Shawn Daivari

Shawn Daivari
Born	(1984-04-30) April 30, 1984 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Daivari "Sheik" Shawn Daivari Shawn Daivari Khosrow Daivari Sheik Abdul Bashir
Billed height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Billed weight	203 lb (92 kg)
Billed from	Detroit, Michigan Minneapolis, Minnesota Tehran, Iran
Trained by	Eddie Sharkey Adnan El Kassey Tom Prichard
Debut	2000

Shawn Daivari (born April 30, 1984) is an Iranian-American professional wrestler, currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as Sheik Abdul Bashir, where he is the reigning TNA X Division Champion.

Career

Daivari grew up admiring Mick Foley and Bret Hart. His childhood hero was Shawn Michaels, and that is where Daivari got the first name Shawn. He had his first professional wrestling match at age 15. He started his career in the Midwest with All-Star Championship Wrestling.

On October 18 1998, Daivari appeared on WCW Monday Nitro as a fan being interviewed by Mike Tenay.

He appeared on February 26 2003's TNA Xplosion and wrestled a tag team match against Mike Sanders and Glenn Gilberti with Ken Anderson. He also appeared on the October 5 2003 edition of WWE Sunday Night HEAT as "Sheik" Shawn Daivari, losing his match against Tommy Dreamer. He also made four appearances for independent promotion Ring of Honor between April and July of 2004.

World Wrestling Entertainment (2004–2007)

2004–2005

Daivari signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in August 2004 and debuted on October 19, 2004, on Raw alongside Muhammad Hassan as Khosrow Daivari. Their gimmick was that of two Arab-Americans who were tired of the prejudice and racism they were receiving after the 9/11 attacks. In the weeks leading up to their debut, the two men would appear on Raw in vignettes promoting their hatred towards America. In the following weeks, they would both up their words with actions, initiating a feud with Raw announcers Jim Ross and Jerry "The King" Lawler.

At WrestleMania 21 on April 3 2005, Daivari and Hassan were involved in a storyline with returning WWE legend Hulk Hogan. While attacking injured wrestler Eugene, Hogan made his classic entrance and ejected both men from the ring to the delight of fans in attendance.

The following night on Raw, Daivari and Hassan interrupted Shawn Michaels during a promo. The two attacked Michaels and left him helpless in the ring. This led to Daivari's first singles match in WWE, on the April 11 2005 edition of Raw. Although Michaels was heavily favored, Daivari, with help from Hassan, got the upset win. Enraged, Michaels demanded a match against both Daivari and Hassan. Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff refused to grant a handicap match but instead ordered Michaels to find a partner. That partner turned out to be Daivari and Hassan's Wrestlemania foe Hulk Hogan.

On the April 18 2005 episode of Raw Michaels was once again double teamed by Daivari and Hassan until Hogan appeared to make the save. Hogan accepted Michaels' offer to tag and the match was set for the Backlash pay per view on May 1, 2005. At Backlash, Hogan and Michaels picked up the win which led to friction between the two since Hassan blamed Daivari for the loss. The next night on Raw, Hassan verbally and physically attacked Daivari leaving their future as a team in question. This would be completely fruitless, however.

Both Daivari and Hassan were later drafted to SmackDown! on June 23 2005 as part of a package deal. On the July 7 2005 episode of SmackDown!, GM Theodore Long put Daivari in a match that night against The Undertaker, and Muhammad Hassan in a match against The Undertaker at the Great American Bash. Daivari was squashed easily in that match, after which Hassan began to pray on the ramp, summoning five masked men to the ring. The masked men beat and strangled the Undertaker into submission, and Hassan put him in the camel clutch. Afterward, the masked men carried Daivari off like a martyr. The controversial imagery aired unedited in America and Canada despite the terrorist attacks in London earlier that day, but was removed from the Australian and UK broadcasts. (It should be noted that SmackDown! is typically taped on Tuesday (though this particular episode was taped on a Monday) and, at the time, aired on Thursday, so the skit was taped 3 days before the attack occurred.)

In late-July, UPN requested that WWE keep Muhammad Hassan off of their network. WWE complied, effectively removing him from SmackDown! At the The Great American Bash 2005, after Hassan lost in a match with The Undertaker, Hassan was given the Last Ride through an open stage ramp onto a concrete floor. It was reported that he sustained serious injuries and had to be rushed to a nearby medical facility; this was an angle aimed to "kill off" the character.

Although Hassan would eventually retire from professional wrestling, Daivari reported to WWE's Deep South territory for training and repackaging. He returned from Deep South and, after working in Minneapolis, made his debut in September 2005 on OVW TV returning as his "Sheik" Daivari persona.

On November 7 2005, Daivari returned to Raw, acting as Kurt Angle's anointed special guest referee in the tag team match between Shawn Michaels and John Cena vs. Angle and Chris Masters. During the match, Daivari favored Angle and Masters, who won the match via disqualification when Michaels was caught with a chair Angle brought in.

On November 21 2005, Kurt Angle announced that Daivari will be the referee for all his future matches, including his match vs. WWE Champion John Cena for the title at the 2005 Survivor Series. Mr. McMahon rescinded that at the kangaroo court trial of Eric Bischoff on Raw on December 5 2005. Daivari remained aligned with Kurt Angle as his manager.

2006–2007

On the January 13 2006, edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown!, Angle and Daivari jumped to SmackDown!, where Angle won the World Heavyweight Championship the very same night. Angle later revealed that his contract on Raw had expired, which allowed them to switch brands. However, Angle would already be signed to face Shawn Michaels on Raw. This non-title match went ahead, but Daivari would accidentally cost Kurt Angle the match against Michaels. Afterwards, Daivari and Angle argued, but when Daivari slapped Angle, he was Angle Slammed over the ropes and down to the floor on the outside of the ring. During the break on WWE.com Unlimited, an enraged Angle made it known that Daivari's services were no longer needed, and that "he sucks".

A short time later, Daivari faced his former client in a match. During the match, Mark Henry, the number one contender for Angle's title, attacked Angle. After the match, Daivari officially announced that he was now managing Henry and continued to manage Henry during his feud with The Undertaker. However, Daivari would disappear off television in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania 22 when, at WWE's Saturday Night Main Event, Daivari suffered a chokeslam and Tombstone Piledriver at the hands of The Undertaker onto the lid of a casket.

On the April 7 2006 edition of SmackDown!, Daivari made his return bringing in the debuting The Great Khali to attack The Undertaker during his match with Mark Henry. The next week, Daivari officially presented him to the crowd, hyping him as an unstoppable monster. Over the following weeks, Daivari would accompany Khali to the ring as he destroyed various SmackDown! superstars. This would all lead up to a match with The Undertaker at Judgment Day on May 21 2006, which Khali would end up winning. Daivari and Khali appeared as guests on Piper's Pit on the June 2, 2006 edition of SmackDown!, in which Piper made fun of Khali, who supposedly can't speak English. Eventually Piper stood on the bottom rope, attempting to match height with Khali, he managed to say: If this was twenty years ago, before Khali grabbed him by the throat. Daivari made Khali put Piper down and straitened Piper's jacket disrespectfully, Piper slapped Daivari, but was then given a chop by Khali. The Undertaker was the original guest on the Pit, but he declined the invitation a few days before. Daivari continued to accompany The Great Khali to the ring when Khali wrestled or attacked other wrestlers, but when The Great Khali became inactive due to injury, Daivari was taken off the road as well.

Daivari and The Great Khali were moved to the ECW brand officially when they made their ECW debuts on the October 31, 2006 edition of ECW on Sci-Fi. Daivari beat "The Reject" Shannon Moore in a very quick match. Daivari's original theme music was used as well as his Persian rants on the microphone. Afterwards, Moore was manhandled by The Great Khali. Daivari continued his ECW winning streak over the next several weeks with The Great Khali usually following up the contest with a chokebomb on Daivari's opponent. At December to Dismember, Daivari got a victory over Tommy Dreamer following a schoolboy rollup. Dreamer then chased Daivari all the way to the back then, The Great Khali appeared and caught Dreamer, planting him on the steel ramp with a chokebomb. On January 8 2007, The Great Khali debuted on Raw, without Daivari. The following night, however, Daivari accompanied Khali to the ring for his match with Dreamer on ECW.

Daivari wrestling with Val Venis.

Daivari returned to SmackDown! on February 9 2007, defeating the Cruiserweight Champion Gregory Helms in a non-title match. He began wrestling in the Cruiserweight division since then, and has not been managing. He also became the first male manager turned full time wrestler in WWE history. He was involved in a feud between Kane and The Great Khali once again promoting the Great Khali in March 2007. His first match against Kane, involved him being dragged backstage by Kane's chain and hook leaving his back with multiple bruises. A few weeks later, Daivari had a rematch with Kane and was again defeated.

Daivari returned to SmackDown! a few months later teaming up with Chavo Guerrero and Jamie Noble against Jimmy Wang Yang, Paul London and Brian Kendrick in a losing effort. On the June 15 2007 edition of SmackDown!, Daivari competed in a Fatal Four Way number onecontenders match for the Cruiserweight Championship, which he lost to Yang and also involved Shannon Moore and Noble.

Daivari was drafted back to Raw in the Supplemental Draft on June 17 2007. He re-debuted on the June 18, 2007 edition of [[WWE Raw|Raw], losing to Jeff Hardy. On the July 30 2007 episode of Raw Daivari was defeated by Cody Rhodes who had to win his match or face being fired from WWE. Daivari's losing streak continued when he failed to win the position of General Manager of Raw by been eliminated early in the battle royal the week after Rhodes defeated him. Daivari then started to get on a roll on Heat (Raw's sister show) being victorious against Super Crazy and "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan. His return to Raw on September 17 saw him lose to Hacksaw Jim Duggan in a Flag match.

On October 16 2007, Daivari was released from his WWE Contract.

Professional Championship Wrestling (2007-2008)

Daivari made his debut in Professional Championship Wrestling in Arlington, TX at PCW Heroes 2 Legends in November of 2007. He wrestled JT Lamotta & Jiggle-O James Johnson in a triple threat match for the PCW Cruiserweight Championship. JT Lamotta won the match to become the new champion. He returned to PCW on February 23, 2008 at PCW's Big Bang 08 to again wrestle a Triple Threat match for the PCW Cruiserweight Championship, this time against Robert Evans & Aaron Eagle. Eagle won and became the new champion. On September 6, 2008, it was announced by The Bussey Brothers that Daivari will return on September 20, 2008 to team with them to take on Aaron Eagle and a partner of his choosing.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2008–Present)

Daivari debuted in TNA on the June 12 edition TNA Impact! as the captain to Team International in 2008's World X Cup Tournament.

He signed a contract with TNA. On the July 24, 2008 edition of Impact!, after the conclusion of the X Cup, it was announced that Daivari has joined the TNA roster under the name of Sheik Abdul Bashir. Retaining his anti-American gimmick, Daivari quickly established himself as a heel after helping Petey Williams retain the TNA X Division Championship over Consequences Creed at Hard Justice as well as delivering promos to draw heat. His official debut match on Impact! was a victory over Jay Lethal. He won the TNA X Division Championship at No Surrender 2008 on September 14, 2008 by defeating Williams and Creed in a 3-way match.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
• As Daivari
  • Camel clutch
  • Hammerlock DDT – WWE
  • Magic Carpet Ride (Diving splash while holding a carpet underneath himself) – OVW / Independent circuit
  • Scimitar Slice (Diving leg drop)
• As Sheik Abdul Bashir
  • W.M.D. – Weapon of Mass Destruction (Snap DDT to a kneeling opponent)
• Signature moves
  • Atomic drop
  • Death Valley driver
  • Diving neckbreaker
  • Low blow
  • Missile dropkick

• Signature foreign object
  • Rail spike

• Nicknames
  • The Middle Eastern Nightmare – TNA

• Wrestlers managed
  • Muhammad Hassan
  • Kurt Angle
  • Mark Henry
  • The Great Khali

• Gimmick
  • His hallmark is his insulting microphone antics. Daivari, whose parents are Iranian, usually speaks Persian during promos and matches. On-screen, he is often referred to as being Arab-American and his speech as Arabic.

Championships and accomplishments

• MAPW
  • MAPW Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
• MIAW
  • MIAW Lightweight Championship (1 time)
• NEO-PRO Wrestling
  • NEO-PRO Cruiserweight Championship (1 time)
• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA X Division Championship (1 time, current)

Personal life

Although Daivari was born in Minnesota he is a full blooded Iranian with his parents immigrating to the United States in the 1970s. He has an older and a younger brother. His younger brother is a pro wrestler named Arya Daivari. He also has a girlfriend.

External links

• Official Web Site
• Online World of Wrestling Profile