RESPECT THE LEGEND FOREVER
June 7, 2023 9:40 AM Subscribe
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, a.k.a. The Iron Sheik, one of the most hated villains in professional wrestling history, has died at the age of 81 according to his official Twitter account, where he had enjoyed a second career of rants and insults.
Vaziri lived his life by the pro wrestling code of kayfabe, inflating his accomplishments -- he did not actually compete in the 1968 Olympics, though he was a skilled amateur wrestler; he may have been a bodyguard for the Shah; he might have been offered $100,000 by a rival wrestling promoter to break Hulk Hogan's leg rather than lose the WWF World Heavyweight Championship to him in 1984. The last of those proved to be his entry into wrestling history, as his defeat is seen as the beginning of Hulkamania and the resulting mainstreaming of pro wrestling in the US. He continued to perform -- as a classic "foreign heel", yelling at American crowds that "IRAN NUMBER ONE! USA... [spits]" -- to the extent of his body's limits, winning an over-the-top-rope battle royal at WrestleMania in 2001 largely because his knees would not have survived his being thrown out of the ring.
Eventually, he turned to Twitter (thanks to his managers transcribing his rants) and gained a following of more than 600,000.
Vaziri lived his life by the pro wrestling code of kayfabe, inflating his accomplishments -- he did not actually compete in the 1968 Olympics, though he was a skilled amateur wrestler; he may have been a bodyguard for the Shah; he might have been offered $100,000 by a rival wrestling promoter to break Hulk Hogan's leg rather than lose the WWF World Heavyweight Championship to him in 1984. The last of those proved to be his entry into wrestling history, as his defeat is seen as the beginning of Hulkamania and the resulting mainstreaming of pro wrestling in the US. He continued to perform -- as a classic "foreign heel", yelling at American crowds that "IRAN NUMBER ONE! USA... [spits]" -- to the extent of his body's limits, winning an over-the-top-rope battle royal at WrestleMania in 2001 largely because his knees would not have survived his being thrown out of the ring.
Eventually, he turned to Twitter (thanks to his managers transcribing his rants) and gained a following of more than 600,000.
WE WILL MISS YOU BUBBA. DEATH IS THE ULTIMATE JABRONI
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 9:55 AM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 9:55 AM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
RIP and all but he's clearly not been the one writing those tweets for a while, maybe never.
posted by thecjm at 10:05 AM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by thecjm at 10:05 AM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
Aww man. His Twitter feed was a complete delight. One of my favorites while I was still on that site.
He was a hell of performer as well. Larger than life.
posted by Ipsifendus at 10:05 AM on June 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
He was a hell of performer as well. Larger than life.
posted by Ipsifendus at 10:05 AM on June 7, 2023 [3 favorites]
Ah, damn.
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 10:20 AM on June 7, 2023
posted by Don.Kinsayder at 10:20 AM on June 7, 2023
At least he made it to a normal age for death. The mortality rate of pro wrestlers has been shockingly high.
posted by praemunire at 10:23 AM on June 7, 2023 [11 favorites]
posted by praemunire at 10:23 AM on June 7, 2023 [11 favorites]
Poor St. Peter, who I imagine has already been put in the camel clutch, had his back broken, and suffered other indignities.
One of the saddest moments of my life was the day it was widely reported in the news that Sheik was arrested along with hated rival Hacksaw Duggan for drug possession , thus piercing any remaining illusion of kayfabe for me.
Highly recommend the documentary about his life that came out a few years ago.
posted by The Gooch at 10:29 AM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
One of the saddest moments of my life was the day it was widely reported in the news that Sheik was arrested along with hated rival Hacksaw Duggan for drug possession , thus piercing any remaining illusion of kayfabe for me.
Highly recommend the documentary about his life that came out a few years ago.
posted by The Gooch at 10:29 AM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
Praemunire. Not wrestlers dying young, wrestlers from the age of steroid abuse dying young.
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:32 AM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by BrotherCaine at 10:32 AM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
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My introduction to the Twitter delights of The Iron Sheik was this story in The Bugle Podcast where John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman report on his hilarious beef with the International Olympic Committee.
posted by Kattullus at 10:35 AM on June 7, 2023 [7 favorites]
My introduction to the Twitter delights of The Iron Sheik was this story in The Bugle Podcast where John Oliver and Andy Zaltzman report on his hilarious beef with the International Olympic Committee.
posted by Kattullus at 10:35 AM on June 7, 2023 [7 favorites]
FACK THIS BOOLSHIT
Sheik is the first heel I actually remember from watching wrestling on Saturday mornings with my grandparents, as opposed to the ones that predate him whom I learned about later.
He and Nikolai Volkoff and Skeletor were like, the triumvirate of evil for 5yo me.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:42 AM on June 7, 2023 [11 favorites]
Sheik is the first heel I actually remember from watching wrestling on Saturday mornings with my grandparents, as opposed to the ones that predate him whom I learned about later.
He and Nikolai Volkoff and Skeletor were like, the triumvirate of evil for 5yo me.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 10:42 AM on June 7, 2023 [11 favorites]
One of the saddest moments of my life was the day it was widely reported in the news that Sheik was arrested along with hated rival Hacksaw Duggan for drug possession , thus piercing any remaining illusion of kayfabe for me.
On the other hand, Snorting Coke with the Iron Sheik might be the best theoretical indie-rock album title possible.
posted by delfin at 10:42 AM on June 7, 2023 [15 favorites]
On the other hand, Snorting Coke with the Iron Sheik might be the best theoretical indie-rock album title possible.
posted by delfin at 10:42 AM on June 7, 2023 [15 favorites]
Praemunire. Not wrestlers dying young, wrestlers from the age of steroid abuse dying young.
Recreational drugs have killed a lot of wrestlers, too. Not Sheik, though, and it’s not that he didn’t do a whole bunch. 81 is a solid run for the life he lived.
posted by atoxyl at 10:46 AM on June 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
Recreational drugs have killed a lot of wrestlers, too. Not Sheik, though, and it’s not that he didn’t do a whole bunch. 81 is a solid run for the life he lived.
posted by atoxyl at 10:46 AM on June 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
Praemunire. Not wrestlers dying young, wrestlers from the age of steroid abuse dying young.
Yes, when I said "shocking" I didn't really mean literally surprising, unfortunately.
posted by praemunire at 10:51 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Yes, when I said "shocking" I didn't really mean literally surprising, unfortunately.
posted by praemunire at 10:51 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
My favorite recent tweet of his:
THE ENEMY OF YOUR ENEMY CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF
posted by tclark at 11:02 AM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
THE ENEMY OF YOUR ENEMY CAN GO FUCK YOURSELF
posted by tclark at 11:02 AM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
I don’t watch wrestling (well, not since Baron von Raschke retired), but I enjoy reading about it on MetaFilter, making it the EveOnline of sweat and turnbuckles.
Since he gave so many people pleasure, .
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Since he gave so many people pleasure, .
posted by GenjiandProust at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Damn, I had forgotten about his Twitter account!
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posted by May Kasahara at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2023
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posted by May Kasahara at 11:16 AM on June 7, 2023
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posted by the_dreamwriter at 11:25 AM on June 7, 2023
posted by the_dreamwriter at 11:25 AM on June 7, 2023
Getting over as a heel may be one of the hardest things to do in performing arts. And the Iron Shiek is what people point to when they describe what you want to see to know you've gotten over. Absolute legend.
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posted by East14thTaco at 11:33 AM on June 7, 2023 [5 favorites]
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posted by East14thTaco at 11:33 AM on June 7, 2023 [5 favorites]
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I used to watch wrestling in the good old days (the 80s) and I hope the Iron Sheik is laying the Camel Clutch on whoever is in charge of the afterlife and then taking over.
posted by ceejaytee at 11:34 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
I used to watch wrestling in the good old days (the 80s) and I hope the Iron Sheik is laying the Camel Clutch on whoever is in charge of the afterlife and then taking over.
posted by ceejaytee at 11:34 AM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
Snorting Coke with the Iron Sheik might be the best theoretical indie-rock album title possible.
At first I was like 'I don't know if I want to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke,' but then I was like 'maybe I've only seen Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke.'
posted by box at 12:02 PM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
At first I was like 'I don't know if I want to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke,' but then I was like 'maybe I've only seen Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke.'
posted by box at 12:02 PM on June 7, 2023 [18 favorites]
One of the many crimes of Vince McMahon (as chronicled in the recent 6-part series on Behind the Bastards and elsewhere) is he made the Iron Sheik a supporter of Hussein during the Gulf War. Iraq and Iran are different, Vince, but you wouldn't care about that.
Pretty sure it was a nephew writing his tweets but "Fuck that Hulk Hogan jabroni" is an eternal truth. And I used to love the Hulkster.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:43 PM on June 7, 2023 [9 favorites]
Pretty sure it was a nephew writing his tweets but "Fuck that Hulk Hogan jabroni" is an eternal truth. And I used to love the Hulkster.
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 12:43 PM on June 7, 2023 [9 favorites]
At first I was like 'I don't know if I want to see Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke,' but then I was like 'maybe I've only seen Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke.'
I mean, all respect to Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke but the real king of this would have to be Ultimate Warrior, here he is on Arsenio Hall!
posted by Fizz at 12:51 PM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
I mean, all respect to Hacksaw Jim Duggan on coke but the real king of this would have to be Ultimate Warrior, here he is on Arsenio Hall!
posted by Fizz at 12:51 PM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO BE NICE TO SOMEONE YOU DUMB SON OF A BITCH
Well Sheik, it was nice to run into ya on Twitter. Hail and farewell.
posted by whuppy at 1:25 PM on June 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
Well Sheik, it was nice to run into ya on Twitter. Hail and farewell.
posted by whuppy at 1:25 PM on June 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
I was at Madison Square Garden when he took the title from Bob Backlund in 1983. Always enjoyed his work, and he seemed to be getting a kick out of it, too. R.I.P.
posted by AJaffe at 1:37 PM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by AJaffe at 1:37 PM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
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posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 2:03 PM on June 7, 2023
posted by The Ardship of Cambry at 2:03 PM on June 7, 2023
RIP and all but he's clearly not been the one writing those tweets for a while, maybe never.
FUCK THE DEAD GOATS IN THE OBIT THREAD, JABRONI!
posted by kimberussell at 2:31 PM on June 7, 2023 [6 favorites]
FUCK THE DEAD GOATS IN THE OBIT THREAD, JABRONI!
posted by kimberussell at 2:31 PM on June 7, 2023 [6 favorites]
Yes, when I said "shocking" I didn't really mean literally surprising, unfortunately.
I just want to make it clear that wrestlers dying young is an industry trend that Vince McMahon et al have basically created. The sport was hard on people's bodies before he came along, but changing it to one that basically requires steroids made it much, much worse. By not regulating it we're basically choosing to kill people for our entertainment. I'm really not happy about that.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:52 PM on June 7, 2023 [9 favorites]
I just want to make it clear that wrestlers dying young is an industry trend that Vince McMahon et al have basically created. The sport was hard on people's bodies before he came along, but changing it to one that basically requires steroids made it much, much worse. By not regulating it we're basically choosing to kill people for our entertainment. I'm really not happy about that.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:52 PM on June 7, 2023 [9 favorites]
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I always enjoyed watching the Iron Sheik when I was a kid. The only downside to his appearances and bouts was the inevitable chants of USA! USA! USA! especially after he lost. I usually wanted the "good guys" to win but in his case I'd make an exception.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:55 PM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
I always enjoyed watching the Iron Sheik when I was a kid. The only downside to his appearances and bouts was the inevitable chants of USA! USA! USA! especially after he lost. I usually wanted the "good guys" to win but in his case I'd make an exception.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 3:55 PM on June 7, 2023 [1 favorite]
changing it to one that basically requires steroids made it much, much worse.
Well, yes but also no. The era of steroid and painkiller abuse inflicted damage on the bodies and long-term health of wrestlers, and still does in promotions that don't have a strong testing policy.
However, it's incorrect to say the industry requires steroids now. A wrestler doesn't have to be a drug-addict (or a McMahon employee) to have accumulated damage. Take for example CM Punk and Kenny Omega, two men with little in common except that they both have decades in the industry and they are both straight-edge. No drugs, no alcohol or tobacco, and no painkillers stronger than OTC products.
Also on the straight-edge list is Kevin Owens, Matt Cross, The Young Bucks, Sami Zayn, and Claudio Castagnoli, but they have all spent time away because of serious injuries at one point or another. Since the pro-wrestler's essential job is stunt-fighting and acrobatics done without safeties or harnesses in front of a live audience, someone can accumulate injuries even if they live a clean lifestyle.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 4:06 PM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
Well, yes but also no. The era of steroid and painkiller abuse inflicted damage on the bodies and long-term health of wrestlers, and still does in promotions that don't have a strong testing policy.
However, it's incorrect to say the industry requires steroids now. A wrestler doesn't have to be a drug-addict (or a McMahon employee) to have accumulated damage. Take for example CM Punk and Kenny Omega, two men with little in common except that they both have decades in the industry and they are both straight-edge. No drugs, no alcohol or tobacco, and no painkillers stronger than OTC products.
Also on the straight-edge list is Kevin Owens, Matt Cross, The Young Bucks, Sami Zayn, and Claudio Castagnoli, but they have all spent time away because of serious injuries at one point or another. Since the pro-wrestler's essential job is stunt-fighting and acrobatics done without safeties or harnesses in front of a live audience, someone can accumulate injuries even if they live a clean lifestyle.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 4:06 PM on June 7, 2023 [4 favorites]
Rowdy Roddy Piper, Macho Man, Andre the Giant, Dusty Rhodes, Big John Stud, Junkyard Dog, Scott Hall, Brodie Lee/Luke Harper, and now the Iron Sheik (as well as anyone I've left off the list, forgive me, it is so long).
But Hogan is still alive. Just another brick in the wall of support for "worst possible timeline/we live in the stupidest future" theory.
I'm not an afterlife guy, but it would be nice to imagine Sheik screaming "FUCK HOGAN" from the heavens, and cackling like a madman.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:18 PM on June 7, 2023 [10 favorites]
But Hogan is still alive. Just another brick in the wall of support for "worst possible timeline/we live in the stupidest future" theory.
I'm not an afterlife guy, but it would be nice to imagine Sheik screaming "FUCK HOGAN" from the heavens, and cackling like a madman.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:18 PM on June 7, 2023 [10 favorites]
However, it's incorrect to say the industry requires steroids now.
There definitely was a steroid era, where they were widely used, but even WWE tests wrestlers* now, and has for years. You could actually see the effect of the ban on the physiques of the wrestlers when it went into effect. Very young Randy Orton, for example, was a musclebound, no-necked goon in the mold of all McMahon's favorites, and then a year later, he was, essentially, what he remained for years, an incredibly wiry, clearly muscled, but lean wrestler. Along with Orton, HHH and several other wrestlers at the time underwent significant changes to their physiques. I'm sure, if someone had the WWE Network/Peacock, and enough time, they could probably pinpoint the end of the steroid era pretty accurately, just by combing through the shows.
*There is a depressing loophole for this: part-time wrestlers (Brock Lesnar, The Rock, John Cena, and, in previous years, Batista, Undertaker, Kane, etc) are not subject to the same testing as full-time wrestling. On the other hand, it's pretty easy to spot who's using when they almost immediately suffer injuries associated with heavy steroid use (muscles ripping off the bone, for example) almost immediately after entering the ring.
Yes, I'm talking about the Rock.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:41 PM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
There definitely was a steroid era, where they were widely used, but even WWE tests wrestlers* now, and has for years. You could actually see the effect of the ban on the physiques of the wrestlers when it went into effect. Very young Randy Orton, for example, was a musclebound, no-necked goon in the mold of all McMahon's favorites, and then a year later, he was, essentially, what he remained for years, an incredibly wiry, clearly muscled, but lean wrestler. Along with Orton, HHH and several other wrestlers at the time underwent significant changes to their physiques. I'm sure, if someone had the WWE Network/Peacock, and enough time, they could probably pinpoint the end of the steroid era pretty accurately, just by combing through the shows.
*There is a depressing loophole for this: part-time wrestlers (Brock Lesnar, The Rock, John Cena, and, in previous years, Batista, Undertaker, Kane, etc) are not subject to the same testing as full-time wrestling. On the other hand, it's pretty easy to spot who's using when they almost immediately suffer injuries associated with heavy steroid use (muscles ripping off the bone, for example) almost immediately after entering the ring.
Yes, I'm talking about the Rock.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:41 PM on June 7, 2023 [2 favorites]
TAKE A MINUTE OF YOUR DAY TO BE NICE TO SOMEONE YOU DUMB SON OF A BITCH
Print this in flowing script on a piece of wood for sale in a Cracker Barrel gift shop and make millions.
posted by dr_dank at 4:22 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
Print this in flowing script on a piece of wood for sale in a Cracker Barrel gift shop and make millions.
posted by dr_dank at 4:22 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
HULK HOGAN YOU ARE WORSE THAN AN AIRPORT TUNA SANDWICH!
lol
posted by SoberHighland at 5:02 AM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
lol
posted by SoberHighland at 5:02 AM on June 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
Pat Robertson, the famed toxic TV evangelist and moral crusader has also passed.
I take pleasure in a mental image of Robertson waddling up to the Pearly Gates, expecting a hero's welcome, only to find a burly Iranian there grinning at him and declaring, "You got to get by ME FIRST, Bubba. Fuck the Hulk Hogan"
posted by delfin at 7:16 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
I take pleasure in a mental image of Robertson waddling up to the Pearly Gates, expecting a hero's welcome, only to find a burly Iranian there grinning at him and declaring, "You got to get by ME FIRST, Bubba. Fuck the Hulk Hogan"
posted by delfin at 7:16 AM on June 8, 2023 [6 favorites]
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posted by Smart Dalek at 8:24 AM on June 8, 2023
posted by Smart Dalek at 8:24 AM on June 8, 2023
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posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:13 PM on June 8, 2023
posted by Mutant Lobsters from Riverhead at 2:13 PM on June 8, 2023
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posted by saladin at 9:45 AM on June 7, 2023 [38 favorites]