The world of professional wrestling is in mourning as the legendary WWE Hall of Famer, Adnan Al-Kaissie, known to fans as “General Adnan,” has passed away at the age of 84. The Iraqi-born wrestler, whose real name was Adnan bin Abdul Kareem Ahmed Alkaissy El Farthie, left an indelible mark on the world of sports entertainment.
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Adnan Al-Kaissie’s journey to wrestling stardom began in 1971 when he achieved a historic victory over the iconic André the Giant at Al-Shaab Stadium in Baghdad. This momentous win, under the auspices of his former high school friend Saddam Hussein, catapulted him into the global wrestling spotlight1.
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Throughout his illustrious career, Adnan Al-Kaissie competed in various wrestling promotions, including the World Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF), where he achieved the pinnacle of success by capturing the WWWF World Tag Team Championship alongside Chief Jay Strongbow on December 7, 19762. His wrestling prowess and larger-than-life personality endeared him to fans worldwide.
In 1981, Adnan Al-Kaissie joined the American Wrestling Association (AWA), further solidifying his status as a wrestling icon. However, it was his arrival in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, formerly WWWF, now WWE) in 1990 that brought him to the forefront of sports entertainment. Under the moniker “General Adnan,” he managed the formidable Sgt. Slaughter and made history by competing at SummerSlam 1991 in a Handicap match alongside Col. Mustafa, with Sid Justice as the special guest referee, against wrestling legends Hulk Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior3.
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