Posted on 04/23/2005 9:41:10 AM PDT by freedom44
It was quite a weekend for The Iron Sheik as he joined the WWE in going Hollywood! Saturday night, he was officially inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall Of Fame at the Universal Ampitheatre in Hollywood, CA. He was introduced by "Mene" Gene Okerlund and inducted by former rival and later tag team partner Sgt. Slaughter. The Sheik spoke of his days in Iran, his amatuer wrestling background, Verne Gagne offering him $100,000 to break Hulk Hogan's leg instead of dropping the WWF World Championship to him and more. Unlike the 2004 Hall of Fame inductions, there were time constraints this year. The Sheik's music played, but he went back to the podium to say a little more. His music was cued again but he joined "Mene" Gene at the podium once again to thank the fans for everything they've done for him. During the portion of the ceremony that aired on Spike TV, the fans started an "Iron Sheik, Iron Sheik" chant during the first commercial break, which led to them calling out other wrestlers in the crowd one by one. Fellow inductees were "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Nikolai Volkoff, "Mr. Wonderful" Paul Orndorff, Jimmy Hart, "Rowdy" Roddy Piper and Hulk Hogan. During Hogan's induction, interesting enough, neither the Sheik or Piper applauded or stood. To find out the Sheik's true, no holds barred feelings on those inducted with him and many others, check out his first of it's kind Studio Shoot Interview! Ask anyone that has it if it's worth the price and then some!
The following day at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA, The Iron Sheik joined his fellow inductees being introduced to the crowd prior to the Batista vs Triple H match at WrestleMania 21. This was the Sheik's fifth appearance at a WrestleMania (he wrestled at WrestleMania's I, II, III and X7).
His induction into the Hall of Fame was almost scuttled with Sen. George Voinivich claimed he was "uncomfortable" about the Iron Sheik's propensity to chase opponents around the ring, throwing chairs.
Hogan is scheduled to brawl here in Manchester NH - could it be vs the Sheik?
Groovy, but is Sgt. Slaughter in, too? I used to love Mean Gene Okerlund. That guy was a genius. I loved his interviews. The way he would feign shock and horror when Roddy Piper or Paul Orndorf or someone would say something outrageous. I think he used to call matches with Jesse Ventura. I liked the interviews better than the matches. Piper's Pit was cool. This was before Macho Man and all of that. The original Hulkamania was runnin' wild back then. Junkyard Dog, Superfly Snooka, managers like Mr. Fuji, Ron Hart. I had a buddy whose dad worked for the NJ turnpike or something, and supposedly he saw the Iron Shiek and Sgt. Slaughter riding together in a limo to a match.
Jimmy Hart. I just saw that all those guys I mentioned are up there. Some of em, anyway. Orndorf's move was the piledriver. He'd say "I'm gonna pick him up and drop him on his head," and Okerlund would be shocked and offended. No gimmicks or special look. He was actually in good shape, as I recall. Not a big load like some of em.
I vote for Cock-eyed Ivan Putski, never made it to WWF/WWE though.
Billy Joel there looks jazzed.
Cool picture of the Pope on your personal page.
Is Andre the Giant in the Hall of Fame?? What a monster. He'd have made the current Giant...Big Show...look like a midget. I remember when I was in the Limousine business and Andre booked a car to go downtown. The driver opened the street side door for him so without the curb he'd have the extra room to exit. With the door opened into the street the traffic had to stop. The first driver in line was Very Mad and began to lay on his horn...Until Andre crawled out of the back of the limo. There he stood 7'4" 600 lbs looking down at the now very quiet, formerly angry horn honker who was trying to hide under his dash. The limo driver that day was a good sized man. Six feet, 200 lbs. He said when he shook hands with Andre he felt like his hand belonged to a 3 yr old. He described the man's fingers as the size of polish sausages and his heart as that of a gentle giant.
I've seen the Iron Sheik wrestle many times. One time in particular I recall was a grudge match against "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan at the Asbury Park, NJ, Convention Hall about 15 years ago. The two were "bitter enemies" at the time. Little did I know that earlier in the day, Duggan and the Sheik were riding together on the Garden State Parkway when they got busted for DUI. (A cop spotted Duggan, who was driving, taking a swig from a can of beer as they passed the officer's cruiser).
Is that Nikolai Volkov?
The Iron Sheik sounds like an interesting guy. Former olympic wrestler, former bodyguard for the shah and an interesting pro wrestler. Both Mick Foley and Ric Flair had complimentary words for him in their books, although Flair did talk about how Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson mistreated them in training.
My favorite pro-wrestler.
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
Iran#1!!! Iran#1!!!
USA.... ahhhhhhh pooooooooooooey!!!!
Has to be a lie. The Iron Sheik and Sgt. Slaughter are mortal enemies.
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