The Iron Sheik, Wrestling Legend, Dies at 81
Legendary wrestler. Currently making the afterlife humble.
The Iron Sheik, one of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures and personalities, has died. He was 81.
Prolific on Twitter for years, his death was confirmed via the social media platform and a RESPECT THE LEGEND FOREVER 😢 pic.twitter.com/Cr6CC9pXSO
— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) June 7, 2023" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lengthy statement and tribute. The statement reads, in part, “Beyond the wrestling persona that that world knew so well, The Iron Sheik was a devoted family man. He cherished the love and support of his wife of 47 years, Caryl, who stood by his side through thick and thin, offering unwavering encouragement throughout his life.”
Born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, The Iron Sheik wrestled in countless promotions, including the WWF/E, Jim Crockett Promotions, Mid-South Wrestling, Georgia Championship Wrestling and World Championship Wrestling. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
The Iron Sheik is survived by his wife, Caryl, three children and five grandchildren.
Celebrity Deaths 2023: Musicians, Entertainers & Cultural Figures We Lost
We’ve had to say goodbye to some big names this year in the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and beyond. To be frank, it was an absolutely brutal year.
So many giants in music died in 2023. Guitar god Jeff Beck died suddenly in January at age 78 after contracting bacterial meningitis. In February, legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach died at age 94. Singer, actor and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte died in April at age 96 from congestive heart failure. In May, the world lost Tina Turner – the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll – at age 83. Iconic pop singer Tony Bennett died in July at age 96.
The worlds of television and film were not immune to significant loss in 2023. Sitcom mastermind Norman Lear died in December at age 101. Three’s Company star Suzanne Somers died in October at age 76 from an aggressive form of breast cancer. Matthew Perry also died in October. The Friends star was only 54. Bob Barker, longtime host of The Price is Right, died in August at age 99. Paul Reubens, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman, died in July at age 70 following a private battle with cancer.
The sports world was rocked by the deaths of three major wrestling figures. In June, The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) died at age 81. Then, in August, there were two back-to-back deaths. First, WWE Hall of Famer Terry Funk died at age 79. Funk’s hardcore style has been influential to generations of wrestlers that followed. Then, Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) suddenly died at age 36. The young wrestler died after contracting COVID, which exacerbated a heart issue and led to a heart attack.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we’ve lost in 2023.
Erica Banas is a news blogger who's been covering the rock/classic rock world since 2014. The coolest event she's ever covered in person was the 2021 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. (Sir Paul McCartney inducting Foo Fighters? C'mon now!) She's also well-versed in etiquette and extraordinarily nice. #TransRightsAreHumanRights
