13 Things We Learned From Dark Side Of The Ring: The Original Sheik

9. He Barely Escaped Being Shot In-Ring

Dark Side Of The Ring Original Sheik
VICE

Another time, a so-called fan in Amarillo, Texas pulled a gun on The Sheik during one of his matches. The weapon jammed, thankfully, and a police officer was quickly on hand to tackle the idiot and take the gun from him. Later, when the same officer tried to see what was up and why the firearm had jammed, he accidentally pressed the trigger and fired it.

Jim Cornette reasoned that one more press from the ringsider who brought it in with him could've spelled disaster for Farhat. Man, wrestling really was crazy back then. According to reports, fans saw the gun and started shouting, "Kill him, kill him". OK, that's just too much. Sheik was no stranger to causing riots at arenas around the country, but the guy didn't deserve to get shot for playing a gimmick, kayfabe or not.

'Dark Side' didn't disclose whether or not the guy with the gun in the first place was prosecuted. Surely he was. You can't bring a literal handgun into some wrestling matches, aim it at one of the worker's heads, pull the trigger and then get away with it just because the thing was faulty. Shame on the folks encouraging actual death on The Sheik too.

Recently, someone caught flak for throwing a beer bottle inside WWE rings during a John Cena promo on SmackDown. That's bad enough, but The Sheik had to fret about worse. There's simply no excuse for attempting to hurt any pro wrestlers. Suspension of disbelief was different back in Sheik's heyday, but come on.

Too far. Way too far.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.