Abdullah the Butcher
- Actor
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.
