The Iron Sheik, a former professional wrestler who relished taking part in a burly, bombastic villain in Nineteen Eighties battles with among the sport’s greatest stars and later turned a well-liked Twitter persona, died Wednesday, the WWE stated. He was 81.

The wrestling group posted an article confirming his dying, and an announcement about his passing additionally was posted on his Twitter web page giving particulars of his life. Neither assertion talked about a reason behind dying nor the place he died, however the Twitter submit stated he “departed this world peacefully.”

The Iron Sheik, whose actual title was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, grew up in a small village in Iran the place he embraced wrestling in his youth.

During his professional wrestling profession, he donned curled boots and used the “Camel Clutch” as his ending transfer throughout particular person and tag workforce clashes through which he performed the function of an anti-American heel for the WWF, which later turned the WWE.

The mustachioed, barrel-chested brawler typically riled up crowds along with his anti-American persona and rhetoric, typically alongside tag workforce associate Nikolai Volkoff, who performed the a part of a Soviet villain. They received the WWF World Tag Team Championship in 1985 on the first WrestleMania, in accordance with the biography posted on the WWE’s web web page.

He was a profitable particular person wrestler as effectively, profitable the WWF championship in 1983 by defeating Bob Backlund, earlier than shedding it later to Hulk Hogan. He additionally constructed a long-running rivalry with Sgt. Slaughter, who performed the function of an American hero.

He later teamed with Sgt. Slaughter as Colonel Mustafa. The Iron Sheik’s final look within the ring was at WrestleMania 17, the Connecticut-based WWE stated.

The Iron Sheik had an early basis in aggressive Greco-Roman wrestling, competing within the Amateur Athletic Union and turning into a gold medalist in 1971, WWE stated.

In a documentary about his life known as “The Sheik,” he stated he turned drawn to wrestling as a teen and as a grappler within the Iranian Army.

“I was married to the wrestling mat because I was so much … in love with the sport,” he stated within the movie.

In the documentary, he stated he as soon as served as a bodyguard for the Shah. As a professional wrestler, he acknowledged profiting from anti-Iranian sentiment following the 1979 Iranian hostage disaster.

“It was the right time to … establish my character, my gimmick,” he stated.

The Iron Sheik’s affect prolonged to the game’s greatest stars. Wrestler-turned-actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, who used the time period “jabroni” to insult his ring opponents, has credited The Iron Sheik with making it well-known in wrestling circles. The TV present “Young Rock” additionally has featured The Iron Sheik as a recurring character,

The Iron Sheik used his humor and knowledge to construct a big Twitter following. He additionally made appearances on “The Howard Stern Show,” “The Eric Andre Show,” and others, the WWE biography stated.

The Twitter assertion stated The Iron Sheik “transcended the realm of sports entertainment” and known as him “a man of immense passion and dedication.”

“With his larger-than-life persona, incredible charisma, and unparalleled in-ring skills, he captivated audiences around the globe,” the assertion stated. “He was a trailblazer, breaking barriers and paving the way for a diverse range of wrestlers who followed in his footsteps.”

In a tweet, skilled wrestler Triple H known as The Iron Sheik a legend.

“An all-time great performer and WWE Hall of Famer who brought his character to life and transcended our business,” he stated.

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