Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, better known to wrestling fans as The Iron Sheik, is no longer with us. According to the wrestling legend’s Twitter account, the beloved athlete died at 81. “It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik,” the announcement reads, “but we also take solace unknowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.”
Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
According to his official bio on the WWE website, The Iron Sheik began his amateur wrestling career in his native Iran. As a master of the suplex, he often dominated opponents with hard-hitting moves, including the Camel Clutch maneuver. In 1983, The Iron Sheik became WWE Champion after he defeated Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden. However, his victory was short-lived...
Respect The Legend Forever pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
According to his official bio on the WWE website, The Iron Sheik began his amateur wrestling career in his native Iran. As a master of the suplex, he often dominated opponents with hard-hitting moves, including the Camel Clutch maneuver. In 1983, The Iron Sheik became WWE Champion after he defeated Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden. However, his victory was short-lived...
- 6/7/2023
- by Steve Seigh
- JoBlo.com
Hossein Khosrow Vaziri, the Iran-born wrestler known as the Iron Sheik, who channeled America’s hatred of his homeland to build a career as one of the most despised ring villains of his era, died Wednesday. He was 81.
“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” read a statement posted to the Iron Sheik’s Twitter account announcing his death. The WWE also paid tribute on Twitter; a cause of death was not disclosed.
A former bodyguard for the Shah of Iran, Vaziri came to the U.S. in the late 1960s. For his wrestling persona, he shaved his head, grew a mustache, sported a ghutra headdress and curled-toe boots, and swung a pair of 75-pound Persian meels above his head as a demonstration of his strength.
“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” read a statement posted to the Iron Sheik’s Twitter account announcing his death. The WWE also paid tribute on Twitter; a cause of death was not disclosed.
A former bodyguard for the Shah of Iran, Vaziri came to the U.S. in the late 1960s. For his wrestling persona, he shaved his head, grew a mustache, sported a ghutra headdress and curled-toe boots, and swung a pair of 75-pound Persian meels above his head as a demonstration of his strength.
- 6/7/2023
- by Rhett Bartlett
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Iron Sheik, the notorious pro-wrestling villain who warred with Hulk Hogan in the 1980s and whose gimmick capitalized on U.S. tensions with Iran, has died at 81. The Sheik’s death was announced Wednesday via his popular yet polarizing Twitter account, which helped turn the sports-entertainment cult figure into an online presence.
“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the post read. “We also...
“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the post read. “We also...
- 6/7/2023
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, aka the villainous “Iron Sheik” of old-school World Wrestling Federation fame and its only Iranian champion, has died, according to his official Twitter account. He was 81.
Known for years as “The Sheik” or just “Sheik,” Vaziri later became infamous for his blunt, often vulgar, always all-caps tweets telling various random entities to go f— themselves.
He was still doing just that on Wednesday afternoon:
Fuck The Wildfires
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
It was an extension of his “heel” wrestling persona, a longtime pillar of the original World Wrestling Federation lineup that included bitter rivals like Hulk Hogan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. The garrulous nature was all an act, of course – privately Sheik was known as a devoted family man, hardworking entertainer and good friend.
As a wrestler, Sheik played up his Iranian upbringing, developing the “Camel Clutch” move and once teaming with Russian...
Known for years as “The Sheik” or just “Sheik,” Vaziri later became infamous for his blunt, often vulgar, always all-caps tweets telling various random entities to go f— themselves.
He was still doing just that on Wednesday afternoon:
Fuck The Wildfires
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
It was an extension of his “heel” wrestling persona, a longtime pillar of the original World Wrestling Federation lineup that included bitter rivals like Hulk Hogan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage. The garrulous nature was all an act, of course – privately Sheik was known as a devoted family man, hardworking entertainer and good friend.
As a wrestler, Sheik played up his Iranian upbringing, developing the “Camel Clutch” move and once teaming with Russian...
- 6/7/2023
- by Josh Dickey
- The Wrap
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