WWE Hall of Famer ‘The Iron Sheik’ dies at 81
Legendary wrestler Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, who performed as “The Iron Sheik,” died Wednesday. He was 81.
“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come,” a statement posted to his Twitter account reads.
“With his larger-than-life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe. He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.”
No other details of his death were given. Vaziri was born in Iran in 1942 and trained as a wrestler before moving to the United States in the 1960s. He went on to become an assistant coach for the 1972 and 1976 U.S. Olympic wrestling teams, where the U.S. won 12 medals.
He entered the world of pro wrestling and soon debuted the villainous Iron Sheik character, who ran to the ring waving an Iranian flag, wearing a keffiyeh and curled-up boots.
He joined the World Wrestling Federation in 1979 — shortly after the Iranian Revolution ended and months before the hostage crisis at the U.S. embassy in Tehran — and won the first-ever Battle Royale match at Madison Square Garden. He left the WWF a year later but returned in 1983.
In the ring, he was known for his Camel Clutch chinlock finishing move and feuds with the likes of Bob Backlund, Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter.
He went on to work for other promotions, including WCW and NWA before retiring from the squared circle after a final match in 2010.