Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Iron Sheik to enter Tragos/Thesz Hall of Fame
WATERLOO, Iowa—One of professional wrestling’s most iconic figures will be inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame. The Iron Sheik will be inducted into the 2016 George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame during induction weekend on July 21-23.
Khosrow Vaziri (The Iron Sheik) was trained by Verne Gagne in 1972. He went on to win the WWF World Heavyweight championship in 1983 from fellow 2016 Hall of Fame inductee Bob Backlund.
Iron Sheik lost the title to Hulk Hogan in one of the most iconic matches in wrestling history. He would go on to win WWF Tag Team titles at the first Wrestlemania. Sheik is among the most successful heels in wrestling and one of the most recognizable wrestlers in the world. He was featured in the 2014 Documentary "The Sheik.”
Vaziri competed for the Iranian national wrestling team before moving to the United States. He won the 1971 AAU Greco-Roman national title at 180.5 pounds for the Minnesota Wrestling Club.
"I come from oldest country in the world—Tehran, Iran—to I come to the America,” said The Iron Sheik. “Pleasure for me to I become first Iranian in Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame. Respect to all my fans. They know I am the real shooter and forever they know I pay for my due. Now I have the respect from my good friend the Dan Gable. I see you in the Iowa."
All-access passes to the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame induction weekend are available for $100. They can be pre-ordered by contacting the Dan Gable Museum at dgmstaff@nwhof.org or by calling (319) 233-0745.
A full schedule of events will be released on a later date.
2016 Hall of Fame induction class
George Tragos Award—Chael Sonnen
Lou Thesz Award—JJ Dillon
Jim Melby Award—Dave Meltzer
Frank Gotch Award—Lex Luger
Living inductee—Bob Backlund
Living inductee—Iron Sheik
Posthumous inductee—Joe Blanchard
