STAMFORD, CT (SNN-TV) – The Iron Sheik, a standout Greco-Roman wrestler from Iran who gained global fame in professional wrestling with his 1980s rivalries against the likes of Hulk Hogan, died earlier today at the age of 81.
In a statement, his family called the wrestling legend, whose real name was Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, “an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling”. They did not release the cause of his death.
Sheik was a former WWF World Heavyweight champion and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. As a hated heel, he had legendary battles in the 1980s against Hogan, Bob Backlund and Sgt. Slaughter.