The Original Sheik, Wrestling’s Fireball Throwing Madman

Robert Segedy

If one would look up the term “heel” in the encyclopedia of  Professional Wrestling terms, there should be a photograph of the fire ball tossing, Arabian madman known as The Sheik. His real name was Ed Farhat, and he had a career that spanned five decades ,but the truth behind the real man’s identity was something that was fiercely guarded. The Sheik never gave a single interview in that time and instead depended upon a manager to do the talking. At times he spouted gibberish of an unknown dialect that was believed to be Arabian, but usually the Sheik let his actions in the ring speak for themselves.

Next In Line: Gimmicks Originally Planned For Other Wrestlers

Brian Damage

Looking back at the time when Rob Van Dam was offered the gimmick of ‘Glacier’ in WCW…I started looking at other wrestlers who were offered gimmicks that they turned down. There have been many gimmicked wrestlers over the years. Some have worked well, while others failed miserably. It might not necessarily been the wrestler’s fault a gimmick failed and in other cases, the gimmick was fine…it was the wrestler behind it that failed. Whatever the case might be, there have been many times where a certain gimmick was meant for a completely different wrestler than who it ended up being bestowed upon. We will look at several gimmicks that were originally planned for somebody different than who ended up getting them.

The If Factor: Rob Van Dam Joins WCW in 1997

Brian Damage

The ‘If Factor’ are a series of articles that takes a look at real scenarios in pro wrestling that at one point or another were suggested, planned, considered…but did not get the green light to continue. What would the landscape of professional wrestling look like if these ideas came to fruition?

Hostile Territory: John Cena and ECW One Night Stand 2006

Brian Damage

Say what you’d like about John Cena and his career in WWE…he was a lightning rod for fans emotions. Some loved him, others hated him and for a few they absolutely detested what he represented. On June 11, 2006…John Cena was entering a building like he never had before. The Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City was filled to capacity with fans that were not just going to boo Cena politely. They were not there to buy into the WWE’s corporate machine. All were there to see Cena lose and if not…the end result might have been very ugly.

Help Wanted! Job Opportunities: Rob Van Dam

Brian Damage

Back in the 80’s and 90’s, it was very common to see some no name wrestler go up against a proven star of a promotion. Whether that be from the WWF, NWA/WCW, AWA or elsewhere, these nomads of professional wrestling were there to make the stars look great. They were known as enhancement talent, preliminary wrestlers or as many fans have come to know them…”jobbers.” While fans were clamoring to see big time match ups, these “squash matches” served a very important purpose. While perhaps not appreciated at the time, they were just as important as the stars themselves.

FACTbook: Fact Checking FACTS About Pro Wrestling FACTS

Brian Damage

Good day everyone! It’s time for another round of useless wrestling facts and stats. Some are obvious and well known, while others not so much. In either case, they are all meant to educate and just be fun. So kick back, relax and learn a little something…..or nothing.

Wrestling With Sin: 286

Brian Damage

This is the 286th installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involve such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series, I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.

FACT Attack: Another Onslaught of Useless Wrestling Facts, Stats and Trivia…

Brian Damage

Hello everyone! It is that time once again to get beat over the head with more useless pro wrestling facts and stats. Some of these may be commonly known, while others may not be known at all. In either case, these are simply for fun and entertainment. So here we go and learn once again….

Wrestling With Sin: 270

Brian Damage

This is the 270th installment of the ‘Wrestling with Sin‘ series. A group of stories that delves into the darker, underbelly of pro wrestling. Many of the stories involve such subjects as sex, drugs, greed and in some cases even murder! As with every single story in the Sin series, I do not condone or condemn the alleged participants. We simply retell their stories by researching interviews, newspapers, magazines and various other sources of media.