WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik passed away at the age of 81. According to a statement made on The Iron Sheik’s official social media account, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, also known as The Iron Sheikh, died peacefully.
“Today, we gather with heavy hearts to say goodbye to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling,” the statement said. We share the news of The Iron Sheik’s death with profound grief, but we also take comfort in knowing that he left this world gently, leaving behind a legacy that will live on for years to come.”
RESPECT THE LEGEND FOREVER 😢 pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023
Vaziri is survived by his 47-year-old wife Caryl and his children Tanya, Nikki, Marissa, and son-in-law Eddie along with his five grandchildren and two nephews. The Iron Sheik kickstarted his career in the ring in 1970s before debuting in WWF in 1979. He left the next year in 1980 and then returned in 1983. Then, he eventually won his one and only WWF Heavyweight Championship before he lost it to Hulk Hogan and triggered ‘Hulkamania’.
The Iron Sheikh and Nikolai Volkoff won the WWF Tag Team Championship at the first WrestleMania in 1985 at Madison Square Garden. After appearing at WrestleMania II and III, he won the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17 in 2001. In 2005, the late WWE icon was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and has appeared in WWE programming. He last competed in a match in 2007.
MORE ARTICLES:
