Sheik Ali
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| Birth name | Wadi Ayoub |
|---|---|
| Born | 1927 Sebhel, Zgharta District, Lebanon |
| Died | September 29, 1976 |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Shiek Ali |
Wadi Ayoub (1927 -September 29, 1976) was a champion Greco–Roman style professional wrestler, best known as Sheik Ali.
By the age of 22, Ayoub had progressed to being the Champion of Lebanon. In 1951, he left Lebanon behind, and came to Australia in search of a better way of life. Realising that, to be successful in professional wrestling, he needed added weight, he underwent a course of bodybuilding at Dovey’s Gymnasium, Sydney. He was successful in adding over 40 lb body weight. Additionally, he seized every opportunity to work with freestyle wrestlers and to make himself fit enough for a career in professional wrestling. Among the early wrestlers who helped him achieve his target of becoming a professional were Tom Lurich, Chief Little Wolf and Jim Deakin.
In March 1953, he made his debut at Leichhardt Stadium, in an encounter against Jon Morro. After four more contests, Ayoub headed for New Zealand and held his own against the British Empire Champion, Earl McCready. He was signed for a series of contests against wrestlers that were operating throughout India at the time. Some of these included Tiger Joginder Singh, Emil Koroshenko, Dara Singh, King Kong, Bert Assirati and Harbans Singh.
In 1956, he returned to Sydney where wrestling was in full swing. At White City, he wrestled Tiger Ray Holden. The rest of the year was spent in Hobart, Adelaide and Perth, where he competed against such talent as George Pencheff, King Kong and Baron von Heczey.
In 1957 at White City, he went to a draw with the Indian, Tarlok Singh. In October en route to Japan for a World Title clash against the Champion, Lou Thesz, he stopped in Singapore for a bout against King Kong for the Malaysian Heavyweight crown. In a fierce contest, Kong was victorious. When negotiations for his visit to Japan fell through, Ayoub decided to stay in Singapore and competed in bouts with Ricky Waldo and Aslam Pehalwan.
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