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 Iranian professional wrestler best known for his work in the 1980s for WWE (then the WWF) as the Iron Sheik. Trained under Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson and debuted under his own name in 1973 for the American Wrestling Association. Changed to Ali Vaziri while working for NWA Big Time Wrestling (the precursor to World Class Championship Wrestling) in Dallas and for NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Wrestled for the AWA, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling (Alberta, Canada), St. Louis, and All Japan Pro Wrestling before returning to the AWA with his new persona of the Iron Sheik. He took the gimmick, based off of Edward Farhat's gimmick the Sheik, to NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling (Portland, Oregon), the WWWF (where he was billed as Hussein Arab), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Toronto) and other promotions. He won his first title when he and Bull Ramos defeated Jerry Oates and Jesse Ventura for the NWA PNW Tag Team Titles on April 18, 1978 and held them for 53 days, losing to Dutch Savage and Jimmy Snuka. Teamed with Bobby Bass to win the vacant NWA Vancouver Canadian Tag Team Titles on July 24, 1978, holding them for 77 days before losing them to Mike Sharpe and Salvatore Bellomo. As Great Hussein Arab, he held the NWA Canadian (Toronto) Heavyweight Title twice. Held the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title for 174 days in 1980. Held the NWA National (Georgia) Television Title for 50 days. Defeated Bob Backlund for the WWE World Heavyweight Title on December 26, 1983 and lost it to Hulk Hogan on January 23, 1984, launching the modern era. Teamed with Nikolai Volkoff to defeat the U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) for the WWE World Tag Team Titles at the first "WrestleMania" on March 31, 1985. Made his surprise return to WWE in 1991 as "Col. Mustafa," having been switched from an Iranian to an Iraqi and was teamed with his longtime nemesis Sgt. Slaughter, who had turned heel and announced his support for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior defeated the Triangle of Terror (Slaughter, Mustafa and General Adnan) in the main event of "SummerSlam 91." The gimmick ran its course and he left in 1992. Returned as the Iron Sheik in late 1996 as the co-manager with Backlund of the Sultan (Solofa Fatu Jr.). The gimmick didn't really get over and Sheik left in 1997. He returned for the Gimmick Battle Royal at "WrestleMania X-7" in 2001, which he won due to being the only wrestler in the match who could not safely take the bump over the top rope to the floor. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008.
Bio:
Iranian professional wrestler best known for his work in the 1980s for WWE (then the WWF) as the Iron Sheik. Trained under Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson and debuted under his own name in 1973 for the American Wrestling Association. Changed to Ali Vaziri while working for NWA Big Time Wrestling (the precursor to World Class Championship Wrestling) in Dallas and for NWA Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling. Wrestled for the AWA, New Japan Pro Wrestling, Championship Wrestling from Florida, Georgia Championship Wrestling, Stampede Wrestling (Alberta, Canada), St. Louis, and All Japan Pro Wrestling before returning to the AWA with his new persona of the Iron Sheik. He took the gimmick, based off of Edward Farhat's gimmick the Sheik, to NWA Pacific Northwest Wrestling (Portland, Oregon), the WWWF (where he was billed as Hussein Arab), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Toronto) and other promotions. He won his first title when he and Bull Ramos defeated Jerry Oates and Jesse Ventura for the NWA PNW Tag Team Titles on April 18, 1978 and held them for 53 days, losing to Dutch Savage and Jimmy Snuka. Teamed with Bobby Bass to win the vacant NWA Vancouver Canadian Tag Team Titles on July 24, 1978, holding them for 77 days before losing them to Mike Sharpe and Salvatore Bellomo. As Great Hussein Arab, he held the NWA Canadian (Toronto) Heavyweight Title twice. Held the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Title for 174 days in 1980. Held the NWA National (Georgia) Television Title for 50 days. Defeated Bob Backlund for the WWE World Heavyweight Title on December 26, 1983 and lost it to Hulk Hogan on January 23, 1984, launching the modern era. Teamed with Nikolai Volkoff to defeat the U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda) for the WWE World Tag Team Titles at the first "WrestleMania" on March 31, 1985. Made his surprise return to WWE in 1991 as "Col. Mustafa," having been switched from an Iranian to an Iraqi and was teamed with his longtime nemesis Sgt. Slaughter, who had turned heel and announced his support for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Hulk Hogan and the Ultimate Warrior defeated the Triangle of Terror (Slaughter, Mustafa and General Adnan) in the main event of "SummerSlam 91." The gimmick ran its course and he left in 1992. Returned as the Iron Sheik in late 1996 as the co-manager with Backlund of the Sultan (Solofa Fatu Jr.). The gimmick didn't really get over and Sheik left in 1997. He returned for the Gimmick Battle Royal at "WrestleMania X-7" in 2001, which he won due to being the only wrestler in the match who could not safely take the bump over the top rope to the floor. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005 and the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008.
Tivia:
Mr. Vaziri was also part of Reza Pahvlavi, the former Shah of Iran's personal bodyguard staff.Credits the late wife of Verne Gagne, Mary Gagne, for giving him his wrestling moniker, The Iron Sheik.Stated in a 2007 interview that Jimmy Snuka came up with the idea for the Sheik to wear curl-toed boots as part of his wrestling attire.Won the Amateur Athletic Union Gold Medal in Greco Roman Wrestling (183.5 lb division) in 1971.WWE Hall of Famer.Though a superb amateur wrestler, in reality served as a transitional champion, losing his WWF title to the man who was destined for the gold all along, Hulk Hogan. His match against Hogan, on Jan. 23, 1984 at Madison Square Garden in New York, lasted less than six minutes; the Iron Sheik was only able to mount a brief offense, but there was no stopping Hogan on this night. The Iron Sheik would lose a series of rematches to Hogan.Wrestled in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at Wrestlemania X-7, which he won.Wrestled in the main event of Summerslam 1991, teaming up with Sgt Slaughter and General Adnan to face Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in a handicap matchThe Iron Sheik has trained Ricky Steamboat, Buck Zumhoff, Jim Brunzell, and Greg Gagne, and has also had a hand in training Bret Hart.Notable Title Wins Include: PNW Tag Team titles; NWA British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles; NWA Canadian Heavyweight title (2); NWA Canadian Tag Team titles; NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title; NWA National Television title; WWF World Heavyweight title; WWF Tag Team titles w/Nikolai VolkoffHis professional wrestling persona was inspired by Edward Farhat's character, The Sheik, who was regarded as one of professional wrestling's greatest, and therefore, most successful villains. His ring attire included wrestling boots with curled up toes like The Sheik's, and even used The Sheik's famous finishing hold, "The Camel Clutch." For his ring moniker he called himself "The Iron Sheik." Unlike other such ethnic "heels," he was actually from his alleged origin, Iran.Most of his favorite wrestlers have an accomplished amateur background, such as Kurt Angle, Brad Rheingans and Dan Gable.Underwent double knee replacement surgery after being involved in a car accident in 2003.Following the death of Bruno Sammartino 2018, he became the oldest living WWE wrestler to be world champion.Professional wrestler.(March 31, 1985) With Nikolai Volkoff, won the WWF Tag Team Championships from Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden. Lost the titles less than three months later to Windham and Rotundo.Defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWF World Championship on Dec. 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden, New York; Backlund (who had earlier injured his back, thanks to the Iron Sheik, on "WWF Championship Wrestling" a week earlier) was trapped in the camel clutch; Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, threw in a towel and had the match stopped.The Iron Sheik defended his title four times, with his best defense (according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine) coming against Chief Jay Strongbow in Pittsburgh, Pa. On Jan. 14, 1984, wrestled Tito Santana to a double-disqualification at the Philadelphia (Pa.) Spectrum in his only other high-profile title defense.Former World Tag Team Champion. |
| Name: |
Khosrow Vaziri |
Type: |
Actor (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
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Business scope: |
Actor |
| Products for sale: |
Actor |
| Last update: |
2024-07-02 06:07:52 |
| Height: |
5' 10' (1.78 m) |
| Biography: |
Iranian professional wrestler best known for his work in the 1980s for WWE (then the WWF) as the Iron Sheik. Trained under Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson and debuted under his own name in 1973 for the American Wrestling Association. Changed to Ali Va |
| Trivia: |
Mr. Vaziri was also part of Reza Pahvlavi, the former Shah of Iran's personal bodyguard staff.Credits the late wife of Verne Gagne, Mary Gagne, for giving him his wrestling moniker, The Iron Sheik.Stated in a 2007 interview that Jimmy Snuka came up with the idea for the Sheik to wear curl-toed boots as part of his wrestling attire.Won the Amateur Athletic Union Gold Medal in Greco Roman Wrestling (183.5 lb division) in 1971.WWE Hall of Famer.Though a superb amateur wrestler, in reality served as a transitional champion, losing his WWF title to the man who was destined for the gold all along, Hulk Hogan. His match against Hogan, on Jan. 23, 1984 at Madison Square Garden in New York, lasted less than six minutes; the Iron Sheik was only able to mount a brief offense, but there was no stopping Hogan on this night. The Iron Sheik would lose a series of rematches to Hogan.Wrestled in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at Wrestlemania X-7, which he won.Wrestled in the main event of Summerslam 1991, teaming up with Sgt Slaughter and General Adnan to face Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in a handicap matchThe Iron Sheik has trained Ricky Steamboat, Buck Zumhoff, Jim Brunzell, and Greg Gagne, and has also had a hand in training Bret Hart.Notable Title Wins Include: PNW Tag Team titles; NWA British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles; NWA Canadian Heavyweight title (2); NWA Canadian Tag Team titles; NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title; NWA National Television title; WWF World Heavyweight title; WWF Tag Team titles w/Nikolai VolkoffHis professional wrestling persona was inspired by Edward Farhat's character, The Sheik, who was regarded as one of professional wrestling's greatest, and therefore, most successful villains. His ring attire included wrestling boots with curled up toes like The Sheik's, and even used The Sheik's famous finishing hold, "The Camel Clutch." For his ring moniker he called himself "The Iron Sheik." Unlike other such ethnic "heels," he was actually from his alleged origin, Iran.Most of his favorite wrestlers have an accomplished amateur background, such as Kurt Angle, Brad Rheingans and Dan Gable.Underwent double knee replacement surgery after being involved in a car accident in 2003.Following the death of Bruno Sammartino 2018, he became the oldest living WWE wrestler to be world champion.Professional wrestler.(March 31, 1985) With Nikolai Volkoff, won the WWF Tag Team Championships from Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo at the first WrestleMania at Madison Square Garden. Lost the titles less than three months later to Windham and Rotundo.Defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWF World Championship on Dec. 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden, New York; Backlund (who had earlier injured his back, thanks to the Iron Sheik, on "WWF Championship Wrestling" a week earlier) was trapped in the camel clutch; Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, threw in a towel and had the match stopped.The Iron Sheik defended his title four times, with his best defense (according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine) coming against Chief Jay Strongbow in Pittsburgh, Pa. On Jan. 14, 1984, wrestled Tito Santana to a double-disqualification at the Philadelphia (Pa.) Spectrum in his only other high-profile title defense.Former World Tag Team Champion. |
| Trademarks: |
Wrestling finishing move "The Camel Clutch"
Curled-toe wrestling boots
Mustache
Iranian accent
Gutwrench Suplex |
| Quotes: |
You can buy anything with money, except that gold medal.
<br />
<hr>
Wrestling is 90% shoot, 10% entertainment. |
| Job title: |
Actor |
| Others works: |
Appeared in Cyndi Lauper's "Goonies 'R' Good Enough" music video
Mid 1980s TV commercial for Toyota LandCruiser |
| Spouse: |
Caryl Vaziri (March 21, 1976 - June 7, 2023) (his death, 3 children) |
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