One of the most delightful figures in the world of professional wrestling was the now-retired Iron Sheik, a brilliantly exaggerated villain who was a fan favorite during the 1980s when the WWF (now WWE) reached a new level of popularity. Igal Hecht's documentary offers an invigorating profile of this beloved (and hated) icon. Born in Iran in 1942, Khosrow Ali Vaziri was on his nation's Olympic team in 1968 and served as a bodyguard to the Shah before moving to the United States, where he initially was a wrestling coach before drifting into professional wrestling. Vaziri's flair for the dramatic—coupled with the Reagan-era political environment—helped boost the Iron Sheik to stardom, especially when teamed with wrestler Nikolai Volkoff, a Croatian-born wrestler who presented himself as an advocate of the Soviet Union. Shaky relations with the WWE management during the 1990s impacted Vaziri's visibility as a performer, although he never truly faded from view. Indeed, he is currently a happy fixture at fan conventions and on social media, and the film includes interviews with many wrestling icons (including Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Hulk Hogan, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts) who generously praise the Iron Sheik's impact. Hecht's film also details Vaziri's personal hardships, including late-life health problems and the tragic murder of one of his daughters. Wrestling fans will love this insightful celebration of a unique character. Highly recommended. (P. Hall)
The Sheik
Dark Sky, 96 min., not rated, DVD: $24.98, Mar. 1 Volume 31, Issue 3
The Sheik
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