I worked with the Sheik’s niece for 10 years. She told me a million Sheik stories. Apparently they were a very close knit Lebanese family. She talked about how gentle and kind he was in private and crazy the minute he stepped out the door.
Farhat did not own Toronto; Frank Tunney ran Toronto (and SouthWestern Ontario, from London on up to Kingston) since 1940, to his death in 1983. Frahat booked much of the Toronto cards between 1969 and 1975-76, but he didn't own any part of the promotion (neither did Whipper Billy Watson, who was the Wrestling God of Toronto between 1941 and 1967 or a bit later). He would show up for the biweekly Sunday cards in Toronto, and the alternate Friday biweeklies in Hamilton, but seldom went to any of the other stops on Tunney's two-week circuit. Later in the 1970s, he'd do additional shows for Dave "Bearman" McKigney's outlaw promotion in Ontario as the venues in Michigan and Ohio dried up for him as the Detroit promotion began it's slide toward dissolution. The only person I think who ever had any points in Toronto was Bill Longson, right after the death of Frank's brother John. Longson helped Frank get the promotion back together and running smoothly and (so the story goes) paid back his 5% (or whatever it was) and went back to just being a worker (and being the NWAssociation World Champ for a good part of the 40s).
You could also work a lot of good sized house shows without traveling too far. Detroit to Grand Rapids would be the longest at about 150 miles, but you only had to go about a third of that most times.
I actually remember the Davidson Brothers! LOL I watched Big Time wrestling until the end then George Cannon came in to fill the slot. He read a letter in air one day where someone complained ppl in Detroit were getting cheated out of seeing a major territory because he was showing his company in Canada. Two weeks later WWF was showing in Detroit and the rest is history.
Longest success of wrestling Promotion! Even Bobby Heenan told Cornette that the Sheik broke him in and was the greatest heel ever. Every wildman heel owes their gimmick to the Sheik. Sad that we don't have footage of big Sheik events. mostly just tv tapings to promote house shows. No territory had the longevity as his.
THE ORIGINAL SHEIK WOULD HAVE DINNER ON SUNDAYS. AND INVITE WRESTLERS OVER TO HIS HOME AND A LOT OF THE TIMES IT WAS BOBO BRAZIL. BOBO BRAZIL WOULD EAT IN THE LIVING ROOM AND THE SHEIK WOULD EAT IN THE DINNING ROOM AND THEY NEVER SPOKE TO EACH OTHER.THE SHIEK WOULD KAYFABE BOBO BRAZIL IN THE PRIVACY OF THE SHEIK'S OWN HOME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THE SHEIK'S WIFE JOYCE ALSO NEW THE FINE ART OF KAYFABE AS SHE COULD SPEAK PERFECT CARNI. JOYCE FARHAT REALLY TOOK GREAT CARE OF THE SHEIK AND HIS DETROIT TERRITORY AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS WAS A WONDERFUL BUSSINESS WOMAN, BUSSINESS PARTNER AND MOST OF ALL FANTASTIC WIFE TO THE HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT. JOYCE WAS ALSO AT ONE TIME THE SHEIK'S MANAGER HER KAYFABE NAME WAS PRINCESS SALEEMA. THE SHEIK AKA EWARD GEORGE FARHAT PAST AWAY ON JANUARY 18 2003 HIS WIFE JOYCE PAST AWAY ON NOVEMBER 27TH 2013 THEY WHERE BOTH LAID TO REST AT MOUNT CALVARY CATHOLIC CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTON MICHIGAN ACCORDING TO THE SHEIK'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE.
Saw The noble Sheik numerous times early 70s in and around Toronto -Sunday night Maple Leaf Gardens full house Sheik vs former partner Abdullah the Butcher with Sheik's mgr Abdullah Farouk (the Grand Wizard) suspended high above the ring..a one-sided bloodbath until powder packet dropped from the cage..Sheik powders Butchers face to defend the title. -Saturday aft Hamilton Ontario Forum..the Sheik trapped between two hockey nets, staring at lit ceiling above him, drooling and yelling out occasional phrases 'Ikeeyou'?? while mgr.Farouk 'promo- ranted' on to Lord Athol Layton -a monday night Brampton Ont Arena. The Sheik vs Billy Red Lyons. Us 4 high school kids ringside for this Toronto area Sheik 'extra check' night. After 8 mins or so of Sheik opening Lyons wide with foreign object, we all heard Sheik whisper to Billy in corner above us in 74 'im dropping it' speaking of his bloody foreign object. Lyons raises hands, object goes flying Lyons pummels the Sheik with it 1000 fans go nuts..before both bloodied combatants scrap to the locker room 15 minute double dq..and yes The Sheik retains the us title All of it joyous...thank you Eddie Farhat. Look for the book. Red means Green. Sheik's take
Sometime wrestling and the scene around wrestling just makes me chuckle at how unique it is (or was). It's like Foley and his statement "luckily I was in a business. That losing your ear might not be a bad thing". So here you have the shiek who apparently the only "pro" in working for him.....is working for him. Is their any other job in a functioning economy like that?
Why is It That Whenever Someone Posts a "I Wanna See (Random RWNJ Name) Debate Jim Cornette ... " , They Often to ALWAYS Post an Random RWNJ Name that We ALL Know Jim Will Most Definitely Verbally Eviscerate in Mere Nanoseconds
When Harley Race got fucked-up in the sar crash in the early 60s ,Sheik sent him money every month to keep him going, even though he barely knew him.
I worked with the Sheik’s niece for 10 years. She told me a million Sheik stories. Apparently they were a very close knit Lebanese family. She talked about how gentle and kind he was in private and crazy the minute he stepped out the door.
By all accounts a safe worker and never took a liberty with his opponent like nick gage with Arquette or sexy star tearing up Rosemary's shoulder
The Sheik , also owned Toronto , with his partner Frank Tunney , he was big up in Ontario ,Canada, at Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens .
The days of Sweet Daddy Siki!
Also did weekly shows in Hamilton, i believe
Farhat did not own Toronto; Frank Tunney ran Toronto (and SouthWestern Ontario, from London on up to Kingston) since 1940, to his death in 1983. Frahat booked much of the Toronto cards between 1969 and 1975-76, but he didn't own any part of the promotion (neither did Whipper Billy Watson, who was the Wrestling God of Toronto between 1941 and 1967 or a bit later). He would show up for the biweekly Sunday cards in Toronto, and the alternate Friday biweeklies in Hamilton, but seldom went to any of the other stops on Tunney's two-week circuit. Later in the 1970s, he'd do additional shows for Dave "Bearman" McKigney's outlaw promotion in Ontario as the venues in Michigan and Ohio dried up for him as the Detroit promotion began it's slide toward dissolution.
The only person I think who ever had any points in Toronto was Bill Longson, right after the death of Frank's brother John. Longson helped Frank get the promotion back together and running smoothly and (so the story goes) paid back his 5% (or whatever it was) and went back to just being a worker (and being the NWAssociation World Champ for a good part of the 40s).
It's nice to see such a great historian remembering the legendary Sheik.
Not only his work as a heel, but the people he trained, that is his legacy
He helped train Greg Valentine, Ron Van Damm..Sabu, Plus One of The Steiner brothers not sure which one
@@TheRydog61 he also trained Mohammed Ali
Yes before he went to Japan
@@TheRydog61
Umm ok, yes it was before his match with Inoki
@@ComicBookGuy420 I"m all over it bro...
You could also work a lot of good sized house shows without traveling too far. Detroit to Grand Rapids would be the longest at about 150 miles, but you only had to go about a third of that most times.
The Sheik also Drew huge numbers working for Tunney in Toronto!!
Crowds rarely got over 10000. Then they declined because he didn't lose for 8 years.
I actually remember the Davidson Brothers! LOL I watched Big Time wrestling until the end then George Cannon came in to fill the slot. He read a letter in air one day where someone complained ppl in Detroit were getting cheated out of seeing a major territory because he was showing his company in Canada. Two weeks later WWF was showing in Detroit and the rest is history.
Longest success of wrestling Promotion! Even Bobby Heenan told Cornette that the Sheik broke him in and was the greatest heel ever. Every wildman heel owes their gimmick to the Sheik. Sad that we don't have footage of big Sheik events. mostly just tv tapings to promote house shows. No territory had the longevity as his.
THE ORIGINAL SHEIK WOULD HAVE DINNER ON SUNDAYS. AND INVITE WRESTLERS OVER TO HIS HOME AND A LOT OF THE TIMES IT WAS BOBO BRAZIL. BOBO BRAZIL WOULD EAT IN THE LIVING ROOM AND THE SHEIK WOULD EAT IN THE DINNING ROOM AND THEY NEVER SPOKE TO EACH OTHER.THE SHIEK WOULD KAYFABE BOBO BRAZIL IN THE PRIVACY OF THE SHEIK'S OWN HOME BEHIND CLOSED DOORS. THE SHEIK'S WIFE JOYCE ALSO NEW THE FINE ART OF KAYFABE AS SHE COULD SPEAK PERFECT CARNI. JOYCE FARHAT REALLY TOOK GREAT CARE OF THE SHEIK AND HIS DETROIT TERRITORY AND BY ALL ACCOUNTS WAS A WONDERFUL BUSSINESS WOMAN, BUSSINESS PARTNER AND MOST OF ALL FANTASTIC WIFE TO THE HALL OF FAME RECIPIENT. JOYCE WAS ALSO AT ONE TIME THE SHEIK'S MANAGER HER KAYFABE NAME WAS PRINCESS SALEEMA. THE SHEIK AKA EWARD GEORGE FARHAT PAST AWAY ON JANUARY 18 2003 HIS WIFE JOYCE PAST AWAY ON NOVEMBER 27TH 2013 THEY WHERE BOTH LAID TO REST AT MOUNT CALVARY CATHOLIC CEMETERY IN WILLIAMSTON MICHIGAN ACCORDING TO THE SHEIK'S WIKIPEDIA PAGE.
They didn't always get along according to bugsy mgraw
He was also an Arab in real life.
Saw The noble Sheik numerous times early 70s in and around Toronto
-Sunday night Maple Leaf Gardens full house Sheik vs former partner Abdullah the Butcher with Sheik's mgr Abdullah Farouk (the Grand Wizard) suspended high above the ring..a one-sided bloodbath until powder packet dropped from the cage..Sheik powders Butchers face to defend the title.
-Saturday aft Hamilton Ontario Forum..the Sheik trapped between two hockey nets, staring at lit ceiling above him, drooling and yelling out occasional phrases 'Ikeeyou'?? while mgr.Farouk 'promo- ranted' on to Lord Athol Layton
-a monday night Brampton Ont Arena. The Sheik vs Billy Red Lyons. Us 4 high school kids ringside for this Toronto area Sheik 'extra check' night. After 8 mins or so of Sheik opening Lyons wide with foreign object, we all heard Sheik whisper to Billy in corner above us in 74 'im dropping it' speaking of his bloody foreign object. Lyons raises hands, object goes flying Lyons pummels the Sheik with it 1000 fans go nuts..before both bloodied combatants scrap to the locker room 15 minute double dq..and yes The Sheik retains the us title
All of it joyous...thank you Eddie Farhat. Look for the book. Red means Green. Sheik's take
I knew the Sheik, he and Joyce always treated me well. I visited them numerous times.
I'd love to hear how Jim would've booked The Sheik so that the fans would not just give up hope.
We Also got Tired of 5 Minute Matches where The Shiek Always Wins! @ArcadianVanguard
He looks like a James Bond villian.
The Sheikh & Abdullah the Butcher were the 2 greatest villains of all time. Legends of their craft.
Sometime wrestling and the scene around wrestling just makes me chuckle at how unique it is (or was). It's like Foley and his statement "luckily I was in a business. That losing your ear might not be a bad thing". So here you have the shiek who apparently the only "pro" in working for him.....is working for him. Is their any other job in a functioning economy like that?
politics
The Sheik ran shit
I wanna see Anne Coulter debate Jim Cornette she'd absolutely destroy Cornette
Joe Brown you really think so? Corny used to talk for a living lol
Coulter is a skinny, ugly, evil moronic witch. Not a contest. Cornette in a walk over.
Why is It That Whenever Someone Posts a "I Wanna See (Random RWNJ Name) Debate Jim Cornette ... " , They Often to ALWAYS Post an Random RWNJ Name that We ALL Know Jim Will Most Definitely Verbally Eviscerate in Mere Nanoseconds
@@frankbonini9128 “Let me tell you something, Mann Coulter!” and then off to the races from there
@@kabalabonga1452 And That'd Be Corny in a VERY Good Mood!