the Iranian wrestler played the “bad guy” – Corriere.it

Mourning in the world of wrestling. The Iranian Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri died at the age of 81, for all The Iron Sheik. He was one of the most iconic and most important wrestlers in WWE history, taking part in the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City in Greco-Roman wrestling. The family members shared the news on Twitter: Today we gather with heavy hearts to say goodbye to a true legend, a force of nature and an iconic figure who has left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of The Iron Sheik’s passing, but we are also comforted to know that he left this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will last for generations to come, it reads.

The Iron Sheik was best known for being one of the in-ring enemies of Hulk Hogan. But, to tell the truth, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri helped give birth to the myth of the famous stars and stripes wrestler. In fact, Hulk Hogan’s first title came against the Iranian wrestler on January 23, 1984 at Madison Square Garden. A match that became history for fans. In fact, The Iron Sheik was not just any opponent, on the contrary. The month before, in December 1983, he had captured his first WWF title against Bob Backlund causing quite a stir. After the 1968 Olympic adventure, the Iranian wrestler had in fact moved to the United States from where he had begun his wrestling career. It was then his friend-enemy in the ring Sgt. Slaughter who made him nominated in the Hall of Fame in 2005. Another moment remembered by fans was when last January The Iron Sheik made fun of his rival Hulk Hogan for the problems he had with the microphone during the 30th anniversary of Monday Night Raw: Even the mic, you think you’re a Jabroni, he wrote then. But what did the Iranian wrestler mean? Jabroni an expression introduced by him: a derogatory way used to refer to a loser (or considered as such) who tries not to appear as such. In short, Hulk Hogan’s enemy to the last.