Man, what a career. What a legend. What a story. He's been through so much, but the guy was entertaining in and out of the ring. Truly one of a kind character.
as I havent really watched it since High School, but I did know him from his many appearances on the Stern show in the late 00's...and he was hilarious! RIP....
True legend in the ring and his real life story was really remarkable. Here's a quick snippet from wiki...
Quote:
Khosrow was born in 1942 in Damghan, Iran, and grew up in a working-class family which had little money and no running water. Although his passport reads March 15, he celebrates his birthday on September 9. In his youth, he idolized Iranian Olympic Gold-Medalist wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, and he subsequently made a name for himself as an amateur wrestler; he also worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.
Khosrow competed for a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He then moved to the United States and became the assistant coach of two U.S. Olympic squads in the 1970s. In 1971, he was the Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman wrestling champion and gold medalist at 180.5 pounds; he later became assistant coach to the USA team for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
when he 1st came to the US in the 1970s, he went to Minnesota and helped coach the US olympic wrestling team because of his background as a championship wrestler in Iran. He was actually a "good guy" when he 1st got into pro wrestling and he wrestled in his olympic singlet. It was only after the Iran Hostage Crisis that he turned into the character of the Iron Sheik.
What's also a great story was that when Bob Backlund was the champion, he was also a former National champion college wrestler. He told Vince that he wouldn't drop the belt to Hulk Hogan because he didn't believe that in a real match, Hogan could actually beat him and didn't have any respect for him. But he knew about the Iron Sheik's amateur background and respected his ability so he agreed to drop the belt to the Sheik who then dropped it to Hogan.
Of course, all his drug issues were a major problem and he helped blow up kayfabe when he got busted on the NJ Turnpike with Jim Duggan.
Sheiky baby. I was disappointed when I learned he didn't run his own twitter account (which was always very funny). Vince fired him once for being arrested with Duggan. Not because he was caught with drugs, but because he was caught with his storyline enemy lol
Sheiky baby. I was disappointed when I learned he didn't run his own twitter account (which was always very funny). Vince fired him once for being arrested with Duggan. Not because he was caught with drugs, but because he was caught with his storyline enemy lol
I think Sheik was more pissed that Moolah used his drugs in the car
His matches versus Sgt Slaughter were legendary. Both men lying on the mat, the Iron Sheiks metal boot lying in the middle of them, the crowding chanting USA USA as Sgt Slaughter crawls over reaching for the boot. Still gets me going.
His matches versus Sgt Slaughter were legendary. Both men lying on the mat, the Iron Sheiks metal boot lying in the middle of them, the crowding chanting USA USA as Sgt Slaughter crawls over reaching for the boot. Still gets me going.
Even crazier when you realize that Sheik and Sgt. Slaughter trained together in Minnesota in the 1970s with Verne Gagne. And Sheik did roofing work with Sgt Slaughter's father company in the 1970s as well to make extra money.
when he 1st came to the US in the 1970s, he went to Minnesota and helped coach the US olympic wrestling team because of his background as a championship wrestler in Iran. He was actually a "good guy" when he 1st got into pro wrestling and he wrestled in his olympic singlet. It was only after the Iran Hostage Crisis that he turned into the character of the Iron Sheik.
What's also a great story was that when Bob Backlund was the champion, he was also a former National champion college wrestler. He told Vince that he wouldn't drop the belt to Hulk Hogan because he didn't believe that in a real match, Hogan could actually beat him and didn't have any respect for him. But he knew about the Iron Sheik's amateur background and respected his ability so he agreed to drop the belt to the Sheik who then dropped it to Hogan.
Of course, all his drug issues were a major problem and he helped blow up kayfabe when he got busted on the NJ Turnpike with Jim Duggan.
Oh man what a fun wrestling character. Didn't realize he had such a career in amateur wrestling. I'll never forget when I was in highschool around '85 seeing him vs Hulk Hogan in a steel cage match at the Garden. Fun night
hysterical when they brought him back in 91 and called him Mustafa and said he was from IRAQ of all places!
I actually just watched his Dark Side of the Ring recently, they covered this. They started the Iraqi storyline before the US were involved in the war and just kinda rolled with it when the US got involved. RIP, great career and as others have pointed out, highly entertaining the past couple of years.
Lived a long life compared to some of his contemporaries.
Khosrow was born in 1942 in Damghan, Iran, and grew up in a working-class family which had little money and no running water. Although his passport reads March 15, he celebrates his birthday on September 9. In his youth, he idolized Iranian Olympic Gold-Medalist wrestler Gholamreza Takhti, and he subsequently made a name for himself as an amateur wrestler; he also worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and his family for several years.
Khosrow competed for a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He then moved to the United States and became the assistant coach of two U.S. Olympic squads in the 1970s. In 1971, he was the Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman wrestling champion and gold medalist at 180.5 pounds; he later became assistant coach to the USA team for the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
What's also a great story was that when Bob Backlund was the champion, he was also a former National champion college wrestler. He told Vince that he wouldn't drop the belt to Hulk Hogan because he didn't believe that in a real match, Hogan could actually beat him and didn't have any respect for him. But he knew about the Iron Sheik's amateur background and respected his ability so he agreed to drop the belt to the Sheik who then dropped it to Hogan.
Of course, all his drug issues were a major problem and he helped blow up kayfabe when he got busted on the NJ Turnpike with Jim Duggan.
RIP
I think Sheik was more pissed that Moolah used his drugs in the car
Even crazier when you realize that Sheik and Sgt. Slaughter trained together in Minnesota in the 1970s with Verne Gagne. And Sheik did roofing work with Sgt Slaughter's father company in the 1970s as well to make extra money.
What's also a great story was that when Bob Backlund was the champion, he was also a former National champion college wrestler. He told Vince that he wouldn't drop the belt to Hulk Hogan because he didn't believe that in a real match, Hogan could actually beat him and didn't have any respect for him. But he knew about the Iron Sheik's amateur background and respected his ability so he agreed to drop the belt to the Sheik who then dropped it to Hogan.
Of course, all his drug issues were a major problem and he helped blow up kayfabe when he got busted on the NJ Turnpike with Jim Duggan.
RIP
Here you go, vs Backlund
My buddies grand parents were wrestling purists and couldn't explain why they were driving in the same car.
The cop said he saw Duggan drinking a beer so he stopped them.
Agree with PP, those matches were legendary. USA chants and the Marine Hymn.
different sheik but still bloodbaths
I actually just watched his Dark Side of the Ring recently, they covered this. They started the Iraqi storyline before the US were involved in the war and just kinda rolled with it when the US got involved. RIP, great career and as others have pointed out, highly entertaining the past couple of years.