General Adnan Dead At 84 - Former WWE Star Passes Away
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie, also known as General Adnan, has died. He was 84 years old.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq in March 1939, Al-Kaissie moved to the United States on a football scholarship after cutting his teeth as an amateur wrestler in his homeland, later transferring from the University of Houston to Oklahoma State University. There, his amateur wrestling career continued, including almost qualifying with the United States Olympic team - but being unable to do so as he wasn't a US citizen.
Al-Kaissie entered professional wrestling in 1959, adopting the ring name Billy White Wolf, and worked the Pacific Northwest territory in the '60s. In the '70s, he brought the sport to Iraq at former classmate Saddam Hussein's behest, beating André the Giant in Baghdad in 1971 and becoming a huge star in his homeland.
Appearing for NJPW in the mid-70s and debuting for the then-WWWF in 1976, Al-Kaissie later had a long stint in the American Wrestling Association until 1989, after which he joined the WWF. He became 'General Adnan' in 1990, aligning with Sgt. Slaughter during Slaughter's infamous pro-Iraqi run, later joined by the rebranded Iron Sheik, Colonel Mustafa. Slaughter eventually turned face, though Adnan and Mustafa were aligned until Al-Kaissie departed the WWF after Royal Rumble 1992.
Al-Kaissie formally retired from wrestling in 1998. His memoirs, The Sheik of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General Adnan, were published in 2005.
Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie, also known as General Adnan, has died. He was 84 years old.
Born in Baghdad, Iraq in March 1939, Al-Kaissie moved to the United States on a football scholarship after cutting his teeth as an amateur wrestler in his homeland, later transferring from the University of Houston to Oklahoma State University. There, his amateur wrestling career continued, including almost qualifying with the United States Olympic team - but being unable to do so as he wasn't a US citizen.
Al-Kaissie entered professional wrestling in 1959, adopting the ring name Billy White Wolf, and worked the Pacific Northwest territory in the '60s. In the '70s, he brought the sport to Iraq at former classmate Saddam Hussein's behest, beating André the Giant in Baghdad in 1971 and becoming a huge star in his homeland.
Appearing for NJPW in the mid-70s and debuting for the then-WWWF in 1976, Al-Kaissie later had a long stint in the American Wrestling Association until 1989, after which he joined the WWF. He became 'General Adnan' in 1990, aligning with Sgt. Slaughter during Slaughter's infamous pro-Iraqi run, later joined by the rebranded Iron Sheik, Colonel Mustafa. Slaughter eventually turned face, though Adnan and Mustafa were aligned until Al-Kaissie departed the WWF after Royal Rumble 1992.
Al-Kaissie formally retired from wrestling in 1998. His memoirs, The Sheik of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General Adnan, were published in 2005.
