Iron Sheik obit

The Iron Sheik, pro wrestling legend and social media star, dies at 81

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri was a 1980s folk hero and stayed relevant long after his days in the ring, thanks to his lively Twitter feed that had more than 600,000 followers. 

He was not on the list.

Pro wrestling legend and pop culture fixture the Iron Sheik, who embraced his role as "one of the most notorious villains" in the entertainment genre's history, has died, his team said Wednesday.

He was 81.

The announcement was made on the wrestler's popular Twitter feed, which has more than 640,000 followers.

The statement did not offer any details of how the man, born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, died.

The Iron Sheik "transcended the realm of sports entertainment" with "his larger-than-life persona, incredible charism, and unparalleled in-ring skills" that "captivated audiences around the globe," according to the statement.

The all-caps tweet pinned at the top of his Twitter feed summed up the performer's comically angry and often-profanity laced persona: "TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO BE NICE TO SOMEONE YOU DUMB SON OF A B----."

The Sheik often used hilariously caustic language to address current events.

His final tweet, before the post that announced his death, made reference to Canadian wildfires that have darkened skies across the northeast United States: "F--- THE WILDFIRES."

WWE is saddened to hear of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans," according to a statement from the pro wrestling organization.

The Sheik rose to prominence as a comic foil in 1980s America, when tensions between the United States and Iran reached a boiling point during the hostage crisis in Tehran.

Before donning the garb of a comical anti-American heel, the Sheik was a real wrestler, competing as an amateur in his native Iran before moving stateside.

The Sheik achieved his American dream in late 1983, when he captured the world heavyweight belt by taking down Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden, in a "controversial" outcome, according to WWE archives.

It was a disputed title "as Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel after Backlund refused to submit," according to the WWE narrative.

The Sheik held that title for just a month, relinquishing it to budding superstar Hulk Hogan and touching off a longtime rivalry with the Hulkster.

The Sheik kept up the kayfabe act for decades, frequently and gratuitously tweeting insults at Hogan. He wrote “F--K THE HULK HOGAN!” in early 2021.

Khosrow was born on March 15, 1942, in Damghan, Iran, and grew up in a working-class family which 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 the Gregorian calendar and the Solar Hijri calendar. In his youth, he idolized Iranian Olympic Gold-Medalist wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, and he subsequently made a name for himself as an amateur wrestler; he also worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.

Khosrow competed for a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He then moved to the United States and became the assistant coach of two U.S. Olympic squads in the 1970s. In 1971, he was the Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman wrestling champion and gold medalist at 180.5 pounds; he later became assistant coach to the USA team for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.

In 1972, Khosrow was invited to become a professional wrestler by promoter Verne Gagne. Khosrow trained at Gagne's wrestling camp under trainer Billy Robinson (in the same class as Ric Flair) and then wrestled for Gagne's American Wrestling Association (AWA). He also worked as a trainer, teaching Ricky Steamboat, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. Khosrow first wrestled as a face in preliminary matches before a promoter suggested that he adopt a heel gimmick similar to that of the notorious Sheik.

Khosrow obliged and adopted what came to be his signature look: he shaved his head bald, grew a traditional "buffo" style mustache, added wrestling boots with the toe curled up (a nod to his ethnic background which, according to Khosrow, was an idea from Jimmy Snuka). He also introduced the Persian clubs, a sport in his native Iran, and challenged wrestlers to do as many swings as him. His Iranian gimmick received attention due to the events of the Iranian revolution. Taking the name The 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 and Antonio Inoki in 1978.

In 1979 he caught the eye of the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he made his debut 1979 and won the first-ever Battle Royal in Madison Square Garden, New York City. This earned him a title shot at then-champion Bob Backlund, who pinned him later that night in a 30-minute battle. He later feuded with Chief Jay Strongbow and Bruno Sammartino before leaving in 1980.

In April 1980, Vaziri began wrestling for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based Jim 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 the Iran hostage crisis. He quickly began feuding with Jim Brunzell over the NWA 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, and Johnny Weaver before losing to Ricky Steamboat in a falls count anywhere match in November 1980. In February 1981, Vaziri began feuding with Blackjack Mulligan. The two men faced one another in a series of bouts including cage matches and Texas street fights lasting until May 1981. In July 1981, Vaziri unsuccessfully challenged Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Vaziri left Jim Crockett Promotions in August 1981.

The Iron Sheik made his film debut in The Tale of the 3 Mohammads in 2005. He then appeared alongside Daniel Baldwin and Corey Feldman in Operation Belvis Bash in 2011. Sheik also made an appearance on the Canadian show Kenny 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 in Maz Jobrani's 2009 stand-up comedy special Brown & Friendly. The Sheik made an appearance as himself in Robot Chicken, as well as The Eric André Show on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. In 2014, The Iron Sheik acted in a documentary about his life titled "The Sheik."

Actor

Diamond Dallas Page Saves Christmas

The Iron Sheik

TV Short

2018

 

Killing Hasselhoff (2017)

Killing Hasselhoff

Khosrow Vaziri (uncredited)

2017

 

John Cena in WWE 2k15 (2014)

WWE 2k15

Iron Sheik

Video Game

2014

 

Robot Chicken (2001)

Robot Chicken

Iron SheikMuslim Scientist (voice, as Iron Sheik)

TV Series

2014

1 episode

 

Corey Feldman, Steve Fite, Daniel Bridges, Alex Lvovsky, and Noel Britton in Operation Belvis Bash (2011)

Operation Belvis Bash

Abdul Hassan Omar Kassan Margud (as The Iron Sheik)

2011

 

Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin, John Cena, A.J. Styles, Colby Lopez, Rebecca Quin, Natalya Neidhart, Trinity Fatu, Trevor Mann, Thea Trinidad, Tom Budgen, and Macey Estrella in WWE Raw (1993)

WWE Raw

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1996–2010

19 episodes

 

Rey Mysterio, Kevin Steen, Pamela Martinez, Colby Lopez, Joe Anoa'i, Mercedes Varnado, and Nikola Bogojevic in WWE Smackdown! (1999)

WWE Smackdown!

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

2009

1 episode

 

PWD Primetime (2008)

PWD Primetime

The Iron Shiek

TV Series

2008

 

Hulk Hogan in Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology (2006)

Hulk Hogan: The Ultimate Anthology

The Iron Sheik

Video

2006

 

The Tale of 3 Mohammads

(as The Iron Sheik)

2005

 

Steve Austin and Dwayne Johnson in WrestleMania X-Seven (2001)

WrestleMania X-Seven

The Iron Sheik

TV Special

2001

 

Juggalo Championshxt Wrestling Volume 1 (2000)

Juggalo Championshxt Wrestling Volume 1

The Iron Sheik

Video

2000

 

Paul Levesque, Vince McMahon, and Trish Stratus in WWE Sunday Night Heat (1998)

WWE Sunday Night Heat

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1999

1 episode

 

Hulk Hogan in WWF on MSG Network (1973)

WWF on MSG Network

The Iron Sheik Colonel Mustafa Hussein Arab

TV Series

1979–1997

8 episodes

 

WWF Superstars (1986)

WWF Superstars

The Iron SheikCol. Mustafa

TV Series

1986–1997

8 episodes

 

Yokozuna, Scott Hall, and Larry Pfohl in The History of SummerSlam (1994)

The History of SummerSlam

Colonel Mustafa

Video

1994

 

Best of Ultimate Warrior (1993)

Best of Ultimate Warrior

Col. Mustafa

Video

1993

 

Scott Hall and Curt Hennig in Bashed in the USA (1993)

Bashed in the USA

Colonel Mustafa

Video

1993

 

Mike Hegstrand and Joe Laurinaitis in WWF Deutschland Tour '92 (1992)

WWF Deutschland Tour '92

Col. Mustafa

Video

1992

 

Best of Hulkamania (1992)

Best of Hulkamania

The Iron Sheik

Video

1992

 

Hulk Hogan in WWF Champion Hulk Hogan's Greatest Matches (1992)

WWF Champion Hulk Hogan's Greatest Matches

Colonel Mustafa

Video

1992

 

Randy Savage in World Tour 1992 (1992)

World Tour 1992

Col. Mustafa

Video

1992

 

Bret Hart in WWF: European Rampage 92 (1992)

WWF: European Rampage 92

Colonel Mustafa

Video

1992

 

Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon in WWF Prime Time Wrestling (1985)

WWF Prime Time Wrestling

Colonel Mustafa Col. Mustafa The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1985–1992

9 episodes

 

Hulk Hogan in Hulkamania 6 (1991)

Hulkamania 6

Col. Mustafa

Video

1991

 

Hulk Hogan, Curt Hennig, Rick Martel, and John Tenta in WWF Challenge (1986)

WWF Challenge

Colonel Mustafa Col. Mustafa The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1986–1991

7 episodes

 

Richard Blood, Ray Hernandez, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, George 'The Animal' Steele, and Jim Harris in Saturday Night's Main Event (1985)

Saturday Night's Main Event

Colonel MustafaThe Iron Sheik

TV Series

1985–1991

8 episodes

 

WCW Saturday Night (1985)

WCW Saturday Night

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

WCW Main Event (1988)

WCW Main Event

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1988

 

The History of the WWF Heavyweight Championship (1987)

The History of the WWF Heavyweight Championship

The Iron Sheik

Video

1987

 

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches (1987)

The WWF's Even More Unusual Matches

The Iron Sheik

Video

1987

 

André René Roussimoff and Hulk Hogan in WrestleMania III (1987)

WrestleMania III

The Iron Sheik

TV Special

1987

 

The WWF's Grand Slams (1986)

The WWF's Grand Slams

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

Sylvester Ritter in Best of the WWF Volume 9 (1986)

Best of the WWF Volume 9

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

Best of the WWF Volume 7 (1986)

Best of the WWF Volume 7

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

Villains of the Squared Circle (1986)

Villains of the Squared Circle

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

Tag Team Champions (1986)

Tag Team Champions

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

The British Bulldogs (1986)

The British Bulldogs

The Iron Sheik

Video

1986

 

Vince McMahon and Antonio Rocco in WWF All-Star Wrestling (1972)

WWF All-Star Wrestling

The Iron Sheik Hussein Arab

TV Series

1980–1986

10 episodes

 

Frank Goodish in WWF Championship Wrestling (1972)

WWF Championship Wrestling

The Iron SheikHussein Arab

TV Series

1979–1986

36 episodes

 

Cyndi Lauper in Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough (1985)

Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough

The Iron SheikPirate (uncredited)

Music Video

1985

 

Hulk Hogan and Mr. T in Highlights of Wrestlemania (1985)

Highlights of Wrestlemania

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

Hulk Hogan in The Hulkster Hulk Hogan (1985)

The Hulkster Hulk Hogan

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

The WWF's Amazing Managers (1985)

The WWF's Amazing Managers

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest! (1985)

Biggest, Smallest, Strangest, Strongest!

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

The WWF's Most Unusual Matches (1985)

The WWF's Most Unusual Matches

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

Hulkamania (1985)

Hulkamania

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams! (1985)

Wrestling's Bloopers, Bleeps and Bodyslams!

The Iron Sheik

Video

1985

 

The Wrestlers: Land of a Thousand Dances (1985)

The Wrestlers: Land of a Thousand Dances

The Iron Sheik

Music Video

1985

 

Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough (Part 2) (1985)

Cyndi Lauper: The Goonies 'R' Good Enough (Part 2)

The Iron SheikPirate (uncredited)

Music Video

1985

 

Tonga Fifita and Bobby Heenan in WWF All American Wrestling (1983)

WWF All American Wrestling

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1985

1 episode

 

Alan Hunter and Gene Okerlund in The War to Settle the Score (1985)

The War to Settle the Score

The Iron Sheik

TV Movie

1985

 

Spectrum Wrestling (1977)

Spectrum Wrestling

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1984

4 episodes

 

WWF World Championship Wrestling (1972)

WWF World Championship Wrestling

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1983–1984

2 episodes

 

Episode #4.29 (1982)

Mid South Wrestling

The Iron Sheik

TV Series

1981–1982

4 episodes

 

WCW Worldwide (1975)

WCW Worldwide

The Iron Sheik (1980-1982)

TV Series

1975