Real Name: Jim Wehba Need to Know Facts: Born in Wichita Falls, Texas on September 29, 1934, Jim Wehba’s professional wrestling career began in 1963 with the assistance of his cousin, former wrestling great Frankie Cain (The Great Mephisto), and former NWA World Champion Lou Thesz. Three short years into his career, Wehba took the Arabic name Skandor Akbar (translation: "Alexander the Great") at the suggestion of Fritz Von Erich. Because Akbar's parents were from Lebanon, it was a gimmick both Von Erich and Wehba knew would be convincing. “Ak” worked in numerous prominent U.S. territories during his wrestling career including Tri-State (the forerunner to Mid-South), Houston, Dallas, Central States, the WWWF, Florida, and others. He is quick to credit wrestling legend Danny Hodge, with whom he teamed for nearly 5 years, for helping him advance his career. At one point, they were US tag team champs until Akbar turned on Hodge, causing a violent feud between the two gladiators in an angle that became the defining moment of Akbar's active wrestling career. Akbar retired as a full-time competitor in 1977 and became "The General" -- a manager who smoked cigars at ringside and harassed the fans in attendance during his men's matches. A fireball, as many of Akbar’s unexpecting opponents can verify, was not out of the question either. In 1983, General Akbar re-emerged in the World Class circuit with a new heel stable of wrestlers known as Devastation, Inc. The evil manager and his wrestlers challenged Gary Hart and Arman Hussein’s stable of wrestlers, known as H&H Enterprises. During the feud, Akbar was able to procure several H&H grapplers, amongst them disgruntled H&H member King Kong Bundy (who had been “on strike” from H&H for what he thought to be unfair treatment). The feud would ultimately end when Akbar’s protégé, Kamala, beat Hussein and two others in a “Loser Leave Town” handicap match. (As a bit of trivia, Akbar also put over Mike Von Erich in his television debut match in November 1983.) Having already split his time between World Class Championship Wrestling and Bill Watts’ Mid-South promotion, Akbar also briefly ventured to Jim Crockett, Jr.’s Mid-Atlantic region where his wrestler Kamala battled U.S. Champion Magnum T.A. (Terry Allen) over the coveted title. For the next few years, Skandor would devote his attention entirely to Bill Watts’ Universal Wrestling Federation (UWF), formerly known as Mid-South Wrestling. His feuds with such popular favorites as Ted DiBiase, “Dr. Death” Steve Williams, “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan and Terry Taylor hold as much historical significance in the annals of professional wrestling as his battles with the Von Erichs and other World Class favorites did. Devastation, Inc. would return to World Class in early 1988. On August 4, 1989, newfound WCCW hero “Flamboyant” Eric Embry, seconded by his manager Percy Pringle III, would defeat Devastation member P.Y. Chu-Hi (Phil Hickerson, seconded by Tojo Yamamoto) at the Dallas Sportatorium to gain controllership of the promotion in which the majority was “owned” by General Skandor Akbar and his associates. With this victory, the promotion known internationally as World Class Championship Wrestling became the Dallas branch of the United States Wrestling Association (USWA). This fact was accentuated when Embry and his manager Percy Pringle III tore down the Akbar continues to be heavily involved in the professional wrestling industry, teaching the profession to many aspiring grapplers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and still manages on the local independent circuit. Interestingly enough, in a situation strongly reminiscent of the blockbuster movie (and real life story) The Rookie, in which a school teacher/baseball coach is talked by his students into fulfilling his lifelong dream of becoming a major league baseball pitcher, Akbar trained 53-year-old Jarvis Young for his debut match in November 2005 in the Texas independents.
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General Skandor Akbar
With Ox Baker, Akbar would go on to win the Georgia tag team titles in 1972, and would become one half of the Macon tag team champions with Rocket Monroe. He was also very popular in Australia and held the Australian Heavyweight title for over a year.
In 1984, in one of his last significant battles in World Class for the next several years, Akbar's Devastation Inc. battled fellow heel faction, The Fabulous Freebirds, after a violent altercation between Akbar’s Killer Khan and Freebird Terry Gordy.
WCCW banner hanging from the Sportatorium’s ceiling, declaring the promotion’s independence from the evil grasp of the General.