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Marc Raimondi, ESPN Staff Writer
The Iron Sheik, a famous Greco-Roman wrestler from Iran who gained global fame in professional wrestling with his 1980s showdowns with the likes of Hulk Hogan, has died. Wednesday at the age of 81, according to his official Twitter account.
Sheik, real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was a WWF world heavyweight champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. As a hater, he had legendary fights in 1980s with Hogan, Bob Backlund and Sgt. slaughter. Vaziri defeated Backlund to win the WWF belt in December 1983, and a month later, Hogan beat Vaziri in front of more than 20,000 people at New York’s Madison Square Garden to win the title for the first time. The match helped turn Hulkamania into a phenomenon, leading to the first WrestleMania a year later.
“With his larger-than-life personality, incredible charisma and unparalleled in-ring skills, he has captivated audiences around the globe,” a statement from his Twitter account said. “He was a pioneer, breaking barriers and paving the way for many different wrestlers to follow in his footsteps.”
Before starting professional wrestling, Vaziri was a bodyguard for the last king of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was a Greco-Roman wrestler in his hometown, narrowly making it to the 1968 Olympic team. Vaziri later moved to the United States, where he won the AAU Greco-Roman wrestling championship in the 180th division. .5 pounds and became an assistant coach for the United States wrestling team, including their Olympic team, in 1972.
Around that time, he got his start in professional wrestling in Minnesota with AWA promoter Verne Gagne under his coach and captured wrestling legend Billy Robinson. Vaziri was created for a character based on his Iranian heritage (inspired by the beginnings of the Iranian Revolution) and he leaned on that, shaved head, moustache, and shoes that curved at the toes , this has become an iconic appearance . He entered the WWF for the first time in 1979, winning Madison Square Garden’s first royal match and featuring the likes of Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow.
After dropping the WWF belt to Hogan in 1984, Vaziri had a series of memorable matches against Sgt. Slaughter, a figure in the US military. The feud resolved real-life tensions between the US and Vaziri’s homeland of Iran. Vaziri and Slaughter had a violent, bloody “training camp” match in June 1984 at Madison Square Garden, a match that was highly regarded and still exists today.
In recent years, Vaziri has developed a fan following on Twitter, even from people who have never watched his legendary battles inside the squared circle.
Vaziri is survived by his wife, Caryl, to whom he has been married for 47 years; his children, Tanya and Nikki; and his son-in-law, Eddie, according to his Twitter account.
“Beyond the glitz and glamor of the squared circle, The Iron Sheik is a man of immense passion and dedication,” the statement on Twitter read. “He is the embodiment of resilience. He has overcome countless challenges in his life, both in and out of the wrestling ring. His journey from a small village in Iran to become one of the greatest heroes in the world. The most recognized wrestler in the wrestling world is a testament to his unwavering dedication.”
