WWE heavyweight champion and hall-of-Famer The Iron Sheik passed away at the age of 81, according to his family. They said in a statement on Wednesday that he was a “true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark” on the wrestling industry. “We are sharing the news with great sadness.”
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, the legendary wrestler’s real name, was an Iranian native. His reason for death is still unknown. When his wrestling career was at its height in the 1980s, Vaziri competed in-ring matches against legends like Bob Backlund, Sgt. Slaughter, and Hulk Hogan.
In December 1983, he defeated Backlund to win the WWF World Heavyweight championship. One month later, in front of a boisterous audience of more than 20,000 spectators at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Hogan defeated Vaziri and became the first person ever to hold the championship belt. The shock sparked Hogan’s career.
The WWE called the occasion “one of the most famous wrestling matches of all time”. In 2005, Vaziri was admitted into the WWE Hall of Fame. The family described him as a trailblazer who broke down barriers and paved the way for various wrestlers to follow in his footsteps.
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Vaziri honoured his Iranian roots through his demeanour, characterized by his handlebar moustache, curled-toe shoes, and distinctively shaven head. According to ESPN, he served as Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi of Iran’s bodyguard before becoming a wrestler. In 1968, he came close to making his nation’s Olympic wrestling team.
After eventually relocating to the US, Vaziri joined the WWE (then known as the WWF) in 1979 and later served as an assistant coach for the American wrestling team. He is survived by his children, Tanya, Nikki, and Marisa, as well as his wife of 47 years, Caryl Vaziri.
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He was a devoted and caring father, according to his family. He instilled in them the significance of pursuing their dreams and the virtues of tenacity and tenacity. His children were inspired to become the finest versions of themselves by the Iron Sheik’s leadership and steadfast faith in their potential.
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