Skandor Akbar
| Skandor Akbar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Birth name | Jimmy Saied Wehba |
| Born | September 29, 1934 Vernon, Texas, United States |
| Died | August 19, 2010 (aged 75)[1] Garland, Texas, United States |
| Cause of death | Prostate cancer |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jimmy Wehba Skandor Akbar Wildman Wehba |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Billed weight | 232 lb (105 kg) |
| Trained by | Jimmy Young |
| Debut | 1963 |
| Retired | 1983 |
Jimmy Saied Wehba[2] (September 29, 1934 – August 19, 2010)[1] was an American professional wrestler and manager better known by his ring name Skandor Akbar, which translates as "Alexander the Great". Akbar led the villainous stable Devastation, Inc. in Bill Watts's Universal Wrestling Federation during the promotion's heyday in the 1980s, as well as other regional territories, including World Class Championship Wrestling and the Global Wrestling Federation.
Early life[]
Wehba was born on September 29, 1934, in Wichita Falls, Texas, and grew up in Vernon, Texas. His father was from Lebanon, and his mother, Mary, had Arab roots, though she too was born in Texas. With two older sisters, Jimmy was the baby of the family. As a preteen, he started weightlifting (at one point he reportedly bench pressed 500 pounds) as his cousin had a gym. He also worked as a bouncer.[3]
Professional wrestling career[]
Singles wrestler[]
Akbar started out as a professional wrestler in 1963 as Jimmy Wehba. He changed his name to Skandor Akbar at the suggestion of Fritz Von Erich in 1966 in order to sound more Arabic. Akbar teamed with Danny Hodge and eventually turned 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 also worked as a face in the Australian World Championship Wrestling territory for a season in the mid 1970s feuding mainly with The Great Mephisto.
Manager[]
Akbar retired from active wrestling in 1977 and became a villainous manager in the Texas area territory. He called his stables "Akbars Army" in Mid-South Wrestling for Bill Watts before it became UWF and "Devastation, Inc." in World Class Championship Wrestling for Fritz Von Erich and in 1991 appeared in the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico. Akbar smoked cigars at ringside, harassed the fans during his protégés' matches, and occasionally threw fireballs at unsuspecting opponents. In 1994, Akbar briefly managed Kevin Von Erich as a fan favorite in the Global Wrestling Federation. Eventually, though, he turned on Von Erich only weeks before Von Erich decided to retire for good. Akbar also managed Toni Adams for a short time in the GWF.
Retirement[]
After his semi-retirement, Akbar still made frequent appearances on the independent circuit, while also training wrestlers. He appeared on both the Heroes of World Class and Triumph and Tragedies of World Class retrospective documentaries, released in 2005 and 2007, respectively. From 2008 to 2010, he appeared as a manager in the Dallas-based Wrecking Ball Wrestling promotion. He also operated a countertop business.[4]
Personal life[]
Often billed from Lebanon, Syria or Saudi Arabia, his father actually was from Lebanon, and his mother, Mary, had Arab roots as well, though she too was born in Texas. With two older sisters, he was the youngest of the family.[5] Wehba was Catholic.[6]
Death[]
On August 19, 2010 it was reported that Wehba had died from prostate cancer. He was 75 years old.[1][7]
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Cauliflower Alley Club
- Gulf Coast/CAC Honoree (2006)
- Mid-South Sports
- NWA Georgia Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Ox Baker
- NWA Macon Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Buddy Colt (1) and Rocket Monroe (1)
- Southern Wrestling Hall of Fame
- 2011 inductee
- NWA Tri-State
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Class of 2021[8]
- World Championship Wrestling (Australia)
- NWA Austra-Asian Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- NWA Austra-Asian Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with George Gouliovas
- Wrecking Ball Wrestling
- Manager of the Year (2009–2010)[9]
Notes[]
- ^ a b c Caldwell, James (2010-08-20). "Other News: Legendary wrestling manager Skandor Akbar dies at age 75". PWTorch.com. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ^ Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Newsletter, August 30, 2010
- ^ "The celebrated career of the late Skandor Akbar".
- ^ Ojst, Javier. "50 Greatest Fans Meeting Wrestlers Stories". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "CANOE -- SLAM! Sports - Wrestling - The celebrated career of the late Skandor Akbar". slam.canoe.ca. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
- ^ Simnacher, Jim (2010-11-10). "Jimmy Saied Wehba, wrestler who ruled the ring as 'Skandor Akbar,' dies at 75". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved 2015-05-18.
- ^ Pringle, Percy. "God only takes the best..."
- ^ https://www.sescoops.com/2021/01/pro-wrestling-hall-of-fame-class-of-2021-announced/
- ^ "Year End Awards". Wrecking Ball Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2013-09-26.
References[]
- Steve Austin and Jim Ross (2003). The Stone Cold Truth. Pocket Books. ISBN 0-7434-7720-0.
External links[]
- Championship wrestling from Florida: Skandor Akbar, a collection of flyers between Sept. 21 – Oct. 8, 1971.
- Profile at OWW
- 1934 births
- 2010 deaths
- American people of Lebanese descent
- American male professional wrestlers
- People from Garland, Texas
- People from Wichita Falls, Texas
- Professional wrestlers from Texas
- Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum
- Professional wrestling managers and valets
- Professional wrestling trainers
- Professional wrestling promoters
- American Eastern Catholics
- Sportspeople of Lebanese descent