The Iron Sheik passed away on June 7. Leaving behind a remarkable career and countless memories, the former WWE Champion’s cause of death has now been revealed as cardiac arrest.
Details of The Iron Sheik’s death have been revealed, According to TMZ, his death certificate states that he died a natural death due to heart failure, which was the result of his long-standing battle with congestive heart failure and hypertension.
Born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, Sheik began his wrestling journey as an amateur wrestler and bodyguard for Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in his native Iran. However, he fled the country in the early 1970s and found his way to Verne Gagne’s American Wrestling Association, where he started his professional wrestling career.
In the late 1970s, Sheik joined the WWE and quickly became a prominent figure in the company. He held the prestigious WWE Championship and also won the WWE Tag Team Championship during his tenure.
During the early 1990s, Sheik made a brief stint in World Championship Wrestling before returning to WWE as Col. Mustafa. He managed the controversial American turncoat Sgt. Slaughter during his WWE Championship run.
What Did The Iron Sheik Do After Wrestling?
After an illustrious career, The Iron Sheik officially retired from wrestling in 2010. In recognition of his contributions to the industry, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Aside from his wrestling accomplishments, Sheik gained notoriety in the digital age. A Twitter account run by his managers became famous for its vulgar tweets against fellow wrestler Hulk Hogan, turning Sheik into a meme figure.
The wrestling community, as well as fans worldwide, mourn the loss of The Iron Sheik. Sheik will always be remembered as one of the greatest characters of his generation, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the hearts of fans everywhere.