What is the Iron Sheik’s Net Worth?
The Iron Sheik is a retired Iranian wrestler and actor with a net worth of $500,000. He was a successful heel in the 80s and won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983, famously feuding with Hulk Hogan. He later teamed up with Nikolai Volkoff and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Outside of wrestling, the Iron Sheik appeared on “The Howard Stern Show” and gained a following. He struggled with substance abuse and suffered the tragic loss of his daughter, who was murdered by her boyfriend in 2003 at the age of 27.
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri: Early Life and Wrestling Career
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, popularly known as Iron Sheik, was born in Damghan, Iran on March 15th, 1942. However, there are inconsistencies with his birth certificate, and Vaziri himself is unsure of his exact birthplace due to his parents’ frequent moves between Afghanistan and Iran. Vaziri was inspired by Olympic wrestler Gholamreza Takhti at an early age and became an amateur wrestler in Iran. He later worked as a bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
Vaziri attempted to join Iran’s national Greco-Roman wrestling team for the 1968 Olympics but did not make the cut. He relocated to the United States in the 70s and worked as an assistant coach for two U.S. Olympic squads. Vaziri also continued to compete and won the gold medal at the Amateur Athletic Union Greco-Roman Wrestling Championships in 1971.
The Iron Sheik’s Wrestling Career
The Iron Sheik, real name Khosrow Vaziri, began his wrestling career in the early 70s with Verne Gagne and the American Wrestling Association. He developed his villainous persona based on the Sheik and changed his stage name to “The Great Hossein Arab.” In 1979, he joined the World Wrestling Federation and changed his name to “The Iron Sheik.” He won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983 by defeating Bob Backlund, but lost it to Hulk Hogan in 1984.
The Sheik teamed up with Nikolai Volkoff to form a villainous tag team in the mid-80s, often provoking the crowd by insulting the United States. His career took a downturn when he was caught with cocaine in his car during a traffic stop. He took a brief hiatus from the WWF but returned in 1988 and again in 1992. He made sporadic appearances in the WWF from 1996 onwards and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 2005.
During his later years, The Iron Sheik became known for his hatred-fueled rants on social media, particularly against his arch-enemy Hulk Hogan. He has made multiple appearances on “The Howard Stern Show” and has remained relevant long after the end of his wrestling career.
Family Tragedy for Iron Sheik
In 1976, Iron Sheik, whose real name is Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, married Caryl J. Peterson. The couple had three daughters. Sadly, their eldest daughter was murdered, bringing tragedy to the family.
Iron Sheik’s Daughter’s Murder and Revenge Plot
Iron Sheik’s oldest daughter was murdered by her boyfriend when she was 27, and he had the intention of killing the guilty man by putting a razor blade in his cheek during the murder trial. He fought off several court officers and managed to reach the killer but was pulled away by his family before he could carry out the revenge killing.
Iron Sheik’s Struggle with Drug Addiction
The Sheik began using drugs during his time as a professional wrestler in the US. He started with marijuana before moving on to harder drugs like cocaine and crack.
After his daughter’s death, he attempted to quit cold turkey but eventually relapsed. It took multiple tries before he was finally able to overcome his addiction and achieve sobriety.
You May Also Like
ncG1vNJzZmiopaG9ta3SraCcZpOkunC10ailZquYmrasec2eq2avn6fBqXs%3D