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More on the career and passing of Skandar Akbar

More on the career and passing of Skandar Akbar

Posted: Aug 20th 2010 By: mikeiles

I am very sad to report the passing of longtime Texas wrestling legend General Skandar Akbar, real name James Wehba at the age of 75. Akbar was found yesterday in his Garland, Texas home.

Akbar, who was active on the independent wrestling scene until his passing, actually broke into the business as a wrestler in the early 1960s and often credited the late Lou Thesz with teaching him a lot about the business, although his official trainer was Jimmy Young. Akbar initially wrestled under his real name but at the suggestion of Fritz Von Erich, later adopted the Akbar moniker to play off of his legitimate Lebanese background to garner heel heat as a foreigner.

During his in-ring career, Akbar worked for WCW in Australia, the WWWF and a number of NWA based territories in Texas, Oklahoma and Georgia, among others.

As his in-ring career slowed down, Akbar, who had a great gift for gab, became a manager, the role he is most remembered for today. As the turban wearing leader of Devastation, Inc. Akbar led many a heel into battle in both Mid-South and World Class Championship Wrestling, feuding with the likes of The Von Erichs and Eric Embry, among others as the evil Arabic Sheik bankrolled by the Middle Eastern oil companies trying to defeat the babyface forces. In the Southwest, where Oil was a major industry, Akbar's heat was off the charts.

When World Class morphed into USWA and later left Texas (Jerry Jarrett owned the promotion by this point), Akbar worked for Global Wrestling and countless others Texas based promotions. He ended up becoming one of the senior voices and locker room leaders for multiple generations of performers.

In recent years, Akbar had appeared in many of the different documentaries made about the glory days of the World Class promotion and had recorded a number of shoot interviews. Akbar had just appeared at the NWA Legends Fanfest several weeks back, where he had the chance to reunite with former tag team partner and good friend Danny Hodge as well as his former WCCW charge Kamala.

On behalf of everyone at PWInsider.com, I wish to express our deepest condolences to Akbar's family and friends, and to everyone in the Texas wrestling scene where he was an institution.

 

Tags: Skandar Akbar, James Wehba, Lou Thesz, Fritz Von Erich, NWA, Devastation, Inc., MSW, WCCW, Von Erichs, Eric Embry, Danny Hodge, Kamala

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Spotlight in History

  • 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion

Week of Sun 05-05 to Sat: 05-11

  • 05-05 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-05 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-05 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-05 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
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  • 05-05 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
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  • 05-06 1974 Rip Tyler def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) def. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 1985 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2005 Shane Morbid def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 05-06 2005 The 918 Boyz (Timmy J & Cade Sydal) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2011 Jeff Starchild became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-06 2017 Lone Star, Inc. (Cody Burns & Trey Cole & The Longhorn Outlaw) def. Simply the Future (J. D. & Alex) for the WFC Tag Team Champions
  • 05-06 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. El Greengo Loco & Karnage for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Thrash def. Jason Jones for the WFC Prime Champion
  • 05-06 2023 MLP def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-06 2023 Red James def. MLP for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
  • 05-07 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
  • 05-07 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
  • 05-07 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 05-07 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
  • 05-07 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
  • 05-07 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
  • 05-07 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion
  • 05-08 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-08 1985 The Snowman became the MSW Television Champion
  • 05-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. King Parsons for the WCCW World Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Brandon Groom def. Michael Barry for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 John O'Malley became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2004 Luc Lapointe & Se7en became the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Se7en & Michael Barry & Jack Legacy) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
  • 05-08 2010 Wage def. Eric Rose for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-08 2010 John O'Malley def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 Michael H def. Tex for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-08 2010 J. R. Orullian & The Unknown def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Dennis Williams) for the 412PE Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 1967 Gorgeous George, Jr. & Jack Brisco def. The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-09 2004 John O'Malley def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Se7en became the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2004 Bernie Donderwitz def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
  • 05-09 2009 Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2009 Dane Griffin def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Champion
  • 05-09 2009 BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) def. Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2015 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Hurricane Ross & J. R. Orullian for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-09 2021 Erica def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
  • 05-10 1966 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Champion
  • 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
  • 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
  • 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
  • 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
  • 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
05-07
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  • Steve Williams May 14th
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  • Buddy Knox May 16th
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  • Ryker James May 16th
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  • Wage May 17th
  • J. B. Pain May 17th
  • Billy Red Lyons May 17th
  • Mike Pappas May 17th
  • Dan Maestro May 17th
  • Kyle Hawk May 17th
  • Matt Riviera May 18th
  • Luna Nightshade May 18th
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  • Dick Slater May 19th
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