The Death Of WWE Legend The Iron Sheik

Wrestling champ and WWE star The Iron Sheik has died. On June 7, his camp shared on Twitter, "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." He has left behind his wife Caryl Vaziri, whom he was married to for 47 years. Together, they shared three children, Marissa, Tanya, and Nikki Vaziri. "He was a loving and dedicated father. He instilled in them the values of perseverance, determination, and the importance of following their dreams," the statement continued.

The wrestler, whose name is Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, was 81 years old. The cause of his death has not been reported as of yet. WWE honored The Iron Sheik with a tweet. "WWE is saddened to learn that Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, known the world over as WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, at age 81. WWE extends its condolences to The Iron Sheik's family, friends and fans."

The Iron Sheik had been wrestling for most of his life. The World Heavyweight Championship title holder began his professional career in 1968 by competing in the Olympics. During the course of his life, he became addicted to crack cocaine, and over time, his body suffered through the stress of his physically demanding occupation. Back in 2013, his wife Caryl Vaziri told Yahoo! Sports, "He's in such great pain, almost all the time. He had operations on both of his knees about 10 years ago, and they failed. He hurts everywhere, but the knees are really painful. He told me, 'Caryl, I hurt from the top of my head to the bottom of my toes.'"

During a particularly drug-heavy year in 2005, The Iron Sheik had a heart attack, per Bleacher Report. This came at the heels of his daughter Marissa's death in 2003. Having had enough, Caryl shared, "I up and moved out on him. I could no longer beg him to quit. We had lost our daughter. We were all sad and depressed. But enough was enough." Since then, The Iron Sheik became sober from drugs. "It was pretty hard. But I don't miss it anymore," he stated. The pro wrestler's last match was in 2010. His career earned him a spot in the WWE Hall of Fame and the NWA Hall of Fame. He was truly a legend in the sport of wrestling and will be missed by many.