Real Names - Edward Farhat
Lifespan - 5/7/26 - 1/19/03
5'10" 235 lbs. - Lansing, MI

Aliases - Shiek of Araby

Athletic background - Football (Michigan State)

Teachers - n/a

Professional background - Chicago(`50-`??), St. Louis, San Francisco, Detroit(`64-`80), Toronto(`65-`77), Texas, Los Angeles, WWWF, Georgia, All Japan, Michigan/Ontario Indies(`80-`9?), JCP/NWA(`88) FMW(`91-`92)

Groups - none

Peak Years - `65-`74

Career Highlights -
- Is first billed as the Shiek of Araby and becomes a top heel on the Dumont Network's wrestling show
- Defeats Johnny Valentine to capture Detroit's US title, which he dominated for the next decade
- Has the biggest match ever at on 5/29/71 the Cobo Hall against his greatest rival Bobo Brazil
- Defeats Dick the Bruiser to put the end to a strong promotional war
- Beats the seldom-defeeated Andre the Giant in both Detroit in Toronto

Finisher(s) -
- Fireball
- Camel Clutch

Favorites -
- Foreign Object
- Chokehold
- Biting
- Kick
- Punch

Ringwork Rating -
move set - 3
science - 1
aerial - 0
power - 5
strikes - 4

Intangible Rating -
entertainment - 6
selling - 7
bumping - 3
carrying - 4
heat - 10
legacy - 6

Place in History - One of the great villians of TV wrestling's golden years. The Shiek was simply one of the top heels of his time and was a major draw several places, mainly in the Midwest. As Arab brawler from an aristocratic family, the Shiek garnered instant heat in America's heartland. Aside from his gimmick, the Shiek worked an emotional brawling style of match that was filled with all the wildness and blood that the fans could have ever wanted. He choked, bit and kicked his way through the likes of Bobo Brazil, Johnny Valentine and even Andre the Giant. He worked a number of top territories in his younger years, but settled down in the 70s in his own Detroit promotion with frequent trips to Toronto and Japan. In Detroit and Toronto, the Shiek used a simple formula and became one of the best draws in history as a result. From `70 to `73 no one in world drew more constitantly in one area as he did. While he seems like a generic model for a heel in ways to the modern fan, the Shiek was a true innovator. His gimmick/style would be continued by people like frequent opponent Tiger Jeet Singh and later tag partner Abdullah "The Butcher" and to an extent his nephew Sabu. The Shiek is probably better remembered for helping trailblaze the "hardcore" style with matches heavy in bloodletting. Perhaps moreso than some of his peers, The Shiek had a direct influence by training Sabu and Rob Van Dam who were players in the style's explosion in Japan and the US. One of wrestling's great characters and someone who people should respect for all he did for wrestling in America and Japan.