Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri (Persian:حسین خسرو علي وزیری) (born March 15, 1940) is an Iranian former professional wrestler and actor better known by his ring name The Iron Sheik. Vaziri is a one time world champion, having won the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983. He was what is referred to as a transitional champion, which saw him end the nearly seven-year reign of Bob Backlund as champion only to lose the belt four weeks later to Hulk Hogan, who began a four-plus year reign himself.