By Mark Gray
8:30pm PDT, Jul 25, 2023
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Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri — pro wrestling icon The Iron Sheik — died on June 7, 2023, from cardiac arrest. A death certificate released on July 19 revealed that he also suffered from congestive heart failure as well as hypertension before he died at 81. His death was ruled "natural." The Sheik was born in Iran and became a huge personality in the then-WWF in the '80s — he was one of Hulk Hogan's fiercest rivals and one of the sports most prominent "heels." Decades later, he went on to become quite popular on Twitter. Dwayne Johnson even mourned the loss of "Uncle Sheiky" and detailed how one the late star's popular catchphrases is now in the lexicon. Many in the pro wrestling and entertainment worlds have publicly mourned him.
Keep reading to see their reactions…
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"When I first came into the WWE, The Iron Sheik had pulled me aside because he was family. He said, 'Bubba, let me tell you something. You come into the locker room, you sit down, you shut your mouth, you don't say anything, and you watch and you learn. And then you understand who the good people and who the jabronis,'" Dwayne Johnson said in a Twitter video. "A couple years later when I became The Rock I borrowed the term jabroni… I used that term and jabroni became a term in lexicon. I believe it's in the Webster's Dictionary now and they give me credit. No, no, no. The truth is all the credit goes to The Iron Sheik. That was his word… Thank you, Iron Sheik, for the memories. You are a legend. You will be missed, but never forgotten." In his caption, Dwayne wrote, "Rest in Power, Uncle Sheiky. Thank you for paving the way."
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"Today, we honor the legacy of a wrestling icon. Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. The wrestling world has lost a true legend, and Sheikh's contributions to our industry will never be forgotten. I'll always cherish the battles we had in the ring. Our matches were intense, and our rivalry was legendary. We shared a bond that only fellow wrestlers can understand. Iron Sheikh's unique charisma, undeniable talent, and unforgettable personality made him an unforgettable figure in the hearts of wrestling fans worldwide. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of wrestlers to come. Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. You will always be remembered as a true warrior of the ring." –Hulk Hogan
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"Will never forget when @therealironsheik checked in at the start of the pandemic. Rest in peace, and much love to his family. RESPECT THE LEGEND FOREVER" —Ken Jeong, who attached a screenshot of a conversation he had with the late wrestler
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"The legend. 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." –Paul Levesque, aka Triple H
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"NOTHING BUT LOVE AND RESPECT to the Iron Sheik. The wrestling world has lost an icon and a very special person." —"Total Divas" alum Natalya Neidhart
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"IM VERY SAD 2 REPORT A #LEGEND ACTOR, & FRIEND HAS PASSED AWAY! PRO WRESTLING LEGEND/ TWITTER FLAMING LEGEND #THEIRONSHIEK HAS PASSED! HE & I WORKED ON #THEGOONIES MUSIC VIDS & A VERY FUNNY INDEPENDENT MOVIE WE SHOT 2GETHER IN 2007. #RIPIRONSHIEK" — Corey Feldman
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"RIP to my old friend The Iron Sheik. A true icon and someone who left a mark on wrestling that can never be erased. Another great one gone." —Jake "The Snake" Roberts
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"We lost another true icon today. The Iron Sheik. I loved the Shiek and have many amazing memories of our time together going back over 30 years. I even ran into him on the streets of NYC just drinking a beer with Arthur after leaving Dee Snider's podcast. Sheik was the most imitated wrestler beside The Macho Man. Everybody loved him. You will be missed my brother, but never forgotten." –Diamond Dallas Page
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"Long live the King. His mastery in the ring was only surpassed by his greatness here on twitter. He will be missed. May he be holding the infinite camel clutch." –Ethan Embry
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"The wrestling world lost a true legend today, with the passing of Khosrow Vaziri, better known to fans across the globe as The Iron Sheik. Although I never got to know The Sheik well, I was fortunate to have been on hand for two of his most iconic matches – his WWE title victory over Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden on December 26, 1983 and his 'Boot Camp Match' with Sgt Slaughter at MSG in August, 1984. I also had the honor of wrestling the iron sheik for the first and only time – on a tour of Dominica in 1987. Khosrow Vaziri was truly one of a kind. I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those who loved him." –Mick Foley
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"I was sad to hear @the_ironsheik passed away. He had an amazing impact on many throughout the world. Sheik and I enjoyed blasting each other publicly. All in fun. He was a man with an incredible personality. Gonna miss you Sheiky Baby! #itstrue" –Kurt Angle
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"Forever respect- rest in power" –Seth Green
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"God bless him. He's finally gonna see his daughter that he lost. Love you Sheik. Love you forever." — Sargeant Slaughter via TMZ
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"Iron Sheik had a huge influence in my career. Back in FCW ( WWE DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEM )DAYS I had no idea about speaking on the microphone. then i went and studied his ability and that's where things started to turn. Legit wrestler, pro wrestler and amazing entertainer. RIP" — "Total Divas" alum Miroslav Petrov Barnyashev, aka Miro and Rusev
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"My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of @the_ironsheik. He is one of the very best to ever to do it. God speed." –Booker T
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"'Love you forever Bubba' Rest in Power to the Mighty Iron Sheik. My sincerest condolences to his family." —Samoa Joe
