Original Sheik passes away

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Edward Farhait, better known to most as the Original Sheik, died at 3:30AM this morning.

 

If you would like to send cards to Joyce Farhait, send them to: Big Time Wrestling - P.O. Box 123, Williamston, MI. 48895.

 

We would like to extend our deepest felt condolences to the Farhait family and friends.

 

-- Lordsofpain.net

 

 

This may not be WWE related, but I felt it was worth mentioning here

[Guest Anglesault]

I've never been able to figure out who "The Original Shiek" is. It's not the Iron Shiek Hogan beat way back when, right? I know I've heard of him and I wouldn't even be surpised if I've seen a tape of him, but I could never place him.

 

 

It's unfortunate though.

[Guest Downhome]

It's too bad that most here will not know anything about the man more than likely. My sympaty goes out to his family and friends...

 

...yet another legend, has laid out to the three count.

 

I really wish I could attend a wrestling card in Heaven, it would be awesome as hell. Will anyone post a article or something about his life for all of us, or must I do it?

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Yes, it is not the Iron Sheik, former WWE champion. I don't know alot about the original sheik, but I've seen a few matches from the late 60's and 70's... he was a brawler, and from what I've read, was one of the originators of hardcore wrestling. I'll find and post an image of him in a few minutes

[Guest Blackston]

The Original Shiek is Sabu's uncle, correct?

[Guest The Mighty Damaramu]

Isn't he Sabu's father? Or was that an angle? Or uncle as Blackston just said..

Anyways......it sucked he died but I'm not going to pretend to know anything about him.

[Guest snuffbox]

Anglesault, no its a much different guy than the Iron Sheik.

 

The Original Sheik used/invented/mastered the madman gimmick for some 40+ years. He WAS Detroit wrestling back in the day. Popularized the fireball. Famous matches/fueds with Dusty, Andre, Funks, and Bobo Brazil. Also he was apparently the uncle of Sabu.

 

Check out the movie I Like to Hurt People

[Guest Downhome]

I've never been able to figure out who "The Original Shiek" is. It's not the Iron Shiek Hogan beat way back when, right? I know I've heard of him and I wouldn't even be surpised if I've seen a tape of him, but I could never place him.

 

 

It's unfortunate though.

He is the father of Sabu, I'm sure you know him. Not only that, but he was one of the most feared, yes FEARED, heels in the entire history of Pro. Wrestling. When he would come down the aisle, people would actually be scared of his presense, that is how big of a heel he was.

[Guest Downhome]

Here are some pictures of him from Sabu's wedding day...

 

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Bench/5...04/jp122198.htm

 

...I'll post some of him wrestling soon if no one else does.

 

Terry Funk and Abdullah the Butcher are staying in Tokyo,Japan now to work for the WRESTLE-1 show at Tokyo Dome on 1/19. They were really shocked to hear this sad news.

 

Sabu is just on the way to Tokyo for the same show. He will arrive in Japan on Sunday afternoon and work on the night.

 

...Sabu is one hell of a professional if you ask me people.

 

This calls for a 21 bell salute!

 

*BONG*

[Guest EternallyLazy]

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Sheik

Real Name: Ed Farhat

Stats: 5' 11" 247 lbs.

Born: 1924

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Sheik

By Steve Slagle

 

Perhaps no other wrestler is more responsible for influencing the current generation of "hardcore" wrestling than the one and only Arabian madman known as The Sheik. Famous worldwide as the most insane, violent, bloodthirsty competitor in pro wrestling (and that's saying something), The Sheik was "hardcore" decades before anyone had come up with a term to describe his style. Simply put, if The Sheik was wrestling, fans of the day knew -- without any question -- that they were going to see a bloodbath. His maniacal ring technique and persona (not to mention his penchant for participating in overly gruesome, ultra-violent matches) set a standard that "hardcore" wrestlers are still trying to equal, some 40 years after his debut.

 

Ed Farhat began his wrestling career as The Sheik in the 1950's. At the time, the young Farhat was muscular, trim, and very good at getting under the fans' skin. With an assortment of handlers (which included Ernie Roth, the future Grand Wizard) sent to the U.S. by his wealthy aristocratic Middle Eastern "family," The Sheik (pictured with Liberace) was one of the great early "TV wrestling" villains. Universally hated by wrestling fans, The Sheik was nevertheless a top ratings and box office draw for promoters of the day. His bloody, emotional battles with Bobo Brazil, Buddy Rogers, Antonio Rocca, Johnny Valentine and Harley Race were the stuff of legends, not to mention box office gold.

 

Despite the fact that bloodletting -- not acquiring championships -- was his primary goal as a wrestler, The Sheik was a winner, and he collected more than his fair share of title belts. He was known primarily as the perennial United States Heavyweight champion (Detroit version) by virtue of his 12 separate US title victories, which The Sheik won between 1965-1980. In 1969, he defeated archrival Bobo Brazil for the NWA Americas Heavyweight title, only to lose it to "Classy" Fred Blassie. The Sheik regained the strap from Blassie, but only held it for a relatively short time before losing to the legendary luchador, Mil Mascaras. Part of the key to The Sheik's fame (aside from his brutality) was that he wrestled in territories spanning the entire country, at a time when wrestling was very regionalized. The Sheik was also a world traveler, and performed in nearly every country that had a following for pro wrestling. He was a 3-time US champion for Frank Tunney's Toronto-based promotion, and won another prized international belt, the prestigious United National Heavyweight championship in Tokyo in 1972.

 

The Sheik also had a bizarre and bloody decades-long love-hate relationship with the only man who could ever lay serious claim to The Sheik's title as the "Most Vicious Man In Wrestling," Abdullah the Butcher. With Abdullah's fork in hand, and The Sheik with his trusty jagged piece of wood, the two wrestling madmen ripped and tore into each other -- and did the same to the teams they were paired against -- in arenas around the country with a furor and vengeance nearly unparalleled in the history of wrestling. The point of contention was simple -- who was the more violent, more insane, more extreme wrestler between the two. In a strange, twisted sort of way, the Abdullah-Sheik wars were battles of respect, honor, and pride -- with a truckload of foreign objects and a couple of gallons of blood poured in for good measure...

 

In addition to his overwhelming success wrestling all across the globe as The Sheik, Ed Farhat had developed a healthy, profitable regional NWA territory in Michigan, which he ran from 1964-1980. With Detroit as its base of operations, Farhat's "Big Time Wrestling" TV program and the group's live events were a major part of the NWA's territorial structure. As was often the case during the days of territorial wrestling, Farhat trained and developed many of his own young stars. Among them were future superstars like his nephew Sabu (pictured), Rob Van Dam and Scott Steiner, as well as young independent stars like "Machine Gun" Mike Kelly.

 

During his 30 years in pro wrestling, The Sheik not only created an "Arabian" character that was emulated many times over, but also set a standard of violence and mayhem inside the ring that few have ever been able to match. Were it not for him, today's "hardcore" stars like Mick Foley, The Sandman, Sabu, Raven and Tommy Dreamer would likely be wrestling a very different style. Additionally, the "sport" itself would surely have a much different look to it, had it not been for The Sheik. As a result, he will forever go down in history as one of the most important wrestling figures of the late 20th century. We at the Ring Chronicle are proud to induct Ed "The Sheik" Farhat -- wrestling wildman, innovator, trainer, and promoter -- into the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame...

[Guest JHawk]

Sheik is actually Sabu's uncle, I think. Sheik's son also wrestled (I believe as Capt. Ed George), and from what I hear from people familiar with the Detroit region, Capt. George sucked.

[Guest Downhome]

Here are a few pictures of this legenary performer...

 

 

 

 

 

...so there ya go in case you've never seen him.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Wasn't he also a star, at least for a short time, in Atkisson's World Class Championship Wrestling?

 

It seems like I saw him wrestle on a WCCW taping from the Sportatorium

[Guest CoreyLazarus416]

Sheik is indeed Sabu's uncle. Sabu's real name is Terry Brunk, which is notably different than either Sheik's real last name or his wife's.

[Guest HHHater]

I've never actually seen the Sheik wrestle, but I was watching the Jim Cornette RF shoot and Cornette was just RIPPING on the guy. Apparently, he killed off wrestling TV shows in a certain area because he would do stuff like attack people with dead/rubber snakes while blading them on camera.

[Guest EternallyLazy]

Well we all know Cornette's view on hardcore/ECW style wrestling... I'm sure he blames Sheik for inspiring Paul Heyman

[Guest BobBacklundRules]

RVD: "I got started in a very traditional way. I went to the Original Sheik in Michigan and he trained me in his school back in 1989. The Original Sheik trained me and that is where I met his nephew, Sabu. No matter how long I am in this business, the Sheik will always be the guy that brought me in."

[Guest El Satanico]

He looks alot like Sabu in that color picture Downhome posted.

[Guest Slapnuts00]

That's sad news, another fallen wrestler. At least this one appeared to have lived to old age, how old was he?

Man, if he was younger he could be over HUGE as a heel in today's enviornment.

[Guest jester]

You know, I think this guy may have been my first exposure to pro wrestling, although I had forgotten all about it.

 

For a time there was a lame show here in Canada called "You Asked For It." The premise was that viewers could write into the show and request news feature like segments on anything they wanted. Someone wanted to know about the Sheik.

 

They showed footage of him throwing a fireball. And when they tried to interview him, he tossed a chair at them and stomped off.

 

I can't be positive, but this looks and sounds like the guy.