Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, where he developed an early interest in athletics. Despite warnings that his arms were too short, he attempted to make a name for himself as a boxer, but ultimately switched to professional wrestling after being outmatched by a longer-limbed opponent.
Following his service in the United States Navy during World War II, Blassie's wrestling career began in earnest. Initially, he wrestled as a dark-haired good guy, but soon discovered that the "heels" (bad guys) received better pay. He bleached his hair and transformed into a heel, earning the nickname "The Vampire" due to his penchant for biting opponents.
As a heel, Blassie became notorious for his ability to outrage crowds by breaking every rule in the book. He was ranked as the most hated wrestler in the United States in one poll, and his boastful interviews made him a favorite on talk shows. His influence extended to fellow egomaniac Cassius Clay, who would later become Muhammad Ali.
Blassie's wrestling career spanned multiple regions, with him winning numerous titles on the Southeast and West Coast. In the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and joined the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF),later known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and now World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).
Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued to win matches, but never secured the WWWF's championship. Knee problems eventually forced him to stop wrestling personally, although he occasionally returned to the ring for tag-team matches.
In the 1970s, Blassie began a second career as a manager in the WWWF, forming the "Evil Trinity" of heel managers alongside Albano and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth). He became a regular on the WWWF's weekly TV shows, often distracting referees and getting in cheap shots.
Occasionally, Blassie would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. He continued to give loud and boastful interviews, denouncing opponents as "pencil necked geeks" and bragging about his own accomplishments.
Around 1980, Blassie adopted the moniker "Ayatollah Blassie" and continued to manage a stable of heels. He eventually retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable to another manager called Slick. Despite his retirement, Blassie has maintained a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films.
Since his retirement, Blassie has worked as a "goodwill ambassador" for the WWF, although his exact role is unclear.
