The Iron Sheik

HOFDeceased

Real Name:

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri

Billed From:

Tehran, Iran

Billed Height:

6′ 0″

Billed Weight:

258 lbs

Debut:

1972

Retired:

2010 (38 year career)

Birthday:

03/15/1942

Died: 6/6/2023 (Age 81)

Promotions Wrestled in:WWF | WWE | WCW | NWA | AWA | Stampede

Eras Wrestled in:The Territorial Era | The Golden Era | The Attitude Era

Championships Won (2)

1x WWF World Heavyweight Champion1x WWF Tag Team Champion

Career Summary

Hossein Vaziri, known globally as The Iron Sheik, was a trailblazing Iranian-American wrestler. As an Olympian and amateur wrestling coach, he became the only Iranian-born champion in WWE history after winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983.

His villainous persona was pivotal in launching the “Hulkamania” era after dropping the title to Hulk Hogan in January 1984. He later formed a memorable tag team with Nikolai Volkoff, capturing the WWF Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania I.

Renowned for his roles as a foreign heel during the height of US-Iran tensions, his intense rivalries and on-mic charisma made him an icon. The Iron Sheik was known for his signature “Camel Clutch” finisher, controversial interviews, and often incendiary shoot promos in later years.

Titles Held

Belt	Won	Opponent(s)	Partner(s)	Event	Days Held
WWF Tag Team Championship	Mar 31, 1985	The U.S. Express	Nikolai Volkoff	WrestleMania I	78
WWF World Heavyweight Championship	Dec 26, 1983	Bob Backlund		WWF on MSG Network	28

Tag Teams

1 Team

The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

with Nikolai Volkoff

1984 – 1987 | 1998 – 1999

1 Title

Matches

3 Matches

#	Date	Promotion	Match Details
1	Mar 29, 1987	WWF	The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated The Killer Bees WWF WrestleMania III @ Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan
2	Apr 7, 1986	WWF	Battle Royal Match André the Giant & Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart & Bruno Sammartino & The Iron Sheik & Hillbilly Jim & Jim Brunzell & Tony Atlas & Big John Studd vs. William Perry WWF WrestleMania II @ Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York
3	Mar 31, 1985	WWF	WWF Tag Team Championship Match The Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff defeated The U.S. Express WWF WrestleMania I @ Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York