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Judyth Piazza Gets Up Close and Personal with "The Iron Sheik" WWF

By Judyth Piazza  

With Nikolai Volkoff, won the WWF Tag Team Championships from Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo at the first WrestleMania, March 31, 1985 at Madison Square Garden. Lost the titles less than three months later to Windham and Rotundo.

Leon (Producer)

Defeated Bob Backlund to win the WWF World Championship on Dec. 26, 1983, in Madison Square Garden, New York; Backlund (who had earlier injured his back, thanks to the Iron Sheik, on "WWF Championship Wrestling" a week earlier) was trapped in the camel clutch; Backlund's manager, Arnold Skaaland, threw in a towel and had the match stopped.

The Iron Sheik defended his title four times, with his best defense (according to Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine) coming against Chief Jay Strongbow in Pittsburgh, Pa. On Jan. 14, 1984, wrestled Tito Santana to a double-disqualification at the Philadelphia (Pa.) Spectrum in his only other high-profile title defense.

Though a superb amateur wrestler, in reality served as a transitional champion, losing his WWF title to the man who was destined for the gold all along, Hulk Hogan. His match against Hogan, on Jan. 23, 1984 at Madison Square Garden in New York, lasted less than six minutes; the Iron Sheik was only able to mount a brief offense, but there was no stopping Hogan on this night. The Iron Sheik would lose a series of rematches to Hogan.

Wrestled in the "Gimmick Battle Royal" at Wrestlemania X-7, which he won

Wrestled in the main event of Summerslam 1991, teaming up with Sgt Slaughter and General Adnan to face Hulk Hogan and Ultimate Warrior in a handicap match

The Iron Sheik has trained Ricky Steamboat, Buck Zumhoff, Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne and has also had a hand in training Bret Hart.

Notable Title Wins Include: PNW Tag Team titles; NWA British Empire Commonwealth Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight title; NWA Pacific Northwest Tag Team titles; NWA Canadian Heavyweight title (2); NWA Canadian Tag Team titles; NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight title; NWA National Television title; WWF World Heavyweight title; WWF Tag Team titles w/Nikolai Volkoff

2005 inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame

His professional wrestling persona was inspired by Edward Farhat's character, The Sheik, who was regarded as one of professional wrestling's greatest, and therefore, most successful villains. His ring attire included wrestling boots with curled up toes like The Sheik's, and even used The Sheik's famous finishing hold, "The Camel Clutch." For his ring moniker he called himself "The Iron Sheik." Unlike other such ethnic "heels," he was actually from his alleged origin, Iran.

Mr. Vaziri was also part of Reza Pahvlavi, the former Shah of Iran's personal bodyguard staff.

Source: U.S. Department of State
Source: The Student Operated Press

judythpiazza@gmail.com