comment. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. Frederick was an only child. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. 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. His matches with Freddie Blassie were legendary. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned . 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). Blassie retired from active wrestling in 1974, due to a California law that prohibited anyone over 55 from getting a wrestling license. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. During this time, he went to New York City to work for promoter Jess McMahon. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). He is from USA. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. Sadly, the gimmick was a bomb, and Blassie jumped around territories, including working in New York City for Jess McMahon (grandfather of Vince McMahon Jr.). Freddie Blassie, Pro Wrestler Popular as Villain, Dies at 85, https://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/sports/freddie-blassie-pro-wrestler-popular-as-villain-dies-at-85.html. In 1976 he managed Muhammad Ali during his shoot match. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Lakers playoff hopes take another hit after comeback fades vs. Minnesota, Ducks strike with a pair of late power-play goals to defeat Canadiens, With Norman Powell out, Clippers are edged at Sacramento for fifth loss in a row, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; We are coming, sheriff says, Newsom, IRS give Californians until October to file tax returns, 15 arrested across L.A. 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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. His career began in earnest after His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. . Real Name: Fred Blassie. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. 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". In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Blassie originally wrestled The defendants had a duty to provide reasonably safe conditions for its customers, the suit charges. 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. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. Take Linda McMahon, for instance. 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. He is a writer and editor-in-chief here on the site, a podcast producer, the chief graphic designer of the cover art for the sites articles, the former host of The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo, and an elementary school teacher and assistant principal who enjoys playing guitar and spending time with his lively daughters! He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. In March of 1962, Blassie lost the WWA World title to Rikidozan, and for the next four months, Blassie competed in Japan, determined to regain his title from the Japanese wrestling innovator. 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. Lynne Margulies, who would later become Kaufman's girlfriend, plays a role; in fact, she and Kaufman met for the first time on camera. Blassie also was seen with the comedian Andy Kaufman in ''My Breakfast With Blassie,'' a 1983 spoof of ''My Dinner With Andre.''. Blassie died of heart failure Monday 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. in their 1992 song about Kaufman, "Man on the Moon". "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. 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. 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. Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). Hell, the article is entitled "Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between)" for crying out loud. [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. Born: 1921. One of Blassie's gimmicks was to file his teeth, and draw blood from his opponents by biting their foreheads. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. What did Disney actually lose from its Florida battle with DeSantis? JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. Blassie continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times. According to Walton, Blassies biggest achievement came Aug. 27, 1971, when he met and defeated Canadian wrestler Golden Greek John Tolos at the Coliseum before 25,000 wrestling fans. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. Before The Client List is an extension of our ongoing series, Before They Were Famous, which looks at wrestlers before they became internationally famous. [22][2] Rose Marie's character Sally Rogers brought him on at the end of the episode claiming to have discovered another new dance sensation. [6] Afterwards he became a manager in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) and its subsequent incarnation the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. [2] He sporadically returned to make brief appearances following his retirement in 1986, mostly in produced video packages hyping the "new generation" of wrestling. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. 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.. 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. 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. "Classy" Freddie Blassie appeared in a live-action segment of the cartoon "Hulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling." 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. Lanny was only 12 or 13-years-old at the time. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. 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). Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. 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. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? 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. [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. 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. Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide 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. 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. [20] Because of this, Blassie is one of, if not the only man to have worked with all four generations of the McMahon family. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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. (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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Let me take care of him in the ring.". 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), ? A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. "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]. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. [3], Blassie's famous "pencil-neck geek" catchphrase originated early in his career while describing a fellow carnival performer who appeared in a geek show. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? Blassie also wanted to clarify through his final memoir that he was an absentee father as he was on the road for most of his sons life growing up. 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." His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. 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 . Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. 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. Linda Lautrec and Andy Kaufman loosely scripted the film over several months late at night on the telephone. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he 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. One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United My Breakfast with Blassie: Directed by Linda Lautrec, Johnny Legend, Mark Shepard. Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. However, later that year Blassie suffered from kidney stones and had surgery to remove them. 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. When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". [4] This benefactor was later revealed to be Slick. Freddie Blassies income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. During his time on the West Coast, he was a frequent guest and/or interruption on a local show hosted by Regis Philben, and Blassies appearances thanks to his massive appeal as a wrestling draw helped push Philben into a national celebrity. [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. 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". [8] Blassie also appeared in a segment at the Vengeance pay-per-view event in December 2001, where an "undisputed" champion would be crowned. He was 85. [7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. It was in the latter that he decided to embrace his villainous side, bleaching his hair blonde like Gorgeous George. Blassie would turn heel during this period, developing a lot of the characteristics that hed become known for. Hed adopt a bleach-blond look, start biting his opponents in the ring, and would often be seen filing down his teeth to better sink his teeth in his opponent. ", Bruno kayfabed him. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! Freddie Blassie. He also bleached his hair at this time, as many of the other stars of the era did, such as Gorgeous George, Johnny Valentine, and "Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers. 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. His father was an abusive alcoholic, prompting Frederick to stay with his grandparents whenever Jacob beat Anna. This is in reference . By using this site, you agree to the legal terms set out in ourDisclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. Notable Title Wins Include: NWA Southern Heavyweight title (14); WWA (Los Angeles) World Heavyweight title (4); WWA World Tag Team title (2 times w/Mr. 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. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. At Freddie Blassies wake, a family member came up to Keith Elliot Greenberg, saying that Freddies son had read the book and was ready to make peace with his father. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Blassie. According to Dave Meltzer, "legitimately there were three [deaths] in Japan from elderly men watching a match with Togo in Japan, and it became this myth that [Freddie Blassie] exaggerated.". Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. 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. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. 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. him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow ", 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. [6] He also began boxing at a local community center and won a heavyweight championship title. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Bruno had gotten so famous that he couldnt always pick the boneheads from the rest. In January 1962, Blassie and Mr. Moto defeated Hans Hermann and Jesus Ortega for the California version of the WWA International TV Tag Team 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. In 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. 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. Replying to. He's also written for Pro Wrestling Illustrated, WrestleZone, The Windsor Star, and other publications. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. [8] He worked for Jack Pfefer, who he claimed would only employ people who looked like sideshow freaks at his shows, and whose wrestlers included Tor Johnson, who made movies with director Ed Wood, and Lillian Ellison, the Fabulous Moolah. 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. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. . Bruno Sammartino and Vince McMahons Venomous 25-Year Feud, Bob Backlund Humble Beginnings to Championship Gold, World Wrestling Association: WWA Indianapolis Wrestling Territory, Rise and Sad Demise of The Midnight Express, Greatest Challenge Yet for Pro Wrestling Stories Author Jim Phillips, Adrian Street The British Brawler Who Wore Sequins, Ric Flair and Terry Funk: A Feud to Remember, Lou Thesz The Side Business Hustles of a Champion Wrestler, Velvet McIntyre | WWEs Original Irish Lass Kicker, Big Time Wrestling in San Francisco | Wrestling Territories, Wrestlers Who Shouldnt Have Followed Fathers Footsteps, Jack Donovan Deal One of Wrestlings Most Heinous Attacks. [8], Blassie appeared in an episode of The Dick Van Dyke Show that featured a new dance craze called The Twizzle. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. Those colorful interviews helped make him a celebrity in the newly expanding medium of television. After handing over ME duties to Alex Richards, he remains a frequent contributor to the site. 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)). 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. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. 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. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. RELATED: 10 Performers Who Were Great As Both A Wrestler & Manager. 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.
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