Classy Freddie Blassie speaks about his new book, Paul Heyman's start, more
    Submitted by Sudeep Popat on Sunday, May 18, 2003 at 6:09 PM EST

  • Thanks to Chris Yandek for sending in the following:

  • In an in depth rare interview with 85 year old WWE Hall of Famer Classy Freddie Blassie speaks on his new book, the carnival wrestling, his days in the territories of Califronia, New York, and Georgia, his violent bloody matches in Japan, how all three McMahons contributed to the business and how Vince McMahon saved his life, Jesse Ventura, Hulk Hogan, being an inspiration to the WWE Superstars of today, how Pencil Neck Geeks came to be, and so much more. Below are two excerpts from the interview:

  • Tell me about how The Grand Wizard, Captain Lou Albano, and yourself started Paul Heyman's career in wrestling in many ways.

    "Well, Paul Heyman, this guy here is a little weird. He wanted to get involved, and he got acquainted with The Grand Wizard. I went down to Manhattan, New York before the Madison Square Garden shows, and The Grand Wizard said, 'Hey. I have a kid over here who wants to sell some of your pictures.' I thought to myself 'ready cash.' I was visualizing maybe 50 bucks to 100 bucks, and I give the kid I forget how many pictures off hand as it could be 50 to 100 pictures. Two weeks later they said, 'Hey, Paul Heyman is looking for you.' I said, 'Who is Paul Heyman?' He said, 'That is the guy who sells those pictures.' I said, 'Oh yeah.' I was visualizing money like 50 or 100 dollars, and he came in and gave me three dollars. I said, 'Three dollars? What the hell are you doing with three dollars? I will beat your brains in.' He said, 'That is all I sold.' I said, 'All you sold? I thought you were going to sell pictures.' That was my first acquaintance with Paul Heyman."

  • You are known today as a very motivational speaker for all the guys in WWE today. What kind of reaction do you get from the current WWE Superstars of today when you go to a show or a WWE event, and do you still follow the current WWE product today

    "Yeah. Today the wrestler has a much harder time with the aerial tactics they use and everything with the body slams, in the ring and out of the ring, head into the ring post, and once in a while my wife will say, 'Where is so and so?.' I say, 'He got hurt. He is in the hospital or at home recuperating.' The promoter won't use you unless you can draw money, and if you can't draw money then you're not worth a hill of beans."

  • You can read the interview at www.1wrestling.com/columns/fringe/default.asp?B1=View+Column&articleid=10043.

  • And finally, you can listen and see all of Chris Yandek’s interviews at www.neweraofwrestling.com.

    Credit: NewEraofWrestling.com


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