WWE Hall of Famer Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri aka ‘The Iron Sheik’ passed away on Wednesday at the age of 81.

World Wrestling Entertainment confirmed the development in a tweet. Vaziri was the only Iranian champion in the WWE.

He was involved in some noticeable feuds and with Hulk Hogan and Randy “Macho Man” Savage.

Apart from that, Sheik was known as a devoted family man, a hardworking entertainer, and a good friend.

The Iron Sheik first excelled in the world of Greco-Roman Wrestling, competing in the Amateur Athletic Union and becoming a gold medalist at 180.5 pounds in 1971.

He became the WWE Champion the day after Christmas in 1983 when he defeated Bob Backlund in Madison Square Garden.

The victory was a controversial one, as Backlund’s manager Arnold Skaaland threw in the towel when Backlund refused to submit to the Camel Clutch. He lost the championship to Hulk Hogan.

Soon after, The Iron Sheik teamed with Russian strongman Nikolai Volkoff. The anti-American pairing went on to win the WWE World Tag Team Championship in 1985 at the first WrestleMania.

His last in-ring appearance was at WrestleMania 17, as The Iron Sheik returned for one night only, winning a Gimmick Battle Royal and re-igniting his rivalry with Slaughter in the process.