Abdullah the Butcher

Known as: Abdullah the Butcher, Zelis Amara, Great Amara, McKinley Pickens, Pussycat Pickens
Details
Pro Wrestlers Database
Abdullah the Butcher - Pro Wrestlers Database

On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Abdullah the Butcher, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.

Lawrence Robert Shreve was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada on January 11, 1941, and he is currently 84 years old.

Abdullah the Butcher was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011 as an individual and in the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) in 2019 as part of the Television Era wing.

Abdullah the Butcher Profile Index

Profile Info

  • Gender Male
  • Real Name Lawrence Robert Shreve
  • Ring Names
    • Abdullah the Butcher ( June 19, 1967 - October 9, 2010)
    • Zelis Amara ( September 23, 1965 - June 15, 1967)
    • Great Amara ( July 18, 1966 - April 24, 1967)
    • McKinley Pickens ( August 13, 1965 - November 11, 1966)
    • Pussycat Pickens ( June 29, 1964 - August 12, 1965)
    • McKinley Pickens ( June 25, 1959 - June 28, 1964)
  • Born January 11, 1941 (age 84)
  • Nationality Nationality: CanadaCanada
  • Birth Place Windsor, Ontario, Canada
  • Billed From
    • The Sudan ( June 19, 1967 - October 9, 2010)
  • Height 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
  • Weight
    • 360 lbs (163 kg)
  • Nicknames Madman from the Sudan

Career History

  • Roles

    • Wrestler ( July 2, 1957 - October 9, 2010)

  • Promotions History

    Promotionfromto
    Promotion Dragon GateDG July 19, 2009 July 11, 2010
    Promotion HUSTLEHUSTLE July 26, 2009 July 30, 2009
    Promotion All Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight October 8, 2007 January 9, 2008
    Promotion All Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight January 28, 2001 March 12, 2005
    Promotion Big Japan Pro WrestlingBJW January 2, 1999 October 30, 2000
    Promotion Wrestle Association-RWAR May 5, 1997 February 24, 1998
    Promotion World Wrestling CouncilWWC January 12, 1997 August 16, 1997
    Promotion All Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight November 21, 1987 March 2, 1996
    Promotion Capitol Sports PromotionsCSP June 24, 1993 August 7, 1994
    Promotion Eastern Championship WrestlingECW, National Wrestling AllianceNWA September 18, 1993 October 2, 1993
    Promotion World Championship WrestlingWCW December 27, 1988 May 10, 1992
    Promotion National Wrestling AllianceNWA December 27, 1988 December 31, 1990
    Promotion National Wrestling FederationNWF June 13, 1986 October 31, 1987
    Promotion World Class Wrestling AssociationWCWA May 26, 1986 July 27, 1987
    Promotion National Wrestling AllianceNWA January 5, 1975 February 23, 1986
    Promotion Jim Crockett PromotionsJCP April 13, 1985 February 2, 1986
    Promotion New Japan Pro WrestlingNJPWBrand Heavyweight June 24, 1981 January 30, 1985
    Promotion Southwest Championship WrestlingSWCW July 1, 1984 October 18, 1984
    Promotion American Wrestling AssociationAWA April 23, 1984 July 22, 1984
    Promotion Jim Crockett PromotionsJCP September 16, 1982 November 24, 1983
    Promotion Georgia Championship WrestlingGCW December 22, 1979 November 18, 1983
    Promotion Universal Wrestling AssociationUWA November 29, 1981 August 22, 1982
    Promotion Jim Crockett PromotionsJCP September 5, 1981 October 4, 1981
    Promotion All Japan Pro WrestlingAJPWBrand Heavyweight December 2, 1972 April 30, 1981
    Promotion Georgia Championship WrestlingGCW January 17, 1975 June 30, 1978
    Promotion Gulf Athletic ClubGAC August 26, 1977 December 23, 1977
    Promotion NWA Mid-AmericaMID AMERICA March 6, 1977 October 25, 1977
    Promotion NWA Western States SportsWSS June 2, 1977 August 6, 1977
    Promotion NWA Tri-StateNWA TRI STATE July 1, 1976 July 17, 1976
    Promotion Championship Wrestling from FloridaCWF July 30, 1975 August 27, 1975
    Promotion Big Time WrestlingBTW DETROIT June 29, 1974 May 30, 1975
    Promotion Stampede WrestlingSTAMPEDE January 11, 1973 January 11, 1974
    Promotion National Wrestling FederationNWF November 25, 1971 November 23, 1972
    Promotion Stampede WrestlingSTAMPEDE January 2, 1970 July 10, 1971
    Promotion Japanese Wrestling AssociationJWA April 2, 1971 May 19, 1971
    Promotion National Wrestling Alliance Hollywood WrestlingNWA HOLLYWOOD January 13, 1971 January 15, 1971
    Promotion Pacific Northwest WrestlingPNW July 14, 1967 June 1, 1968
    Promotion Big Time WrestlingBTW DETROIT June 2, 1966 September 30, 1967

  • Images History

    Jan 2001
    Jan 2001
    May 1992
    May 1992
    May 1986
    May 1986
    Jun 1981
    Jun 1981
    Nov 1972
    Nov 1972
    Jun 1967
    Jun 1967

  • Face / Heel Turns

    AlignmentDetailsfromto
    Heel June 19, 1967 October 9, 2010
    Tweener July 2, 1957 June 18, 1967

  • Finishers

    • Sudanese Meat Cleaver - Running Elbow Drop ( July 2, 1957 - October 9, 2010)
    • Headbutt ( July 2, 1957 - October 9, 2010)

  • Theme Songs

    • Theme Song "The Butcher" by Takao Kuramochi and Fumio Matsunaga - Single ( January 28, 2001 - January 9, 2008)
    • Theme Song "The Butcher" by Takao Kuramochi and Fumio Matsunaga - Single ( November 21, 1987 - March 2, 1996)
    • Theme Song "One of These Days" by Pink Floyd - Single ( November 2, 1988 - May 10, 1992)
    • Theme Song "The Butcher" by Takao Kuramochi and Fumio Matsunaga - Single ( December 2, 1972 - April 30, 1981)

Titles & Accomplishments

  • Halls of Fame

    • WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2011, Individual
    • Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame (PWHF) - Year 2019, Television Era

  • All Japan Pro Wrestling

    • 1 NWA International Tag Team Championship (with Ray Candy)
    • 1 NWA United National Championship
    • 1 PWF United States Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 PWF World Heavyweight Championship

    Big Japan Pro Wrestling

    • 1 BJW Deathmatch Heavyweight Championship

    Central States Wrestling

    • 2 NWA Central States Tag Team Championship - with Roger Kirby

    Georgia Championship Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWA Georgia Television Championship
    • 1 NWA Macon Heavyweight Championship

    International Wrestling Association

    • 3 IWA International Heavyweight Championship

    Lutte Internationale (Montreal)

    • 1 Canadian International Heavyweight Championship

    Midwest Wrestling Federation

    • 2 MWWF Heavyweight Championship

    NWA All-Star Wrestling

    • 2 NWA Canadian Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) - with Dr. Jerry Graham (1), Armand Hussein (1)
    • 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Vancouver version) - with Dr. Jerry Graham

    NWA Detroit

    • 1 NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (Detroit version)
    • 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) - with Killer Tim Brooks

    NWA New Zealand

    • 1 NWA New Zealand British Commonwealth Championship

    NWA Southwest

    • 1 NWA Texas Hardcore Championship

    National Wrestling Federation

    • 2 NWF Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 NWF International Championship

    Stampede Wrestling

    • 1 NWA Canadian Heavyweight Championship (Calgary version)
    • 6 Stampede North American Heavyweight Championship

    Tokyo Pro Wrestling

    • 1 TPW Tag Team Championship - with Benkei

    Trinidad and Tobago Wrestling Association

    • 1 Trinidad & Tobago Heavyweight Championship

    World Class Wrestling Association

    • 1 WCWA Brass Knuckles Championship

    World Wrestling Council

    • 2 WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 WWC Hardcore Championship
    • 2 WWC North American Heavyweight Championship
    • 3 WWC Puerto Rico Heavyweight Championship
    • 3 WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship
    • 1 WWC World Heavyweight Championship

  • Other Accomplishments

    • Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame induction (class of 1996)
    • AJPW Champion Carnival Winner (1976, 1979)
    • AJPW Champion Carnival Fighting Spirit Award (1977)
    • AJPW Champion Carnival Outstanding Performance Award (1981)
    • AJPW World's Strongest Tag Determination League Distinguished Service Medal Award (1978 with Tor Kamata & The Sheik)
    • AJPW January 4th Korakuen Hall Heavyweight Battle Royal Winner (2008)
    • Tokyo Sports Grand Prix Best Bout Award (1979 - with Tiger Jeet Singh vs. Antonio Inoki & Giant Baba)
    • Tokyo Sports Grand Prix Popularity Prize Winner (1978, 1980)
    • 35° in the PWI 500 (1991)
    • 54° in the PWI Years 500 (2003)

Teams & Relations

  • Tag Teams & Stables

    • Abdullah The Butcher & Giant Kimala - Giant Kimala II ( May 26, 2001 - October 25, 2001)
    • Abdullah The Butcher & Giant Kimala - Giant Kimala II ( September 29, 1990 - March 2, 1996)
    • Abdullah the Butcher & The Sheik - The Sheik ( December 21, 1974 - March 1, 1980)
    • Abdullah the Butcher & "Killer" Tim Brooks - "Killer" Tim Brooks ( June 1, 1974 - October 31, 1974)
    • Abdullah the Butcher & Arman Hussian - Arman Hussian ( May 20, 1968 - August 12, 1968)
    • Abdullah the Butcher & Ray Candy - Ray Candy ( October 5, 1979 - May 1, 1980)
  • Managers

Games Appearances (5)

Abdullah The Butcher
Wrestle Kingdom 2
Abdullah The Butcher
Showdown Legends Of Wrestling
Abdullah The Butcher
Legends Of Wrestling 2
Abdullah The Butcher
Virtual Pro Wrestling 2
Abdullah The Butcher
SuperStar Pro Wrestling

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