Wikipedia

Adnan Al-Kaissie

Adnan bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie(Arabic:عدنان بن عبدالكريم أحمد القيسي ألفرث;March 1, 1939 – September 6, 2023), better known professionally asAdnan Al-Kaissie,was an Iraqi-American professional wrestler and manager best known as Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissey, Billy White Wolf, or General Adnan. In 1971 he defeatedAndré the GiantinAl-Shaab StadiuminBaghdad,under the auspices of his high school classmate, Ba'ath Party leaderSaddam Hussein.[4]He competed in theWorld Wide Wrestling Federation(WWWF). On December 7, 1976, he won theWWWF World Tag Team ChampionshipwithChief Jay Strongbow.[5]

Adnan Al-Kaissie
Al-Kaissie in the early 1970s
Birth nameAdnan Bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie
Born(1939-03-01)March 1, 1939[1]
Baghdad,Kingdom of Iraq[1]
DiedSeptember 6, 2023(2023-09-06)(aged 84)
Minnesota,U.S.[2]
Alma materOklahoma State University
Spouse(s)
Kathy Davis
​
(m.1964)​
Children4
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Adnan El Kaissie[1]
Billy White Wolf[1]
General Adnan
Shiek Adnan Al-Kaissey[1]
Billed height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[3]
Billed weight245 lb (111 kg)[3]
Billed fromBaghdad, Iraq
Trained byYvon Robert
Debut1959
Retired1998

In 1981, Adnan Al-Kaissie joined theAmerican Wrestling Association(AWA). In 1990 he joined theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF formerly WWWF, now known as the WWE), where he managedSgt. Slaughterunder the name "General Adnan". He competed atSummerSlam 1991with his partners Sgt. Slaughter andCol. Mustafain a Handicap match withSid Justiceas special guest referee againstHulk HoganandThe Ultimate Warrior.[1]Al-Kaissie became the first Iraqi and the first Arab to compete in a WWF/WWE ring.

Early life

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Adnan Al-Kaissy was born Adnan Bin Abdulkareem Ahmed Al-Kaissy El Farthie in Baghdad, Iraq. According to his autobiography, he came from a fairly distinguished family, with his father being an imam. One of his high school classmates wasSaddam Hussein.Al-Kaissy playedassociation footballand was an amateur wrestler inIraq.He received a scholarship to playAmerican footballat theUniversity of Houston,transferring toOklahoma State University,emerging as a wrestler. He almost qualified for the U.S. Olympic team but was not an American citizen.[6][7]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1959–1971)

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Al-Kaissie, then billed as Billy White Wolf (top), during a wrestling match against Bill Savage on 20 February 1963 inKlamath Falls, Oregon.

Al-Kaissy began wrestling in the state of Oklahoma in 1959 under thering nameBilly White Wolf, a Native American character.

Kaissey wrestled for Pacific Northwest Wrestling in the 1960s. In 1964, Adnan, who had married an American woman, became a United States citizen.[8]He also wrestled forJoint Promotionsin the United Kingdom, appearing onITVin December 1969 as White Wolf, facing Jim Hussey,[9](father ofMark Rocco).

Iraqi wrestling (1971–1974)

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During the 1970s, he took professional wrestling to Iraq under the direction of Saddam Hussein. In one such match, he defeatedAndré the Giantin Baghdad in 1971 and he defeated the Scottish Ian Campbell, Frenchman and the Canadian championGeorge GordienkoinBaghdad.He also wrestled Bob Roop there in 1972. Al-Kaissy became enormously popular in his home country, being gifted palaces, a fleet ofMercedes-Benzcars, and money from the government. He began to fear for his safety after overhearing conversations from his nephews in theRepublican Guardand later felt he was being used by Saddam. He left Iraq for the last time in 1980.[10]

New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Florida (1974–1975)

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In 1974, Adnan debuted inNew Japan Pro-Wrestlingas the Sheik of Sheiks of Baghdad, he teamed withNikolai Volkoffand they tried to win the NWA North American Tag Team but they failed after losing the Best Two Out Of Three Falls match againstAntonio InokiandSeiji SakaguchiatAichi Prefectural GymnasiuminAichi, Japan.Later he feuded with the likes of Antonio Inoki, Seiji Sakaguchi,Kantaro Hoshino,Osamu Kido,Haruka Eigen.After he left NJPW, Adnan returned to the United States, where he wrestled inEddie Graham's promotionChampionship Wrestling from Floridaunder his real name.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1976–1977)

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In the World Wide Wrestling Federation, in 1976, under the Native American gimmick Billy White Wolf, he won theWorld Tag Team ChampionshipwithChief Jay Strongbow.Needing neck surgery, Kassey agreed to work an injury angle where he had his neck broken byKen Pateravia theSwinging Neckbreakeron television. After he left the territory for his neck surgery in 1977, the "Indians" were stripped of the title.

Various promotions (1977–1981)

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In 1978, he wrestled in Hawaii and was the master of the "Indian Death Match" until his arch-rival,Tor Kamata,defeated him. He also returned to the United Kingdom in late 1979, billed as "The Sheik", making another appearance on ITV, this time on theWorld of SportTV show, battling Lenny Hurst to an "open verdict" for using a possibly illegal sleeperhold.[11]Not long after, he returned briefly to Iraq with the intent of introducing pro wrestling. By this time, his old classmate Saddam was ruler of the country. By his own account, it was a difficult time, for although Kaissey was very popular and had some success introducing professional wrestling to Iraq, Saddam was already becoming paranoid about potential rivals, and he saw Kaissey in this light. Kaissey fled back to the US and never returned, though he kept contact with his family in Baghdad.

American Wrestling Association (1981–1989)

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Al-Kaissie as "Sheik" Adnan El Kaissey during his time in AWA, circa 1985

In 1981, with tensions between the US and Middle East running high, he debuted in theAmerican Wrestling Associationas "Sheik Adnan El Kaissey," where his stated goal was to win the AWA title from championNick Bockwinkel.He failed at that task, so he then enlistedJerry Blackwell,now wearing a sheik's outfit and renamed Sheik Ayatollah Jerry Blackwell, to team with him to try to win the AWA Tag Team Championship. That failed, too, so Adnan bought Ken Patera from managerBobby Heenanto team with Blackwell, and Adnan would act as Blackwell and Patera's manager. The team of Blackwell and Patera captured theAWA World tag team titlefromGreg GagneandJim Brunzell.Adnan had to quit wrestling when he was injured, which is the real reason Patera was brought in to team with Blackwell. On April 23, 1983, at theAWA Super Sunday,he teamed with Blackwell in a tag team match againstVerne GagneandMad Dog Vachonwhich they lost. In 1986 at AWA WrestleRock he lost to Verne Gagne in a steel cage; he then teamed withBoris Zhukovin a tag team match againstThe Midnight Rockers(Marty Jannetty&Shawn Michaels). Kassie later left the AWA, but returned on a November 26, 1988, card inBloomington, Minnesota,when he managedThe Iron Sheik(who he would also later manage in theWWF) in a match againstSgt. Slaughter.[12]

Al-Kassie withSaddam Husseinin the early 1970s

World Wrestling Federation (1990–1992)

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In the World Wrestling Federation, during the summer of 1990, he allied withSgt. Slaughteras "General Adnan," and managed him during his pro-Iraqi gimmick in a feud withHulk HoganandThe Ultimate Warrior.During this feud, Slaughter won the WWF title from the Warrior at the1991 Royal Rumble,and lost it a couple of months later to Hogan atWrestleMania VII.

The pair were then joined by Slaughter's former nemesis,The Iron Sheik,who was repackaged as Colonel Mustafa, to form the Triangle of Terror. Adnan also headlinedSummerSlam 1991with Slaughter and Mustafa against Hogan and Warrior. During the build-up toSurvivor Series 1990,the WWE showed what they claimed were "classified top secret photos released by the Pentagon/CIA" that featured General Adnan with Saddam Hussein. After Slaughter turned face, Adnan continued to manage Col. Mustafa until leaving the WWF shortly afterRoyal Rumble 1992.

Al-Kaissie is also featured as a playable character in theWWE 2K15video game; in where he appears as a downloadable character as part of the "Path of the Warrior" Showcase. He was once again featured as a playable character inWWE 2K16.

Late career (1992–1998)

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After WWF he then joinedAmerican Wrestling Federation(AWF) where he managed "The Rat Pack" ofBob Orton Jr,Mr. Hughes&Manny Fernandez.He also managedHercules Hernandez.

Al-Kaissie retired from wrestling in 1998.

Personal life and death

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Al-Kaissie formerly managed his own company, the World All-Star Wrestling Alliance, which he co-owned withKen Patera.

On November 22, 2006, he appeared onFox News Channel'sHannity & Colmesdescribing his encounters with Saddam Hussein.

Adnan Al-Kaissie died inMinnesotaon September 6, 2023, at the age of 84.[2][13][14]

Autobiography

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In 2005,Triumph Bookspublished his memoirs asThe Sheik of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General Adnan.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^abcdef"Wrestler Profile: Adnan El Kaisee".Online World of Wrestling. Archived fromthe originalon February 17, 2009.RetrievedJanuary 30,2010.
  2. ^abReusse, Patrick (September 29, 2023)."Adnan Al-Kaissie dies: Death of 'The Sheik' brings back wrestling memories from Edina to Iraq".Star Tribune.RetrievedDecember 30,2023.
  3. ^abShields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009).WWE Encyclopedia.DK.p.32.ISBN978-0-7566-4190-0.
  4. ^The Sheik of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General AdnanTriumph Books 2005
  5. ^abSolomon, Brian (2006)."Jay Strongbow".WWE Legends.Pocket Books. pp.62–67.ISBN0-7434-9033-9.
  6. ^"Wrestling in a ring of terror".SWNewsMedia.July 30, 2008.RetrievedJune 13,2023.
  7. ^Rhoads, Christopher (October 7, 2006)."'Sheik of Baghdad,' The Pro Wrestler, Actually Was One ".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.RetrievedJune 13,2023.
  8. ^"The Sheikh of Baghdad | the Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham".September 25, 2005.
  9. ^ITV Wrestling 1969
  10. ^Rhoads, Christopher (October 7, 2006)."'Sheik of Baghdad,' The Pro Wrestler, Actually Was One ".Wall Street Journal.ISSN0099-9660.RetrievedJune 13,2023.
  11. ^ITV Wrestling 1979
  12. ^Inside Wrestling, March 1989 issue, p.15.
  13. ^""The Sheik" Adnan Al-Kaissie dead at age 84 ".Pro Wrestling Dot Net. September 6, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 8,2023.
  14. ^"Adnan Al-Kaissie" General Adnan "passes away".WWE. September 6, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 8,2023.
  15. ^Alkaissy, Adnan (2005).The Sheikh of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General Adnan.with Ross Bernstein. Triumph Books.ISBN1572437308.
  16. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Hawaii United States Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp.312–313.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  17. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Hawaii Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp.311–312.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  18. ^"Alkaissy Will Be Inducted Into Tragos/Thesz Pro Hall of Fame | National Wrestling Hall of Fame".nwhof.org.Archived fromthe originalon March 4, 2020.
  19. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp.315–317.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  20. ^abRoyal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp.317–320.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  21. ^*Will, Gary; Duncan, Royal (2000). "Texas: NWA Texas Heavyweight Title [Von Erich]".Wrestling Title Histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications. pp.268–269.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  22. ^"NWA Texas Heavyweight Title".Wrestling-Titles.RetrievedMarch 30,2017.
  23. ^Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2000). "Texas: NWA World Tag Team Title [Siegel, Boesch and McLemore]".Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present.Pennsylvania: Archeus Communications.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  24. ^"National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [E. Texas]".Wrestling-Titles.RetrievedFebruary 21,2017.
  25. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "IWA World Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp.424–425.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  26. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "IWA World Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 425.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
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