How The Iron Sheik Changed Professional Wrestling Forever
2023-06-07
- He was the first true heel - Before The Iron Sheik, wrestling was filled with good guys who were cheered and bad guys who were booed. The Iron Sheik changed that by being the first wrestler to truly embrace the role of heel. He would berate and insult the crowd, and then get what he wanted through cheating and underhanded tactics.
- He was the first foreign heel - At a time when foreign wrestlers were seen as outsiders, The Iron Sheik embraced his Iranian heritage and used it to full effect. He would use his foreign persona to gain heat from the crowd, and was the first wrestler to use this tactic to such great results.
- He was the first to use the camel clutch - The Iron Sheik’s signature move was the camel clutch, a move that he perfected and made famous. It has since become a staple of wrestling, and is used by many wrestlers today.
- He helped create the Rock ’n’ Wrestling Connection - In the mid-1980s, The Iron Sheik was involved in a feud with Hulk Hogan that helped launch the Rock ’n’ Wrestling Connection. The feud between the two wrestlers brought professional wrestling into the mainstream and changed the industry forever.
- He was an inspiration to many wrestlers - The Iron Sheik’s influence can be seen in the work of many wrestlers today. He was an inspiration to wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and John Cena, who all cite him as an influence.
Category: Deaths | Topic: The Iron Sheik | @Wikipedia
