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The Sheik (wrestler)
The Sheik (wrestler)
The Sheik (wrestler)
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Edward George Farhat (June 7, 1926 – January 18, 2003) was an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name The Sheik. In wrestling, Farhat, whose career debuted in 1947, is credited as one of the originators of the hardcore style, is also retroactively called The Original Sheik, mostly to distinguish him from the similarly named The Iron Sheik who debuted in 1972.

Key Information

In addition to his in-ring career, he was also the promoter of Big Time Wrestling, which promoted shows at Cobo Hall in Detroit until the 1980s, and was the booker for Frank Tunney's shows at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto from 1971 to 1977.[1] Farhat is the uncle of Extreme Championship Wrestling alumnus Sabu, who he also trained.[2]

Early life

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Edward George Farhat was born on June 7, 1926, to a Lebanese family in Lansing, Michigan. He was one of eleven children;[3] unlike most of his older brothers, Edward did not attend college, though some sources erroneously report that he did. The confusion is likely the result of his similarly named older brother Edmund having attended college. Edward quit school in the eighth grade and worked odd jobs during the Great Depression. His family would find jobs in Michigan metal foundries and auto plants.[4]

During World War II, he falsified his records in an unsuccessful attempt to join the United States Marines Corps while he was still underage, likely using his older brother Edmund's birth certificate.[4] Edward would eventually be drafted into the United States Army in 1944, serving during the war. He was honorably discharged in 1946 after 18 months of service.[4] After his family's employment background led to Army brass assuming Farhat to be a candidate for tank duty, Farhat was assigned to the 93rd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron of the 13th Armored Division.[4] In January 1945, he managed to be transferred to Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army.[4] Obtaining the role of an army technician, Farhat would complete military training at Camp Bowie in Texas in April 1945 and be transferred to Germany, where he drove a tank during the waning days of World War II.[4]

Despite being portrayed as a foreign Arab Muslim in professional wrestling, Farhat was in fact a first generation Lebanese-American who was born and bred in the United States and also a Maronite Catholic.[4][5][6]

Professional wrestling career

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Early career and cementing The Sheik gimmick (1947–1965)

[edit]

After completing his service in the U.S. Army, Farhat competed in his first professional wrestling match in January 1947, wrestling as the clean-cut babyface "Eddie Farhat". Within a few years of his debut, Farhat would develop his "Sheik" gimmick, under which he would gain international fame. Farhat first started wrestling as The Sheik of Araby in the Chicago area, with the gimmick initially being that of a privileged son of a wealthy, aristocratic Middle Eastern family.[7] As the Sheik of Araby, Farhat formed a tag team with Gypsy Joe, with the duo capturing the NWA Midwestern Tag Team Championship in 1954,[8][9] before eventually moving to Texas. During this period, The Sheik received the biggest match of his career up to that point, when he was booked to face NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz in Chicago for his title. Thesz, regarded in wrestling as a legitimate shooter, had a reputation for embarrassing "gimmick wrestlers" so The Sheik left the ring during the course of the match and hid under a bus in the parking lot. The incident received much coverage in local media and helped to push The Sheik character to a more prominent level.[3] Following the incident, The Sheik began wrestling in New York City for Vincent J. McMahon at Madison Square Garden where he teamed with Dick The Bruiser and Bull Curry in feuds against Mark Lewin and Don Curtis as well as the team of Antonino Rocca and Miguel Pérez. On August 18, 1961, The Sheik was notably defeated by Buddy Rogers in a 2-out-of-3 falls match at the Cincinnati Gardens.[10]

By the early 1960s, The Sheik's wrestling was centered on his character of an Arab wild man from Syria. Clad with his keffiyeh, before each match, he would use stalling tactics as he would kneel on a prayer rug to perform an Islamic prayer to Allah (in real life Farhat was a Maronite Christian).[11] He would lock on choke holds and refuse to break them, and use a camel clutch hold leading to submission victories. The hold would have him sit over his opponent's back as he applied a chinlock.[3] He used hidden pencils[11] and other "foreign objects" to cut open his opponent's faces.[12] Often, the tactic backfired and the opponent got hold of The Sheik's pencil, leading to the extensive blade scars on Farhat's forehead.[11] Sheik's other signature illegal move was his fireball that he threw into his opponents' faces, sometimes burning their faces severely.[12] The fireball move was performed through the use of lighter fluid soaked pieces of paper which he quickly lit with a cigarette lighter hidden in his trunks.[12] The Sheik didn't speak on camera, apart from incomprehensible mutterings and pseudo-Arabic.[12] The American born child of Lebanese immigrants in fact never learned Arabic.[13] At the start of his career, his wife Joyce played the part of his valet Princess Saleema who would burn incense in the ring. Joyce would go on to play Princess Saleema for many years and, as a result of his gimmick requiring him not to not know the English language, also frequently accompany The Sheik to autograph signings, where she would speak to the fans on The Sheik's behalf and provide the autograph signatures.[14] He had three different male managers during his career to cut promos on his behalf. His first manager was Abdullah Farouk but when Farouk moved full-time to the World Wide Wrestling Federation, Eddy Creatchman became his manager.[15] When Creatchman was unable to work with him later in his career, The Sheik was managed by Supermouth Dave Drason, his final manager.[12]

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1965–1972)

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Farhat, circa 1973

In 1965, The Sheik made his return to the New York City area, competing for the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF). On September 25, 1967, he wrestled former world champion Édouard Carpentier to a 20-minute draw. In 1968, he was back brought into the WWWF for title matches with then-WWWF World Heavyweight champion Bruno Sammartino.[12] They met three times in Madison Square Garden – Sheik won the first match via count out on October 28, he lost via disqualification in the second match on November 18, and he lost to Sammartino in a Texas Death Match via submission on December 9, when Bruno grabbed a pen and attacked Sheik's arm until it was bloody. Sammartino and Sheik also had a series of matches in Boston in January and February 1969, including one on a sold-out event the day after a major snow storm; public transportation had yet to be restored in the Boston area but the event still sold-out. The two would later fight in three steel cage matches, one in Philadelphia and two in Boston.[12] On November 18, 1972, The Sheik competed in his final match for the WWWF, losing to WWWF Champion Pedro Morales by count out at Boston Garden.

Feud with Bobo Brazil; Canada and Japan (1960s–1980s)

[edit]

The Sheik's biggest feud was his nearly career-long conflict with Bobo Brazil, beginning in The Sheik's own Big Time Wrestling promotion in Detroit before expanding throughout the country.[1] The two feuded over Sheik's version of the United States Championship, frequently selling out Cobo Hall.[1] The feud was briefly covered in the wrestling mockumentary movie, I Like to Hurt People.[7] Following their success at Cobo Hall, the two took the feud to several markets, most notably Memphis, Tennessee, and Los Angeles, California.[3] His other major opponent in Los Angeles was Fred Blassie.[15] Sheik and Blassie faced off several times, including cage matches in the Grand Olympic Auditorium.[12] In 1967, The Sheik was wrestling a match in Texas when a fan pulled a gun and tried to shoot him three times. Fortunately, the gun didn't go off and the fan was arrested; the gun later fired when police tested it at a shooting range.[3]

Starting in 1967, The Sheik began wrestling regularly in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he was undefeated for 127 matches at Maple Leaf Gardens. He defeated the likes of Whipper Billy Watson, Lou Thesz, Gene Kiniski, Bruno Sammartino, Édouard Carpentier, Ernie Ladd, Chief Jay Strongbow, Tiger Jeet Singh, Johnny Valentine, and even André the Giant during Andre's first extensive tour of North America in 1974.[7] It was Andre who put an end to The Sheik's Toronto winning streak in August 1974 by disqualification. In 1976, he lost by pinfall to Thunderbolt Patterson and Bobo Brazil. Sheik continued to headline most shows in Toronto until 1977, but business dropped off significantly over the last three years of his tenure as headliner. In addition to wrestling in Toronto, The Sheik was the area's booker; due to the wrestling tradition of kayfabe, few fans were aware of the fact that he was actually the booker of Frank Tunney's Toronto promotion – a position he acquired following the retirement of Whipper Billy Watson in 1971. As business in Toronto failed, he began working for independent promoter Dave McKigney elsewhere in Ontario.[16]

In 1972, The Sheik ventured to Japan for the first time, competing for the Japan Pro Wrestling Alliance (JWA). His JWA run was successful, but the promotion was struggling financially, so when the company went bankrupt, Sheik jumped to Giant Baba's All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW). He then jumped a year later to Antonio Inoki's New Japan Pro-Wrestling, but had a falling out with Inoki due to having to leave a Japanese tour early to deal with a "coup attempt" in his Big Time Wrestling promotion. He returned to AJPW in 1977, teaming, and then feuding, with Abdullah the Butcher.[15][7] His match with Abdullah the Butcher against Dory Funk Jr. and Terry Funk where Terry fought off Abdullah and The Sheik with his arm in a sling is credited for turning the foreign Funks into faces in Japan.[3] In Japan, he would also team with Baba, Ricky Steamboat, and Kintarō Ōki.[15]

The Sheik's Japanese feud with Abdullah would later extend to the United States. A match between the two in Birmingham, Alabama, saw them brawl outside of the Boutwell Auditorium, where they held up traffic until the police broke it up.[11] The match was described by observers as "just classic, bloody mayhem."[11]

Later career (1980–1998)

[edit]

In 1980, The Sheik's Detroit-based Big Time Wrestling promotion ceased operations. Sheik then wrestled for various independent promotions throughout the United States and overseas.

From 1991 to 1995, he mainly wrestled in Japan, alongside his nephew Sabu, for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW).[7] FMW used the hardcore wrestling style that The Sheik had innovated and in FMW, he participated in various dangerous death matches.[7] On May 6, 1992, The Sheik wrestled in a Fire Death Match with Sabu against Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto, where the ring ropes were replaced with flaming barbed wire. During the match, Sheik suffered third-degree burns and went into a coma, nearly dying.[3] In 1994, he had a brief run in Eastern Championship Wrestling (ECW), where Sabu had a career, notably teaming with Pat Tanaka to defeat Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac at The Night the Line Was Crossed.[17] On May 5, 1995, at the FMW 6th Anniversary Show, The Sheik defeated Damián 666 in front of 58,250 fans; this ended up being his last match. Following the match, he suffered his first heart attack while attempting to board a taxi.

When Sabu joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1995, The Sheik accompanied him as his manager.[10] During Sabu's match with Mr. JL at Halloween Havoc, The Sheik's leg was broken by the wrestlers during a spot he was previously unaware of, forcing him to finally leave the wrestling business. On December 11, 1998, the night before the ECW/FMW Supershow, Atsushi Onita held a retirement ceremony for The Sheik in Korakuen Hall, during which The Sheik, in his final public appearance, officially retired from professional wrestling at age 72.[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Farhat was married to a woman named Joyce, who for many years served as his valet Princess Sheela and who even accompanied him to autograph signings in this role as late as 1993.[14] The couple had two sons, Ed Jr. and Tom.[14][18] His oldest son Ed wrestled for years as "Captain Ed George." However, he never hinted in his wrestling gimmick that he was related to The Sheik, and the fact that he was Farhat's real-life son was largely not known to wrestling fans during his career.[19][18] He would personally train his nephew Terry "Sabu" Brunk, a son of one of Farhat's sisters who the Lansing State Journal noted in 2019 mostly "took on his uncle's identity" and carried Farhat's "legacy."[20][21][2]

Death

[edit]

Farhat died of heart failure on January 18, 2003, at a hospital near his Williamston, Michigan, home.[15] He was 76 years old (not 78, as erroneously reported[16]) and was in the midst of writing his autobiography.[10] He is buried at the Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Williamston.[3]

Legacy

[edit]
Farhat, circa 1972

During the course of his in-ring career, The Sheik was seen as one of professional wrestling's biggest box office attractions.[3][7][10] He later became regarded as a pioneer of hardcore wrestling, a style which became a major part of mainstream American professional wrestling in the 1990s.[3][7][10] On March 31, 2007, The Sheik was posthumously inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his nephew, Sabu, and Rob Van Dam, who he had trained.[22] He is also credited with training Scott Steiner[12] and independent wrestler "Machine Gun" Mike Kelly, among other students.[7] Most notably, he and Freddie Blassie trained boxer Muhammad Ali before Ali's famous 1976 "boxer vs wrestler match" with Antonio Inoki in Tokyo.[23]

As a promoter, Farhat developed a reputation for short-changing wrestlers and employees on pay. However, he would additionally become known as a benefactor to friends in need; according to Harley Race, after his wife died in an automobile accident and he was forced to take time off early in his career, The Sheik mailed him a check every week for a year until he could return to work.[3]

His wife, and former valet, Joyce, died on November 27, 2013, in Michigan, after being ill for some time.[18] She is buried with her husband at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Williamston, Michigan.[3] He was also the uncle of Michael Farhat, who wrestled as "Mike Thomas" in Detroit. Thomas died in 1978 at age 27.[18] The Sheik's son Tom died on October 2, 2020, from kidney cancer at 57,[18] and his eldest son Ed Farhat Jr. — who wrestled under the ring name "Captain Ed George" — died from complications of COVID-19 on March 22, 2021, at the age of 70.[19] His nephew Terry "Sabu" Brunk, who would more notably hone Faharat's wrestling craft and whose wrestling gimmick bore greater resemblance to that of Farhat's Sheik gimmick with things such as turban attire and having a refusal to speak on-camera,[24][20][21] would also die in May 2025,[25][21] two days before an episode of Dark Side of the Ring focusing on the Sheik aired in the United States.

In his later years, Farhat provided extensive interviews to a biographer with the intent of publishing a book on his life. These interviews provided a detailed non-kayfabe look into his career and character, which he previously took great effort in concealing from the public. Farhat had previously had a reputation for "living his gimmick"; he didn't answer promoter phone calls for "Ed", not even for potential bookings, telling the promoters "no Ed lives here".[15] After his death, the interviews and draft of the book were sealed. A book about Farhat's life and career, titled Blood and Fire, was later released in April 2022 by ECW Press. Blood and Fire won the 2022 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Best Pro Wrestling Book award.

Championships and accomplishments

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The Sheik as WWWF United States Heavyweight Champion

See also

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References

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Sources

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Sheik (wrestler)

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from Grokipedia
The Sheik (born Edward George Farhat; June 7, 1926 – January 18, 2003) was an American professional wrestler of Lebanese descent, best known by his The Sheik (sometimes called The Original Sheik, to distinguish him from The Iron Sheik). He was renowned for his portrayal of a villainous "" character, a wild-eyed Syrian who employed hardcore tactics such as throwing fireballs, stabbing opponents with concealed pencils, and using his signature "camel clutch" submission hold, pioneering elements of . Born in , to Lebanese immigrant parents, Farhat served in the U.S. Army during before beginning his wrestling career in 1949, initially under his real name. He developed the Sheik persona in the early 1950s, managed by "Abdullah Farouk," and became a major star in the Midwest and Northeast territories, holding multiple regional championships including the (Detroit version) several times. From 1963 to 1980, Farhat owned and promoted Big Time Wrestling in Detroit, where he was the top draw, engaging in legendary feuds with wrestlers like Bobo Brazil and Chief Jay Strongbow that often incited riots among fans. He also competed in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in the late 1960s and early 1970s, facing champions like Bruno Sammartino. In his later years, he made sporadic appearances in Japan, retiring after a 1998 match, and trained his nephew Sabu. Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2007 and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2004, Farhat is remembered as one of the most influential heels in wrestling history.

Early years

Early life

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri was born on March 15, 1942, in , , to a working-class family facing economic hardship. Growing up in poverty, Vaziri idolized the renowned Iranian wrestler , which inspired his early interest in . He began competing as a youth and quickly rose through local and national amateur circuits, earning recognition for his skill and strength.

Military service and entry into wrestling

Vaziri completed mandatory national service in the Iranian Army during his early adulthood, where he dominated the military wrestling championships, winning the title multiple times and solidifying his status as a top athlete. Following his service, his wrestling prowess led to a role as a bodyguard for , providing security during events like the . In 1968, devastated by the death of his idol Takhti—officially ruled a but widely believed by Vaziri and others to be a political murder by the regime—Vaziri fled for the later that year, seeking safety amid growing political tensions under Shah . Upon arriving in the U.S., he continued his amateur career, serving as an assistant coach for the U.S. Olympic wrestling team and winning the 1971 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Greco-Roman national championship in the 180.5-pound division while representing the Wrestling Club. This success transitioned him into , where he trained under in 1972 and debuted in the .

Professional wrestling career

Development of the Sheik persona (1940s–1960s)

Edward George Farhat, who began his professional wrestling career in 1947, transitioned from competing under his real name to adopting the "Sheik" persona in the early while wrestling in local Midwest circuits. Drawing on his Lebanese heritage, Farhat crafted a foreign character billed as a wild Syrian aristocrat, complete with Arabian attire such as a , , and a distinctive coat that he would dramatically shed before matches. This emphasized unpredictability and menace, often accompanied by a faux prayer chant—despite Farhat being a practicing Catholic—which further alienated audiences and solidified his role as a despised in the territories. One of the Sheik's early high-profile encounters came in the mid-1950s when he faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Lou Thesz in Chicago during a severe snowstorm, a match that highlighted his evasive tactics as he reportedly fled the ring and hid under a bus to avoid Thesz's technical dominance, enhancing his reputation as a cowardly yet dangerous heel. In 1953, Farhat, performing as the Sheik of Araby, teamed with Gypsy Joe to capture the NWA Midwestern Tag Team Championship, defeating the Great Balbo and Billy Goelz in a tournament final; this reign, which lasted until at least August 1955 records indicate overlap, marked an early success that boosted his visibility in Illinois and Wisconsin promotions. These tag team efforts showcased the Sheik's aggressive style, blending brawling with illicit maneuvers to draw crowds in the regional scene. The Sheik's hardcore approach began taking shape in the Midwest territories between 1947 and 1965, where he introduced signature weapons to amplify his violent persona, including jabbing opponents' foreheads with a No. 2 pencil to draw blood and igniting fireballs using magician's flash paper for dramatic effect. These tactics, often leading to riots among spectators, established the Sheik as a pioneer of no-holds-barred wrestling and set the foundation for his long-term rivalry with , which ignited during this era with brutal clashes that epitomized territorial feuds.

Major North American promotions and feuds (1960s–1970s)

The Sheik debuted in the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF) in 1965, marking his return to the New York wrestling scene after years in regional promotions. His arrival quickly positioned him as a major antagonist to WWWF Champion , with their rivalry drawing massive crowds to . The pair clashed in multiple high-stakes bouts throughout the late 1960s, including three consecutive sold-out events at the Garden in 1968. In the first on October 28, The Sheik secured a count-out victory; the rematch on November 18 ended in disqualification; and the finale on December 9 was a brutal Texas Death Match, where Sammartino retained the title by savagely attacking The Sheik's arm with a pen until it bled profusely, forcing a submission. Parallel to his WWWF run, The Sheik dominated NWA-affiliated territories in the Midwest, particularly his home base in 's Big Time Wrestling promotion. His most iconic feud during this era was with over the NWA United States Championship (Detroit version), a rivalry that spanned over a decade and epitomized the territorial style of brutal, no-holds-barred combat. Their matches frequently sold out 's Cobo Hall, with the intensity of their encounters—marked by The Sheik's use of foreign objects like pencils and his penchant for drawing —creating pandemonium among fans and leading to riot-like atmospheres. The feud's popularity extended beyond , prompting joint events in Memphis and to capitalize on the draw, where stipulations such as cage matches amplified the violence unique to The Sheik's persona. The Sheik's drawing power in NWA territories during the 1960s and 1970s was unmatched among heels, as his wildman character and willingness to incorporate extreme elements like fireballs and chair shots revolutionized match stipulations and boosted attendance across promotions from to . He captured the NWA United States Championship multiple times, using it to fuel territorial dominance while avoiding direct NWA World Title pursuits to maintain his regional terror status. His final WWWF appearance came on November 18, 1972, at , where he lost to champion by count-out in a brief but chaotic bout that underscored his enduring threat level.

International work in Canada and Japan (1970s–1990s)

During the late 1960s and 1970s, The Sheik established a dominant presence in Canadian wrestling, particularly in Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens, where he remained undefeated over 127 matches starting in 1969. This impressive streak, spanning from 1969 to 1974, was orchestrated by promoter Frank Tunney, who booked The Sheik as an unbeatable heel to draw massive crowds to Sunday night events. Among his victories during this period were intense feuds that extended elements of his rivalry with Bobo Brazil to Canadian cards, solidifying his reputation as a fearsome international draw. The Sheik's international career expanded significantly into beginning in 1973, when he was invited by to tour with (AJPW), challenging for the NWA International-Tag Team Championship and participating in high-profile tag leagues. He continued these tours through the 1970s and 1980s, often teaming with partners like in brutal matches that pushed the boundaries of violence, including one infamous bout so graphic it was banned from Japanese television broadcasts. By the 1990s, as his career entered its later stages, The Sheik adapted his chaotic, blood-soaked persona to Japan's emerging hardcore scene, performing in promotions like (FMW). In FMW, The Sheik embraced extreme stipulations, debuting on November 20, 1991, and competing in notorious death matches, such as the May 6, 1992, Fire Barbed Wire Death Match alongside his nephew Sabu against Atsushi Onita and Tarzan Goto, which ended in a no-contest due to safety concerns but highlighted his enduring commitment to high-risk brawling. He further captured the WWA World Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship from Onita on June 25, 1992, in a match marred by interference and injury, earning substantial payouts—reportedly $10,000 per appearance—while requiring hospitalization after the flaming elements caused severe burns. These performances allowed The Sheik to culturally adapt his "wild man from the desert" gimmick to resonate with Japanese audiences' appetite for intense, weapon-filled spectacles, directly influencing the development of puroresu's hardcore wrestling style, particularly FMW's emphasis on barbed wire and explosives under Onita's vision. His tours persisted until 1995, cementing his status as a global pioneer of the genre.

Later career and retirement (1980s–1998)

Following the closure of his Big Time Wrestling promotion in 1980, Ed Farhat, performing as The Sheik, made sporadic appearances on the independent wrestling circuit in the United States throughout the 1980s, often in NWA-affiliated territories and smaller promotions. These bookings were selective, reflecting his advancing age of over 50 during the decade, and focused on leveraging his established hardcore persona for regional crowds rather than full-time touring. In 1994, at age 68, The Sheik returned to prominence with a brief stint in (ECW), where he teamed with to defeat Kevin Sullivan and The Tazmaniac by pinfall on February 5 at The Night the Line Was Crossed event in . He also appeared as a second for his nephew Sabu in a match against Cactus Jack on the same card, marking one of his final U.S.-based in-ring contributions during this period. During this era, he trained family members, including his nephew Sabu, to carry on elements of his style. The Sheik's international commitments continued into the mid-1990s, culminating in his final professional match on May 5, 1995, at Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling's (FMW) 6th Anniversary Show in Kawasaki Stadium, , where he defeated in 1:47 before a sold-out crowd of 58,250. This bout, part of FMW's ongoing deathmatch tradition, served as his last recorded in-ring performance, after which he stepped away from active competition due to health concerns and age-related limitations. On December 11, 1998, a formal retirement ceremony for The Sheik was held at Korakuen Hall in , organized by former FMW star as part of his "USO" event ahead of an . During the ceremony, The Sheik entered with a , delivered a promo in Japanese, and was honored by peers and fans, officially closing his nearly 50-year career.

Promoting and business ventures

Big Time Wrestling promotion

In 1964, Ed Farhat, known in the ring as The Sheik, acquired control of the wrestling territory through his father-in-law Francis Fleser, who purchased the promotion from Jim Barnett and Johnny Doyle for $50,000, establishing what became Big Time Wrestling as part of the (NWA). Farhat served as the primary booker and operator, running weekly shows at Cobo Hall and leveraging the venue's capacity to draw large crowds for regional events. This marked the formal founding of Big Time Wrestling as the dominant territory, focusing on Michigan-based operations while drawing talent from other NWA affiliates. Farhat's booking philosophy centered on hardcore, violent matches that emphasized spectacle and audience engagement, often incorporating weapons and rule-breaking to build heat for characters. He prioritized developing local talent, such as fan-favorite , to create authentic regional storylines that resonated with audiences, while using television broadcasts on local Channel 7 to promote events and control costs. This approach extended his own in-ring feuds into major promotions, fostering rivalries that sold out Cobo Hall multiple times, including the high-profile United States Championship clash where defeated The Sheik on May 29, 1971. Key events under Big Time Wrestling highlighted these extensions, such as prolonged tensions with that drew NWA intervention to protect the territory. The promotion faced significant challenges from external competition, including independent shows by and his , which prompted NWA sanctions against rivals to safeguard Farhat's operations. Attendance declined in the late 1970s due to economic shifts in , such as post-riot urban avoidance of downtown venues, exacerbating financial strains that led to two bankruptcies. The rise of national promotions like the World Wrestling Federation further eroded the territory system, culminating in Big Time Wrestling's closure in 1980 after its final show at the Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, with WWF assuming Detroit bookings by 1981.

Training wrestlers and other ventures

In addition to his in-ring career, Ed Farhat, known as The Sheik, established a family-run wrestling school in , where he trained numerous aspiring wrestlers. Among his most prominent students was his nephew Terry Brunk, who debuted professionally as Sabu and credited Farhat with intensive, hands-on instruction that shaped his hardcore style. Farhat also mentored at the school, emphasizing technical fundamentals and performance intensity drawn from his own territorial experience. Farhat extended his guidance to his sons, Ed Jr. and Tom, preparing them for brief forays into during the 1980s and . Ed Jr. competed under the Captain Ed George, appearing in matches without publicly acknowledging his family connection to maintain . Tom made limited attempts in the ring but primarily supported behind-the-scenes efforts rather than pursuing a full career. Farhat's training philosophy, rooted in his lifelong commitment to authentic villainy, stressed psychological intensity and crowd provocation to build compelling personas. Beyond wrestling instruction, Farhat diversified into post-retirement ventures in , investing in that included a sprawling estate in Williamston, later converted into a . He also owned a local in Williamston, contributing to the community's while providing a stable base for his family. In the wrestling industry, Farhat offered booking advice and operational support to independent promotions, often through his sons' involvement, helping smaller territories navigate and event planning.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Ed Farhat, known professionally as The Sheik, was married to Joyce Fleser Farhat from the early years of his career until her death in 2013. Joyce Farhat occasionally portrayed his , Princess Salima, in the ring during the and , burning as part of the entrance before stepping away to raise their family. Their partnership extended beyond wrestling, with Joyce supporting Ed's commitment to his character in their personal life in . Joyce Farhat died on November 28, 2013, after a period of illness. The couple had two sons: Edward "Eddie" Farhat Jr., born in 1950, and Thomas "Tom" Farhat, born in 1963. Ed Jr. had limited involvement in , debuting in 1977 as Captain Ed George in his father's territory without publicly acknowledging his lineage, and later transitioning to promoting independent shows in . Tom Farhat also maintained minimal direct wrestling participation, instead assisting with operational aspects like event setup and promotion through ventures such as the All World Wrestling League alongside his brother in the 1990s and 2000s. Ed Jr. died on March 22, 2021, at age 71 from complications of , while Tom passed away on October 2, 2020, at age 57. Farhat's nephew, Terrance "Terry" Brunk, known as Sabu, was trained by his uncle starting in the late 1970s in , where The Sheik guided his early technical wrestling style before Sabu developed his hardcore persona and launched a prominent career in promotions like and . Sabu, who carried forward elements of his uncle's intense in-ring approach, died on May 11, 2025, at age 60. The Farhat family played a key role in upholding The Sheik's even at home, with no recorded instances of Ed during family interactions or post-retirement life in , a commitment that Joyce and the sons respected by avoiding public revelations of his personal side until after his passing. In his later years, the family managed his care and occasional wrestling-related appearances, with the sons handling business remnants of Big Time Wrestling to sustain the legacy privately.

Lifestyle and commitment to character

Ed Farhat, known professionally as The Sheik, maintained an unwavering commitment to his wrestling persona throughout his life, rarely breaking even in private settings. He refused to speak English in public or on recordings, instead grunting or using broken phrases to reinforce his image as a wild Syrian sheik, a dedication that spanned nearly six decades until his death. This approach extended to everyday interactions, where he would abruptly hang up the phone if callers addressed him as Eddie or Ed, insisting on being referred to only by his . Farhat's lifestyle embodied the nomadic and reclusive aspects of his character, as he frequently traveled internationally for matches in territories like , , and various U.S. promotions, often staying in hotels and avoiding Western comforts to sustain the mystique of a desert wanderer. At home in Lansing and later , he lived modestly on a family estate despite his success, surrounding himself with elements like robes, a , and props for fireballs to blur the lines between performance and reality. His wife, Joyce, supported this immersive routine by managing their household during his extended absences. Interactions with fans and peers further highlighted Farhat's immersion, as he communicated through gestures rather than words, offering silent nods and smiles at autograph sessions while dressed in full regalia. Wrestling journalist Evan Ginzburg recounted multiple encounters where The Sheik signed items without uttering a , preserving the illusion even in casual settings. Peers like promoter noted this extreme loyalty, observing that no verifiable footage existed of Farhat speaking coherently in English outside trusted circles, underscoring his role as one of wrestling's most devoted character actors.

Death and legacy

Death

Edward George Farhat, known professionally as The Sheik, died of on January 18, 2003, at a hospital near his home in , at the age of 76. In the years leading up to his death, Farhat had been plagued by health complications stemming from a heart attack he suffered following a match in in May 1995, as well as the cumulative toll of decades of physical trauma from his intense wrestling style, including broken bones and other injuries sustained in high-risk bouts. These issues had forced him into retirement from active competition, though he occasionally appeared in non-wrestling roles. Funeral services for Farhat were held privately, reflecting his reclusive post-retirement life, and he was buried at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery in , alongside his future resting place for family members. His wife, Joyce Farhat, who had supported him throughout his career, led the family in mourning, with the couple's sons, Ed Jr. and Tom, also present to honor their father. The wrestling community responded swiftly with tributes, as peers like Bobo Brazil's family and promoters recalled Farhat's pioneering role in elevating the sport's drama and violence, while fans and wrestlers sent condolences to the Farhat family home in Williamston. His nephew, wrestler Sabu, later reflected on the personal loss, emphasizing Farhat's enduring influence on styles. Later deaths in the family, including Joyce in 2013 and Ed Jr. in 2021, compounded the ongoing grief for survivors.

Legacy and influence

The Sheik, whose real name was Ed Farhat, is widely recognized as a pioneer of hardcore and extreme wrestling styles, incorporating weapons, fire, and unscripted violence into matches decades before such elements became mainstream. His innovative use of pencils, chairs, and other foreign objects to brutalize opponents laid the groundwork for the no-holds-barred ethos that defined later promotions. This influence extended directly to (ECW), where his nephew Sabu and trainees like adapted and popularized The Sheik's chaotic approach in the , helping to birth the boom. Modern death matches, featuring , explosives, and high-risk stipulations, trace their roots to The Sheik's boundary-pushing performances, which terrified audiences and inspired generations of wrestlers to embrace danger as entertainment. Farhat's contributions were formally honored posthumously with his induction into the in 2007, presented by Sabu and , acknowledging his sadistic in-ring legacy and over 20 regional championships. He was also enshrined in the in 2010 for his territorial dominance and promotion work, and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2011 as part of the Television Era class. In April 2022, the Blood and Fire: The Unbelievable Real-Life Story of Wrestling's Original Sheik by Brian R. Solomon was published by , drawing on family interviews and archives to detail Farhat's rise, controversies, and impact, further cementing his status as a transformative figure in wrestling history. The Sheik's family legacy in wrestling has endured amid profound tragedies, including the death of his wife Joyce in 2013 after 57 years of marriage, the passing of his son Tom from in 2020, his son Ed Farhat Jr. (known as Captain Ed George) from complications in 2021, and nephew Sabu's death in 2025 at age 60. Despite these losses, Farhat's influence persists through the wrestlers he trained—such as Sabu, who revolutionized ECW—and the Farhat family's multi-generational involvement in promotion and performance, ensuring his hardcore innovations continue to shape the industry.

References

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