Humbled: Remembering The Iron Sheik

Brian Damage

The Iron Sheik sadly passed away at the age of 81 years old. The former WWF world champion lived quite a rollercoaster life and contributed greatly to the wrestling industry. This is his story…

Born in Iran as Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri in 1942, (Although the Iron Sheik isn’t 100% sure his exact birthdate due to the way records were kept in Iran) grew up as a standout amateur wrestler. In 1968, Khosrow emigrated to the United States and continued his amateur career winning silver and gold medals in tournaments. Contrary to popular belief, Khosrow never competed on the Olympic level…although became an assistant coach for the US team in the 1972 Olympic games in Munich, Germany.

His wrestling coach invited Khosrow and several other amateurs to an AWA TV taping at the request of AWA owner Verne Gagne. The purpose was to put on amateur wrestling exhibitions for the fans, but deeper than that, Gagne would scout potential talent to train to become pro wrestlers. Khosrow became one of those amateurs that Gagne was impressed with and offered to train him. Khosrow accepted the offer and trained under the guidance of Gagne and Billy Robinson in Minnesota.

Originally wrestling as a babyface, Verne Gagne believed he would be better suited competing as a heel and embrace his Arab background. Khosrow shaved his head bald, grew a mustache and wore curly toed boots from the suggestion of Jimmy Snuka. His first wrestling gimmick name was “The Great Hossein Arab” and immediately found greater success in the business. Khosrow also helped assist in training future talent like Ricky Steamboat and Jim Brunzell.

His biggest success came when Khosrow changed his name to ‘The Iron Sheik’ and joined the WWF managed by ‘Classy’ Freddie Blassie. Even though others were considered to defeat then WWF world champion Bob Backlund before him…The Iron Sheik got the nod to defeat Backlund and become a transitional champion to eventually drop the belt to the heir apparent in Hulk Hogan. The Iron Sheik won the title after applying his submission finisher called ‘The Camel Clutch’ on Backlund who refused to tap out. Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw a towel into the ring signaling the referee to end the match.

The Iron Sheik would only be WWF champion for a little less than a month before dropping the title to Hulk Hogan at Madison Square Garden in January of 1984. In essence, The Iron Sheik helped launch Hulkamania and the national expansion of the World Wrestling Federation.

The Iron Sheik would move out of the main event and begin a bitter feud with another American favorite in Sgt. Slaughter. The two would wage battle in a series of violent “Boot Camp” matches across the country. He would also find success in the tag team division after forming an alliace with Russian Nikolai Volkoff and winning the WWF tag team titles from Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo aka The US Express.

The Iron Sheik wrestled for other territories across the country including Mid Atlantic, Florida, Mid South, World Class, Georgia and Puerto Rico. The Iron Sheik would return back and forth to the WWF before leaving on his own or getting fired by Vince McMahon for disciplinary reasons. One of those times was a highly publicized arrest with fellow wrestler Jim Duggan after getting caught with drugs in the car together. At the time, Kayfabe was still pretty strong and despite the two being bitter enemies on camera…the news of the two hanging out seemed far worse than getting arrested for drugs.

The Iron Sheik battled drug and alcohol addiction through a majority of his career. Some of his battles were no doubt magnified after his daughter Marissa was brutally murdered. He would briefly work for the NWA/WCW in 1989, where he helped a young Sting get over as a legitimate future main event star. He also helped in the development of Ron Simmons while there as well.

He would return to the WWF under a brand new gimmick as Col. Mustafa and align with former rival and American turncoat Sgt. Slaughter managed by General Adnan. He would eventually return again for the Wrestlemania 17 Gimmick battle royal where he was declared the winner. According to reports, Sheik won the battle royal due to the fact that his knees were shot and couldn’t get over the top rope.

Later in his life, The Iron Sheik became somewhat of a celebrity outside the squared circle for his outrageous social media posts, which were mostly written by his business managers and his appearances on the Howard Stern Show. “Sheiky baby” as he called himself and referred to by others became an internet darling for many fans.

With the passing of The Iron Sheik, that now leaves just two former WWF champions alive before the year 1990. Those two are Bob Backlund and Hulk Hogan…the two men the Iron Sheik beat and was defeated by that helped set up the WWE as we know it today. Rest easy Sheiky Baby.