David Sheldon
Encyclopedia
Later in 1980's Russian assassin #1 was portrayed by Joe Piermatteo, another masked wrestler out of Johnny Rodz Stable
David Sheldon (July 20, 1953 – November 25, 2007) was a professional wrestler, known by his ring name the Angel of Death, who wrestled in North American regional promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s including Stampede Wrestling
, World Class Championship Wrestling
, the Universal Wrestling Federation as the bodyguard of The Freebirds and the National Wrestling Alliance
, most notably as the first man who portrayed the masked wrestler Black Scorpion in Jim Crockett Promotions
during the early 1990s.
as the Angel of Death in the Calgary based Stampede Wrestling and faced mainstays such as Johnny Smith
and feuded with Owen Hart
eventually losing to him and Bruce Hart
in a tag team match with Robbie Stewart in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
on April 28, and to he and Ben Bassarab
in Calgary, Alberta
on June 20, 1986.
Moving on to Bill Watts
' Universal Wrestling Federation as the Angel of Death, he appeared at several Superdome Extravaganza supercards in late 1986 feuding with Ken Massey
although he later lost to The Freebirds in a 6-man tag team match with Bill Irwin
and The Viking
on April 11.
Returning to Calgary to face Owen Hart in single matches in May 1987, their first matchup resulted in a double disqualification on May 21 although he was defeated in rematches on May 22 and May 24.
While still in the Mid-South region, he continued to appear on Superdome Extravaganza events teaming with Vladimir Petrov
against the then NWA Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express on June 13, 1987. He also began wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions during the mid 1980s, teaming with Big Bubba Rogers
and manager Skandor Akbar against UWF Tag Team Champions
the Lightning Express
at the Great American Bash '87 on July 31, 1987.
He also competed in Dallas-based independent promotions early in his career including World Class Championship Wrestling later losing to The Missing Link
& Jason Sterling in a tag team match with Vince Apollo and later participated in a "triple dome Texas roundup" match at the last WCCW Parade of Champions supercard on May 8, 1988.
Returning to Jim Crockett Promotions as one half of The Russian Assassins with Jack Victory
, he and Victory feuded with Ivan Koloff who had left Paul Jones' Army
during late 1988 eventually defeating Koloff and Junkyard Dog
at Starrcade '88
.
Returning to Stampede Wrestling in mid 1989, he wrestled against Kim Schau, Ron Ritchie and Eddie Watts
before the promotion closed later that year.
In 1990, he was awarded the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship by forfeit from then champion Kerry Von Erich
in Dallas, Texas on July 13, although he lost the title to Kevin Von Erich four months later on November 23, 1990.
, Sheldon also began wrestling as the Black Scorpion during house shows. The identity of the Black Scorpion, speculated by announcers at the time to have been a former friend of Sting, was hinted to be as one of several wrestlers then competing in World Championship Wrestling including the Angel of Death, having been a former training partner of Sting while a part of Powerteam USA several years before.
While wrestling as the Black Scorpion during that time, the character who eventually wrestled Sting was Al Perez
(and at the conclusion of the storyline was eventually revealed to be longtime rival Ric Flair
at Starrcade '90
) by the time of their first encounter at Clash of the Champions XII on September 5, 1990.
in 1990, although they eventually lost the belts to Steve Austin
and "The California Studd" Rod Price on November 11, 1990.
Following the close of WCCW in January 1991, he lost to Kerry von Erich on February 23 in a match for the vacant WCCW Texas Heavyeight Championship recognized by the now defunct Texas Wrestling Federation before it close three months later.
Later aligning himself with Kevin Sullivan
and One Man Gang
, the three attacked El Gigante following his match against Tony Mella before Ron Simmons
ran in chasing the three out of the ring during a televised WCW event in Dothan, Alabama
on May 11, 1991. The next week he appeared on WCW Saturday Night, attacking Ron Simmons as Simmons had a match the following evening against Butch Reed, another of Teddy Long's charges.
While in the Global Wrestling Federation
, he teamed with Eddie Gilbert in his feud with Big Bad John
facing Big Bad John in tag team matches with Dark Patriot
on April 10 and Barry Horowitz
on April 17 in a steel cage match resulting in a no contest. Turning against Gilbert, he was later defeated by Gilbert, John Tatum
and Rod Price
in a 6-man tag team match with Horowitz and Johnny Mantell on April 24, 1992.
He was scheduled to wrestle Bruiser Brody and Kerry Von Erich at the time of their deaths, however his own career was also cut short after suffering a severe leg injury after wrestling a match against P.N. News
(as a result, P.N. News was taken off WCW television for the remainder of his contract and eventually released from the company). Wrestling sporadically in the promotion during the 1990s, he occasionally appeared on WCW Saturday Night
before wrestling his last match in 2000.
in November 2007. He was found on his couch with the TV remote in hand. His body was claimed by his "little sister", Missy Evans, a close friend for more than 20 years. He did not have close family living near him but a sister that he had not spoken to in more than 20 years was said to be living in Miami at the time of this death. His friends all gathered at a Memorial Service in North Richland Hills, that Ms. Evans planned, on December 8, 2007. Many wrestling greats were there for his send off including Terry Taylor and Cowboy Jonny Mantel. His ashes are buried at Bear Creek Cemetery in Euless, Tx. His dearest friend from high school, Pat Mitchell, provided early and later wrestling career highlights to the Fort Worth Star Telegram for a full page obituary.
David Sheldon (July 20, 1953 – November 25, 2007) was a professional wrestler, known by his ring name the Angel of Death, who wrestled in North American regional promotions during the 1980s and early 1990s including Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling
Stampede Wrestling is a Canadian professional wrestling promotion based in Calgary, Alberta and was for nearly 50 years one of the main promotions in western Canada and the Canadian Prairies...
, World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling
World Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
, the Universal Wrestling Federation as the bodyguard of The Freebirds and the National Wrestling Alliance
National Wrestling Alliance
The National Wrestling Alliance is a wrestling promotion company and sanctions various NWA championships in the United States. The NWA has been in operation since 1948...
, most notably as the first man who portrayed the masked wrestler Black Scorpion in Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions
Jim Crockett Promotions was a professional wrestling promotion owned by Jim Crockett, Jr. until the late 1980s. It was a member of the National Wrestling Alliance and was the forerunner to World Championship Wrestling .-Early history:...
during the early 1990s.
Early career
In early 1987, Sheldon began wrestling with "Strangler" Steve DiSalvoSteve DiSalvo
Steve DiSalvo is a retired professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with the WCW as The Minotaur and his short run in WWF as Sadistic Steve.-Career:...
as the Angel of Death in the Calgary based Stampede Wrestling and faced mainstays such as Johnny Smith
Johnny Smith
Johnny Smith is an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist.-Early years:...
and feuded with Owen Hart
Owen Hart
Owen James Hart was a Canadian professional and amateur wrestler who worked for several promotions including Stampede Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling , World Championship Wrestling , and most notably, the World Wrestling Federation , where he wrestled under both his own name, and ring name The...
eventually losing to him and Bruce Hart
Bruce Hart (wrestler)
Bruce Dennis Luis Hart is a retired Canadian professional wrestler. The second son of Stu Hart, Hart is a member of the large Hart wrestling family.Hart substitute teaches for the Calgary Board of Education.-Career:...
in a tag team match with Robbie Stewart in Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
Fort Qu'Appelle, Saskatchewan
These figures do not include the substantial population living along the shores of the Fishing Lakes.-Origins:The current site is the third Fort Qu'Appelle. The first was a North West Company trading post , also in the valley but near what is now the Saskatchewan-Manitoba border...
on April 28, and to he and Ben Bassarab
Ben Bassarab
Ben Bassarab is a Canadian former professional wrestler, best known for his appearances with Stu Hart's Stampede Wrestling promotion throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
in Calgary, Alberta
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
on June 20, 1986.
Moving on to Bill Watts
Bill Watts
William F. "Bill" Watts is a former American professional wrestler and promoter. Watts was famous under his "Cowboy" gimmick in his wrestling career, and then as a tough, no-nonsense promoter in the Mid-South area of the United States, which grew to become the UWF.In 1992, he was the Executive...
' Universal Wrestling Federation as the Angel of Death, he appeared at several Superdome Extravaganza supercards in late 1986 feuding with Ken Massey
Kenneth Massey
Kenneth Massey is an American sports statistician known for his development of a methodology for ranking and rating sports teams in a variety of sports...
although he later lost to The Freebirds in a 6-man tag team match with Bill Irwin
Bill Irwin
William Mills "Bill" Irwin is an American actor and clown noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He is known for his vaudeville-style stage acts, but has made a number of appearances on film and television and won a Tony Award for a dramatic role on...
and The Viking
John Nord
John Nord is a retired American professional wrestler. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.-Career:John Nord started wrestling in late 1984 as "The Barbarian" for Mid-South Wrestling under manager Skandor Akbar...
on April 11.
Returning to Calgary to face Owen Hart in single matches in May 1987, their first matchup resulted in a double disqualification on May 21 although he was defeated in rematches on May 22 and May 24.
While still in the Mid-South region, he continued to appear on Superdome Extravaganza events teaming with Vladimir Petrov
Al Blake
Al Blake is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Vladimir Petrov, who wrestled in North American regional promotions including the Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance, most notably as a member of...
against the then NWA Tag Team Champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express on June 13, 1987. He also began wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions during the mid 1980s, teaming with Big Bubba Rogers
Ray Traylor
Ray Walter Traylor, Jr. was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Big Boss Man and World Championship Wrestling under various ring names, most notably Big Bubba Rogers.-Early years:Traylor, a prison guard in...
and manager Skandor Akbar against UWF Tag Team Champions
UWF Tag Team Championship
The UWF Tag Team Championship was the tag team title in the Universal Wrestling Federation from 1986 until the promotion closed in 1987. It was formerly known as the Mid-South Tag Team Championship from 1979 until 1986 when Mid-South Wrestling became the UWF.-Title history:...
the Lightning Express
Lightning Express
The Lightning Express was a professional wrestling tag team that worked for World Championship Wrestling. It was composed of Brad Armstrong and Tim Horner.-History:...
at the Great American Bash '87 on July 31, 1987.
He also competed in Dallas-based independent promotions early in his career including World Class Championship Wrestling later losing to The Missing Link
Dewey Robertson
Byron James John "Dewey" Robertson was a professional wrestler, known best for his ring name The Missing Link....
& Jason Sterling in a tag team match with Vince Apollo and later participated in a "triple dome Texas roundup" match at the last WCCW Parade of Champions supercard on May 8, 1988.
Returning to Jim Crockett Promotions as one half of The Russian Assassins with Jack Victory
Jack Victory
Kenneth "Ken" Rinehurst is an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by his ring name, Jack Victory. He is perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling between 1998 and 2001.-Career:Rinehurst debuted in 1985 in the Universal Wrestling Federation...
, he and Victory feuded with Ivan Koloff who had left Paul Jones' Army
Paul Jones' Army
Paul Jones' Army was a professional wrestling heel stable in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions in the mid-1980s.-History:Paul Jones formed Paul Jones' Army in the early 1980s in Jim Crockett Promotions to help him battle "The Boogie Woogie Man" Jimmy Valiant and his friends, Manny Fernandez, Wahoo...
during late 1988 eventually defeating Koloff and Junkyard Dog
Junkyard Dog
Sylvester Ritter was an American professional wrestler and professional football player, best known for his work in Mid-South Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation as The Junkyard Dog...
at Starrcade '88
Starrcade (1988)
Starrcade '88 was the sixth annual Starrcade professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced under the National Wrestling Alliance banner. It was the first Starrcade event produced by World Championship Wrestling , and it took place on December 26, 1988 from the Norfolk Scope in Norfolk, Virginia...
.
Returning to Stampede Wrestling in mid 1989, he wrestled against Kim Schau, Ron Ritchie and Eddie Watts
Eddie Watts
Edward Alfred 'Eddie' Watts was an English cricketer. He was born in Peckham, London.A right-arm fast-medium bowler and a useful right-handed batsman, he played for Surrey from 1933 to 1949...
before the promotion closed later that year.
In 1990, he was awarded the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Championship by forfeit from then champion Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Von Erich
Kerry Gene Adkisson was an American professional wrestler under the ring names Kerry Von Erich, The Modern Day Warrior, and The Texas Tornado and was part of the Von Erich family of professional wrestlers...
in Dallas, Texas on July 13, although he lost the title to Kevin Von Erich four months later on November 23, 1990.
Black Scorpion
In August 1990, while competing in World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
, Sheldon also began wrestling as the Black Scorpion during house shows. The identity of the Black Scorpion, speculated by announcers at the time to have been a former friend of Sting, was hinted to be as one of several wrestlers then competing in World Championship Wrestling including the Angel of Death, having been a former training partner of Sting while a part of Powerteam USA several years before.
While wrestling as the Black Scorpion during that time, the character who eventually wrestled Sting was Al Perez
Al Perez
Al Perez is a retired American professional wrestler.-Professional wrestling career:Perez began wrestling as an amateur in high school and was one of the top athletes in his home state of Florida. He started professional wrestling in 1982.He formed a team in ICW with Joe Savoldi known as the "New...
(and at the conclusion of the storyline was eventually revealed to be longtime rival Ric Flair
Ric Flair
Richard Morgan Fliehr is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Ric Flair. Also known as "The Nature Boy", Flair is one of the most well-known professional wrestlers in the world....
at Starrcade '90
Starrcade (1990)
Starrcade '90 was the eighth annual Starrcade professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced under the National Wrestling Alliance banner. It was the third Starrcade event produced by World Championship Wrestling, and the last pay-per-view event held by the NWA. It took place on December 16,...
) by the time of their first encounter at Clash of the Champions XII on September 5, 1990.
Later career
During the early 1990s, Sheldon continued wrestling in Texas independent promotions winning the TWF Tag team titles with Abdullah the ButcherAbdullah the Butcher
Lawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time...
in 1990, although they eventually lost the belts to Steve Austin
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Steve Austin , better known by his ring name "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, is an American film and television actor and retired professional wrestler...
and "The California Studd" Rod Price on November 11, 1990.
Following the close of WCCW in January 1991, he lost to Kerry von Erich on February 23 in a match for the vacant WCCW Texas Heavyeight Championship recognized by the now defunct Texas Wrestling Federation before it close three months later.
Later aligning himself with Kevin Sullivan
Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)
Kevin Francis Sullivan is an American professional wrestler and booker, perhaps best known for his role in WCW as "The Taskmaster" and his leading of the "Dungeon of Doom".-Early career:...
and One Man Gang
George Gray (wrestler)
George Gray is an American professional wrestler best known as One Man Gang and Akeem "the African Dream".-Early years:...
, the three attacked El Gigante following his match against Tony Mella before Ron Simmons
Ron Simmons
Ronald "Ron" Simmons is an American semi-retired professional wrestler and retired American football player. He is recognised as being the first Black world heavyweight champion in professional wrestling and the first of only two African Americans to win the WCW World Heavyweight Championship,...
ran in chasing the three out of the ring during a televised WCW event in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
on May 11, 1991. The next week he appeared on WCW Saturday Night, attacking Ron Simmons as Simmons had a match the following evening against Butch Reed, another of Teddy Long's charges.
While in the Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation
Global Wrestling Federation was a professional wrestling promotion based in Dallas, Texas. It started in June 1991 and folded in September 1994. At one time its shows were presented on the ESPN television network. On many weeks, the promotion provided programming five days a week airing at 4 p.m...
, he teamed with Eddie Gilbert in his feud with Big Bad John
Big Bad John
"Big Bad John" is a country song originally performed by Jimmy Dean and composed by Dean and Roy Acuff. Released in September 1961, by the beginning of November it went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Dean the 1962 Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording.The song and its...
facing Big Bad John in tag team matches with Dark Patriot
Doug Gilbert
Doug Gilbert is a professional wrestler from Memphis, Tennessee who wrestles on the independent circuit. He is the brother of "Hot Stuff" Eddie Gilbert and the son of wrestler/referee/promoter Tommy Gilbert....
on April 10 and Barry Horowitz
Barry Horowitz
Barry Horowitz is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation.-Career:Horowitz, who is Jewish, attended Florida State University, where he studied sports nutrition and wrestled...
on April 17 in a steel cage match resulting in a no contest. Turning against Gilbert, he was later defeated by Gilbert, John Tatum
John Tatum (wrestler)
John Frankel III , known by his ringname "Hollywood" John Tatum, is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including World Class Championship Wrestling, Universal Wrestling Federation and the National Wrestling Alliance as well as independent...
and Rod Price
Rod Price
Rod Price was an English guitarist who was best known for his work with the rock band Foghat...
in a 6-man tag team match with Horowitz and Johnny Mantell on April 24, 1992.
He was scheduled to wrestle Bruiser Brody and Kerry Von Erich at the time of their deaths, however his own career was also cut short after suffering a severe leg injury after wrestling a match against P.N. News
Paul Neu
Paul Neu is an American professional wrestler. He is perhaps best known under the ring name PN News and for his stints in Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling...
(as a result, P.N. News was taken off WCW television for the remainder of his contract and eventually released from the company). Wrestling sporadically in the promotion during the 1990s, he occasionally appeared on WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night
WCW Saturday Night was a weekly Saturday night TV show on TBS produced by World Championship Wrestling. The program existed through various incarnations under different names before becoming WCW Saturday Night in 1992...
before wrestling his last match in 2000.
Death
It was reported that Sheldon was found dead in Bedford, TexasBedford, Texas
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census...
in November 2007. He was found on his couch with the TV remote in hand. His body was claimed by his "little sister", Missy Evans, a close friend for more than 20 years. He did not have close family living near him but a sister that he had not spoken to in more than 20 years was said to be living in Miami at the time of this death. His friends all gathered at a Memorial Service in North Richland Hills, that Ms. Evans planned, on December 8, 2007. Many wrestling greats were there for his send off including Terry Taylor and Cowboy Jonny Mantel. His ashes are buried at Bear Creek Cemetery in Euless, Tx. His dearest friend from high school, Pat Mitchell, provided early and later wrestling career highlights to the Fort Worth Star Telegram for a full page obituary.
Championships and accomplishments
- World Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship WrestlingWorld Class Championship Wrestling ' was a regional professional wrestling promotion headquartered in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. Originally owned by promoter Ed McLemore, by 1966 it was run by Southwest Sports, Inc., whose president, Jack Adkisson, was better known as wrestler Fritz Von Erich...
- WCCW Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipNWA Texas Heavyweight ChampionshipThe NWA Texas Heavyweight Championship is a professional wrestling title that has existed since the 1930s. Though its exact date of creation isn't known, it is among the oldest championships used in professional wrestling today...
(1 time) - Texas Wrestling Federation
- TWF Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Abdullah the ButcherAbdullah the ButcherLawrence Robert "Larry" Shreve best known as Abdullah the Butcher, and also at times The Madman from the Sudan, is a semi-retired Canadian professional wrestler known as one of the most brutal or "hardcore" professional wrestlers of all-time...