- Born
- Birth nameLawrence Shreeve
- Nickname
- Abdullah the Butcher
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Known throughout the annals of professional wrestling as "The Wildman from the Sudan," Abdullah the Butcher was born Lawrence Shreeve in Windsor, Ontario, on January 11, 1941. Wrestling at over 400 lbs through his career, Abby became a legend for bloodying opponents and was one of the first wrestlers to regularly use foreign objects in the ring on his opponents. His weapon of choice later in his career was a fork. Abby was a master at the professional wrestling talent of "blading," intentionally cutting onesself or an opponent in the forehead and bleeding through the match. The Butcher spent most of his wrestling career travelling from promotion to promotion. His wrestling gimmick, though extremely popular, tended to wear itself out quickly, so like his contemporary Andre the Giant, he was seldom a fixture for long in any one place, but was always remembered wherever he went and his return eagerly anticipated. Abby's wrestling character of the Wildman from Sudan was usually portrayed as an uncontrollable savage man who spoke no English, and he never gave interviews as himself but was interviewed through managers. This character probably accounted for his lack of appearances in films or other areas outside the pro wrestling world. Appearing as himself, a polite and well-spoken Canadian, would have done damage to his wrestling persona. Abdullah currently lives in the Atlanta, GA, area and operates a restaurant, Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs and Chinese Food. He still makes occasional guest appearances as a wrestler.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Joseph Sexton
- Bloody wrestling style
- Scarred forehead
- Although his ring persona was quite menacing, he's well liked for his cheerful disposition outside of the ring
- Owned and operated an Atlanta, Georgia area restaurant called, "Abdullah the Butcher's House of Ribs".
- Has had notable feuds with some of the greatest legends of wrestling including The Sheik, Buddy Rogers, Bobo Brazil, Jack Brisco, Bruiser Brody, Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Terry Funk, Dory Funk, The Iron Sheik, Dino Bravo, Kamala, Sting, Cactus Jack and Sabu.
- One of the 100 Greatest Wrestlers of the 20th Century (Inside Wrestling Presents, Summer 2000).
- Abdullah was never supposed to be able to speak English, so he worked with several managers over the years including Eddie "The Brain" Creatchman, J.J. Dillon, Gary Hart, Bearcat Wright, Rock Hunter and many others.
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