In place of the usual DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Podcast, Karl Stern was instead a guest on the Def Dave’s 1984 podcast which covers pop culture and which you can listen to here.
This season, he is covering 1984 and invited me on to discuss the historic WWF World Heavyweight title match where Hulk Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik at MSG to kick off the Hulkamania era of pro wrestling.
I hope you enjoy this show and please subscribe to Def Dave on most all major podcast platforms.
On this episode of the DragonKingKarl Classic Wrestling Show, I take a look at the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame case for former WWF World Champion and one of the craziest characters in pro wrestling history: the Iron Sheik.
I look at the qualifications for “Sheiky Baby” and add a personal story of booking him once.
Finally, I look back to the mid-1930s, Madison Square Garden and the return of Jim Londos, and a mid-1990s look at the Tokyo Dome and the BVD Martial Arts tournament featuring Antonio Inoki and, yes, Sting!
The cause of Iron Sheik’s death has been revealed.
Sheik passed away on June 7 at the age of 81. According to documents obtained by TMZ, he passed away in his sleep due to cardiac arrest. Sheik had reportedly been dealing with congestive heart failure and hypertension before his death.
In the weeks following Sheik’s death, people from around the wrestling world paid tribute to the WWE Hall of Famer. Hulk Hogan, who defeated Sheik for the WWF Championship in Madison Square Garden on January 23, 1984, had the following to say regarding his old rival:
Today, we honor the legacy of a wrestling icon. Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh.
The wrestling world has lost a true legend, and Sheikh’s contributions to our industry will never be forgotten.I’ll always cherish the battles we had in the ring. Our matches were intense, and our rivalry was legendary. We shared a bond that only fellow wrestlers can understand.
Iron Sheikh’s unique charisma, undeniable talent, and unforgettable personality made him an unforgettable figure in the hearts of wrestling fans worldwide. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of wrestlers to come.
Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. You will always be remembered as a true warrior of the ring.
Sheik’s long-time rival, Sgt. Slaughter, spoke to TMZ as well.
“I love you, Sheik. I love you forever,” Slaughter told TMZ Sports.
“He just had so much love for wrestling, not only the amateur style that he learned, that was his survival in Iran.”
“Whether people know this or not, he loved you, he loved his fans. He just loved to perform and he loved children, he loved young children. But once he went through that locker room toward the ring, he was all business, he was The Iron Sheik. As I was, and as most are but he was exceptionally that way because he just loved the business that he was in.”
Sheik and Slaughter would meet in a Boot Camp match at Madison Square Garden on June 16, 1984. The match headlined a show that also featured Andre the Giant vs. David Schultz, and The Wild Samoans vs. Adrian Adonis & Dick Murdoch. It received a four-and-a-half star rating from our own Dave Meltzer, the highest-rated match of either’s career.
Dave Meltzer and I are back for a Friday edition of Wrestling Observer Radio going over all the news in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
We discuss the following:
Dave’s bio on the life of the Iron Sheik
Jon Moxley’s hectic week to get to Japan
Forbidden Door 2
AEW Collision streaming plan
Ticket sales for Collision shows
CM Punk vs. KENTA and whether it’s booking a match of hoping for a match
Possible stipulation for Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes 3
Tributes to the late Iron Sheik are pouring in from around the wrestling world.
Perhaps Sheik’s greatest rivalry took place in 1984 when he was pitted against Sgt. Slaughter. The feud culminated in a Boot Camp match on June 16, 1984 from Madison Square Garden. The match was awarded a rating of four and a half stars from our own Dave Meltzer.
“I love you, Sheik. I love you forever,” Slaughter told TMZ Sports.
“He just had so much love for wrestling, not only the amateur style that he learned, that was his survival in Iran.”
“Whether people know this or not, he loved you, he loved his fans. He just loved to perform and he loved children, he loved young children. But once he went through that locker room toward the ring, he was all business, he was The Iron Sheik. As I was, and as most are but he was exceptionally that way because he just loved the business that he was in.”
When Slaughter became the Iraqi sympathizer during the Gulf War in 1990, Sheik was added to his Triangle of Terror as Colonel Mustafa. They were joined with another of Slaughter’s old enemies, Sheik Adnan El Kaissey, who went by General Adnan.
“He was a character. I was a character. But we both had families and we loved our families,” Slaughter continued.
Kurt Angle, Karrion Kross, Arn Anderson, Natalya, Lex Luger and many others have paid tribute to Sheik online in the wake of his passing.
“I was sad to hear @the_ironsheik passed away. He had an amazing impact on many throughout the world. Sheik and I enjoyed blasting eachother publicly. All in fun. He was a man with an incredible personality. Gonna miss you Sheiky Baby! #itstrue,” wrote Kurt Angle.
“Iron Sheik played a pivotal role in the development of imagination in my childhood as a kid. I grew up and watched him with educated eyes, he was incredibly fun to watch and at times brilliant with the live audience. And that’s how I’ll always remember him,” wrote Karrion Kross.
“The NWA is saddened to hear of the passing of one of the sports great legends, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, ‘The Iron Sheik.’ We send our condolences to all of his family, friends and fans,” the NWA posted on Wednesday.
“So sad to lose another member of our wrestling family.Sheiky baby was the ultimate heel of his era. He was so good in his role that anyone who worked with him became a bigger star. For those of us who got to share a locker room with him he was nonstop entertainment.Prayers go out to his family. There will never be another like him,” wrote Arn Anderson.
“NOTHING BUT LOVE AND RESPECT to the Iron Sheik. The wrestling world has lost an icon and a very special person,” wrote Natalya.
“Massive respect for the life and Wrestling career of the one and only Iron Sheik.Thank you. You will be greatly missed,” wrote Lex Luger.
“RIP Iron Sheik. Very sad news. An integral part of the success of the 80’s wrestling boom and an extraordinary talent and incredible “bad guy” I have a lot of Sheik stories and many great memories. Thank you for all you gave to our industry. Godspeed sir,” wrote Frankie Kazarian.
“Love you forever Bubba” Rest in Power to the Mighty Iron Sheik. My sincerest condolences to his family,” wrote Samoa Joe.
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the death of the Iron Sheik, stories from his life and career, New Japan upcoming line-ups, ratings, the UFC this weekend, full reviews of AEW and NXT, plus Rampage spoilers. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Remembering the Iron Shiek, Q&A
28:10: Notes on NJPW Strong Japan show, Toa Leona, UFC this weekend
On a new edition of the Portland Wrestlecast, I remember the Iron Sheik who we lost Wednesday at the age of 81.
In early 1978, a young Jim Valley saw the Iron Sheik come through the Pacific Northwest. He was only in the territory about six months, but it was a memorable six months: he was the prize in a wrestling match, he won the Tag Team titles, feuded with Dutch Savage and Jimmy Snuka, and was part of a legendary shoot match and locker room confrontation.
Thanks to James Tolin recording TV audio with his tape recorder as a kid back then, we can enjoy rare audio of the Iron Sheik in Portland before he was world famous.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Lance Storm is back with tons to talk about including the death of Iron Sheik and Lance’s memories of meeting him, AEW preview for tonight, RAW ratings, your NXT TV report and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, better known to wrestling fans as The Iron Sheik, has passed away. He was 81 years old.
Sheik’s official Twitter account revealed the news on Wednesday, writing:
Remembering The Iron Sheik
Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come.
Beyond the wrestling persona that the world knew so well, The Iron Sheik was a devoted family man. He cherished the love and support of his wife of 47 years Caryl, who stood by his side through thick and thin, offering unwavering encouragement throughout his life. Their bond was an anchor, providing him with the strength to face the challenges that life presented.
To his children, Tanya, Nikki, Marissa and son in law Eddie, he was not just a wrestling icon. He was a loving and dedicated father. He instilled in them the values of perseverance, determination, and the importance of following their dreams. The Iron Sheik’s guidance and unwavering belief in their potential served as a driving force for his children, empowering them to become the best versions of themselves.
“WWE is saddened to hear of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans,” wrote WWE on Twitter.
“The legendary and iconic pro wrestling bad guy the Iron Sheik has passed away at the age of 81. We send our sincerest condolences to his family, friends and fans of the world over and thank him for the many incredible memories he lives behind. R.I.P. Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri,” wrote the Cauliflower Alley Club.
“Before he was nationally famous, the Iron Sheik was in Portland in 1978 teaming with Bull Ramos. Same act but, since the U.S. hostage crisis hadn’t happened, he wasn’t announced from Iran. I asked him about his time in Portland, just remembered the scenery,” wrote Jim Valley.
Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2005, The NWA Hall of Fame Class of 2008, and The George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame Class of 2016. In 1980, he was voted Most Underrated in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards.
“So sorry to hear about the death of the Iron Sheik, one of the most memorable wrestlers of the last 50 years,” wrote Dave Meltzer.
Sheik ended Bob Backlund’s 1,470 reign with the WWF Championship when he defeated him for the belt in Madison Square Garden on December 26, 1983. He would only hold the title for 28 days before dropping it to Hulk Hogan on January 23, 1984 in the match that would truly kickstart Hulkamania in WWF.
The following year, Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeated Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham for the WWF Tag Team Championships at the first WrestleMania.
Sheik’s life story was developed into the 2014 biography, The Sheik. The film was produced by The Magen Brothers, who served as Sheik’s managers for many years. He was recently featured in an A&E Biography earlier this year as well.
Sad news. Thinking of my friends @jianmagen and @pagemagen, who were as close to the Sheik as anyone.
Grateful I was able to meet the legend a few times, attend two of his tributes (roasts) as well as his movie premiere. https://t.co/KRO3ojpXuV
Just in time for the release of my new book, DragonKingKarl’s 1983 Pro Wrestling Omnibus,let’s review the Fall 1983 issue of the Apter magazines’ quarterly special: Wrestling Superstars.
This issue focused heavily on Georgia Championship Wrestling who was going through some things in 1983. Yes, the “Last Battle of Atlanta” was happening, but there was discontent within the NWA that was brewing.
I also delve into the features on Tommy Rich, Buzz Sawyer, Larry Zbyszko, the Iron Sheik, and much more.
On this new and free edition of the Portland Wrestlecast, it’s part two of our interview with former Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Champion Jerry Oates.
Oates talks about his tag team title run with partner Jesse Ventura in 1978, dealing with booking issues and politics with promoter Elton Owen and Dutch Savage while working Salem, Oregon, and the time Jonny Eagle cheated Andre the Giant at cribbage.
As you’ve heard on the Wrestlecast, Owen would pay wrestlers to shoot in the first few minutes of a worked pro wrestling match. Oates has a story of when one of those matches got very heated as The Iron Sheik and Ricky Hunter were supposed to work a shoot-style match. Situations unfolded that made the match a real shoot between two very skilled wrestlers.
Find out what happened and who won in this edition of the Portland Wrestlecast.
