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Mike Iles reflects on General Skandar Akbar

Mike Iles reflects on General Skandar Akbar

Posted: Aug 23rd 2010 By: mikeiles

I normally don't do a lot of the original writing here at Oklafan. I usually leave that for Burnham. Aside from an occasional show recap, I usually just find the tidbits you see in The Scoop. But after the recent passing of Skandar Akbar, I felt the need to express my fondness for The General.

I grew up watching Mid-South Wrestling (later the Universal Wrestling Federation) because they were on local TV. When my family got cable, I started watching World Class Championship Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance. I didn't like the World Wrestling Federation because they only showed "squash matches" and their wrestlers were a little too cartoony. Of course then WWF wrestlers were actually a Saturday morning cartoon, but I am veering off subject. Mid-South and World Class were my early favorites.

I remember guys in Mid-South like Bob Sweetan, Ted DiBiase, Hercules Hernandez, Steve Williams, The Rock-N-Roll Express, Buddy Landel, Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, and so many more. In WCCW, it was the Von Erichs, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez, Jake Roberts, The Fabulous Freebirds, Iceman King Parsons, and the list could go on and on. But one manager stuck out the most to me in both of these feds, General Skandar Akbar.

Akbar called his stable Devastation, Inc. A motley group of bad guys. Guys like King Kong Bundy, The Super Destroyers, Kamala the Ugandan Giant, The Missing Link, and a lot more. He waged war on the Von Erichs. He waged war on Hacksaw Jim Duggan. He was one of the most hated individuals in wrestling. Watching wrestling back in those days, you cheered the good guys. Back then, it was rare you came across a wrestling fan that liked the bad guys. But Skandar Akbar intrigued me. Sure there were other managers like Gary Hart or Jim Cornette. But Akbar was the main guy in my book.

I attended a local wrestling show at a hotel in Tulsa and Akbar was on the card. The other guys I remember being on the card were Tom Jones and J. J. Mustang. I was excited to see one of the guys I grew up watching up close. I remember as he left the ringside area I said "Hey Akbar, your camel is double parked" and without hesitation he replied "Yeah, and George Bush is milking him". Simply awesome.

I got to meet Akbar on November 10, 2007 at the very last All American Championship Wrestling event, which was held at Farmer's Market in Oklahoma City. At the time, I was the commissioner of Impact Zone Wrestling, but I had promised AACW promoter Damien Strange that I would be at the show. When I walked into the locker room there was Akbar sitting on a chair. I blew right past all the other wrestlers in the locker room and made a beeline to Akbar. I introduced myself to him saying "Mr. Akbar it's a pleasure to meet you sir. You scared the crap out of me when I was a kid". He chuckled and asked why. I told him it was because he was able to throw fire. I sat down on the couch next to him and listened to his stories about his career. At one point he mentioned that he and Danny Hodge had sold out the local auditorium in a town in Arkansas just weeks earlier. I said "Well dang Ak, you and Danny have been feuding for 50 years. I think you have it down pat". He laughed and said "You're right Big Mike". That just made my whole day. He called me Big Mike.

On February 2, 2008 I had finished a show with IZW and headed over to Sooner World Class Wrestling's Underground Arena to pick up the results of their show for Oklafan and to say hello to some people. I walked in and saw Koko B. Ware and Kamala sitting backstage waiting to leave. I said hello and started looking around for someone that could get me the results. Kevin James Sanchez was helping me out when in walked Akbar. He said "Well there he is. Where ya been Big Mike?" Again, that made my day. He remembered our conversation we had a few months back. We talked again and I told him it was good seeing him again before I left.

I was very saddened to hear that Akbar had passed away. He died at the age of 75. He lived a full life. Although he never worked for Vince McMahon and the WWF or Ted Turner and WCW or ECW and he wasn't a part of the Monday Night Wars, he was one of the most revered managers pro wrestling has ever seen. He also touched so many lives in and around Oklahoma and Texas. He helped train former NWA Oklahoma Heavyweight Champions Spoiler 2000 and Slam Shady, former NWA Universal Tag Team Champions The Bounty Hunter and Bash, and NWA Oklahoma Tag Team Champion American Anarchy.

I have a picture of me and Akbar from the night I met him. He is growling and has the riding crop cocked back while I am grinning ear to ear. My wife jokes with me that he "should have had his head thing on" but I don't care. To me Skandar Akbar is always going to be the despised villain that could throw fire and scare me to death.

Rest in peace General.

 

Tags: Mike Iles, Skandar Akbar, C. M. Burnham. MSW, UWF, WCCW, NWA, WWF, Bob Sweetan, Ted DiBiase, Hercules Hernandez, Steve Williams, Rock-N-Roll Express, Buddy Landel, Jim Duggan, Butch Reed, Von Erichs, Chris Adams, Gino Hernandez, Jake Roberts, Fabulous Fre

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Complete Calendar

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Spotlight in History

  • 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
  • 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title

Week of Sun 04-19 to Sat: 04-25

  • 04-19 1987 Bubba Rogers def. One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2008 New Canada (The Canadian Luchadore & The Canadian Red Devil) def. La M (El Choppo & Jesus Rodriguez) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) def. Nathan Sensation for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2013 Bree Ann def. Barbi Hayden for the NWA-TXO Rose Title
  • 04-19 2014 Aaron Anders def. Michael Wolf for the OWA Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Jake O'Brien def. Brian Breaker for the OWA Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Tim Rockwell def. Jon Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2014 Randy Price def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-19 2014 Miss Diss Lexia def. Paige Turner for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Erica def. Miss Diss Lexia for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-19 2014 Brandon Groom def. Warhammer for the BPPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-19 2024 Killa Kate became the TexPro Rose Champion
  • 04-19 2024 Kari Wright def. Tommy Prince for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2024 K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) def. Rock-N-Rugged (Rook Tyler & Gabe Welder for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
  • 04-19 2025 Rook Tyler def. Auzzy for the TexPro Dynasty Title
  • 04-19 2025 Brandon Warhawk def. Floyd Maystorm for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-19 2026 Gideon Vane became the WTW Open Promotions Champion
  • 04-20 1980 Toru Tanaka def. Kevin Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2013 The Canadian Red Devil became the OWA Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2013 Daemon Storm def. Justin Dynamic for the UWE United States Title
  • 04-20 2018 Jack Swagger def. MVP for the IWR Heavyweight Title
  • 04-20 2019 B. M. F. (Kareem Sadat & Maniac Mike) became the EmpCW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-20 2019 Double D became the EmpCW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-20 2024 Malachi & Ozzy Hendrix def. The Voiceless Society (Tyler Watts & E-Bone) for the CAPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-20 2024 Kevin James Sanchez def. Montego Seeka for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-21 1967 The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 1979 Mike George def. Jerry Stubbs for the TSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-21 2006 Ray Martinez became the SRPW X Division Champion
  • 04-21 2007 Kareem Sadat def. K-Rob for the AACW Hardcore Title
  • 04-21 2007 Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) def. The Re-Gex (Seth Shai & Mace) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2017 Sam Stackhouse def. Spyder for the BPPW Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2017 The Cursed (Blade [2nd] & Kuda) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
  • 04-21 2018 The Untamed (Rex Andrews & Ryan Davidson) became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
  • 04-21 2023 Leo Fox def. Mr. Nasty for the UWE Apex Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-21 2023 Mr. Wobble def. Tego for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
  • 04-21 2023 Franco D'Angelo def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Oklahoma Title
  • 04-22 1940 Jesse James def. Danny McShain for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1955 Ricki Starr def. Mike Clancy for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 1968 The Spoilers (Spoiler #1 & Spoiler #2/Smasher Sloan) def. Fritz Von Erich & Billy Red Lyons for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 1980 Terry Gordy def. Junkyard Dog for the MSW Louisiana Title
  • 04-22 1985 The Great Kabuki became the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Champion
  • 04-22 2006 Michael York def. Jon Davis for the TPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Brock Landers def. Mascara La Parka for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2016 Mascara La Parka def. Brock Landers for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-22 2017 Double D def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
  • 04-22 2017 Nikki Knight def. Skylar Slice for the ComPro Ladies Title
  • 04-22 2018 Chaz Sharpe became the ASP Inter-County Champion
  • 04-22 2018 Johnny Kove & Tristan Thorne became the ASP Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
  • 04-22 2018 Damon Windsor def. Chandler Hopkins for the IWR Revolutionary Title
  • 04-22 2022 Drake Gallows & Fester Cluck def. Legend Has It (Thrash & Killbane) for the CPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2022 Duncan Kincaid became the RDW Iron Man Champion
  • 04-22 2023 The Psychotic Messengers (Tank Bryson & Malachi) def. X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
  • 04-22 2023 Devion Black def. Adrian Vega for the EPW All-American Title
  • 04-22 2023 Logan Knight def. Gemini [2nd] for the EPW Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1966 Ramon Torres def. Lorenzo Parente for the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Title
  • 04-23 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1974 Thunder Cloud & White Cloud def. Bob Sweetan & Seigfried Stanke for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 1978 Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear def. Ernie Ladd & The Assassin for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-23 2004 Michael Barry became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-23 2006 Tyler Bateman def. Seth Allen for the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Title
  • 04-23 2006 Michael Faith became the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
  • 04-23 2016 Athena def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
  • 04-23 2022 The Blue Bolt def. Richie Adams for the WFC Prime Title
  • 04-23 2022 Koko def. Reed for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
  • 04-23 2022 Rhett def. Hornsby for the WFC Drillsville Title
  • 04-24 1999 The Casualties of War (Grunt & Shrapnel) def. The East-West Express (J. J. Mustang & Joey Steiner) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
  • 04-24 1999 Original Renegade def. Tarantula for the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-24 2004 Dexter Hardaway became the NWA-OK X Division Champion
  • 04-24 2004 Tejas def. Al Jackson for the NWA Texas Title
  • 04-24 2015 Rick Russo & Largus RagnaBrok became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
  • 04-24 2025 Floyd Maystorm def. Brandon Warhawk for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
  • 04-25 1969 Alberto Torres & Ramon Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treach Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
  • 04-25 1971 Dusty Rhodes def. Sputnik Monroe for the TSW Brass Knucks Title
  • 04-25 2003 Ichiban [1st] became the TPW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2003 The Heatseekers (Karl Davis & Rick Styles) became the TPW Tag Team Champions
  • 04-25 2003 Outcast def. Tyler Bateman for the TPW Light Heavyweight Title
  • 04-25 2008 Ky-Ote became the 3DW Heavyweight Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Les Mayne became the 3DW Texoma Champion
  • 04-25 2008 2AM (Javi Hernandez & Kunna Keyoh) became the 3DW Dual Kombat Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Al Farat became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Frankie Dee became the 3DW Femme Fatale Champion
  • 04-25 2008 Joshua Smith def. Al Farat for the 3DW Violent Division Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer def. Outlaw for the SWCW Luchadore Title
  • 04-25 2010 David Kyzer became the SWCW All-American Champion
  • 04-25 2021 Brandon Barricade def. Red for the ASP All Time Title
  • 04-25 2021 Maui Mike & Malik Mayfield became the ASP Tag Team Champions
04-24
  • Ethan Price Apr 24th Today!
  • Lou Thesz Apr 24th Today!
  • Lance Von Erich Apr 24th Today!
  • Max Mercer Apr 25th
  • Brett Stopp Apr 25th
  • Crash Davis Apr 25th
  • Zack Zilla Apr 25th
  • Bobby Joe Bristow Apr 25th
  • Carl Fergie Apr 25th
  • Eric Roberts Apr 25th
  • Walker Stewart Apr 25th
  • Justin Dynamic Apr 26th
  • Havoc Apr 26th
  • Karl Kox Apr 26th
  • Yasu Fuji Apr 27th
  • Siva Afi Apr 28th
  • Chance Snodgrass Apr 28th
  • Ichiban [2nd] Apr 28th
  • Sunshine Apr 29th
  • Joe McCarthy Apr 30th
  • Billie the Kiid Apr 30th
  • Dustin Tibbs Apr 30th
  • Anarchy [2nd] Apr 30th
  • Prince Maivia May 1st
  • Big Bossman May 2nd
  • Don Fields May 2nd
  • Nightmare [1st] May 2nd
  • Americos May 2nd
  • Barrett Brown May 2nd
  • Kari Wright May 2nd
  • Johnny Humble May 3rd
  • Lily McKenzie May 3rd
  • Lester Welch May 3rd
  • Jay Hazzard May 4th
  • Dory Funk May 4th
  • Bull Schmitt May 4th
  • El Hijo del Mascara Sagrada May 4th
  • Malik Mayfield May 4th
  • Olivier Vegos May 5th
  • Bill Watts May 5th
  • Zane Morris May 5th
  • El Gallardo May 5th
  • El Matador Dos May 5th
  • Pat O'Dowdy May 5th
  • Miss Diss Lexia May 5th
  • Maria Brigitte May 5th
  • Princess Victoria May 5th
  • Claire Watson May 6th
  • Hercules May 7th

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