THE IRON SHEIK: Wrestling Legend Dead at 81

Fans of pro wrestling are mourning the loss of WWE legend The Iron Sheik, who passed away today at the age of 81.

His family announced his passing in a lengthy tribute posted to Twitter calling him "a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling." 

The Iron Sheik was born Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri in Iran and became a huge star in the '80s as a villain with a pro-Iran, anti-America storyline. He was the WWF champion in 1983 and was a frequent rival of Hulk Hogan and Sgt. Slaughter. In 2005, he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Outside the ring, he was known as a family man. He was married for 47 years and had three daughters and five grandchildren. (Bleacher Report)