Bios
Iron Sheik
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 252 lbs.
From: Tehran, Iran
Birthday: Mar 15th
Pro Debut: January 28, 1973
Aliases: Ali Vaziri, Ali Vasari, Iron Shiek Farouk, Hussein Arab, Hossein Arab, The Sheik, Col. Mustafa, Shasta Mustafa, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, Khosrow Vaziri, Muhammad Farouk, Sheik Farouk
Feds Worked For: MSW, TSW, WCCW, AWA, NWA, WCW, WWE, WWF, WWWF, 1 Pro Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), All Star Wrestling (NE), Allied Power Wrestling Federation (PA), Apocalype Wrestling Federation (Canada), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Century Wrestling Alliance (MA), Championship Pro Wrestling (PA), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling USA (OR), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/IN/KY/TN), Deaf Wrestlefest (PA), Eastern Shores Wrestling (NY), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Gulas Wrestling Enterprises (TN), Heroes of Wrestling (MS), Independent Superstars of Professional Wrestling (NJ), Independent Wrestling Federation (NJ), International Wrestling (Canada), Juggalo Championship Wrestling, Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Maryland Championship Wrestling (MD), Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation (MD), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Millennium Wrestling Federation (MA), National Wrestling Conference (CA/NV), National Wrestling Superstars (NJ), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), New Zealand, North American Wrestling Federation (WI), Northern States Wrestling Alliance (MI), NWA 2000 (North Carolina), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Championship Wrestling America (NJ), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA New Jersey (NJ), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Piledriver Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Legends, Pro Wrestling Syndicate (NJ), Pro Wrestling Xtreme (Canada), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Steel City Wrestling (PA/WV), Union of Professional Wrestling Force International (Japan), Vancouver All-Star Wrestling (Canada), Windy City Pro Wrestling (IL), Women's Xtreme Wrestling, World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico), World Wrestling Association (IN)
Finisher: Camel Clutch
Signature Moves: Rocking Horse, Belly-to-Belly Suplex, Gutwrench Suplex, Boston Crab, Gutbuster
Career Highlights: -CCW Champion (2x)
-CWA Champion
-IAW Champion
-IAW Tag Team Champion (w/ Brian Costello)
-IWA Intercontinental Champion
-NWA 2000 American Heritage Champion
-NWA British Empire/Commonwealth Champion
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Champion
-NWA National Television Champion
-NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team Champion (w/ Bull Ramos)
-NWA (Toronto) Canadian Champion (2x)
-NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team Champion (w/ Bobby Bass)
-WWF World Champion
-WWF World Tag Team Champion (w/ Nikolai Volkoff)
Affiliates: General Adnan, Sgt. Slaughter, Nikolai Volkoff, Freddie Blassie, Col. DeBeers, Dallas Page, The Sultan, Shiek of Baghdad, Tiger Khan, Amy Lee, The Patriot, The Hate Breed, Mad Man Manson, Armando Estrada, Jimmy Hart, Slick, Paul Ellering, Bull Ramos, Bobby Bass, Gene Anderson, Chicky Starr
Notable Feuds: Mike Rotunda, Sgt. Slaughter, Barry Windham, Killer Bees, Tito Santana, Blackjack Mulligan, S. D. Jones, Cpl. Kirschner, Jim Duggan, André the Giant, British Bulldogs, Jimmy Snuka, Junkyard Dog, George Steele, Ivan Putski, Rocky Johnson, Jay Strongbow, Tony Garea, Greg Valentine, Ricky Steamboat, Ronnie Garvin, Dominic DeNucci, Ric Flair, Tony Atlas, Bob Backlund, Demolition, George Wells, Kim Duk, Angelo Mosca, Dick Murdoch, Salvatore Bellomo, Lanny Poffo, Hulk Hogan, Johnny Rich, Dan Spivey, Bret Hart, Ted DiBiase, The Islanders, José Luis Rivera, Tommy Rich
Other Facts: -Real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri
-Defected to the US in 1972 and served as an Olympic wrestling coach for the US.
-Two-time AAU Champion
-Worked as bodyguard for the Shah of Iran. He got the opportunity because he was the Iranian army wrestling champion and after that, was given the chance to work for the Shah's cousin in the television industry.
-Trained for pro wrestling by Verne Gagne
-In the early years of his career, he was announced as having won a medal in the 1968 Olympics for Iran. This was later revealed to be a complete work to enhance his character.
-Accounts vary as to who gave him the name "The Iron Sheik". Some sources say it happened while competing in MSW. Greg Gagne claims it was his mother who came up with the name and The Iron Shiek agrees with that. What is not at disput is that the name was chosen to differentiate him from Ed Farhat aka "The Sheik", which Vaziri was also billed as for a time.
-As Hussein Arab and Hossein Arab, he ued the nickname "Great"
-Has a reputation for being a "master of the suplex".
-Was reportedly offered $100,000 by Verne Gagne to break Hulk Hogan's leg during the match where Hogan won the WWF World title from him.
-Was a participant in an incident that severely exposed the business in 1987. Sheik and Jim Duggan, who were feuding at the time, were traveling together to a show when they were pulled over by New Jersey state police. Sheik was charged with marijuana and cocaine and given one year's probation. Duggan was charged with possession of marijuana and driving under the influence. This incident made national news and brought a lot of unwanted attention to the WWF and the way wrestling was done.
-In 1989, Sheik teamed with Butch Reed and defeated NWA United States Tag Team Champions Eddie Gilbert & Rick Steiner at a WCW house show in New Haven, CT. The title change happened due to heel referee Teddy Long and pictures exist of Shiek & Reed with the US Tag belts. But for unknown reasons, that title change was never acknowledged.
-In 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, NY because they believed he may have been a terrorist.
-Helped to train Buck Zumhofe and Scott Irwin for pro wrestling. He also trained several of the Von Erichs, spending the most time with Kerry.
-Appeared in the movies "The Tale of 3 Mohammad" in 2005 and "Zero Dark Thirty" in 2008
-Former member of The First Family (CWA version)
-Former member of The Legion of Doom (NWA version)
-Former member of the Triangle of Terror
-Won Wrestling Observer's Most Underrated Award in 1980
-Ranked #215 in the 1991 PWI 500 (as Col. Mustafa)
-Ranked #333 in the 1992 PWI 500 (as Col. Mustafa)
-Ranked #218 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked #288 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked #321 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked #382 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Ranked #431 in the 1997 PWI 500
-Ranked #423 in the 1998 PWI 500
-Ranked #417 in the 1999 PWI 500
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008
-Inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2016
-Passed away June 7, 2023 at the age of 81.
Supplemental Information
Spotlight in History
- 1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
- 2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
- 2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
Week of Sun 10-18 to Sat: 10-24
- 10-18 2009 Carnage def. Spoiler 2000 for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 10-18 2019 Tego def. Prince Mahalli for the ASP Inter-County Title
- 10-18 2019 Will Allday def. J. D. Griffey for the TexPro Heavyweight Title
- 10-18 2024 Luther Zay Diamond def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW Flawless Title
- 10-18 2024 Nashoba became the MajCW Wetumka Indian Community Centre Champion
- 10-18 2024 Auzzy def. Kari Wright for the TexPro Dynasty Title
- 10-18 2024 The Strays (Barrett Brown & Izzy James) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the TexPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-19 1976 Karl Kox & Ken Patera became the TSW United States Tag Team Champions
- 10-19 2013 Tyson Jaymes def. Brock Landers for the SWCW All-American Title
- 10-19 2013 The K. C. Wolves (Graham Bell & Luke Langley) def. Nasty Swag (Ace Archuleta & Robert Lee) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 10-19 2013 Jon Cross def. Anarchy [2nd] for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 10-19 2014 Jon Cross def. Robert Lee for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-19 2019 Luke Langley became the WFC Hometown Heroes Champion
- 10-19 2024 Anarchy [2nd] def. Damien Morte for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 10-19 2024 E-Bone def. Trench Blythe for the EPW International Title
- 10-20 1969 Danny Hodge def. Chuck Karbo for the TSW North American Title
- 10-20 1971 Bill Watts became the TSW North American Champion
- 10-20 1986 Crusher Yurkov def. Steve Simpson for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-20 2001 The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) def. The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-20 2001 Amanda St. George became the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 10-20 2001 Big Daddy Moore became the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 10-20 2007 Chris Fury became the SECW Light Heavyweight Champion
- 10-20 2007 Impact, Inc. (John Zorthos & Bernie Donderwitz) def. Team Shenanigans (Tyler Bateman & Kenny Campbell) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
- 10-20 2007 Tyson Armstrong became the SECW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-20 2007 The Texas Outlaws (Bobby Burns & Dan Wilder) became the SECW Tag Team Champions
- 10-20 2012 Kevin James Sanchez def. Austin Tacious for the SWCW All-American Title
- 10-20 2012 The Static Knights (X-Statik & Keith Knight) def. Dynamic Storm (Justin Dynamic & Daemon Storm) for the UWE Tag Team Titles
- 10-20 2018 Fuel def. Alex Royal for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 10-20 2018 Galaxy Cruzers (Paul Puertorico & Steven Cruze) became the UWE Tag Team Champions
- 10-20 2018 Dusty Gold became the UWE Apex Champion
- 10-20 2018 Anarchy [2nd] def. Dusty Gold for the UWE Apex Title
- 10-21 1969 Fritz Von Erich became the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 10-21 1985 King Parsons def. John Tatum for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-21 2005 Mitch Carter def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Title
- 10-21 2006 J. T. LaMotta def. John O'Malley for the IZW Cruiserweight Title
- 10-21 2017 MVP def. Damon Windsor for the IWR Heavyweight Title
- 10-21 2017 Spirit Squad (Kenny [1st] & Mikey [1st]) def. Excellence Personified (Duke Swellington & Dustin Heritage) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-21 2022 Tego def. Mr. Wobble for the TexPro Texas Title
- 10-21 2023 Wolf of War def. Martin Justice for the EPW International Title
- 10-21 2023 Johnny Dynamite def. Johnny Lightning for the WFC Prime Title
- 10-21 2023 Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) def. K. O. A. (Caine Carter & Devion Black) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
- 10-21 2023 Malik Mayfield def. Clayton Bloodstone for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Title
- 10-21 2023 Dominik Whiteheart def. Luke Richmond for the NCWO United States Title
- 10-22 1984 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) def. The Long Riders (Bill Irwin & Scott Irwin) for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-22 2005 Big Van Vader def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
- 10-22 2005 Carnage def. John O'Malley for the IZW Hardcore Title
- 10-22 2005 Ryan Davidson became the MSWA Mid-South Cruiserweight Champion
- 10-22 2005 The Lone Shining Star def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Tri-State Title
- 10-22 2005 Michael Faith def. Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 10-22 2005 The Real Impact Players (Aaron Neil & Se7en) def. The Red Dirt Outlaws (Devon Monroe & Kevin James) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-22 2011 Fuel def. Jonathan Cross for the UWE Heavyweight Title
- 10-22 2022 Justin Lee def. Koko for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-22 2022 Dutch Hagen def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Heavyweight Title
- 10-22 2023 Tunnel Vision (Derek James & Logan Knight) became the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champions
- 10-22 2023 Luke Richmond def. Brandon Groom for the BPW Oklahoma Title
- 10-22 2023 Trench Blythe def. El Gallardo for the BPW Lion Heart Title
- 10-22 2023 The Stage Dive Mafia (Rook Tyler & Axel Savage) def. Native Law (Sheriff Schultz & Nashoba) for the NCWO Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 1965 Lee Fields & Bobby Fields became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
- 10-23 1967 Spoiler #1 & Gary Hart def. Brute Bernard & Mike Paidousis for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 1968 Manuel Perez & Pepe Perez def. The Blue Demons (Blue Demon #1 & Blue Demon #2) for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 1988 Jerry Lawler def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW World Title
- 10-23 2003 Payton Scott def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-23 2005 Matt Garza & Mr. Brown def. Brandon Bishop & John Zorthos for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 2005 Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) def. Matt Garza & Mr. Brown for the ACW Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 2011 Javi Hernandez became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-23 2015 Vinny Pacheco def. Buster Cherry for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 10-23 2015 The Creepsters (Buster Cherry & Mr. Barnes) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champions
- 10-23 2021 Richie Adams def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Prime Title
- 10-23 2021 Toxic Masculinity (Johnny Lightning & Johnny Dynamite) def. The Space Age Cowboys (Paul Puertorico & Jason Jones) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
- 10-23 2021 Luke Langley def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
- 10-24 1983 Jimmy Garvin def. Chris Adams for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-24 1998 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Dan Wilder & Bernard Funk) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-24 2004 Se7en def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
- 10-24 2009 Xavior became the SWCW Cruiserweight Champion
- 10-24 2009 Dawn of Extreme (Ty Thunder & Crucifer) def. Texas, Inc. (Tim Rockwell & Bernard Funk) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-24 2009 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-24 2009 The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-24 2009 Rated N (Crisstopher Crow & Shane Sanchez) def. The Good Ol' Boys (Bud Barnes & Moonshine) for the SWCW Tag Team Titles
- 10-24 2020 Sam Stackhouse def. Alex Royal for the WFC Heavyweight Title
- 10-24 2021 Ryan the Ripper def. Drake Gallows for the EPW Internet Television Title
- 10-24 2025 Merc def. Riker for the BUW This Is Wrestling Title
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- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
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Most Active Members
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