This news is sad, and it's sadder to think that the Classy one is among the few involved in pro wrestling that could live into his 80s. There have been some recent stories of "old-timers" passing on like Wahoo McDaniel and Lou Thesz. Unfortunately, there are way more memorable stories about wrestlers passing on in their 20s, 30s and 40s -- Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Perfect this year, for instance. I have this fear with the brutal schedule, the workload, and yes, the substances being taken, there will be few "old-timers" doing the goodwill stuff like Blassie in their 60s, 70s and 80s because no one will be left.

Another thing interesting about Blassie's passing is that he had been on WWE shows during the past three or four years, showing a little reverence for the past. He may not have been a bad guy anymore, but he provided of nostalgia for people like me. While the WWE's target audience wasn't born yet when I saw my first wrestling show (The Iron Sheik, managed by Blassie no less, upsetting Bob Backlund for the WWF title at Madison Square Garden), it is good to see the powers that be acknowledging the past. Until the internet turned many fans into alleged insiders and definitely "smarks," it was verboten to mention the past or history of wrestlers, storylines, etc. It would become comical when you'd see a guy with a new name/gimmick/whatever and the fans knowing who he is, but the announcers consciously ignoring it all.