Abdullah the Butcher

Larry Shreve (Born Lawrence Shreve on November 2, 1936 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada), best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times the Madman from the Sudan, was one of the most famous heels in professional wrestling history.

Career

Shreve began his wrestling career in Canada in 1958. During his career he had bloody matches with stars like Carlos Colon, Bruiser Brody and The Original Sheik. His feud with Terry Funk is still considered one of the hottest feuds in Japan. (in which Funk claims to have a personal top 3 all time greatest match with Abdullah the Butcher) Shreve is almost always paired with a manager (most notably "Playboy" Gary Hart in Texas, Georgia, and Florida) and never speaks in U.S. territories. He has spoken in Japanese interviews, where promos aren't as important to get a wrestler over.

Abdullah the Butcher had spent time in All Japan Pro Wrestling during the 70's where he had matches with The Giant Baba and Hulk Hogan. His battles with The Original Sheik are regarded as some of the greatest hardcore matches in professional wrestling history.

Abdullah The Butcher was introduced in World Championship Wrestling when he was in a giant box with gift wrapping. This giant box full of wrapping was to be Sting's birthday gift from Cactus Jack. Sting unwrapped his gift and it turned out to be Abdullah the Butcher as both fueded with Sting after the incident and soon after he had a brief feud with his old ally, Cactus Jack, in WCW in 1992.

Abdullah often bloodied his opponents with foreign objects that he concealed in his pants (he frequently used a fork as his trademark weapon).

Abdullah worked in nearly every major wrestling promotion in the world, except the WWE, but never stayed in one place for very long. He has also taken part of Juggalo Championshit Wrestling owned by the Insane Clown Posse. Even at his age, he still makes wrestling appearances and still works matches as brutal as he did in his youth accompanied by his signature fork.

Besides wrestling, Shreve owns a restaurant in southwest Atlanta called "Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs & Chinese Food." Shreve is often onhand to meet fans and sign autographs, and the restaurant has become something of a local attraction. Shreve and his restaurant make a cameo appearance in the music video for the song "Damn!" by Atlanta recording artists Youngbloodz.

Trivia

Shreve knows judo and often displayed some of his judo knowledge in his matches. He also knows karate.
The canadian wrestler Vampiro was once trained by Abdullah. Even though he was mostly trained in Mexico Vampiro considers Abdullah to be his original trainer.
He was the last person to have a match with Bruiser Brody.