Iron Sheik | Online World of Wrestling (original) (raw)

Check out The Iron Sheik‘s WWE Alumni profile here!

Title History

(New Zealand) British Empire/Commonwealth Heavyweight title [as Ali Vaziri] defeating Rick Martel (1977);
NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles w/Bull Ramos defeating Jesse Ventura and Jerry Oates (April 18, 1978);
NWA (Vancouver) Canadian Tag Team titles w/Bobby Bass defeating Don Leo Jonathan and Jake Roberts (July 24, 1978);
NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title defeating Jim Brunzell (May 11, 1980);
NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title [Great Hossein Arab] defeating Dewey Robertson (May 25, 1980);
NWA (Toronto) Canadian Heavyweight title [Great Hossein Arab] defeating Angelo Mosca (August 10, 1980);
NWA National Television title defeating Ron Garvin by disqualification in Tournament Final (May 28, 1983);
WWF World Heavyweight title [Managed by Fred Blassie] defeating Bob Backlund (December 26, 1983);
WWF Tag Team titles w/Nikolai Volkoff defeating Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham (March 31, 1985);
NWA 2000 (North Carolina) American Heritage Heavyweight Title defeating Timber (December 27, 1997);
WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) Hall of Fame Inductee (April 2, 2005);

Iron Sheik Career Highlights

In The Beginning

Khosrow Vaziri started out as an amature wrestler and even won a medal at the 1968 Olympic Games, representing Iran.
~~~Years later, this was proven to be a complete “work” just to enhance his gimmick while wrestling in America.
1972: Khosrow Vaziri defected to the United States and became an assistant wrestling coach for the United States.
~~~Khosrow Vaziri was a two-time AAU Champion and also a United States Olympic Greco Wrestling Coach.
1972: Khosrow Vaziri caught the eye of Minnesota legend Verne Gagne at the Olympic Training sessions.
1972: Khosrow Vaziri began training with Verne Gagne and debuted in the AWA at the end of that year.
1979: Khosrow Vaziri signed with the World Wide Wrestling Federation, wrestling as “Hussein Arab”, managed by Fred Blassie.
June 4, 1979 – MSG: Hussein Arab won a Battle Royal to earn a title shot at WWF Champion Bob Backlund, in the main event.
Hussein Arab departed the WWWF and toured the Southern territories.

Mid-South Wrestling

Kosraw Vaziri went to work for Bill Watts’ Mid South Wrestling promotion and became known as The “Iron Sheik”.
November 26, 1981 – Superdome Extravaganza: The Iron Sheik defeated King Cobra.

World Wrestling Federation

1983: The Iron Sheik signed with the World Wrestling Federation when it was becoming a national promotion.
~~~The Iron Sheik gained a reputation of being the “master of the suplex” using many versions of the suplex.
December 26, 1983 – MSG: The Iron Sheik beat Bob Backlund for the WWF World title when Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel.
The Iron Sheik had title defenses against Chief Jay Strongbow, Pat Patterson, Bob Backlund, Salvatore Bellomo and Tito Santana.
January 23, 1984 – MSG: Hulk Hogan defeated Iron Sheik for the WWF World title in one of the most famous matches of all time.
~~~Rumor has it, AWA promoter Verne Gagne offered Sheik $100,000 to break Hogans leg during the match.
~~~Luckily, Iron Sheik is a smart man, and did the job, and informed Hogan and McMahon of the offer after the match.
July 23, 1984 – Brawl to End It All: The Iron Sheik defeated Tony Garea.
1984: The Iron Sheik and Sgt Slaughter engaged in a bloody and violent feud that spread throughout the entire country.
June 16, 1984 – MSG: Sgt Slaughter defeated The Iron Sheik in a famous Boot Camp match.

World Wrestling Federation – The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff

1984: The Iron Sheik formed a successful tag team with Nikolai Volkoff, managed by Fred Blassie.
March 31, 1985 – WrestleMania: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff beat Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham for the Tag Team titles.
May 11, 1985 – SNME: The US Express and Ricky Steamboat defeated Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff and George Steele.
July 8, 1985 – King of the Ring: The Iron Sheik made it all the way to the finals where he lost to Don Muraco.
~~~Iron Sheik b Jim Brunzell | Iron Sheik b Ricky Steamboat | Iron Sheik b Tito Santana | Don Muraco b Iron Sheik.
August 23, 1985 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Ivan Putski.
September 12, 1985 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Cousin Junior.
October 7, 1985 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Steve Gatorwolf.
November 7, 1985 – Wrestling Classic: The Junk Yard Dog defeated The Iron Sheik in the 1st Round of the Tournament.
April 2, 1986 – WrestleMania 2: The Iron Sheik participated in the Invitational Battle Royal – won by Andre The Giant.
May 3, 1986 – SNME: The British Bulldogs defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff in 2/3 Falls to retain the Tag Team titles.
July 14, 1986 – King of the Ring: Billy Jack Haynes defeated The Iron Sheik in the 1st Round of the Tournament.
September 20, 1986 – Superstar: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Hercules Hernandez defeated Billy Jack Haynes, Mario Mancini and Nick Kiniski.
September 28, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeated The British Bulldogs.
October 20, 1986 – WWF on MSG: Jacques Rougeau defeated The Iron Sheik.
October 25, 1986 – Superstars: Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik defeated Tito Santana and Pedro Morales.
November 2, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Hercules Hernandez defeated Corporal Kirchner, Lanny Poffo and SD Jones.
November 8, 1986 – Superstars: The Killer Beez defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.
December 7, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Butch Reed defeated The British Bulldogs and Billy Jack Haynes.
December 28, 1986 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Butch Reed defeated The Islanders and Jose Luis Rivera.
January 10, 1987 – Superstars: Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik defeated tag team champions The British Bulldog and The Dynamite Kid by disqualification.
February 1, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeated The Islanders.
March 7, 1987 – Superstars: Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik defeated Brad Rheingans and SD Jones.
March 14, 1987 – SNME: Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat defeated The Iron Sheik.
March 27, 1987 – WrestleMania III: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff defeated the Killer Bees by disqualification when Jim Duggan interfered.
April 25, 1987 – Superstars: Nikolai Volkoff, The Iron Sheik and Butch Reed defeated Sivi Afi, Haku and Tama.
April 28, 1987 – Saturday Night Main Event: Rick Martel and Tom Zenk defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.
May 3, 1987 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Butch Reed defeated Lanny Poffo, Mario Mancini and Sivi Afi.
May 9, 1987 – Superstars: The Iron Sheik, Nikolai Volkoff and Butch Reed defeated Joe Mirto, Paul Roma and Jim Powers.
June 21, 1987 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Dick Slater.
May 26, 1987: The Iron Sheik and Jim Duggan were arrested by New Jersey State Police.
~~~Duggan was charged with possession of marijuana and drinking alcohol while driving.
~~~Sheik was charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.
~~~Duggan received a conditional discharge and Sheik received one year probation.
~~~What was so shocking about this was that they were feuding at the time, and the incident exposed the business.
1987: The Iron Sheik left the WWF soon after this incident.
September 20, 1987 – WWC: Tony Atlas defeated The Iron Sheik.
December 25, 1987 – WCWA: WCWA Texas heavyweight champion Matt Bourne defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the title.
January 30, 1988 – WWC: WWC Universal champion Carlos Colon defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the title.
February 20, 1988 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Lanny Poffo.
February 21, 1988 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Raymond Rougeau.
February 26, 1988 – House Show: The Iron Sheik defeated Ken Patera.
July 30, 1988 – Superstars: The Iron Sheik defeated Scott Casey.
August 7, 1988 – Wrestling Challenge: The Iron Sheik defeated Kim Yates.

World Class Championship Wrestling

November 26, 1987 – Star Wars: Chris Adams and Matt Borne defeated The Iron Sheik and The Thing by disqualification.
December 25, 1987 – Star Wars: Matt Borne defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the Texas Heavyweight title.

American Wrestling Association

Dec 13, 1988 – Superclash III: The Iron Sheik made a surprise appearance when he attacks Sgt Slaughter during a match vs Col. DeBeers.

National Wrestling Alliance

May 7, 1989 – WrestleWar: Sting defeated The Iron Sheik to retain the NWA Television title.
July 7, 1990 – The Great American Bash: Mike Rotunda defeated The Iron Sheik.

World Wrestling Federation – Col Mustafa

1991: The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF, but this time wrestling as “Col Mustafa”.
Col Mustafa aligned himself with Iraqi sympathizers Sgt Slaughter and General Adnan as the “Triangle of Terror”.
March 30, 1991 – Superstars: Col. Mustafa defeated Billy Burke.
April 14, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Jim Evans.
April 18, 1991 – House Show: Col. Mustafa defeated Hillbilly Jim.
April 29, 1991 – House Show – Col. Mustafa defeated Johnny Ace.
May 4, 1991 – Superstars: Col. Mustafa defeated WT Jones.
May 12, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Red Tyler.
May 25, 1991 – Superstars: Col. Mustafa defeated George Anderson.
June 15, 1991 – Superstars: Col. Mustafa defeated Matthew Burns.
June 30, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Larry Stephens.
July 14, 1991 – Wrestle Fest: Col. Mustafa defeated Jimmy Snuka.
July 27, 1991 – House Show: Col. Mustafa defeated Shane Douglas.
August 2, 1991 – House Show: Col. Mustafa defeated Koko B. Ware.
August 4, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Jeff Sanders.
August 26, 1991 – SummerSlam: Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior defeated the Triangle of Terror in a handicap match.
~~~After the match, Adnan and Mustafa turned on Sgt Slaughter, who became a born again american patriot.
October 28, 1991 – MSG Network: The Big Bossman defeated Col. Mustafa.
September 8, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Bill Pierce.
November 2, 1991 – Superstars: Sid Justice defeated Col. Mustafa.
November 27, 1991 – Survivor Series: El Matador, Jim Duggan, Sgt. Slaughter and The Texas Tornado defeated Col. Mustafa, Hercules, Skinner and The Berzerker in the Survivor Series tag team elimination match.
December 1, 1991 – Wrestling Challenge: Col. Mustafa defeated Al Phillips.
January 19, 1992 – Royal Rumble: Col Mustafa was in the royal rumble match won by Ric Flair.
March 23, 1992 – MSG Network: Tatanka defeated Col. Mustafa.
April 19, 1992 – House Show: The Road Warriors defeated Col. Mustafa and Dino Bravo.
April 25-30, 1992 – House Show: Tatanka defeated Col. Mustafa.

World Wrestling Federation – Manager

February 1997: The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF, as the co-manager for “The Sultan” Rikishi.

One Night Return

Wrestlemania X-7: The Iron Sheik won a special Gimmick battle royal, reigniting his feud with Sgt Slaughter in the process.

Keeping Busy

October 23, 1992 – UWF-I: Yoji Anjo defeated The Iron Sheik.
June 12-14, 1993 – WWS: Jimmy Snuka defeated The Iron Sheik.
September 30, 1993 – WWS: The Iron Sheik defeated Jamie West.
October 23, 1993 – CWA: Vic Steamboat defeated The Iron Sheik to win the heavyweight title.
November 6, 1993 – WCPW: Beau Zane defeated The Iron Sheik.
July 16, 1994 – The Iron Sheik vs. The Warrior (Chris Walker) ended in a time limit draw.
May 12, 1995 – NWC: The Junkyard Dog defeated The Iron Sheik.
September 29, 1995 – MEWF: The Comet defeated The Iron Sheik.
September 30, 1995 – MEWF: The Iron Sheik defeated Yet Another Wrestling Clown.
November 11, 1995 – MEWF: Jim Duggan defeated The Iron Sheik.
April 20, 1996 – SCW: Preston Steele defeated The Iron Sheik.
April 21, 1996 – Deaf Wrestle Fest: Koko B. Ware defeated The Iron Sheik.
June 15, 1996 – NWC: Johnny Paine vs. The Iron Sheik ended in a double disqualifiction.
July 20, 1996 – NWA New Jersey: The Iron Sheik defeated Rik Ratchett.
September 7, 1996 – NWA New Jersey: The Iron Sheik defeated Rik Ratchett by disqualification.
July 12, 1997 – NWC: The Iron Sheik vs. George Steele ended in a no contest.
October 14, 1998 – APWF: Demolition Ax defeated The Iron Sheik.
January 30, 1999 – IWF: The Iron Sheik defeated Don Montoya in a lumberjack match.
October 12, 1999 – Heroes of Wrestling: Butch and Luke defeated The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff.
December 19, 1999 – JCW: The Iron Sheik defeated Izzy High.
April 14, 2000 – MCW: The Iron Sheik defeated Platinum Nat.
April 15, 2000 – MCW: Gillberg and The Iron Sheik defeated Butterman and Doyle.
January 2002: The Iron Sheik was scheduled for an appearance on Opie and Anthony but it didn’t happen.
~~~Sheik was detained coming back from Canada at the airport in Rochester because they believed he may have been a terrorist.
May 5, 2003: Iron Sheik’s daughter, Marissa Jeanne Vaziri age 27, was found strangled to death, in her apartment.
~~~Marissa’s live-in boyfriend, Charles Warren Reynolds, 38, confessed to the crime and was charged with murder.
The Sheik has trained Ricky Steamboat, Buck Zumhoff, Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne and has also had a hand in training Bret Hart.
April 2, 2005 – Hall of Fame Ceremony: The Iron Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame along with 6 others in Los Angeles.
September 10, 2005 – Piledriver Pro: The Patriot and Kid USA w/Johnny Valiant beat Sheik of Baghdad and Tiger Kahn w/The Iron Sheik.
March 5, 2006 – World Wrestling Legends PPV: “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan defeated Nikolai Volkoff w/The Iron Sheik.
March 10, 2007 – Pro Wrestling Xtreme: Aaron Walpole and The Iron Sheik defeated Reck when Sheik broke his cane over Reck’s head!
March 10, 2007 – Pro Wrestling Xtreme: The Iron Sheik cut a promo and put female wrestler Jaime D in the Camel Clutch
April 6, 2006 – Women’s Extreme Wrestling PPV: Sumie Sakai defeated “Prime Time” Amy Lee w/The Iron Sheik.
May 26, 2006 – Pro Wrestling Legends: Sgt. Slaughter defeated The Warlord (Iron Sheik interfered and Greg Valentine countered).
~~~The Iron Sheik went nuts on a promo yelling about Slaughter, Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, the Olympics and everything else.
March 10-11, 2007 – PWX: Aaron Walpole and The Iron Sheik defeated Reck in a handicap match.
June 11, 2007 – Vince McMahon Appreciation Night: Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka and The Iron Sheik cut promos about Mr. McMahon.
June 18, 2007 – RAW: The Iron Sheik appeared on RAW and asked The Coach if he could have a talk show called “The Sheik Show”.
August 2, 2007 – National Wrestling Superstars: The Patriot w/The Iron Sheik defeated Johnny Candido w/Rocco Dorsey.
August 13, 2007 – RAW: William Regal presented “WWE Idol” with judges Maria Kanellis, Mick Foley and himself.
~~~Contestents for WWE Idol were Jillian Hall, Nikolai Volkoff and The Iron Sheik, Lilian Garcia and Santino Marella.
November 10, 2007 – PWX: Aaron Walpole and The Iron Sheik defeated Reck in a handicap match.
December 1, 2007 – National Wrestling Superstars: Julio Dinero initiated a Dance Off which included the Iron Sheik!
January 20, 2008 – National Wrestling Superstars and FunkDaFied Wrestling Federation in Christiana, Delaware: (150 fans)
~~~The Hate Breed (Rancid and Arkham w/The Iron Sheik) beat Dark Karnival (Jo-Jo and Chio) to win the FwF Tag Team titles.
March 10, 2008 – RAW: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff vs. Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham (WrestleMania 1 Rematch).
April 19, 2008 – 1-Pro Wrestling: Mad Man Manson w/The Iron Sheik defeated Rene Dupree w/Prince Ameen in England.
October 2, 2009 – A Decade of SmackDown!: Sgt. Slaughter and The Iron Sheik both made special guest appearances.
November 16, 2009 – RAW: The Iron Sheik made a cameo and made some extremely negative comments about Hulk Hogan.
March 25, 2010 – Twin Wrestling Entertainment: WWF legend The Iron Sheik gave a short speech.
April 2, 2010: Danny Demanto and Kevin Matthews w/Brittney Savage beat Balls Mahoney and Mikey Pacifica w/Iron Sheik.
April 24, 2010 – Millenium Wrestling Federation: The Iron Sheik and Jay Lethal defeated “Stalker” Dylan Kage w/Paul Bearer.
~~~No disqualification/Countout Match ending when Sheik made Kage submit to the camel clutch on the floor in the Sheik’s retirement match.
~~~There was a huge celebration with the locker room hitting the ring after the bout to honor the Sheik! [www.bostonwrestling.com\]
November 15, 2010 – Old School RAW: Santino and Vladimir Kozlov did an in-ring segment with the Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff and Slick!
~~~Vladimir Kozlov got to sing the Russian National Anthem with Nikolai Volkoff in what had to be the thrill of a lifetime for Kozlov.
~~~The Iron Sheik started ranting into the microphone during his entrance cutting a heated promo on the Immortal Hulk Hogan.
June 7, 2023: The Iron Sheik passed away at the age of 81.

Dave Schoeneman wrote: I grew-up watching AWA wrestling faithfully every week from the time I was probably six or eight years old until it got uncomfortable to watch in the late 80s. I remember Hulk Hogan starting there, remember Shaun Michaels getting his start there, and also remember Nick Bockwinkle holding the title there for about 20 straight years. One thing I also remember, and have never read anywhere else, was the Iron Sheik refereeing matches for the AWA. I can’t prove that, but there has to be taped matches of it from the mid-to-late-seventies that show him reffing, somewhere. Maybe somebody can ask Kenny “The Sodbuster” Jaye. The two things that stood out was that dimple on his chin and his muscular build. I distinctly remember him being introduced as a referee for at least a few TV matches and thinking, “Why’s this guy refereeing.. he gets beat every week!” I don’t recall them introducing him as a person with a Middle-Eastern name, either. I think they gave him the name Jerry Something-or-another, but that was many moons ago, so I can’t recall that detail, but make no mistake about it.. The Iron Sheik did wrestle as a jobber and officiate for Vern Gagne.