"Classy" Freddie Blassie was universally acknowledged as one of the
most hated heels in wrestling history. Freddie really knew how to
antagonize the fans -- how to "get heat." Death threats were
frequent, enraged fans stabbed him twenty-one times, and he was
even doused with acid. Undeterred, Blassie just took the action up
a level. He reveled in being the heel. It was commonplace to see
him biting his opponents and then spitting out their blood. Blassie
would routinely "file" his teeth during interviews. His matches in
Los Angeles' Olympic Stadium brought him to the attention of
Hollywood. Freddie's style and unpredictability made him a natural
for the medium, and he became one of the biggest draws in the
wrestling business. In the early '60s, he was invited to wrestle in
Japan. Blassie both horrified and mesmerized sedate Japanese
society.
At seventeen, Freddie made his wrestling debut in a carnival.
Unhappy with his choice of occupation, his family persuaded him to
get a "real" job, and for a while he worked as a meatcutter. But
after serving in the Navy in World War II, Freddie returned to
wrestling. Here he picked up his catch phrase: "pencil neck
geek."
Early in his career, Blassie wrestled for Jess McMahon, and
would later work for both his son, Vincent James McMahon, and his
grandson, Vincent Kennedy McMahon, the current owner of World
Wrestling Entertainment. (TM) When his days in the ring ended,
"Classy" Freddie Blassie became the manager of heels, transferring
to a whole new generation of wrestlers the style, moves, and ring
knowledge that had made him a legend of wrestling.
Released just prior to his death, "Legends of Wrestling:
"Classy" Freddie Blassie" containsvibrant tales of his days in
wrestling with the likes of Hulk Hogan, Killer Kowalski, and the
Iron Sheik. He frankly chronicles his dealings with the wrestling
fraternity and the promoters, even recounting the infamous "boxer
vs. wrestler" match with Muhammad Ali, who was managed by
Blassie.
His out-of-the-ring stories are equally compelling. Freddie
details his countless sexual exploits, and his three marriages. He
reflects on the cult status that he gained after his song "Pencil
Neck Geek" rocketed to the top of the Dr. Demento Show play list.
He recounts his touching relationship with comedian Andy Kaufman,
who cast him in "Breakfast with Blassie" -- an underground classic
in which Blassie uttered: "What the hell ever happened to the human
race?"
Added to this edition is an epilogue, recounting Freddie's last
days and his unforgettable funeral.