WRESTLER PROFILES

[The Iron Sheik Gallery] [The Sheik vs Backlund Gallery]	Wrestler: The Iron Sheik Real Name: Khosrow Ali Vaziri Birthday: March 15, 1943 Hometown: Tehran, Iran Marital Status: Married to Caryl Height & Weight: 6'0" - 262 lbs Trained by: Verne Gagne Debut: 1972 Previous Names: Great Hussein Arab Great Hossein Arab Ali Vasari (Georgia) Col Mustafa (WWF) Finishing Move: The Camel Clutch Favorite Moves: Rocking Horse Various Suplexes Notable Feuds: Jim Duggan Sgt Slaughter Dick Murdoch Bob Backlund Hulk Hogan Killer Bees
(New Zealand) British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title [as Ali Vaziri] defeating Rick Martel (1977); NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Bull Ramos defeating Jesse Ventura & Jerry Oates (April 18, 1978); NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Bobby Bass defeating Don Leo Jonathan & Jake Roberts (July 24, 1978); NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title defeating Jim Brunzell (May 11, 1980); NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title [Great Hossein Arab] defeating Dewey Robertson (May 25, 1980); NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title [Great Hossein Arab] defeating Angelo Mosca (August 10, 1980); NWA National Television title defeating Ron Garvin by DQ in Tournament Final (May 28, 1983); WWF World Heavyweight title [Managed by Fred Blassie] defeating Bob Backlund (December 26, 1983); WWF Tag Team titles w/Nikolai Volkoff defeating Mike Rotunda & Barry Windham (March 31, 1985); NWA 2000 (North Carolina) American Heritage Heavyweight Title defeating Timber (December 27, 1997); WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Hall of Fame Inductee (April 2, 2005);
In The Beginning Khosrow Vaziri started out as an amature wrestler and even won a medel at the 1968 Olympic Games, representing Iran.. ~~~Years later, this was proven to be a complete "work" just to enhance his gimmick while wrestling in America.. 1972: Khosrow Vaziri defected to the United States and became an assistant wrestling coach for the United States.. ~~~Khosrow Vaziri was a two-time AAU Champion and also a United States Olympic Greco Wrestling Coach.. 1972: Khosrow Vaziri caught the eye of Minnesota legend Verne Gagne at the Olympic Training sessions.. 1972: Khosrow Vaziri began training with Verne Gagne and debuted in the AWA at the end of that year.. 1979: Khosrow Vaziri signed with the World Wide Wrestling Federation, wrestling as "Hussein Arab", managed by Fred Blassie.. June 4, 1979 - MSG: Hussein Arab won a Battle Royal to earn a title shot at WWF Champion Bob Backlund, in the main event.. Hussein Arab departed the WWWF and toured the Southern territories.. Mid-South Wrestling Kosraw Vaziri went to work for Bill Watts' Mid South Wrestling promotion and became known as The "Iron Sheik".. November 26, 1981--Superdome Extravaganza: The Iron Sheik defeated King Cobra.. World Wrestling Federation 1983: The Iron Sheik signed with the World Wrestling Federation when it was becoming a national promotion.. ~~~The Iron Sheik gained a reputation of being the "master of the suplex" using many versions of the suplex.. December 26, 1983 - MSG: The Iron Sheik beat Bob Backlund for the WWF World title when Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel.. The Iron Sheik had title defenses against Chief Jay Strongbow, Pat Patterson, Bob Backlund, Salvatore Bellomo and Tito Santana.. January 23, 1984 - MSG: Hulk Hogan defeated Iron Sheik for the WWF World title in one of the most famous matches of all time.. ~~~Rumor has it, AWA promoter Verne Gagne offered Sheik $100,000 to break Hogans leg during the match.. ~~~Luckily, Iron Sheik is a smart man, and did the job, and informed Hogan & McMahon of the offer after the match.. July 23, 1984 - Brawl to End It All: The Iron Sheik defeated Tony Garea.. 1984: The Iron Sheik & Sgt Slaughter engaged in a bloody and violent feud that spread throughout the entire country.. June 16, 1984 - MSG: Sgt Slaughter defeated The Iron Sheik in a famous Boot Camp match.. World Wrestling Federation - The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff 1984: The Iron Sheik formed a successful tag team with Nikolai Volkoff, managed by Fred Blassie.. March 31, 1985 - WrestleMania: The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff beat Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham for the Tag Team titles.. May 11, 1985 - SNME: The US Express & Ricky Steamboat defeated Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff & George Steele.. July 8, 1985 - King of the Ring: The Iron Sheik made it all the way to the finals where he lost to Don Muraco.. ~~~Iron Sheik b Jim Brunzell | Iron Sheik b Ricky Steamboat | Iron Sheik b Tito Santana | Don Muraco b Iron Sheik.. November 7, 1985 - Wrestling Classic: The Junk Yard Dog defeated The Iron Sheik in the 1st Round of the Tournament.. April 2, 1986 - Wrestlemania 2: The Iron Sheik participated in the Invitational Battle Royal - won by Andre The Giant.. May 3, 1986 - SNME: The British Bulldogs defeated The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff in 2/3 Falls to retain the Tag Team titles.. July 14, 1986 - King of the Ring: Billy Jack Haynes defeated The Iron Sheik in the 1st Round of the Tournament.. March 14, 1987 - SNME: Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat defeated The Iron Sheik.. March 27, 1987 - WrestleMania III: The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated the Killer Bees by DQ when Jim Duggan interfered.. May 26, 1987: The Iron Sheik and Jim Duggan were arrested by New Jersey State Police.. ~~~Duggan was charged with possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol while driving.. ~~~Sheik was charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.. ~~~Duggan received a conditional discharge and Sheik received one year probation.. ~~~What was so shocking about this was that they were feuding at the time, and the incident exposed the business.. 1987: The Iron Sheik left the WWF soon after this incident.. World Class Championship Wrestling November 26, 1987 - Star Wars: Chris Adams & Matt Borne defeated The Iron Sheik & The Thing by DQ.. December 25, 1987 - Star Wars: Matt Borne defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the Texas Heavyweight title.. American Wrestling Association Dec 13, 1988 - Superclash III: The Iron Sheik made a surprise appearance when he attacks Sgt Slaughter during a match vs Col. DeBeers.. National Wrestling Alliance May 7, 1989 - WrestleWar: Sting defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the NWA Television title.. World Wrestling Federation - Col Mustafa 1991: The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF, but this time wrestling as "Col Mustafa".. Col Mustafa aligned himself with Iraqi sympathizers Sgt Slaughter & General Adnan as the "Triangle of Terror".. SummerSlam 1991: Hulk Hogan & Ultimate Warrior defeated the Triangle of Terror in a handicap match.. ~~~After the match, Adnan & Mustafa turned on Sgt Slaughter, who became a born again american patriot.. World Wrestling Federation - Manager February 1997: The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF, as the co-manager for "The Sultan" <--aka Rikishi.. One Night Return Wrestlemania X-7: The Iron Sheik won a special Gimmick battle royal, reigniting his feud with Sgt Slaughter in the process.. Keeping Busy January 2002: The Iron Sheik was scheduled for an appearance on Opie & Anthony but it didn't happen.. ~~~Sheik was detained coming back from Canada at the airport in Rochester because they believed he may have been a terrorist.. May 5, 2003: Iron Sheik's daughter, Marissa Jeanne Vaziri age 27, was found strangled to death, in her apartment.. ~~~Marissa's live-in boyfriend, Charles Warren Reynolds, 38, confessed to the crime and was charged with murder.. The Sheik has trained Ricky Steamboat, Buck Zumhoff, Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne and has also had a hand in training Bret Hart.. April 2, 2005 - Hall of Fame Ceremony: The Iron Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with 6 others in Los Angeles.. September 10, 2005--Piledriver Pro: The Patriot & Kid USA w/Johnny Valiant beat Sheik of Baghdad & Tiger Kahn w/The Iron Sheik.. March 5, 2006--World Wrestling Legends PPV: "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan defeated Nikolai Volkoff w/The Iron Sheik.. March 10, 2007--Pro Wrestling Xtreme: Aaron Walpole & The Iron Sheik defeated Reck when Sheik broke his cane over Reck's head! March 10, 2007--Pro Wrestling Xtreme: The Iron Sheik cut a promo and put female wrestler Jaime D in the Camel Clutch April 6, 2006--Women's Extreme Wrestling PPV: Sumie Sakai defeated "Prime Time" Amy Lee w/The Iron Sheik.. May 26, 2006--Pro Wrestling Legends: Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Warlord (Iron Sheik interfered and Greg Valentine countered).. ~~~The Iron Sheik went nuts on a promo yelling about Slaughter, Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, the Olympics and everything else. . . June 11, 2007 - Vince McMahon Appreciation Night: Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka & The Iron Sheik cut promos about Mr. McMahon.. June 18, 2007 - RAW: The Iron Sheik appeared on RAW and asked The Coach if he could have a talk show called "The Sheik Show".. August 2, 2007--National Wrestling Superstars: The Patriot w/The Iron Sheik defeated Johnny Candido w/Rocco Dorsey.. August 13, 2007--RAW: William Regal presented "WWE Idol" with judges Maria Kanellis, Mick Foley and himself.. ~~~Contestents for WWE Idol were Jillian Hall, Nikolai Volkoff & The Iron Sheik, Lilian Garcia and Santino Marella.. December 1, 2007--National Wrestling Superstars: Julio Dinero initiated a Dance Off which included the Iron Sheik! January 20, 2008--National Wrestling Superstars & FunkDaFied Wrestling Federation in Christiana, Delaware: (150 fans) ~~~The Hate Breed (Rancid & Arkham w/The Iron Sheik) beat Dark Karnival (Jo-Jo & Chio) to win the FwF Tag Team titles.. March 10, 2008--RAW: The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff vs. Mike Rotundo & Barry Windham (WrestleMania 1 Rematch).. April 19, 2008--1-Pro Wrestling: Mad Man Manson w/The Iron Sheik defeated Rene Dupree w/Prince Ameen in England.. October 2, 2009--A Decade of SmackDown!: Sgt. Slaughter & The Iron Sheik both made special guest appearances.. November 16, 2009--RAW: The Iron Sheik made a cameo and made some extremely negative comments about Hulk Hogan.. March 25, 2010--Twin Wrestling Entertainment: WWF legend The Iron Sheik gave a short speech.. April 2, 2010: Danny Demanto & Kevin Matthews w/Brittney Savage beat Balls Mahoney & Mikey Pacifica w/Iron Sheik.. April 24, 2010--Millenium Wrestling Federation: The Iron Sheik & Jay Lethal defeated "Stalker" Dylan Kage w/Paul Bearer.. ~~No DQ/Countout Match ending when Sheik made Kage submit to the camel clutch on the floor in the Sheik's retirement match.. ~There was a huge celebration with the locker room hitting the ring after the bout to honor the Sheik! [www.bostonwrestling.com] November 15, 2010--Old School RAW: Santino & Vladimir Kozlov did an in-ring segment with the Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff & Slick! ~~~Vladimir Kozlov got to sing the Russian National Anthem with Nikolai Volkoff in what had to be the thrill of a lifetime for Kozlov. ~~~~~~The Iron Sheik started ranting into the microphone during his entrance cutting a heated promo on the Immortal Hulk Hogan.. Dave Schoeneman wrote: I grew-up watching AWA wrestling faithfully every week from the time I was probably six or eight years old until it got uncomfortable to watch in the late 80s. I remember Hulk Hogan starting there, remember Shaun Michaels getting his start there, and also remember Nick Bockwinkle holding the title there for about 20 straight years. One thing I also remember, and have never read anywhere else, was the Iron Sheik refereeing matches for the AWA. I can't prove that, but there has to be taped matches of it from the mid-to-late-seventies that show him reffing, somewhere. Maybe somebody can ask Kenny "The Sodbuster" Jaye. The two things that stood out was that dimple on his chin and his muscular build. I distinctly remember him being introduced as a referee for at least a few TV matches and thinking, "Why's this guy refereeing... he gets beat every week!" I don't recall them introducing him as a person with a Middle-Eastern name, either. I think they gave him the name Jerry Something-or-another, but that was many moons ago, so I can't recall that detail, but make no mistake about it.... The Iron Sheik did wrestle as a jobber and officiate for Vern Gagne.