Adnan Al-Kaissie

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Adnan Al-Kaissie
Statistics
Ring name(s) Adnan El Kaissie
Adnon Kaissie
Adnan El Kassey
Shiek Adnan El Kassey
Shiek Adnan El Kaissie
General Adnan
Billy White Wolf
Born March 1, 1939 (1939-03-01) (age 69)
Baghdad, Iraq
Resides Hopkins, Minnesota
Debut 1959

Adnan Bin Abdulkareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie (born March 1, 1939), better known professionally as Adnan Al-Kaissie, is a former professional wrestler and a manager best known as Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissy, Billy White Wolf, or General Adnan.

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[edit] Career

Adnan El Kassey was born Adnan Bin Abdulkareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie in Baghdad, Iraq. According to his autobiography, he came from a fairly distinguished family, with his father being an imam (Muslim preacher). One of his high school classmates was Saddam Hussein (again according to the autobiography). He had an amateur wrestling career in Iraq and attended Oklahoma State University; he began wrestling in the state of Oklahoma in 1959, under the name "Adnan Kaissey".

Kassey wrestled for Pacific Northwest Wrestling in the 1960s and in the World Wide Wrestling Federation in the 1970s under the Native American gimmick Billy White Wolf and won the World Tag Team Titles with Chief Jay Strongbow. Needing neck surgery, Kassey agreed to work an injury angle where he had his neck broken by Ken Patera via the Swinging Neckbreaker on TV. After he left the territory for his neck surgery, the Indians were stripped of their titles. He wouldn't return until the early 90's, using his real name, as a manager.

During the 1970s, he took pro wrestling to Iraq under the direction of Saddam Hussein. In one such match, he defeated André the Giant in Baghdad. In 1978, he wrestled in Hawaii and was the master of the "Indian Death Match" until his arch-rival, Tor Kamata, defeated him. Not long after, he returned briefly to Iraq with the intent of introducing pro wrestling. By this time, his old classmate Saddam was ruler of the country. By his own account, it was a difficult time, for although Kaissey was very popular and had some success introducing professional wrestling to Iraq, Saddam was already becoming paranoid about potential rivals, and he saw Kaissey in this light. Kaissey fled back to the US and never returned, though he kept contact with his family in Baghdad.

In 1981, with tensions between the US and Middle East running high, he debuted in the American Wrestling Association as "Sheik Adnan El Kaissey" and teamed with "Crusher" Jerry Blackwell. He had to quit wrestling when he was injured by Ken Patera, but he stayed there until it folded in early 1991 as a heel manager.

In the WWF in 1991, he allied with Sgt. Slaughter and the Iron Sheik as General Adnan and managed them during their pro-Iraqi gimmick in a feud with Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior. Adnan returned to the ring in the world tour 1991 joining with the Undertaker and Sgt. Slaughter to face the Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan; he also headlined Summerslam 1991 with the pair against Hogan and Warrior.

He formerly managed his own company, the World All-Star Wrestling Alliance, which he co-owned with Ken Patera.

On November 22, 2006, he appeared on FOX News Channel's Hannity & Colmes describing his encounters with a young Saddam Hussein.

He currently resides in Hopkins, Minnesota.

[edit] Wrestlers managed

[edit] Championships and accomplishments

  • PWI ranked him # 410 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

[edit] Autobiography

On June 30, 2005 Triumph Books published his memoirs in The Sheik of Baghdad: Tales of Celebrity and Terror from Pro Wrestling's General Adnan.