DARK Sheik is a powerhouse in professional wrestling. In 2010, the independent star founded the promotion HOODSLAM. The Bay Area-based independent promotion highlights various wrestlers usually overlooked by the mainstream wrestling industry, including many pro-pot figures, herself included.
Starting her in-ring career in 2001, DARK Sheik (known as Sam Khandaghabadi outside the ring) built a reputation in the wrestling scene for her vibrant persona and impressive in-ring performances, earning 11 championships through various promotions throughout the United States, Canada, England, Finland, and Japan. Beyond titles, she champions wrestling fans to be their authentic selves, with her Trans pride and Persian culture proudly on display.
DARK Sheik has cultivated a reputation for her creative approaches to combining cannabis and the art of professional wrestling. A prime example is the innovative match stipulations in HOODSLAM, such as the Smoklahoma Iron Lung Challenge match, where whichever team finishes the blunt first wins.
For DARK Sheik, cannabis is more than just a personal preference; it’s a key component of her creativity, helping fulfill her goal of providing a space for performers and fans to enjoy the art of professional wrestling and occasionally share a blunt in the process.
Cannabis & Tech Today: You’re a prominent figure in the wrestling industry. You’ve opened doors for many marginalized individuals, especially with the promotion you created, HOODSLAM. Talk to me about your goals with HOODSLAM.
DARK Sheik: At first, I had already been wrestling for about ten years. I got to a point where I didn’t want to do it for any reason other than because I liked it. I traveled around, spent almost a year in Florida, which was a mistake, trying to be in places where wrestling was happening. I realized I’d much rather be back in California, doing something at home with people who weren’t getting opportunities. Wrestling can be a boys’ club sometimes, very exclusionary. It’s gotten better, but we still have a long way to go. I just wanted to have fun, to enjoy myself, not be focused on getting signed or impressing anyone. It was about enjoying wrestling for the wrestlers and asking, “What’s fun for you today?” That was my mission for HOODSLAM.
C&T Today: You definitely succeeded. And with that connection between HOODSLAM and cannabis, was that always part of the goal, to create such an open space?
DS: Yes, absolutely. I used to work at what we called a “cannabis club” back then, which would now be called a dispensary. I thought, “Wouldn’t it be cool if we did a show where patients could medicate while watching?” The place I worked liked the idea but never followed through. So, I applied those ideas to HOODSLAM, making it 420-friendly. I remember going to a concert where someone passed a blunt to the artist, and I thought, “We should do that for wrestlers.” It brought that party atmosphere, making it feel more like a concert than a sporting event.
C&T Today: In an Instagram post, you mentioned that it’s wish fulfillment when a fan hands you a blunt or joint before, during, or after your entrance. What does that mean to you?
DS: It means everything. It’s super cool that people feel like that’s a nice thing to do for me. It’s flattering, and it’s like breaking bread with someone—sharing a blunt is a way we bond and share an experience. Even if I can’t always smoke with the person right away, when I do, I think of them, and there’s a little moment of communion between me, the person, and the universe.
C&T Today: We’ve partaken together, and we’ve bonded over that, along with things like X-Men and Sandman. How do you feel cannabis benefits your performance in the ring?
DS: Sometimes I wrestle without smoking for hours, and it’s still enjoyable, but cannabis helps me mentally prepare more than anything. It helps me focus, especially after traveling with little sleep. I don’t want to take a pill or drink alcohol—I want to feel what’s happening while easing movement and clearing my thoughts. The process of breaking down a nug, rolling it, and smoking it is healing in its own way. It brings me to a place where I’m thinking about what’s in front of me and what I’m going to be doing soon.
C&T Today: How did weed become part of your life?
DS: At first, I didn’t want to try it. I thought it looked like dirty grass. But when I came to California, it looked different—green and colorful, like a flower. I gave it a shot, and it stuck with me. It’s one of the things that has never given me a reason to stop, unlike other things that can be physically or spiritually harmful.
C&T Today: What was your first experience with it like?
DS: At first, I didn’t think I got high, but I did. I remember watching Resident Evil bootlegged on a friend’s computer and thinking, “Yeah, I guess this works.” Over time, I noticed how tense I had been, and cannabis helped me relax. It allowed me to step back and view things more objectively, which has been really valuable to me.
C&T Today: Do you feel like it gives you a sense of enlightenment?
DS: Yes, I think it gives me an objective perspective and helps me step back from my emotions to see things more clearly. It allows me to recalibrate and assess situations in a fairer light.
C&T Today: Do you only smoke, or do you also use edibles? What’s your preference—blunts, joints?
DS: I mostly smoke blunts. Sometimes joints, depending on the company. I have a pipe and a bong for when I’m too lazy to roll, and I’ll do dabs or whatever’s available. Edibles are more for flights or when I need to sleep, but I don’t like having them before a match because they make me feel heavy.
C&T Today: Does cannabis influence your ideas for gear?
DS: Maybe! Sometimes I get high and think of ideas I wouldn’t normally pursue, like, “Yeah, I can pull off the Madeline Pryor top!” When I’m sober, I might be more critical of wild ideas, but cannabis helps me embrace them.
C&T Today: How has cannabis impacted the wrestling scene, especially in terms of mental health?
DS: It helps wrestlers avoid a lot of traps. Traveling, wrestling with aches, and being sleep-deprived are all part of the job. Cannabis helps ease those pains and get through the day. Mentally, it allows me to step back and realize that one bad match isn’t the end of the world. Without cannabis, I’d probably hold onto things more, and that’s not healthy. Smoking helps me keep things in perspective.
C&T Today: How does traveling affect you, and how do you manage it?
DS: It can be exhausting, but I love what I do. I remind myself that I get to spend the rest of the week without alarms or a 9-to-5. The people who work every day are the real heroes. Cannabis helps me deal with the anxieties and physical strains of travel.
C&T Today: What does world domination look like for DARK Sheik and HOODSLAM?
DS: World domination means stepping up, evolving, and letting others carry the torch. I’ve been at this for 14 years, and I’d love to see others bring new ideas to the table. More comics, zines, and shows outside California would be amazing. We’re already working with Fight TV, and I’d love to see HOODSLAM grow into a franchise with shows everywhere. I just need some help!
This article appears in the upcoming edition of Cannabis & Tech Today, on newsstands soon!
