freddie blassie wife
Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . . After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. 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. 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. [5], Blassie was born Frederick Kenneth Blassman in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1918. Poffo, at first, played it small and declined. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. [9] However, they eventually consented and Miyako returned with Blassie to the United States; they were married on September 30, 1968. For Freddie Blassie, there was no question why he took on a villian's persona - he loved it. "Typical Italian stunt! [9][6], On June 2, 2003, Blassie died of heart and kidney failure at the age of 85. Blassie, who became a cult figure outside the ring and starred with comedian Andy Kaufman in My Breakfast With Blassie, died of heart failure June 2 in Hartsdale, N.Y., according to Jeff Walton, a onetime wrestling publicist in Los Angeles who knew Blassie well. the time, get up, stand up and fight. Classy car for a class act | WWE He did an advice segment on the Tuesday Night Titans TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. 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. "No. The Life and Times of Classy Freddie Blassie Quiz One that stands out was his rivalry with Bruno Sammartino in the early 1960s. Stay tuned to theLast Word on Pro Wrestlingfor more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. 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. 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. 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. Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now A wildly popular villain in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, he later managed other wrestlers, including then-bad guy Hulk Hogan and the ever-evil Iron Sheik. 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. (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). He did an advice segment on the ''Tuesday Night Titans'' TV program, made personal appearances and did radio interviews. 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. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. Many of the viewers were horrified by Blassie's treatment of their hero. 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. 'The Destroyer' Dick Beyer story archive | Slam Wrestling Freddie Blassie - Wikipedia [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. [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. This resulted in a weak relationship between the two. [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. ", "Heres some money," Blassie would say. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. 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)). Lanny was only 12 or 13-years-old at the time. Freddie Blassie's net worth He was 85. 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 continued to interfere from ringside in matches, especially during Volkoff's feud with Corporal Kirchner. 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 , money, salary, income, and assets. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. My Breakfast with Blassie - Wikipedia 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. [24], In the early 1990s, the wrestler starred in a documentary directed by Jeff Krulik, titled Mr. Blassie Goes To Washington. 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. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. 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. Hed continue being a heel, managing a number of bad guys like George The Animal Steele, Hercules, and Blackjack Mulligan. Freddie Blassie decided to stop being a fixture of wrestling in 1986 but was no stranger to making the odd guest appearance. He even managed Muhammad Ali going into his legendary match with Antonio Inoki. It was not until he moved to the West Coast that fans began supporting him. He hated his father for it. States. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. 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. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. After a 39-year in-ring career in the sport, Blassie retired as a wrestler as a 4x WWA World Heavyweight Champion, a 17x NWA Georgia Southern Heavyweight Champion, NWA Junior Heavyweight Champion, as well as dozens more regional titles in multiple NWA territories. (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. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. 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. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. [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. 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. He had been in poor health for quite a while, and it was as if he wanted to wait to get his story out before he passed on. He married his first wife Nettie Needles while on shore leave during the war. [3][8] In 1983, Rhino Records released a 14-track album by Blassie, titled I Bite the Songs. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. [18][19] Blassie also appeared in the SummerSlam opening video. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. While there, he feuded with Soulman Rocky Johnson, The Sheik, and "The Golden Greek" John Tolos. [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. When Gene Okerlund confronted Blassie in an interview after the match, Blassie said, "what cane, I didn't have no cane!". 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. Deiveson Figueiredo Tattoo Wallpaper. Blassie would show Greenberg dozens of notebooks with "beautiful cursive handwriting." JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. 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 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). [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. [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. 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 Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. Freddie Blassie, the silver-maned wrestler with a voice from the depths of the earth who made himself a hero to mat fans in the 1950s and 60s by playing the villain, has died. Freddie Blassie - Online World of Wrestling The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. 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. 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. Blassie. [3], In 1953, he worked in the Atlanta, territory for Paul Jones (the wrestler of the 1930s, not the wrestler/manager of the 1980s). "Classy" Freddie Blassie is a legendary wrestling personality, both as a wrestler and a manager. Freddie Blassie Obituary (2003) - San Diego, CA - San Diego Union-Tribune The Legends of Wrestling - "Classy" Freddie Blassie: Listen, You Pencil You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. 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. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height [3][23] (The film was referenced by American rock band R.E.M. Freddie Blassie was one of the most hated heels of his time. Death Classy Freddie Blassie was pro wrestling's 'Fashion Plate' His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. Vampire". In addition to his pro wrestling notoriety, Classy Freddie Blassie also has some amusing notability in wider pop culture. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. The rematches were held at Madison Square Garden in New York, with Sammartino winning out. [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.Mr. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. The widow of pro-wrestling villain "Classy" Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. book. Freddie Blassie | WWE Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. 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. As a result he has wrought something of a revolution in the unmanly art of exhibition wrestling.. 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. "That's why he was 'Classy' Freddie Blassie." Anyone can read what you share. 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"). Miyako Blassie, 68, says in court papers that she was shopping for groceries. were too short. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. Blassie also mastered the television interview, boasting his superiority over other wrestlers he liked to call ''pencil-neck geeks.'' After Blassie lost the WWA World Heavyweight Championship to Rikidzan in Los Angeles, the two had a rematch on live Japanese television. Let me take care of him in the ring.". [spoken to the WWF wrestlers during Invasion 2001] Gentleman, there 10 Backstage Stories About Bruno Sammartino WWE Fans Should Know 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. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. 1 One of the great legends of pro wrestling albeit one whose in-ring career predated the 1980s Golden Era wrestling boom Classy Freddie Blassie was a successful heel who wrestled all over. 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. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. 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. Courtesy of the award-winning WWE Network.. 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. 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. If you're not from the midwest you're not allowed to have an opinion on this. [8] He teamed with Billy McDaniel as the McDaniel Brothers, but when they went east, they were known as the Blassie Brothers. He returned again in 1990 briefly to do color commentary for Prime Time in April with Vince McMahon, as an emergency fill-in after Tony Schiavone quit, playing a heel once again. 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). He became less the focal point of WWA, and soon began working more NWA territories, as he spread his wings into enemy territory. [4] He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. [4] In 1998, Blassie was the winner at the fourth annual Cauliflower Alley Club East Coast Banquet. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. 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. 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. [2][14] Blassie also managed Muhammad Ali in his boxer vs. wrestler match in 1976 against Antonio Inoki. Blassie began portraying himself as a villain, and it worked. Hell, the article is entitled "Freddie Blassie - The Truth (and Somewhere In-Between)" for crying out loud. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. That year, Blassie was forced to retire from in-ring competition, as a California by-law forbade wrestling licenses for anyone upon reaching 55 years old. Freddie Blassie Wrestlers Database CAGEMATCH - The Internet In reality, Blassie was a major on-screen figure in wrestling, both in competitive and managerial roles, and had a status in overall pop culture. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. 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. Zach Eflin And Wife On Yacht Wallpaper. In the segment he is interviewed by "Mean" Gene Okerlund when the two are interrupted by a little old lady in a housekeeper outfit that Blassie claims to be his own mother. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. Freddie Blassie. *The 100 deaths claim was an exaggerated myth that Blassie used. ", 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. He spent his time in the Missouri territory, working mainly in St. Louis and Kansas City, but when the U.S. entered the Second World War, he enlisted in 1942 and joined the U.S. Navy, where he spent four years (42 months) in combat in the U.S. battles in the Pacific. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms Without further ado, lets do an overview of Blassies career for fans who may not know much about him. 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. Jamie Greer joined LWOPW in 2015 and was the site's Managing Editor from 2016 through 2020. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! 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. (and of course, Bubba Ray and D-Von take care of Bischoff and his cronies). It was a wonderful look back at "old-school" wrestling as told by one of the masters, both as a wrestler and as a talker. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. Frederick was an only child. [6] Blassie lost the title to Rikidzan on March 28, 1962.[9]. [4] We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 8 February. Blassie died in Hartsdale, N.Y., Jeff Walton, a former wrestling publicist, told The Los Angeles Times. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. He kept track of all of his matches during his career, including personal anecdotes. Had some great matches with Rikidozan & even back in the late 60s he was over bigtime as a heel. egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. 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. He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. Blassie continued to manage Sheik and Volkoff even after they lost the tag team titles. She . On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. 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. He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. [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. [16] In 1999, he was shown making the opening narration of WrestleMania XV. Freddie Blassie - IMDb I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. Frederick Kenneth Blassie (Classy Freddy Blassie, The Vampire, Sailor Fred Blassie, The Hollywood Fashion Plate, The Fashion Plate of Professional Wrestling) was born on 8 February, 1918 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, is an Actor. After the war, he continued to wrestle professionally in the Midwest. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. 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. Some NFL teams dont make the grade, players say, New era of football begins at Mater Dei under coach Frank McManus. Vince McMahon interviews "Classy" Freddie Blassie & Nikolai Volkoff | WWE 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. 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. 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 . 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. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! 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. his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Freddie never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". When the wife of WWEs Chairman and CEOhad heard about this, she accosted Blassie saying, "I didnt even realize you had any kids!". in their 1992 song about Kaufman, "Man on the Moon". . Blassie held various regional titles, Walton said, including the WWA World Title on five separate occasions, the Americas Heavyweight Title nine times and tag team belts with various partners over the years. [6] His cousin John Frank Holaus often refereed his matches. @megantheevalium. Back in the dressing room, Blassie realized he was in the wrong one. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) (1965 - 1968)( divorced), Nettie Needles (September 1942 - 1964)( divorced)( 3 children). From there, he moved on to become a regular writer, contributor, and reporter for WWE. [3], In 1952, Blassie moved to Los Angeles to work for Jules Strongbow. 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. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he [9] During this stint with the company, Blassie was managed by his future nemesis, "Captain" Lou Albano.[3]. 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.. 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. In one memorable instance, Blassie, playing up the heel character, would berate Brunos followers backstage with promos, calling them derogatory names such as "grease ball" and "spaghetti bender." 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)). [8] His final wrestling appearance was May 12, 2003 in Philadelphia on Raw, three weeks before his death. As a German descent American, he was often faced with questions of loyalty, despite marrying a Jewish woman. 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? Blassie, well-known for exaggerating a story or two, stated that when he was wrestling Rikidozan in Japan, 100 Japanese wrestling fans dropped dead of heart attacks because the matches were so gory. The Dudleyz get the tables with "Classy" Freddie Blassie's help: Raw 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. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000).