ds and fans. The legacy of The Iron Sheik will continue to live on in the hearts and memories of all the WWE >
The wrestling world is mourning the loss of one of its greatest villains, The Iron Sheik. WWE Hall of Famer Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known as The Iron Sheik, passed away at the age of 81 on June 7th, leaving behind a legacy that will be remembered for years to come.
The Iron Sheik was known for his imposing physique, curled boots, and his signature finishing move, the Camel Cutch. His larger-than-life personality and natural ability to incite crowds across the globe made him one of the greatest villains in sports-entertainment history. Despite his villainous persona, The Iron Sheik gained the respect of his peers and the WWE Universe as a beloved figure.
The Iron Sheik began his wrestling career in the world of Greco-Roman wrestling, where he became a gold medalist at 180.5 pounds in 1971. He later became the WWE Champion in 1983, after defeating Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden. The victory was controversial, as Backlund’s manager threw in the towel when Backlund refused to submit to The Iron Sheik’s Camel Clutch.
After losing the WWE Championship to Hulk Hogan, The Iron Sheik engaged in a heated rivalry with Sgt. Slaughter, culminating in their famous Boot Camp Match at Madison Square Garden. He later teamed up with Russian strongman Nikolai Volkoff, and the anti-American pairing went on to win the WWE World Tag Team Championship in 1985 at the first WrestleMania.
The Iron Sheik left WWE in 1988 but returned in 1991 by the side of former enemy Sgt. Slaughter as Colonal Mustafa. His last in-ring appearance was at WrestleMania 17, where he returned for one night only, winning a Gimmick Battle Royal and reigniting his rivalry with Slaughter in the process.
The Iron Sheik remained a pop culture icon due to his bombastic online persona and appearances on “The Howard Stern Show,” “The Eric Andre Show,” and more. His legacy will continue to live on in the hearts and memories of all the WWE Universe.
The wrestling community is deeply saddened by the loss of The Iron Sheik. WWE extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans. As the wrestling world mourns, we can all take comfort in knowing that The Iron Sheik’s impact on the industry will never be forgotten.
To learn more about The Iron Sheik’s legacy, visit prowrestlingwars.com.