Iron Sheik, whose real name is Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was an Iranian-American professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and actor.
He was the only Iranian champion in WWE history, having won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983.
Khosrow was raised in a working-class home with limited money and no running water. He was born in Damghan, Iran. He had his birthday on September 9 even though his passport said March 15 since his family alternated between the Gregorian calendar and the Solar Hijri calendar.
He was inspired by Iranian Olympic gold medalist wrestler Gholamreza Takhti as a young man, and he went on to become well-known as an amateur wrestler. He also spent a number of years serving as Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family’s bodyguard.
In order to make Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City, Khosrow had to participate.
Following his relocation, he worked as an assistant coach for two American Olympic teams in the 1970s. At 180.5 pounds (81.9 kg), he won the gold medal in amateur athletic union greco-roman wrestling in 1971. Later, he was appointed assistant coach of the United States Olympic squad for the 1972 Munich Games.
Promoter Verne Gagne recruited Khosrow to join the professional wrestling industry in 1972. Khosrow competed for Gagne’s American Wrestling Association (AWA) after receiving instruction from Billy Robinson at Gagne’s wrestling camp (they were in the same class as Ric Flair).
He also worked as a trainer, instructing Jim Brunzell, Greg Gagne, and Ricky Steamboat. Khosrow began his professional wrestling career as a face in warm-up matches before a promoter advised that he switch to a heel persona akin to the infamous Sheik.
As of press time, his cause of death has not been established although some credible websites insist he died of heart failure. The WWE also expressed its condolences writing, “WWE is saddened to learn that Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known the world over as WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, at age 81. WWE extends its condolences to The Iron Sheik’s family, friends and fans.”
What was Iron Sheik net worth?
Iron Sheik had a net worth of $500,000 at the time of his death in June 2023. Vaziri died at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia, on June 7, 2023, at the age of 81. No official disclosure has been made about the cause of his death.
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