Manager
The Grand Wizard Ernie Roth
Ernie Roth started his career in the entertainment business as a disc
jockey before becoming involved in the professional wrestling business
as a manager in the 1960s, in territories around the Detroit area.
Ernie first worked under the names "Mr. Clean" and "J. Wellington Radcliffe", but became more well known when he portrayed "Abdullah Farouk", a "Middle Eastern" who was sent by the late Original Sheik's wealthy "family" to handle their son's affairs in the U.S.
Sporting a turban, Farouk did all he could to try and control his protege. However, he carved a niche for himself as a deceitful, underhanded character who insulted U.S. fans every chance he got. In the 1960s, a manager physically interfering in a match was almost undeard of. Farouk soon changed that as he physically would attempt to alter a match's outcome in the Shiek's favor whenever he could.
By the early 1970s, after establishing himself as one of the most hated managers in the wrestling business, Ernie Roth parted with "Abdullah Farouk" and with The Sheik, and headed up to the East Coast and the World Wide Wrestling Federation, where he became The Grand Wizard of Wrestling.
The Grand Wizard of Wrestling made an immediate impact in the WWWF as he immediately managed the late Stan Stasiak to the WWWF Championship on December 1, 1973 (defeating Pedro Morales in Philadelphia). Stasiak lost the title just nine days later to the "Living Legend" Bruno Sammartino but the Wizard's reputation was not blemished. The Wizard guided Superstar Billy Graham to the very same Championship on April 30, 1977, when Graham took the WWWF Title from Sammartino in Baltimore.
On February 20, 1978, Bob Backlund defeated Superstar Billy Graham for the WWWF Championship in New York's Madison Square Garden, making him a target of the Grand Wizard's for years to follow. The Wizard sent challenger after challenger after Backlund but never managed the Champion again.
The Wizard did however manage the very first Intercontinental Champion Pat Patterson, and later Ken Patera, and Don Muraco to the same championship. At various stages in his career, the Wizard also managed some of the biggest, toughest men to ever set foot in a wrestling ring, incuding Killer Kowalski, "Crazy" Luke Graham, Sgt. Slaughter, "Big Cat" Ernie Ladd, Ox Baker, and Cowboy Bob Orton.
The Wizard became known as one third of WWE's Evil Trinity of managers, the other two-thirds being Capt. Lou Albano and Fred Blassie. They were a loose unit that made life a living hell for fan favorites in the WWWF during the '70s. Individually, their managerial accomplishments spoke for themselves. But together, the combined acumen of the Wizard, Albano and Blassie made them a nearly unbeatable force.
Sadly, as the Wizard continued his business managing in the World Wrestling Federation, it all came to a shocking end on October 12, 1983. On that day, Ernie Roth, who made the names "Abdullah Farouk" and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" famous amongst wrestling fans all over the world, died of a heart attack at the age of 54.
The World Wrestling Federation, and the rest of the wrestling world, was understandably stunned by this sudden tragedy. The Federation honored The Grand Wizard on several broadcasts after the announcement of his passing. It was a sad time for fans, wrestlers, and promoters alike, as Ernie Roth had made many cherished friends and had entertained millions of fans during his quarter-century in the industry.
In 1995, the Federation honored Ernie's life and career by inducting him into their World Wrestling Federation Hall of Fame, forever preserving his many accomplishments in the wrestling business.
The WrestlingClothesline.com Independent Wrestling Hall of Fame is proud to induct Ernie Roth for all his accomplishments as a manager on the independent circuit as well as the impact he made in the WWWF.
