WWE Champion 'The Iron Sheik' dies at 81

The Iron Sheikh, a star of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) who was famous for his on-stage rivalry with Hulk Hogan, passed away at the age of 81. Khosrow Vaziri, a professional wrestler of Iranian descent, captured the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983. He became well-known in the world of professional wrestling by playing a villain opposite Hulk Hogan, which helped establish their reputation there.

His passing was announced via a tweet that read: "Today, we gather with heavy hearts to bid farewell to a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling. It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of The Iron Sheik, but we also take solace in knowing that he departed this world peacefully, leaving behind a legacy that will endure for generations to come."

‘Brought his character to life and transcended our business’ – Triple H on The Iron Sheik

It gave no information regarding Vaziri's cause of death. Having been wed to his wife Caryl for 47 years, he was said to be a "devoted family man". Tanya, Nikki, and Marissa were the couple's three children, and they also had five grandkids.

Athletes and celebrities, such as Triple H, the chief content officer of WWE and a 14-time world wrestling champion, paid tribute to the legend. He called Vaziri a "legend" and said, "An all-time great performer and WWE Hall of Famer who brought his character to life and transcended our business. My condolences to The Iron Sheik's family, friends, and fans."

WWE expressed its "sadness" at the news and its condolences to his family, friends, and followers. Vaziri acquired a sizable social media following after quitting wrestling; she currently has 645,000 followers on Twitter alone. The Sheikh, an Apple TV documentary from 2014, examined his career as well as how he began as a gifted Iranian wrestler who later established himself in the US as a professional wrestler.