The Sheik vs Charlie Cook (December 01, 1976)

Aired on George Cannon's Superstars of Wrestling in 1980 to hype the arrival of the Sheik. Milt Avruskin introduces this match before throwing it to the tape. Despite Avruskin identifying the location of the match as Amarillo, Texas, the bout actually took place in San Antonio, Texas, at the Municipal Auditorium, on December 01, 1976. Thanks to Kazusushi Sakuraba for providing the date, venue, and city in the comments!

[@romainlavoie1526]

Milton is by far one the most under rated Wrestling descriptors in the history of the sport. He was excellent in every territory that he worked in. Here in Montreal Gino Brito at commentary and Milt were doing a solid job ! They could measure up with the best !

[@KaijuEigaMan88]

Well said, Romain! I can't add anything else except that Milt would be ranked alongside Jim Ross and Gordon Solie if Milt's work were better known among wrestling fans. I actually run a Facebook group dedicated to George Cannon's Superstars of Wrestling, if you're interested in joining. We do have some discussion of Montreal, too. Many Cannon alumni are members, such as Louis Laurence, Dave "Supermouth" Drason, Farmer Pete, Al Snow, Jerry Jaffe (Dr. Jerry Graham Jr.), and "Pretty Boy" Dan Ferris. Here's the link: facebook.com/groups/678633982808688/

[@Parkwaymania]

Bizarre match. Sheik obsessed with strangling people and then no-selling two guys pounding on him. Charlie Cook didn't have the look of a jobber as well. Thanks for sharing!

[@MrTsuruta1000]

RIP Charlie Cook passed the same month as Rocky Johnson and Hercules Ayala.

[@larrysaunders6065]

All of them great.

[@smcchandler3430]

used to watch george cannon's show around this time and don't remember them having footage of matches elsewhere. they definitely did it 4 or 5 years later. i think it's a great model to have a good bout from outside your territory. attracts viewers but doesn't cut into your own live gate (not sure cannon in canada was linked much with live shows anyway)

[@HemiVic]

I watched an interview with Sabu, the Sheik’s nephew who explained that his uncle would never break from his role as The Sheik. Sabu always called him “Sheik”! Ed Farhat was an amazing individual who never broke Kayfabe! He owned the Detroit Wrestling promotion and took good care of the Wrestlers that worked for him.

[@smcchandler3430]

yup... i think someone came backstage who "knew the sheik" from college. didn't get a warm reception. always in character (in public)

[@thomasswafford250]

@@smcchandler3430 the Sheik grabbed him by the throat and told him to get out.

[@mississauga0909]

Thanks for posting this! I loved his manager , the Weasel.

[@damontsekos365]

They were both good actors!...Too bad they didn't win any Oscars!

[@danielescanaba596]

Excellent post. Thanks a lot.

[@quadraticresidue]

Great stuff from 1976. Bronco Lubich was supposed ti officiate this match but he got hold of a bad burrito and was confined to his hotel room and had to watch the match on KENS TV.

[@nanakia99]

December 1, 1976 - Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio, Texas

[@sheldonhchambliss1385]

Great posting

[@jamesbowen8960]

The brave and noble Sheik! I'm a Detroiter so I know The Sheik. His nephew is Sabu. Sabu is a terrific guy.

[@larry45044]

used to go to hara arena dayton-cinci gardens in early 70s- wish we could have went to cobo arena at least once!!

[@smcchandler3430]

was george cannon's superstars of wrestling one of the few weekly wrestling tv shows that was seldomly linked to live shows? it was occasionally but that felt one-off.

[@trentaccid2177]

HIS MANAGER HERE WAS NOT CALLED THE WEASAL GARY HART WAS CALLED PLAYBOY.

[@buddmannable]

And this my wrestling friends is one (of many) reasons why Sheik crashed and burned at the end.......no selling...........

[@nickmad887]

thanks

[@joeg1035]

Thank you.. More Sheik if you have some.

[@damontsekos365]

The Sheik...The phoniest "wrestler" of them all, and everybody took him seriously and were working themselves out every time he "Wrestled"...LOL!

[@desmondcastro3679]

Santa Claus only gave the Sheik $10,000 & 3 virgin girls Christmas after this altercation, damn it. Bad Sheik !

[@libra42ful]

Damn...no camel clutch

[@jimlachut9934]

libra42ful has

[@Dakatari]

C'mon now three guys plus a referee and the sheik no sold all of them hitting him lol

[@MondoMiami]

Sheik totally humiliated and emasculated the muscle guy.

[@libra42ful]

...I bet Sheik spunked his trunks from humiliating and emasculating Charlie the muscle-slug...I would of, AND I'd of camel clutched him too after all that punishment, just to show-off and feel like a total alpha in front of the onlookers

[@joeblow7407]

The Sheik was a relatively small guy with no muscles. Impossible to believe he could be so dominant. Can you imagine if he wrestled the Undertaker or Batista. That's why Vince McMahon took it in a different direction. It was just too silly!

[@jonathanturbide2232]

It's not unrealistic to think that a sadistic, vicious, homicidal psychopath like the original Sheik would be able to beat up bigger men. The guy’s character was one who was so brutal and so crazy, he could get the best out of anyone no matter how big they were. His unpredictability and viciousness made him more dangerous and more believable than a big steroid monster like Batista, that’s for sure.

[@CyberBehikeDJSanakori]

@@jonathanturbide2232 absolutely right on!