The Legends of Wrestling: Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks
#PWHS #BookReview #ClassyFreddieBlassie #FredBlassie #ListenYouPencilNeckGeeks #Wrestling #ProWrestling
4/5 Stars
Some fans remember him as a manager. Some remember him as a wrestlers. Others simply heard of his legacy that says he managed to give fans heart attacks and get himself doused with acid and stabbed. They often forget the crossover he made with movies and television appearances outside of wrestling. Yes, Freddie Blassie is a true legend in professional wrestling. He won titles in the Mid-South, Florida, California, and Mid-America. Not only that but he received some of the highest ratings ever seen for a television show whilst wrestling in Japan. When he was a manager he was in the Iron Sheik's corner when he beat Bob Backlund for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Before you even look at what's in the book, you know it's just never going to be long enough to fit everything that this man accomplished, achieved, and lived through during his career that lasted through six decades.
The book starts in a rather nice way with Vince McMahon himself providing the introduction. Thankfully Blassie doesn't waste to much time with his life before wrestling or stuff that is irrelevant through-out the book for that matter. The journey starts off in a carnival where he explains how he got involved and came up with what would be his signature phrase for the majority of his career. We even get an explanation of how he was smartened up to the business via actions, rather than attending a training school as most wrestlers do in the present day. Whilst he is talking about coming up in the business you will read names such as Jack Pfefer, Wild Bill Longson, Mildred Burke and Orville Brown. As we move along we go through the formation of the National Wrestling Alliance including talk of Sam Muchnick and Lou Thesz, Blassie provides a unique insight though as an old school guy who appreciates modern wrestlers and uses current wrestlers (At time of publication) so fans who are unaware of the old school have a point of relation. Of course Blassies takes us into how he got into Los Angeles and his relationship with the promoter Mike LeBell there. If it hadn't been made clear already, by the time you get to Los Angeles you sure know this autobiography is no holds barred and Blassie says it how he sees it. Unrelenting in his pace as his life continues we move through the territories with him reliving the top feuds and and funny stories along the way. As I previously said he does not linger on personal matters, nor does he shy away from them though and it is very clear that he has one big regret from spending so much time on the road away from his first family. When he meets his new wife the story is quite touching and like something out of a romance movie, these snippets into the man Freddie are a nice touch as it shows a different side to him that is not shown otherwise. Freddie takes us through what it was like getting older as a performer and how hard it was to come to terms with the fact he could not be an in-ring competitor forever and how that led to him going to work for the McMahon's as a manager and life thereafter.
Anyone who thinks every aspect of his career can be captured in a 290 page book is going to be sorely disappointed, and rightfully so. It's impossible to remember, and make everything fit inside of a limited word count. Freddie and Keith Elliot Greenberg do a good job of compacting as much of the tremendous career of the vampire into the allotted space. A major positive of having such a packed book is that it really never dips and is just a very fun enjoyable read. There are even little passages from other wrestlers or personalities who were present at certain events, providing outside clarification. Whilst his hands would have been tied by how long the book would be, it really did feel like it could have been twice the length.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Review of The Legends of Wrestling.
Reviewer: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: Pre-2020.
Book Review: #26.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
Unique content strictly for the Professional Wrestling Historical Society.
Review of The Legends of Wrestling.
Reviewer: Jimmy Wheeler.
Published: Pre-2020.
Book Review: #26.
Editor: Jimmy Wheeler.
The Legends of Wrestling: Listen You Pencil Neck Geeks.
Author: "Classy" Freddie Blassie with Keith Elliot Greenberg.
Pages: 290.
Published as Hardback: February 3, 2004.
Publisher: Pocket Books.