The Wrestlemania Thread - 'It's Real Damn It!'

[MrBarlow]

WWE Hall of Famer and professional wrestling legend The Iron Sheik has died at the age of 81, according to a statement posted on his Twitter account on Wednesday.

In the statement, The Iron Sheik was called a "cultural phenomenon" and "pop culture icon" who transcended the world of pro wrestling

The Iron Sheik starred in WWE throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, holding the WWE World Heavyweight Championship and WWE Tag Team Championship one time each before getting inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.

Born in Iran in 1942 as Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, Sheik trained as an amateur wrestler and attempted to qualify for the 1968 Olympics before moving to the United States and serving as an assistant coach for the United States wrestling team at the 1972 Olympics.

Sheik broke into the world of professional wrestling in 1972 in the Minnesota-based AWA, and he received his first opportunity with WWE in 1979.

In 1983, Sheik joined WWE on a full-time basis and beat Bob Backlund for the WWE Championship on Dec. 26, 1983, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, ending Backlund's reign of 2,135 days, which is the second-longest in the history of the WWE title.

Just 28 days later, Sheik dropped the WWE Championship to Hulk Hogan, marking the beginning of Hulkamania and one of the most success eras in WWE's history.

While Sheik would never win another singles title in WWE, he was involved in the first title change in WrestleMania history, as he and Nikolai Volkoff beat Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo of The U.S. Express for the WWE Tag Team Championships at the inaugural WrestleMania in 1985.

After departing WWE near the end of the decade, Sheik returned in 1991 under the name Colonel Mustafa, forming an alliance with General Adnan and Sgt. Slaughter, who had recently turned heel due to his storyline sympathy for Iraq during the Gulf War.

Slaughter held the WWE Championship during that time before dropping it to Hogan at WrestleMania 7. A few months later at SummerSlam 1991, Sheik teamed with Slaughter and Adnan in a losing effort against Hogan and The Ultimate Warrior in the main event.

Sheik left WWE again in 1992, and his in-ring career began to wind down considerably. However, in what would prove to be one of his final matches, he won the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17 in 2001.

In more recent years, Sheik became known for his social media presence, as his Twitter account garnered over 600,000 followers.

Sheik's account became an internet sensation due to its unique musings, profane language and disdain for Hogan, the man who beat him for the WWE Championship.

[Susan Foreman]

One of the best heels there was

His feuds with Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter were legendary

[MrBarlow]

Originally Posted by Susan Foreman

One of the best heels there was

His feuds with Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter were legendary

Can't remember who told the story could have been Hogan so it may be fabricated, Sheik was pulled over and police found a large quantity of drugs, he posed with the policemen for a photo smiling and giving a big thumb up while the police were holding the bag. Also he was known to do a hand stand in the locker room and snort cocaine.

[Susan Foreman]

The Iron Sheik tweets about Hogan

[MrBarlow]

Dark Side Of The Ring. Shattered: Magnum T.A. Story.

Terry Allen best known for Jim Crockett wrestling Magnum T.A. was the best baby face and done the same for Jim Crockett as what Hulk Hogan done for Vince, bring in the crowd. He had legendary fewd with Nikita Koloff. One rainy night he crashed his car and was left paralysed. I can honestly say I have never heard of him, but to hear people speak about him, you can tell he was loved by fans and those in the locker room. This was a heart warming and inspirational episode, hearing Terry speak about overcoming the odds is amazing.

[MrBarlow]

30 years ago Wrestlemainia IX was held at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas, Nevada and the first for a WWF event to be held outdoors, the event was attended by 16,891 fans.

Lex Luger said he was so relaxed backstage before his WrestleMania debut match against Mr. Perfect, knowing Perfect's ability to lead his opponent through a match. Unbeknownst to Luger, Perfect decided to play a rib on Lex. Thirty seconds into the match, Perfect appeared to be panicked, telling Luger he was "blanking out" and had forgotten what they were supposed to do. Lex then had to call the match on the fly, trying to remember bits and pieces of what they had discussed earlier. Lex later said that if it was a rib, then Perfect deserved a Golden Globe for his acting performance, because Perfect apologised profusely backstage and seemed so sincere in his apology after the match.

One of the most comical moments at the start of the event was Bobby Heenan riding backwards on a camel on his way to ringside.

[MrBarlow]

Dark Side Of The Ring: The Graham Dynasty.

Eddie Graham ran a successful wrestling company Championship Wrestling From Florida that he joined as a wrestler and then became owner with his son Mike and had wrestlers Andre The Giant, Magnum T.A., B. Brian Blair, Kevin Sullivan and Dusty Rhodes. At 55 years old Eddie committed suicide leaving Mike with the company who had problems keeping it afloat and succumbed to suicide at a early age. Nicole Gossett who is Mike's daughter gives a insight into the family and how 5 generations of the male side died due to self inflicting and how there is a shrine at the building where her family wrestled.

If you are thinking about suicide or know someone who has thoughts of suicide,contact The Samaritans 24/7 on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.

[MrBarlow]

Dark Side Of The Ring: What Happened To Doing The Clown?

A insight to Matt Bourne, who started his wrestling career in the independent circuit and joined a wrestling company forming The Rat Pack team with Ted Dibiase and Jim Duggan and heading to WWF and being fired to join WCW. After leaving WCW, Vince brought him back and both of them created Doink The Clown. Matt had substance and alcohol problems that caused two of his marriages to fail and spousal abuse but also a brawler outside the ring and his death at 55 years old would lead his family to believe it was a homicide case and not accidental. Contributions from Mick Foley, B. Brian Blair, Tom Pritchard, Michelle James, Maria Stanley, Connie Cook and Matt's daughter Teagan

[MrBarlow]

Dark Side Of The Ring: Junk Yard Dog.

Sylvester Rattery better known as Junkyard Dog was a professional footballer who joined Southwest wrestling under Bill Watts, even though he wasn't a wrestler he drew in the crowds and started using drugs. After leaving Bill Watts and joining WWF he never had the big star light he was fired and joined WCW which was owned by Bill Watts. After leaving WCW he joined the independent circuit while working at Walmart to his untimely death.

This was interesting to know that he never got much wrestling training yet other wrestlers were able to work around him and compliment his style as a brawler. Contributions from Koko B. Ware, Ted Dibiase, Tony Atlas, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Jim Cornett, Teddy Long, Jim Ross and Jarvis Woodburn Jr (JYD's nephew)

This episode is available on YouTube. It has been leaked that the next episode may be about Adrian Adonis.

[Susan Foreman]

Ouch!

A 60 year old Sting botches a table spot during the latest episode of AEW Dynamite

The incident starts at 2:00