13 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: The Original Sheik
4. Van Dam Thinks He Wanted To “Die In The Ring”
The episode opened with VICE's usual splicing of over-the-top clips from the archives and a few choice (typically headline-making) comments from some of the talking heads set to be featured in-depth later on. One of them paints a sad picture of The Sheik's desperation when it came to clinging on to past glories and never knowing when to hang up his boots.
RVD chimed in to say he has "no doubt" Sheik "would've liked to die in the ring" rather than go out any other way. Despite getting older and everyone watching his star begin to fade, Farhat continued to book himself strongly at the expense of others. He also indulged in ultra-violent matches that became increasingly dangerous. For example, a fiery bout in Japan alongside Sabu, Onita and others than nearly went horribly wrong.
Nobody would tell him to slow down. Nobody. They wouldn't dare.
Farhat had cultivated such a ridiculously tough image and exterior. The thought of anybody, even those closest to him, suggesting that he start to take it easy was impossible. If anything, that probably would've fired the man up and made him even more determined to prove people wrong. Regardless, he was struggling to keep up the in-ring intensity physically and had visibly slowed by the time the 80s rolled around.
Perhaps there's something to Van Dam's words. Maybe The Sheik really did think it'd be fitting if he went out mid-match due to blood loss or something else equally as depressing. Rob seemed 100% sure, and he knew Ed better than anyone reading or writing this piece.