He wrestled in Japan against the likes of Steve Day and Antonio Inoki in 1978. Taking the name The Great Hossein Arab, he won his first title, the Canadian Tag Team Championship, with partner the Texas Outlaw. His Iranian gimmick received attention due to the events of the Iranian revolution. He also introduced the Persian clubs, a sport in his native Iran, and challenged wrestlers to do as many swings as him. Khosrow obliged and adopted what came to be his signature look: he shaved his head bald, grew a traditional "buffo" style mustache, added wrestling boots with the toe curled up (a nod to his ethnic background which, according to Khosrow, was an idea from Jimmy Snuka). Khosrow first wrestled as a face in preliminary matches before a promoter suggested that he adopt a heel gimmick similar to that of the notorious Sheik. He also worked as a trainer, teaching Ricky Steamboat, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell. Khosrow trained at Gagne's wrestling camp under trainer Billy Robinson (in the same class as Ric Flair) and then wrestled for Gagne's American Wrestling Association.
#ALUNDRA BLAYZE FEET PROFESSIONAL#
In 1972, Khosrow was invited to become a professional wrestler by promoter Verne Gagne.
Professional wrestling career Early career 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. He then moved to the United States and became the assistant coach of two U.S. Khosrow competed for a spot on Iran's Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. 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. Although his passport reads March 15, he celebrates his birthday on September 9. Khosrow was born in 1942 in Damghan, Iran, and grew up in a working-class family which had little money and no running water. 2.13 Sporadic appearances in WWF/E (1996–present)Įarly life and amateur wrestling.2.10 National Wrestling Alliance / World Championship Wrestling (1989–1991).2.6 Georgia Championship Wrestling (1982–1983).2.5 Championship Wrestling from Florida (1982).In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.Ī heel throughout the 1980s, Sheik later gained popularity on Kidd Chris, The Howard Stern Show, and on the internet due to his shoot interviews, vulgar language, and his intense dislike for some of his fellow professional wrestlers, particularly Hulk Hogan. He later formed a tag team with Nikolai Volkoff, which won the WWF Tag Team Championship at the inaugural WrestleMania event. His villainous character peaked during the 1980s WWF wrestling boom and his rivalry with Hulk Hogan turned Hogan into one of the greatest television heroes of the decade. He is the only Iranian champion in WWE history, having won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983. Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri ( Persian: حسین خسرو علی وزیری born March 15, 1942), better known by his ring name the Iron Sheik, is an Iranian retired professional wrestler, amateur wrestler and actor. Damghan, Semnan Province, Imperial State of Iran
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