"Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, widely recognized as the Iron Sheik, was an Iranian professional wrestler, amateur wrestler, and actor. He made history in 1983 by becoming the first and only Iranian to win the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, solidifying his place as a wrestling legend."
March 15, 1942: Birth of Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri
Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, later known as the Iron Sheik, was born on March 15, 1942.
1942: Early Life and Wrestling Inspiration
Born in Damghan, Iran, in 1942, Khosrow grew up idolizing Iranian Olympic wrestling champion Gholamreza Takhti.
1968: Wrestling Aspirations and Emigration
Khosrow competed for a spot on Iran's Olympic wrestling team in 1968 but emigrated to the United States after the mysterious death of his idol, Gholamreza Takhti.
1971: AAU Greco-Roman Wrestling Champion
In 1971, Khosrow's wrestling prowess earned him the AAU Greco-Roman wrestling championship title.
1972: Professional Wrestling Debut and Training
Khosrow began his professional wrestling training in 1972 at Verne Gagne's camp, where he trained alongside other notable wrestlers like Ric Flair.
1972: Coaching and Transition to Professional Wrestling
Khosrow served as an assistant coach for the US Olympic wrestling team in 1972 and received an invitation to become a professional wrestler under promoter Verne Gagne.
March 21, 1976: Marriage to Caryl Peterson
The Iron Sheik married Caryl Peterson on March 21, 1976, with "Mean" Gene Okerlund serving as the best man.
1978: The Great Hossein Arab and International Exposure
By 1978, Khosrow, wrestling as The Great Hossein Arab, had adopted his signature look and incorporated Persian clubs into his persona. He gained international exposure wrestling in Japan against stars like Steve Day and Antonio Inoki.
1979: WWF Debut and Madison Square Garden Victory
The Iron Sheik made his WWF debut in 1979 and achieved a significant victory by winning the first-ever Battle Royal in Madison Square Garden.
April 1980: Jim Crockett Promotions and "The Iron Sheik" Persona
Vaziri joined Jim Crockett Promotions in April 1980, initially wrestling as "Hussein Arab" before adopting "The Iron Sheik" persona, capitalizing on current events like the Iran hostage crisis.
May 1980: NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship Reign
The Iron Sheik's feud with Jim Brunzell in May 1980 resulted in his first NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship victory.
November 1980: Loss of NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship
After successfully defending his title against various opponents, The Iron Sheik lost the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship to Ricky Steamboat in November 1980.
1980: Feuds and Departure from WWF
After challenging Bob Backlund for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship, The Iron Sheik engaged in feuds with Chief Jay Strongbow and Bruno Sammartino before departing from the WWF in 1980.
February 1981: Feud with Blackjack Mulligan
February 1981 marked the beginning of The Iron Sheik's intense rivalry with Blackjack Mulligan, leading to a series of brutal matches, including cage matches and Texas street fights.
May 1981: Conclusion of Blackjack Mulligan Feud
The Iron Sheik's feud with Blackjack Mulligan concluded in May 1981.
July 1981: NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
The Iron Sheik unsuccessfully challenged Dusty Rhodes for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in July 1981.
August 1981: Departure from Jim Crockett Promotions
The Iron Sheik left Jim Crockett Promotions in August 1981.
September 1981: Joining Mid-South Wrestling
The Iron Sheik joined the Louisiana-based Mid-South Wrestling promotion in September 1981.
January 1982: Joining Championship Wrestling from Florida
In January 1982, The Iron Sheik joined Championship Wrestling from Florida.
January 1982: Departure from Mid-South Wrestling
The Iron Sheik's time with Mid-South Wrestling ended in January 1982.
February 1982: Departure from Championship Wrestling from Florida
The Iron Sheik's tenure with Championship Wrestling from Florida concluded at the end of February 1982.
July 1982: Return to Georgia Championship Wrestling
July 1982 marked The Iron Sheik's return to Georgia Championship Wrestling after an eight-year absence.
October 1982: Brief Returns to Mid-South Wrestling
The Iron Sheik made a few brief returns to Mid-South Wrestling in October 1982.
May 1983: NWA National Television Championship Victory
The Iron Sheik emerged victorious in a tournament for the vacant NWA National Television Championship in May 1983.
July 1983: Loss of NWA National Television Championship
The Iron Sheik's reign as NWA National Television Champion ended in July 1983 with a loss to Ronnie Garvin.
1983: Iron Sheik's Championship Win
The Iron Sheik made history in 1983 by becoming the first and only Iranian champion in WWE history when he won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship.
1983: WWF Championship Victory and Backlund Feud
The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF in 1983 and defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF World Heavyweight Championship on December 26th after exploiting a kayfabe neck injury Backlund sustained during a Persian club challenge.
January 21, 1984: Match against Tito Santana
On January 21, 1984, The Iron Sheik wrestled Tito Santana in a match at The Spectrum in Philadelphia that was later featured in WWE's Legends of Wrestling 3 compilation.
1986: Management Change and WrestleMania 2 Participation
As part of a storyline in 1986, Fred Blassie sold The Iron Sheik's contract to Slick. The Iron Sheik participated in the 20-man invitational Battle Royal at WrestleMania 2.
May 1987: Drug Scandal and Release from WWF
In May 1987, The Iron Sheik was arrested alongside "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan for drug possession. The incident, which involved marijuana and cocaine, occurred during a traffic stop while they were en route to a WWF event. This led to the end of their ongoing feud and Sheik's release from the WWF.
October 1987: Departure from WWF
After a brief stint wrestling in house shows following his drug arrest, The Iron Sheik left the WWF in October 1987.
1987: Stints in Various Promotions
Following his release from WWF, The Iron Sheik had short-lived runs with WCCW, AWA, and WWC in 1987. He notably feuded with Matt Borne, Sgt. Slaughter, and Tony Atlas during this period.
February 18, 1988: Return to WWF
The Iron Sheik made his return to the WWF on February 18, 1988, defeating S.D. Jones at a house show in New Jersey. He continued to wrestle in house shows for the next couple of months.
February 25, 1989: WCW Debut and Challenge to Ricky Steamboat
The Iron Sheik made a surprise appearance at a WCW television taping on February 25, 1989, immediately challenging Ricky Steamboat upon his arrival.
August 1989: Alliance with Ron Simmons
In August 1989, The Iron Sheik formed a short-lived partnership with Ron Simmons in WCW, even acting as his manager for a brief period.
January 1990: End of Initial WCW Run
The Iron Sheik's initial run with WCW concluded in January 1990 after a series of house show matches against Norman.
1990: Return to WCW Under Ole Anderson
After a seven-month absence, The Iron Sheik returned to WCW following Ole Anderson's appointment as head booker. He competed in a series of matches throughout the remainder of the year.
January 26, 1991: Departure from WCW
The Iron Sheik's final match during his second stint in WCW was against the Junkyard Dog on January 26, 1991, in Columbia, South Carolina. He left the company shortly after.
March 11, 1991: Return as Colonel Mustafa
The Iron Sheik rejoined the WWF on March 11, 1991, this time adopting the persona of Colonel Mustafa. He aligned himself with Sgt. Slaughter and General Adnan, becoming an Iraqi sympathizer during the Gulf War.
May 19, 1992: Departure from WWF
After competing in the 1992 Royal Rumble and wrestling a series of matches as a lower mid-carder, Colonel Mustafa's final match with the WWF took place on May 19, 1992, where he defeated Reno Riggins. He left the company following the match.
1996: Return to WWF as Manager
In 1996, The Iron Sheik made another return to the WWF, this time managing The Sultan, a wrestler with a similar Middle Eastern gimmick. He briefly co-managed Tiger Ali Singh alongside his father, Tiger Jeet Singh.
December 1997: Managerial Role and Release
The Iron Sheik returned to the WWF in late 1996, taking on a managerial role for The Sultan. He continued in this capacity until December 1997 when he was released after failing a drug test.
April 1, 2001: Gimmick Battle Royal Win at WrestleMania X-Seven
The Iron Sheik participated in the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania X-Seven on April 1, 2001. He won the match, last eliminating Hillbilly Jim, and received a positive response from the crowd, despite his villainous persona.
May 2003: Daughter's Murder
Tragedy struck The Iron Sheik's family in May 2003 when his eldest daughter, Marissa Jeanne Vaziri, was murdered by her boyfriend, Charles Warren Reynolds.
2005: Film Debut
The Iron Sheik made his film debut in "The Tale of the 3 Mohammads" in 2005.
2005: Family Intervention and Rehabilitation
In 2005, concerned for his well-being, The Iron Sheik's family intervened and urged him to enter rehabilitation for drug addiction.
2005: WWE Hall of Fame Induction
In 2005, The Iron Sheik was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame by his longtime rival and former tag team partner, Sgt. Slaughter.
June 11, 2007: Appearance on Raw
On June 11, 2007, The Iron Sheik appeared on Raw alongside Jimmy Snuka in a segment expressing gratitude towards WWE owner Vince McMahon.
2007: Separation and Continued Struggles
After multiple attempts to help The Iron Sheik overcome his drug addiction, his wife Peterson left him in 2007.
2008: Initial Documentary Plans
The Iron Sheik's documentary, initially titled "Iron Sheik: From A to Z," was originally intended for release in 2008.
2009: Appearance in Maz Jobrani's Comedy Special
The Iron Sheik made a guest appearance in Maz Jobrani's 2009 stand-up comedy special, "Brown & Friendly".
April 24, 2010: Final Match
The Iron Sheik's last match took place on April 24, 2010, at a Millennium Wrestling Federation event in Melrose, Massachusetts. He teamed with Jay Lethal and Paul Bearer to defeat Dylan Kage in a handicap match.
2011: Appearance in "Operation Belvis Bash"
In 2011, The Iron Sheik appeared alongside Daniel Baldwin and Corey Feldman in the film "Operation Belvis Bash".
August 2013: Documentary Funding Secured
In August 2013, The Iron Sheik's managers successfully crowdfunded over $40,000 to produce a documentary about his life.
2013: Claims of Sobriety
In 2013, The Iron Sheik publicly stated that he had been sober and off cocaine for four years.
2014: Documentary Release
A documentary chronicling The Iron Sheik's life, titled "The Sheik," was released in 2014.
2014: Documentary Release: "The Sheik"
The documentary about The Iron Sheik, ultimately titled "The Sheik," was released in 2014.
May 31, 2016: Death of Daughter's Killer
Charles Warren Reynolds, the man convicted of murdering The Iron Sheik's daughter, Marissa, in 2003, died in prison on May 31, 2016.
June 7, 2023: Death of the Iron Sheik
The Iron Sheik, born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, passed away on June 7, 2023.