GENERAL SKANDOR AKBAR
September 29,1934–August 19,2010
Long-time wrestling manager
Skandor Akbar (Jim Wehba)
died last night
(Thursday,August 19th)
at the age of 75.
The cause of death
is unknown at this time.
Akbar was still active
in the wrestling business.
He was advertised for the
"Wrecking Ball Wrestling" promotion's upcoming show
on Sunday afternoon in Texas.
Akbar started out as a professional wrestler in 1963
as Jimmy Wehba.
Legendary wrestler Lou Thez gave Akbar
his start in the sport.
He changed his name to Skandor Akbar
at the suggestion of Fritz Von Erich
in 1966,
in order to sound more Arabic.
The translation to his name
Skandor Akbar means
"Alexander the Great".
Akbar's father is from Lebanon and mother from Syria.
Akbar teamed with Danny Hodge for 5 years during the late 1960s
eventually turning on him,
starting a feud.
Akbar joined the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF)
for a brief run in the late 1970s
and was managed by Freddie Blassie.
Akbar retired from active wrestling
in 1977
and became a villainous manager
in the Texas area.
He always called his stable "Devastation,Inc.".
He spent most of his time
in World Class Championship Wrestling
and in Bill Watts' Mid-South Wrestling/Universal Wrestling Federation
as he and his men feuded
with the top superstar babyfaces
in both wrestling organizations
where he managed the likes of Kamala The Ugandan Giant,
The Missing Link,The One Man Gang,Big Bubba Rogers,
Cactus Jack,Ted DiBiase,Sr.,
King Kong Bundy
and several other countless legendary wrestlers.
Akbar smoked cigars at ringside,
harassed the fans
during his proteges' matches,
and occasionally threw fireballs
at unsuspecting opponents.
He wore a bulletproof vest because of threats on his life.
He was ambushed by mobs throwing sticks and rocks.
His tires were slashed,his windshield shattered,
and he was in more car chases than Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon.
When Skandor Akbar was an active wrestler or manager, he said there could be no mistaking the good guys from the bad.
The bad had no fans and drew fire in and out of the ring.
And that's just what happened outside the ring.
Skandor Akbar, as the wrestling magazines of the 1970s and 1980s often proclaimed, was "The Man You Loved to Hate."
And the more you hated him,
the more he loved it.
In his later years,
the General fought a lengthy battle
with prostate cancer.
Whether or not if you loved him
or hated him back in the day
as a wrestling fan,
Skandor Akbar
was without question
one of the very best
wrestling managers of all-time,
one who left an indelible mark
in the world of professional wrestling.
All of us here at Wrestling News Center
would like to express our sincere condolences
to the friends,family and fans of General Skandor Abkar.
He will be very truly
and sorely missed.
R.I.P.
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