Lawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve, better known by the ring name Abdullah the
Butcher, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler. He has a
reputation for being involved in some of the most violent and bloody hardcore
wrestling matches of all time. One of Shreve's trademarks is a series
of divot-like scars on his head that he has due to excessive use of razor blades
during his career. The scars are so deep that, according to Mick Foley, Shreve
was able to put gambling chips into them. Foley said Shreve would do this at
casinos to get a rise out of patrons. An amateur martial artist, Shreve also has
knowledge of judo and karate, often including this knowledge in his
wrestling matches. This knowledge was mainly displayed by him using judo
throws and karate chops. Early life
Shreve was born on January 11, 1941 and raised in Windsor, Ontario, as part of a
family of ten people in a deeply impoverished household. He learned
karate and judo as a youth and, teaching fellow children in the backyard, claims
to have eventually earned the title of seventh-degree grandmaster.
Professional wrestling career Standing 6 feet tall and weighing a
robust 360 pounds, Shreve caught the attention of Montreal promoter Jack
Britton, and he soon made his professional wrestling debut at age 17
in 1958. He initially competed in numerous independent territories north
of the border under such various monikers as Pussycat Pickens, Kuroi
Jujutsushi and Zelis Amara. However, he ultimately created his gimmick of an
evil Arabian sadist; and in a match against Gino Brito, the Abdullah the
Butcher character first distinguished himself as one of the world’s most
feared rule breakers when he broke a chair over Brito’s head and then beat
him senseless with the leg. Since his gimmick required that he speak
no English, he possessed a number of managers over the course of his long
career, including Gary Hart, Paul Jones, Eddie Creatchman, Black Baron, The Grand
Wizard, J.J. Dillon, Damien Kane, Larry Sharpe, Chicky Starr, Oliver Humperdink,
Buddy Colt, George Cannon, Bearcat Wright, Big Bad John, Gentleman Jim
Holiday, and Rock Hunter, who were all portrayed as “handlers” commissioned to
control the Sudanese madman, while also doing most of the talking in promos and
interviews. He has, however, spoken for himself in promos while in Japan.
As a result of his frequent traveling, Abdullah the Butcher usually served as
more of a special attraction than as a consistent championship contender.
Accordingly, Abdullah never did win a World Heavyweight Championship, though
he would capture a myriad of regional titles during his career. He won his
first major championship on October 23, 1967 when he teamed with Dr. Jerry
Graham to defeat John & Carlos Tolos for the NWA's Canadian Tag Team Titles in
Vancouver. A few years later, he ventured to the Montreal region, where
he had three reigns as the IWA International Heavyweight Champion
between 1969 and 1972, feuding against Ivan Koloff and Johnny Rougeau. He later
served as one of the premier rule breakers in Calgary’s Stampede
territory, capturing the NWA Canadian Championship, as well as having six
North American Heavyweight Title reigns during the early 1970s. On June 24,
1972, he defeated Ernie Ladd in Akron, Ohio to capture his first of two NWF
Heavyweight Championships. During the mid-1970s, he frequently performed in
Detroit, Michigan’s Big-Time Wrestling territory, where he engaged in a rivalry
against The Sheik. He teamed with “Killer” Tim Brooks to win the region’s
version of the NWA World Tag Team Titles before defeating Bobo Brazil on February
8, 1975 for the NWA United States Championship.
In addition to his successes in North America, Abdullah the Butcher also
performed in the Far East, Europe, the Caribbean, Australia, and Africa. On
March 12, 1974, he traveled all the way to New Zealand, where he captured the
British Empire Commonwealth Title by defeating the nation’s champion John
DaSilva. Abdullah also established himself as one of the premier
attractions in Japan, where he competed as part of the round-robin tournament
that ultimately crowned Giant Baba as All-Japan’s inaugural PWF Heavyweight
Champion in February 1973. On October 18, 1978, Abdullah won that same PWF
belt when he defeated European former AWA champion Billy Robinson; and then on
October 13, 1980, he also beat Jumbo Tsuruta to capture the NWA United
National Heavyweight Title. His also feuded with Terry Funk in Japan, and
Funk claims to have had one of his top three all-time greatest matches with
Abdullah the Butcher. He arrived in World Class Championship
Wrestling in 1986, where he defeated The Great Kabuki for the Texas Brass
Knuckles Title and waged war against the equally wild Bruiser Brody. In Puerto
Rico, he was declared the very first WWC Universal Heavyweight Champion in July
1982 following three reigns as the Puerto Rican champion between 1978 and
1981. He was introduced in World Championship
Wrestling in a giant, gift-wrapped box. This giant box was to be Sting's
birthday gift from Cactus Jack. Sting unwrapped his gift and Abdullah attacked
him, leading to both Abdullah and Cactus feuding with Sting after the incident.
The feud culminated in a "Chamber of Horrors" match at Halloween Havoc 1991,
in which Cactus accidentally electrocuted Abdullah in an electric
chair, leading to a brief feud between the former allies.
In 1993, Abdullah arrived in ECW, where he participated in a storyline with
Kevin Sullivan, Terry Funk and Stan Hansen, and wrestled at Ultra Clash and
Bloodfest. In late 2002, Abdullah made a one-night
appearance in Ring of Honor as Homicide's partner, facing the Carnage
Crew in a bloody Bunkhouse Brawl at ROH's Night of the Butcher.
In 2007, the WWE and Jakks Pacific released an Abdullah the Butcher "WWE
Classic Superstars" figure complete with the blade marks on top of his head. A
DVD was also released named The Triumph and Tragedy of World Class Wrestling
which included a bloody cage match between Abdullah and his famous rival
Bruiser Brody. The 2007, WWC's anniversary show was
dedicated to Abdullah the Butcher's contributions to WWC. On December 13,
2008, Shreve wrestled against Balls Mahoney in Bayamon Puerto Rico during
the annual event WWC Lockout. During July 2009, he wrestled in Dragon
Gate and Hustle. He also wrestled at the New Japan Pro Wrestling supershow
Wrestle Kingdom IV in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2010, as well as wrestling
for Japanese independent promotion Osaka Pro Wrestling.
In 2009, Abdullah made an appearance at the Decatur Book Festival, facing off
against author Michael Muhammad Knight. Abdullah pummeled Knight with chairs,
forks, and a water cooler, not even stepping into the ring. Knight was taken
from the festival in an ambulance and received 46 stitches. It was Right After
Wrestling in March 2011, hosted by Arda Ocal and Jimmy Korderas, that Abdullah
admitted his favorite wrestler to face was actually Lou Thesz.
On April 2, 2011, Abdullah the Butcher was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame
in Atlanta, Georgia. Also in 2011, Abdullah returned to Georgia
Championship Wrestling as a mentor and adviser to a local wrestler known as The
Congo Warrior. In early 2012, Abdullah the Butcher
appeared on the Wrestling Marks of Excellence radio show and said that he
had given away his Hall of Fame ring to his brother, saying that he had been in
the business and drew people from all over the world and should have been
inducted decades ago. Personal life
Shreve owns two restaurants called Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs and
Chinese Food. Reviews of the Atlanta restaurant have been mixed, with most
diners preferring the ribs. Shreve is often on hand to meet fans and sign
autographs. The restaurant and Shreve appear in the music video for the 2003
song "Damn!" by Atlanta hip hop group YoungBloodZ. It was referenced in the
2006 film ATL during a scene where three characters argue over a local barbecue.
Following Shreve's WWE Hall of Fame induction in 2011, Superstar Billy
Graham requested his name be removed from the Hall, saying: "It is a
shameless organization to induct a bloodthirsty animal such as Abdullah the
Butcher into their worthless and embarrassing Hall of Fame and I want the
name of Superstar Billy Graham to be no part of it." Graham's outrage was due to
longstanding accusations that Shreve had infected other wrestlers with hepatitis
C through sharing a blade and/or cutting wrestlers without their knowledge. In
Shreve's response to Graham, he mentioned their earlier friendship,
questioned his outburst, and claimed that he was not infected with the
disease. The same year, Canadian wrestler Devon Nicholson, who said he
contracted hepatitis C when Shreve bladed him without consent, pursued
legal action. On June 3, 2014, an Ontario court ruled in favor of
Nicholson and ordered Shreve to pay $2.3 million in damages.
In wrestling Finishing moves
Bottom rope splash Jumping headbutt
The Freight Train / The Butcher's Axe / Sudanese Meat Cleaver
Signature moves Diving double foot stomp
Dropkick Throat thrust
Managers Paul Jones
Gary Hart Oliver Humperdink
Buddy Colt James J. Dillon
Jimmy Hart Paul E. Dangerously
Paul Ellering Skandor Akbar
Harley Race and The Sheik Adnan El Kassey
Gentleman Jim Holiday Hugo Savinovich
The Grand Wizard Eddie Creatchman
Chicky Starr Rico Suave
Rip Rogers Tully Blanchard
Mike Rotunda The Cuban Assassin
Frenchy Martin Damien Kane
James Mitchell Sir Dudley Clemens
"Honest" John Cheatum Rock Hunter
The Great Mephisto Entrance themes
"One of These Days" by Pink Floyd Championships and accomplishments
All Japan Pro Wrestling NWA International Tag Team Championship
- with Ray Candy NWA United National Championship
PWF United States Heavyweight Championship
PWF World Heavyweight Championship Champion Carnival
January 4 Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal
Big Japan Pro Wrestling BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship
Central States Wrestling NWA Central States Tag Team Championship
- with Roger Kirby Georgia Championship Wrestling
NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship NWA Georgia Television Championship
International Wrestling Association IWA International Heavyweight
Championship Lutte Internationale
Canadian International Heavyweight Championship
Midwest Wrestling Federation MWWF Heavyweight Championship
NWA All-Star Wrestling NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship -
with Dr. Jerry Graham and Armand Hussein NWA World Tag Team Championship - with
Dr. Jerry Graham NWA Detroit
NWA United States Heavyweight Championship
NWA World Tag Team Championship - with Killer Tim Brooks
NWA New Zealand NWA New Zealand British Commonwealth
Championship NWA Southwest
NWA Texas Hardcore Championship National Wrestling Federation
NWF Heavyweight Championship NWF International Championship
Pro Wrestling Illustrated PWI ranked him # 35 of the 500 best
singles wrestlers of the "PWI 500" in 1991
Stampede Wrestling NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship
Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship
Tokyo Pro Wrestling TPW Tag Team Championship - with Benkei
Tokyo Sports Popularity Award
Match of the Year Award with Tiger Jeet Singh vs. Antonio Inoki and Giant Baba
on August 26 World Class Wrestling Association
WCWA Brass Knuckles Championship World Wrestling Council
WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship WWC North American Heavyweight
Championship WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship
WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame
WWE WWE Hall of Fame
In popular culture Shreve has appeared in Japanese TV
commercials for Suntory, Daikin Industries, Denon, and Sapporo Ichiban.
Shreve starred with Hiroyuki Sanada in the kung fu action film Roaring Fire.
Characters in Japanese anime or manga are frequently designed to resemble
Abdullah the Butcher, often with his signature scars. Examples include
Abdullah from Kinnikuman, Abdullah the Criminal from One Piece, Machoke from
Pokemon, and Mr. Heart from Fist of the North Star.
The character of Butcher in Tiger Mask 2 is inspired by Shreve.
Abdullah the Butcher appeared in the Acclaim video game Legends of Wrestling
II and its sequel Showdown: Legends of Wrestling as well as Spike's King of
Colosseum. The character Saladin in the 1997
Nintendo 64 game WCW vs. nWo: World Tour is based on Shreve's likeness.
The character and final boss, of the Sega Genesis game Wrestle War, Grand
Kong, is based on Shreve. In the 1994 Super Nintendo game
"HammerLock Wrestling" Abdullah appears as "Sid Bieniek". In the Japanese
release, he is known as "Killer." References
External links WWE Hall of Fame Profile
Abdullah the Butcher - PuroresuWiki Abdullah the Butcher BIO from SLAM!
Wrestling TRIBUTE PAGES for Abdullah The Butcher