[7] As the wrestlers became familiar with him, they began teaching him holds. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". Greenbergs memoir on Freddie Blassie was released just three weeks before he died in 2003. By the 1970s, Blassie had relocated to the East Coast where he successfully pursued his mat career. He bleached his hair and quickly became a 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. At 85 years old, Freddie Blassie height His career began in earnest after 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. 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. Blassie's interference at Wrestlemania 2 cost Volkoff his match with Kirchner, when the cane was grabbed by Kirchner instead of Volkoff. 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), ? [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. In 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. Blassie died of heart failure Monday He achieved the rank of Petty Officer (Second Class) before he was discharged. Born Fred Blassman in St. Louis, Blassie played baseball and football in high school. 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. 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. As a wrestling manager, wore shirts and trousers of the exact same color, sometimes with a matching jacket. Recommended:10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On. 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. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. [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. Despite that, Blassie ended the year by leaving WWWF and returning to Los Angeles and the WWA. 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. [3] Blassie also publicly represented Ali for media events and interviews for a period in the mid-1970s. "Typical Italian stunt! . 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)). . [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. . But while his US in-ring career ended (while still working for WWWF), he remained employed by WWWF and became a manager instead. September 30, 1968 - June 2, 2003 (his death), Wrestling's Living Legend Bruno Sammartino. [7], His career continued as he was hired by more established promoters, including Tom Packs in St. Louis and George Simpson in Kansas City. And more wrestling fans definite need to know about the. [6] The final match of their series took place in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and set new California records for both attendance and gate. American professional wrestler and manager, Worldwide Wrestling Associates (19601968), World Wide Wrestling Federation (1964; 1971). 500,000+ HD Wallpapers & Freddie Blassie Wallpaper 100% Free to Use High Quality Wallpapers Personalise for all Screen & Devices. One of the men was Jilly Rizzo, Frank Sinatras number one sidekick and the owner of his own saloon. However, sadly, Freddie passed away before he could ever speak to his son again. According to Greenberg, Gorgeous George, towards the end of his career, wanted to form a tag team with Blassie. 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. Classy Freddie Blassie knew how to get heat and anger fans. 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. This film article about a 1980s comedy is a stub. Because of his close relationship with Vince McMahon, Sr. and his family, Blassie remained on the WWF payroll until the day he died. After a move to the West Coast, he tried a different promotional scheme -- that of a villain. 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. It was also during this period of his career when he dropped his babyface gimmick and became a full-fledged heel. [3], In 1964, Blassie feuded with Bruno Sammartino and Bobo Brazil. Lanny approached Blassie, who always had three girls with him, saying he "needed some relief. Feb 27. The terminology would follow him for the rest of his career. )[8] The movies title and premise are parodies of the 1981 art-house classic My Dinner with Andre.[23]. His wife is Miyako Morozumi (30 September 1968 - 2 June 2003) ( his death), ? 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. "Everything had to be the best with him," Miyako told WWE.com. [15] Blassie led Shiek to the WWF World Heavyweight Championship over Bob Backlund on December 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden. Blassie. [6] His knees were also in terrible condition, which also contributed to his retirement. Blassie worked for the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment, which presented him with its lifetime achievement award in 1996. Why FREDDIE BLASSIE Was So Great f/ WRESTLINGBIOS - YouTube DAVE KNOWS that Classy Freddie Blassie is a Pro Wrestling legend. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. He delivered a rousing speech, dramatically standing up from his wheelchair to get the WWE-loyal wrestlers pumped up for the next battle. The suit, filed in federal court in White Plains, accuses the supermarket chain of negligence and recklessness and seeks more than $1 million in damages from corporate parent A&P and mat supplier G&K Services. Hogan would return in late 1983, turning face almost immediately after and thus separating from Freddie Blassie. 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. Over the course of his in-ring career, Classy Freddie Blassie would wrestle a number of legends, many of whom have either become legendary wrestlers or became famous in the following decades for non-competitive roles. [10] He had main event-level feuds against stars such as The Destroyer. So when I saw this book I had to get it and read it. 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? He graduated from McKinley High School and began work at a meatpacking plant. the time, get up, stand up and fight. 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. 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. ", 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. In 1964, Dick the Bruiser defeated Blassie to become champion, and Blassie headed east to work for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). So, how much is Freddie Blassie worth at the age of 85 years old? Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Most recently, he co-authored the 2016 edition of the WWE Encyclopedia of Sports Entertainment. We've received your submission. After regaining the WWA Championship from Rikidzan on July 25, 1962, Blassie lost the title two days later to the "Masked Destroyer" Dick Beyer. [22] In the demonstration of the dance, Blassie picked up Rob Petrie and twirled him over his head. With Andy Kaufman, Freddie Blassie, Laurie Burton, Linda Hirsch. were too short. 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. [8] They received acclaim on the Dr. Demento Radio Show, and the latter song was featured on several albums, including Dr. Demento's 20th anniversary collection, The Very Best of Dr. Demento, and Dr. Demento Presents the Greatest Novelty CDs of All Time. (Use code PWS for a nice surprise). "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. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. His parents repeatedly separated, only to reconcile. In this match Hogan was once again victorious. All the while, he reveled in his role as being one of professional wrestlings most despised villains. Freddie Blassie's net worth His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. He finally defeated Rikidozan and won back his title at a WWA event in Los Angeles but it had served his purpose. On top of that, hed take on English legend Billy Robinson, WWE Champion Superstar Billy Graham, and legendary masked heel wrestler Destroyer. Anyone can read what you share. Gross tubs? 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. 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. Managed by "Loud", Countless World Wrestling Federation TV and Pay Per View Ads. The two spoke the same dialect of German, their parents had mutual friends, and . Frederick was an only child. 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. 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. Blassie, whose late hubby [inset] was known for his gravel-voiced put-down pencil-neck geek, claims to have suffered excruciating pain in the January 2011 tumble, which broke her right wrist, and permanent scarring from a cut eyebrow. Comedian Andy Kaufman & professional wrestler Classy Freddie Blassie eat breakfast & discuss life. Given that Hogan was the top babyface in the 1980s, this iteration of The Hulkster was actually a heel and would depart in 1981 after a dispute with Vince McMahon Sr. over Hogans taking a role in Rocky III. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. [7], After the US entered World War II, Blassie enlisted in the Navy and served in the Pacific Theater for 42 months. Recommended:The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Thanks for contacting us. [7] Later, he received regular work wrestling at local carnivals. A nice man, with a lovely wife and it was great having him there to cut a wonderful promo during my show. [3], One of Blassie's most famous proteges was The Iron Sheik. [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. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. The series began at Roosevelt Stadium, Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964, with Blassie winning on a technicality, but not a pin. Tolos moved first to Vancouver, where he married his wife Ingrid in 1967 (they later divorced), then worked his way south until he reached Los Angeles. A child of two German immigrants, Freddie Blassie was born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1918. 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 . Blassie also resented "Superstar" Billy Graham, at first, due to his association with Dr. Jerry Graham, who in kayfabe was Billys older brother. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." This story has been shared 104,709 times. After managing Sheik through a brief feud with Andre the Giant, he also became the manager of Nikolai Volkoff, with Sheik and Volkoff later becoming a tag team. He was 85.Mr. In the summer of 1986, Blassie started to slowly phase himself out of the WWF and into retirement. Pro Wrestling Stories - Your daily source of nostalgia and a peek behind the curtain wall of wrestlings past! 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. mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. 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. His first match with Blassie had actually. [8] He married a girl in California while on shore leave. "The Fashion Plate of Wrestling" Freddie Blassie calls his interviewer and the fans "pencil neck geeks" and shows why he will always be remembered as one of the greatest managers in WWE history. 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). Blassie was more than willing to let the talented Bearcat Wright take the gold and make history. He came up with it back in his carnival days, when describing a literal carnival geek -- as in, a performer who bites the heads off of chickens -- who had a slender neck. [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. 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. Despite being a 7-year pro before his duty in World War II, Blassie was still a journeyman. He worked for Vince McMahon and the World Wrestling Federation, now known as World Wrestling Entertainment. 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 never held a true world title but he was still one of the greatest of the 50s through the 60s". The Genius Cast with Lanny Poffo (2018-19), HOMAGE.com Our favorite in retro wrestling attire! Blassie got involved when he threw his cane into the ring, with Sheik and Volkoff using it to their advantage to gain the victory. 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. PWSTees.com Your favorite Pro Wrestling Stories, on a tee! 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. One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000). 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. [21] His final words on WWE television were "D-Von, get the table! The widow of pro-wrestling villain Classy Freddie Blassie got thrown for a fall by a supermarket floor mat. Sportswriter Jim Murray called him the worst villain since Hitler in a 1961 column in The Times. He heard Blassie say that and whipped out a gun saying, "Ill kill that sonuvabitch! Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. Blassie was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994 by Shane McMahon. 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. Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. Credited with bringing a young Hulk Hogan into the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 1979. "Bruno always had a huge entourage hanging around him," Greenberg wrote in "Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling. "I want you to get four Orange Juliuses for me, the girls, and you.". He won the World Wrestling Association world heavyweight championship from the Frenchman douard Carpentier at the Los Angeles Sports Arena in 1961. JP Zarka created Pro Wrestling Stories in May 2015. Blassie claims that he made Regis Philbin into the celebrity he is today. My Breakfast with Blassie was conceived of by Linda Lautrec and Johnny Legend as a satire on My Dinner with Andre. 10 Wrestling Book Must Reads and 5 You Dont Want To Waste Your Time On, Classy" Freddie Blassie The Legends of Wrestling, The Night Bruno Sammartino Saved Freddie Blassies Life, The Time WWE Hall of Famer DR. JERRY GRAHAM Kidnapped His Mothers Dead Body, Freddie Blassie, Lou Albano, and "The Fossil Jostle" Atrocity in 85, Roddy Piper: From The Streets to the Big Time, Bruno Sammartino and Buddy Rogers The 1963 WWWF Title Screwjob, Disclaimer, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, and Disclosure. Freddie Blassies origins are worth knowing about, especially because they involve much earlier days of the pro wrestling world -- as in, within the first half of the 20th century. He felt this was his chance to tell his life story before moving on. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. . 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. 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). 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. Greenberg would add that Jerry Grahams drinking issues may have been combined with mental illness. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he 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. That revolution -- making the villain the hero -- put fans in the seats and money in Blassies pocket. He claimed to file his teeth to draw blood from opponents, and among his nicknames was the Vampire. 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! 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). [6] On July 7, Blassie successfully defended his title against the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz. Blassie, Murray wrote, has dedicated his life to wrapping up as much hate as one man can safely carry in a lifetime. 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 . Freddie Blassie retired as an active wrestler in 1974 in part because of the difficulty of securing a wrestling license . 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. Blassie originally wrestled Take Linda McMahon, for instance. I think Dick Lane was as good as Gordon Solie in his day. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. 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. After the war, Blassie returned to the Midwest and continued wrestling professionally. The nastier he was in the ring, the more popular he became to fans. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. His last name is slightly easier to pronounce than it looks. 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. 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. Blassies father was a heavy alcoholic and was abusive towards his beloved mother. Also featured is Bob Zmuda, who plays a nosy fan. Lanny would state that Jerry Graham "had no business living the last 15 years of his life" due to his drinking problems. *Blassie also told Greenberg that women used to come up to him on the street and gawk at him because he was Gods gift to women! If they refused to drop a title, it didnt matter what the bookers thought. book. 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. My wife joined Toastmasters International in October of last year. [20] Images from his WrestleMania XV promo were also included in the opening of the 2001 Survivor Series. 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. Towards the end of Freddie Blassies life, he began to realize that it all may be coming to an end soon. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. However, he became increasingly interested in wrestling. wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) He was popular in Japan as well. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. Let's learn more about this classic heel! 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. [3] As an adult, Frederick was a teetotaler. [8] His death was announced by Jim Ross, 20 minutes into that same day's episode of Raw. [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. However, Blassie said he would toss his drink in the sand if he didnt drink it, so Lanny took the offer. In 1950, he had his first challenge for the NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship, facing championLou Theszin Kentucky. The Real Housewives of Atlanta The Bachelor Sister Wives 90 Day Fiance Wife Swap The Amazing Race Australia Married at First Sight The Real Housewives of Dallas My 600-lb Life Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. [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. [9] The sight of the Japanese legend covered in his own blood gave several viewers heart attacks, and some reportedly died. 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. He would become a frequent foe of Morales throughout the rest of his in-ring career in WWWF. WWE Confidential presents a feature on the life and times of the fashion plate of professional wrestling, "Classy" Freddie Blassie. Now is 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. In the 1950s, Fred Blassie was hands down the most hated wrestler in the southeastern territory. Inducted into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004. 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