Pro wrestling legend and pop culture fixture the Iron Sheik, who embraced his role as “one of the most notorious villains” in the entertainment genre’s history, has died, his team said Wednesday.
He was 81.
The announcement was made on the wrestler’s Twitter feed, which has more than 640,000 followers.
The statement did not offer any details of how the man, born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, died.
The Iron Sheik “transcended the realm of sports entertainment” with “his larger-than-life persona, incredible charism, and unparalleled in-ring skills,” which “captivated audiences around the globe,” according to the statement.
Actor and former wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson fondly recalled his childhood days with his dad, also a pro wrestler, and the Iron Sheik, their close family friend.
When Johnson broke into pro wrestling, “Uncle Sheiky” pulled him aside and told him how to handle his business as a young grappler.
“Let me tell you something,” Johnson said, mimicking the Sheik’s distinct accent. “You come into the locker room, you sit down, you shut your mouth, you don’t say anything and you just watch and you learn. And then you [will] understand who the good people [are] and who the jabronis [are].”
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