 The Iron Sheik in 1982 | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (Persian:حسین خسرو علی وزیری) (1942-03-15)March 15, 1942 | |||||||||||
| Died | June 7, 2023(2023-06-07) (aged 81) Fayetteville, Georgia, U.S. | |||||||||||
Spouse | ||||||||||||
| Children | 3 | |||||||||||
| Professional wrestling career | ||||||||||||
| Ring names | ||||||||||||
| Billed height | 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)[3] | |||||||||||
| Billed weight | 258 lb (117 kg)[3] | |||||||||||
| Billed from | Tehran,Iran | |||||||||||
| Trained by | ||||||||||||
| Debut | 1972[2] | |||||||||||
| Retired | April 24, 2010 | |||||||||||
| Sports career | ||||||||||||
Medal record
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Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri[a] (March 15, 1942 – June 7, 2023), better known by hisring namethe Iron Sheik, was an Iranian and Americanprofessional wrestler,amateur wrestler, and actor. To date he is the only Iranian-born champion in WWE history, having won theWWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983.
Vaziri's career peaked during the1980s WWF wrestling boom, and his rivalry withHulk Hogan turned Hogan into one of the greatest television heroes of the decade. He later formeda tag team withNikolai Volkoff, which won theWWF Tag Team Championship at the inauguralWrestleMania event. In 2005, he was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame.
Aheel throughout the 1980s, Sheik later gained popularity on theKidd Chris show,The Howard Stern Show,Opie and Anthony, and the Internet due to hisshoot interviews, vulgar language, and apparent intense dislike for some of his fellow professional wrestlers, particularly Hogan andBrian Blair; however, the true nature of his relationship with Hogan has been a subject of debate.[6]
Vaziri was born in 1942,[4][7] inDamghan, Imperial State of Iran, and grew up in a working-class family who had little money and no running water. Although his passport read March 15, he celebrated his birthday on September 9 due to his family alternating between theGregorian calendar and theSolar Hijri calendar.[8] In his youth, he idolized Iranian Olympic champion wrestlerGholamreza Takhti, and he subsequently made a name for himself as an amateur wrestler. He served in theImperial Iranian Army,[9] and worked as a personal bodyguard for ShahMohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.[5]
Vaziri competed for a spot onIran'sGreco-Roman wrestling team for the1968 Summer Olympics inMexico City.[5][10] After Takhti was mysteriously found dead in 1968, Vaziri began fearing for his safety and decided to emigrate to the United States to advance his career.[11] In 1971, he was theAAU Greco-Roman wrestling champion at 180.5 pounds (81.9 kg).[1] He later became assistant coach to the USA team for the1972 Olympic Games in Munich.[citation needed]
In 1972, Vaziri was invited to become a professional wrestler by promoterVerne Gagne. Vaziri trained in the same class asRic Flair at Gagne's wrestling camp under trainerBilly Robinson and then wrestled for Gagne'sAmerican Wrestling Association (AWA). He also worked as a trainer, teachingRicky Steamboat,Greg Gagne andJim Brunzell.[12] Vaziri first wrestled as aface in preliminary matches before a promoter suggested that he adopt a heelgimmick similar to that of the notoriousSheik.[12]
Vaziri obliged and adopted what came to be hissignature look: He shaved his head bald, grew a traditional "buffo" style mustache and added wrestling boots with the toe curled up — a nod to his ethnic background, which, according to Vaziri, was an idea fromJimmy Snuka. He also introduced thePersian clubs, a sport in his native Iran, and challenged wrestlers to do as many swings as he.[13] His Iranian gimmick received attention due to the events of theIranian Revolution.[12] Taking the nameThe Great Hossein Arab, he won his first title, the Canadian Tag Team Championship, with a partner the Texas Outlaw. He wrestled in Japan against the likes of Steve Day andAntonio Inoki in 1978.[14]
In 1979, Vaziri debuted in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as The Great Hossein Arab and won the first-everBattle Royal inMadison Square Garden,New York City. This earned him a title shot at then-championBob Backlund, who pinned him later that night in a 30-minute battle.[15] He later feuded withChief Jay Strongbow andBruno Sammartino before leaving in 1980.[16]
In April 1980, Vaziri began wrestling for theCharlotte, North Carolina–basedJim Crockett Promotions. He wrestled a handful of matches as "Hussein Arab" before settling on "The Iron Sheik". His villainous persona played upon topical events such as theIran hostage crisis. He quickly began feuding withJim Brunzell over theNWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship, defeating him for the championship in May 1980. He successfully defended the championship in bouts with opponents including Brunzell,Sweet Ebony Diamond, andJohnny Weaver before losing toRicky Steamboat in afalls count anywhere match in November 1980.[17] In February 1981, Vaziri began feuding withBlackjack Mulligan. The two men faced one another in a series of bouts includingcage matches andTexas street fights lasting until May 1981. In July 1981, Vaziri unsuccessfully challengedDusty Rhodes for theNWA World Heavyweight Championship. Vaziri left Jim Crockett Promotions in August 1981.[18]
In September 1981, Vaziri joined theLouisiana-basedMid-South Wrestling promotion. He left the promotion in January 1982, making brief returns in October 1982.[17]
In January 1982, Vaziri joinedChampionship Wrestling from Florida. He left the promotion at the end of February 1982.[19]
In July 1982, Vaziri returned toGeorgia Championship Wrestling for the first time since 1974. In May 1983, he won a tournament for the vacantNWA National Television Championship. His reign lasted until July 1983, when he lost toRonnie Garvin. Vaziri left the promotion the following month.[20]
The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF in September 1983 and challengedBob Backlund forWWF World Heavyweight Championship again. Backlund accepted, and on the December 24 episode ofAll- American Wrestling, also accepted Sheik's weeklyPersian club challenge. He was successful in his third attempt to swing the clubs, and the Sheik immediately attacked him from behind, injuring his neck in a work. In the December 26 title bout at Madison Square Garden, Backlund attempted to roll Sheik into a bridge pin, but this aggravated his work-weakened neck. Sheik capitalized by applying his Camel Clutch chin lock finisher. Backlund didn't submit, but his concerned managerArnold Skaaland threw in the towel and forfeited the championship. This allowed the title to transition to Hulk Hogan without Hogan having to face a babyface champion.[21]
The Iron Sheik rematched Backlund indecisively at house shows and primarily defended the title againstChief Jay Strongbow, as well asPat Patterson andSalvatore Bellomo. On national TV, he defeated only jobbers, but wrestledTito Santana on a livePRISM broadcast fromThe Spectrum inPhiladelphia on January 21, 1984. This match was later included in WWE'sLegends of Wrestling 3 compilation.[22]
Two days later, at Madison Square Garden, The Iron Sheik was scheduled to rematch Backlund, who was replaced byHulk Hogan. Five minutes in, Sheik had Hogan locked in the Camel Clutch. Hogan powered to his feet with Sheik still on his back, rammed him backward into the turnbuckles, and hit his Atomic Legdrop for the pin and the championship. According to The Iron Sheik, Gagne had offered him $100,000 to break Hogan's leg during the match and return to the AWA with the WWF title,[23] though Gagne's sonGreg Gagne has disputed this claim.[24][25]
He then bitterly feuded withSgt. Slaughter, winning a few matches by disqualification, but losing the rest by pinfall or submission, including a "Boot Camp Rules" match.[20]
As atag team partner withNikolai Volkoff, and under the management of"Classy" Freddie Blassie, Iron Sheik won theWWF (World) Tag Team Championship fromThe U.S. Express (Barry Windham andMike Rotundo) at the firstWrestleMania at Madison Square Garden when he knocked out Windham from behind with Blassie's cane.[16] Part of the pair's regular entrance consisted of waving the flags of Iran and the Soviet Union, then demanding that the crowd be quiet and "show respect" while Volkoff sang a throaty version of theSoviet national anthem, a demand that usually only attracted boos from the usuallypro-American crowds.[26]
Sheik then usually grabbed the mic and said, "Iran number 1, Russia number 1, USA (and Canada) (followed by a simulated spitting act)." It was all designed (very successfully) to get major heat from the crowd. He also got heat in his interviews with "Mean Gene" (although he would usually refer to him as "Gene Mean") by concluding with the demand "Hey cameraman, zoom it," as he flexed his muscles.[27] During his stint in the WWF, he appeared in the music video forCyndi Lauper's "Goonies 'R' Good Enough" as a part of theRock 'n' Wrestling Connection.[28] The Iron Sheik character was also seen regularly on theCBS animated seriesHulk Hogan's Rock 'n' Wrestling, where he was voiced by American actorAron Kincaid.[29]
During 1986, Fred Blassie was beginning to wind down his career and as part of the angle, eventually sold his wrestlers contracts to new WWF managerSlick before retiring. This included the Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff who would now be managed by the "Doctor of Style". The Sheik was a participant in the 20-man invitationalBattle royal in theChicago portion ofWrestleMania 2 which saw 14 WWF superstars in the ring with 6National Football League (NFL) players. The Sheik was the 13th participant eliminated, at 5:22 byBruno Sammartino.[17]
In May 1987, "Hacksaw"Jim Duggan (an on-screen rival) and Vaziri were pulled over byNew Jersey State Police on their way to a WWF event, suspecting Duggan ofDUI. After a search of the vehicle and the persons, police discovered that Duggan was under the influence ofmarijuana while the Sheik was high oncocaine. Small amounts of cocaine were also found in the vehicle.[30] Duggan received a conditional release while the Sheik was placed on probation for a year. The mini-scandal that erupted after two in-ring enemies were found drinking and doing drugs together led to the end of the angle, the Sheik's release, and Duggan's temporary departure from the WWF. At the time, the Sheik and Volkoff were embroiled in a feud with the patriotic Duggan. Before the Sheik's release from the company, he and Volkoff had defeatedThe Killer Bees ("Jumping" Jim Brunzell andB. Brian Blair) by disqualification atWrestleMania III in front of 93,173 at thePontiac Silverdome when Duggan had hit the Sheik from behind with his2x4 piece of wood while he had Brunzell in the Camel Clutch.[12][31][32] After Sheik's arrest, he worked in house shows until leaving the WWF in October 1987.[33][34]
On February 18, 1988, The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF and defeatedS. D. Jones on ahouse show at theMeadowlands Arena inEast Rutherford,New Jersey.[35] Sheik continued to wrestle on house shows in February and March, beatingLanny Poffo andKen Patera, and losing toBam Bam Bigelow. He would not appear on television until July 18, when he defeatedScott Casey in a match that aired on Prime Time Wrestling.[20]
Sheik continued to wrestle that summer, facing Casey in rematches as well asRichard Charland andThe Red Rooster in house shows in the States and Canada. During his matches, comments were regularly made about the Iron Sheik's weight gain and diminished mobility. Iron Sheik had also cut promos to challenge then-World Champion"Macho Man" Randy Savage, but nothing came of it. Ultimately the return was short-lived. He left again in July of that year.[29]
In 1987, The Iron Sheik competed in Dallas'World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), where he feuded withMatt Borne over theWCWA Texas Heavyweight Championship.[36] He stayed with that organization for only a few months, followed by brief stints with the AWA, where he attacked Sgt. Slaughter during a match, and Puerto Rico'sWorld Wrestling Council (WWC). In addition to reigniting his feud with Slaughter and teaming withColonel DeBeers, his main opponent during this time period wasTony Atlas, with whom he feuded in both WCCW and WWC.[37]
On February 25, 1989, the Iron Sheik made a surprise appearance at aWorld Championship Wrestling (WCW) TV taping inAtlanta, Georgia and immediately challengedRicky Steamboat.[38] On April 11, he challengedSting at a television taping to aPersian clubs swinging competition. On the April 29 episode, the competition ensued which Sting admitted that Sheik had won, leading to a match between the two atMusic City Showdown. On May 7 the two faced off, and Sheik was defeated by TV Champion Sting. In August 1989, he would form a brief alliance withRon Simmons, appearing in his corner during a match withJon Brewer. He would appear later that month in the corner of Simmons & The Cuban Assassin in a victory over Tommy Rich and Eddie Gilbert. On August 26, Simmons and Sheik were guests ofPaul E. Dangerously's "Danger Zone", where he admitted that he was now training Simmons and was looking for a tag-team partner for him. The angle was eventually dropped and Simmons went on to team with Butch Reed as Doom, while Sheik finished his initial WCW tenure in house show matches againstNorman in January 1990.[38]
The Iron Sheik would return after a seven-month absence following Ole Anderson's elevation to head booker. A lapse in issuing a contract notice allowed Sheik's one-year deal to accidentally roll over and continue to work with the company. On July 7 atGreat American Bash 1990 he faced Mike Rotunda in a losing effort in his first match back. He wrestledBrian Pillman,Tom Zenk,Terry Taylor,Brad Armstrong, andBig Van Vader on the house show circuit through the fall and winter of 1990. His final match was against theJunkyard Dog on January 26, 1991, in Columbia, South Carolina, after which he left the company.[39]
He returned to the WWF again on March 11, 1991, making his re-debut onWrestling Challenge as Colonel Mustafa, and was aligned with former enemySgt. Slaughter. Along withIraqiGeneral Adnan, Slaughter and Mustafa were portrayed as Iraqi sympathizers during theGulf War and feuded withHulk Hogan andThe Ultimate Warrior. Following Slaughter'sface turn afterSummerSlam 1991, Mustafa remained aligned with Adnan. He dropped to a lower mid-card position, primarily losing matches against faces such as Slaughter, Tito Santana, British Bulldog, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, "Texas Tornado" Kerry von Erich, "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan, andTatanka. Mustafa would challenge for the WWF World Championship during the star-studded 1992 Royal Rumble match. Shortly thereafter, Adnan left the WWF and Mustafa would be without a manager for his final four months with the company, His final match was at aSuperstars taping on May 19, 1992, where he defeatedReno Riggins,[40] after which he left the promotion again.[41]
In late 1996, the Sheik teamed with his old nemesis Bob Backlund to manage WWF wrestlerThe Sultan, who had a Middle Easterngimmick. He would manage Sultan until December 1997. He also for a time during the summer of 1997 co-managedTiger Ali Singh (with Ali's father,Tiger Jeet Singh).[42] By year's end he had failed another drug test (he has referred to this as a "medicine test" in various interviews) and was released.
On April 1, 2001, atWrestleMania X-Seven, The Iron Sheik won the Gimmick Battle Royal, a match between other popular or outlandish wrestlers from the 1980s and 1990s. Rather than being booed for winning, the villainous Sheik (who had gained something of a cult following among wrestling fans) was cheered as a fan favorite. He eliminatedHillbilly Jim to win the Battle Royal and was immediately attacked by former rival/partner Sgt. Slaughter who put him in hisCobra clutch.[19]
In 2005, beforeWrestleMania 21 inLos Angeles, The Iron Sheik was inducted into theWWE Hall of Fame by his long-time rival and former partner, Sgt. Slaughter.[43] On the June 11, 2007, episode ofRaw, he, along with Jimmy Snuka, appeared in a taped segment showing their appreciation of WWE owner Vince McMahon. On the June 18 episode ofRaw, he approached McMahon's executive assistantJonathan Coachman about having his own interview show onRaw. Coach replied saying, "I like the idea and I will really take some time to consider it."[44]
Sheik's last match was on April 24, 2010, teaming withJay Lethal defeating Dylan Kage withPaul Bearer in a handicap match for Millennium Wrestling Federation in Melrose, Massachusetts. It was a No Disqualification/Countout Match ending when Sheik made Kage submit to the camel clutch on the floor.[45]
The Iron Sheik made his film debut inThe Tale of the 3 Mohammads in 2005. He then appeared alongsideDaniel Baldwin andCorey Feldman inOperation Belvis Bash in 2011. Sheik also made an appearance on theCanadian showKenny vs. Spenny on the "Who is a better pro wrestler?" episode where he attempted to sodomize a naked Spenny with a beer bottle. He also appeared inMaz Jobrani's 2009stand-up comedy specialBrown & Friendly. The Sheik made an appearance as himself inRobot Chicken, as well asThe Eric André Show onCartoon Network'sAdult Swim. In 2014, The Iron Sheik acted in a documentary about his life titled "The Sheik."[26]
Even though Sheik was Persian, his persona was that of an Arab who wore akeffiyeh, a traditional headdress of the Middle east. Styling himself a “Sheik”, an Arabic word meaning 'elder.'
The Iron Sheik has appeared in video games: he made his video game debut inLegends of Wrestling and has since appeared inLegends of Wrestling II,WWE Smackdown! Here Comes the Pain,Showdown Legends of Wrestling,WWE Legends of WrestleMania, inWWE 2K15, andWWE 2K16 under the Col. Mustafa gimmick. He returned inWWE 2K24 asdownloadable content andWWE 2K25.
Vaziri was aShiaMuslim.[46] He married American Caryl Peterson[47] on March 21, 1976;[48] the best man at the wedding was"Mean" Gene Okerlund (whom the Sheik often referred to as "Gene Mean" in his broken English). His eldest daughter Marissa Jeanne Vaziri[49] was murdered by her boyfriend Charles Warren Reynolds after an altercation in May 2003 at the age of 26. Reynolds was taken into custody and later convicted of the crime. Reynolds himself died in prison on May 31, 2016.[50]
Despite promising to repair his family, Vaziri was unable to successfully quit drugs following Marissa's death. Vaziri was reported to have been extremely angered after Marissa's death to the point where he considered retaliation against her killer.[51] In 2005, the family believed Vaziri was a danger to himself and others and forced him to enter rehabilitation; an employee allegedly snuck in cocaine for him.[8] In 2007, Peterson walked out on Vaziri after several failed attempts to make him quit drugs. She returned two years later on the condition that Vaziri sever ties with a friend who helped him acquire them. In 2013, Vaziri said he had been off cocaine for four years.[8]
In August 2013, Iron Sheik's managers Page and Jian Magen[52]crowdsourced $40,441 to write, direct and produce a documentary,Iranian Legend: The Iron Sheik Story. Originally, the documentary was scheduled for a 2008 release under the titleIron Sheik: From A to Z.[26] Sheik's documentary was released in 2014 under the titleThe Sheik. On November 6, Vaziri challenged the then-Mayor of Toronto,Rob Ford, to anarm wrestling match at his office.[53]
Starting in the late 2000s, Vaziri became known for his comedic Twitter account, which features violent, profanity-ridden Tweets denouncing various pop culture events.[54] He did not write the Tweets himself; his managers, Jian and Page Magen, handled the account.[55]
Vaziri died at home inFayetteville, Georgia, on June 7, 2023.[56] His cause of death was cardiac arrest with congestive heart failure andhypertension as contributing factors.[57]
1987
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