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
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Spotlight in History
- 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
Week of Sun 10-25 to Sat: 10-31
- 10-25 1951 Joe Alderman became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 10-25 1972 Jose Lothario def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 1981 Kerry Von Erich & Terry Orndorff def. Tim Brooks & Arman Hussein for the WCCW American Tag Team Titles
- 10-25 2008 3rd Rail def. Outlaw for the SWCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-25 2014 Montego Seeka became the IWR Revolutionary Champion
- 10-25 2020 Thrash became the ASP Mid-American Champion
- 10-25 2020 Brawler Morrison def. Gemini [2nd] for the ASP 5-Star Title
- 10-25 2025 Giganto def. Pastor Brent for the WAH Living Hope Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Deacon Hendrix for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Vald def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Vald for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-25 2025 Psycho Mike def. Duncan Kincaid for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-26 1964 Tony Borne def. Karl Kox for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-26 1978 Ernie Ladd became the TSW Arkansas Champion
- 10-26 1983 Junkyard Dog def. Butch Reed for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
- 10-26 1986 John Tatum & Jack Victory def. The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) for the UWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2002 Beau Dalton def. Vinnie Valentino for the OCW Oklahoma Title
- 10-26 2002 Michael Faith & Smash Hansen def. Big Daddy Moore & Karl Davis for the OCW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
- 10-26 2006 D Money became the UWF06 Heavyweight Champion
- 10-26 2024 Tommy Dean def. Wesley Crane for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Daniel Aaron Michalles def. Super Star for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2024 Riley Grinn def. Tommy Dean for the WFC Hometown Heroes Title
- 10-26 2024 Sean Ryan def. Daniel Aaron Michalles for the WAH Hunger Dojo Title
- 10-26 2025 Duncan Kincaid def. Psycho Mike for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Title
- 10-27 1984 Chris Adams & Gino Hernandez & Jake Roberts def. Kerry Von Erich, Mike Von Erich, & Bobby Fulton (substituting for Kevin Von Erich) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Titles
- 10-27 1995 TNT def. Casey Cannon for the PZWA Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Shane Rawls def. Jerry Bostic for the UWF06 Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2007 Les Mayne def. Dane Griffin for the UWF06 Texhoma Title
- 10-27 2007 Martin Justice became the GPCW Lightweight Champion
- 10-27 2007 Justin Lee def. Shane Morbid for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-27 2023 Johnny Kove def. Koko for the CPW Heavyweight Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador became the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Champion
- 10-27 2023 Handgun Dan def. Lunchador for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Brandon Warhawk def. Handgun Dan for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2023 Lunchador def. Brandon Warhawk for the MajCW 24/7 On Call Native American Title
- 10-27 2024 Billie the Kiid def. Malik Mayfield for the ASP Livestream Title
- 10-28 1975 Karl Kox def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Title
- 10-28 2006 Mass Destruction (Spoiler 2000 & Bash) became the NWA-U Universal Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2006 John O'Malley def. Rocco Valentino for the NWA-U Oklahoma Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2006 Christopher Fox became the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Champion
- 10-28 2006 Rocco Valentino def. Christopher Fox for the NWA-U Universal Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2007 The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) def. Bad Boy & Outlaw for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-28 2012 Bobby Starr def. Cody Jones for the MSWA Oklahoma Title
- 10-28 2012 The Investment (Jason Noal & Jay Synn) became the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 10-28 2012 Johnny Z def. Double D for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
- 10-28 2017 Duke Swellington def. Kikutaro for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Wahoo McDaniel for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1984 Kerry Von Erich def. Gino Hernandez for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 1995 The Bad Boyz (Brett Knight & Krull Danzig) became the WWEmp Tag Team Champions
- 10-29 1995 Shane Cortez def. Original Renegade for the WWEmp Television Title
- 10-29 1995 Red Eagle def. Annihilator for the WWEmp Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2002 Ty Magnus def. Brandon Bishop for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-29 2016 Nathan Estrada def. Gavin Dixon for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Title
- 10-29 2016 Urn Stokes def. Steven Cruze for the ComPro Showtime Title
- 10-29 2016 MX2 (Zak Mason & Dan Maestro) def. Dynamic Shields (Justin Dynamic & Shawn Shields) for the ComPro Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 Ryan the Ripper def. Ronnie Morton for the RDW Brass Knucks Title
- 10-29 2022 The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) def. Team Boner (Drake Gallows & MLP) for the AIWF Tag Team Titles
- 10-29 2022 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & Shane Sanchez & Ozzy Hendrix) def. The Psychotic Messengers (Malachi & Maniac Mike) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
- 10-30 1978 Mark Lewin & The White Knight became the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champions
- 10-30 2009 Franco D'Angelo def. Jeremy Quinn III for the ACW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Gene Valdez def. Ryan Reed for the NCW Heavyweight Title
- 10-30 2010 Mr. Big & Michael H became the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 10-31 1967 Fritz Von Erich def. Brute Bernard for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1972 Johnny Valentine def. Stan Stasiak for the WCCW Texas Brass Knuckles Title
- 10-31 1980 Ernie Ladd & Leroy Brown def. Junkyard Dog & Terry Orndorff for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Titles
- 10-31 1983 Johnny Mantell def. Jimmy Garvin for the WCCW Television Title
- 10-31 1994 Beast 3rd became the WWEmp Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2009 Martin Justice became the OECW Heavyweight Champion
- 10-31 2025 Phoenix Down (Colton Kinnamon & Ricky Wingrave) def. Blazin' Saddles (Bang Bang Bennett & Scotty Rose) for the RDW Tag Team Titles
- AWOL Oct 27th Today!
- Doberman [2nd] Oct 27th Today!
- Miss Linda Oct 27th Today!
- Chris Smith Oct 28th
- MVP Oct 28th
- Jake Boulder Oct 28th
- Mike Sharpe, Jr. Oct 28th
- D. J. Hall Oct 29th
- Mischief Oct 29th
- Paul Orndorff Oct 29th
- George Wells Oct 30th
- Debbie Combs Oct 30th
- Danny McShain Oct 30th
- Jesse Beeler Oct 30th
- Brandon Bishop Oct 30th
- Jayson Boss Oct 31st
- Bugsy McGraw Nov 1st
- Big Daddy Moore Nov 1st
- Dutch Hagen Nov 1st
- Mike Davis [2nd] Nov 2nd
- Rob Barnes Nov 3rd
- Stephen Nitro Nov 3rd
- Dylan Michaels Nov 3rd
- Kenny Silva Nov 3rd
- Michael La Noy Nov 3rd
- Korstia Korchenko Nov 3rd
- Jimmie Deen Nov 4th
- Max Leon Nov 4th
- Assassin 1 Nov 4th
- Chris Chaos Nov 5th
- David Jason Rose Nov 5th
- Christopher Samuel Dean Nov 5th
- Bill Decker Nov 5th
- Jules Strongbow [2nd] Nov 5th
- Darin Matthews Nov 6th
- Brian Faith Nov 6th
- Ken Patera Nov 6th
- Frank Dunbar Nov 6th
- Lu Kim Nov 6th
- King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
- Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
- Keith Watkins Nov 7th
- Silverado Nov 7th
- Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
- Joey Ryan Nov 7th
- Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
- Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
- Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
- Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
- Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
- Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
- Nick Patrick Nov 9th
- Kolossus Nov 9th
- Menace 2 Society Nov 9th
- Gil Knutson Nov 9th
- Joyce Grable Nov 9th
- Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Current Champions
United Wrestling Entertainment
Apex Champion
Birdman
- Heavyweight Champion: Brandon Warhawk
- Tag Team Champions: Black Flag Rising
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