Daily Update: Wrestling world pays tribute to The Iron Sheik

Latest News:

• WWE NXT ratings remain strong with main roster talent influx
• Tony Khan says CM Punk is ‘very important’ to AEW, ‘been a big draw’
• Edge advertised for August WWE SmackDown in Toronto
• WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik passes away at 81
• Jon Moxley to team with Homicide at NJPW Strong Independence Day
• Three matches added to Impact Wrestling lineup

Latest Audio:

• Lance Storm remembers Iron Sheik, Dynamite preview, NXT TV report: Wrestling Observer Live
• King of the Ring 1994 part 1, Shawn unveils his Emmy, plus Granny! Bryan & Vinny Show

Latest Free YouTube Video:

This Week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

• June 5, 2023 Observer Newsletter: AEW Double or Nothing & WWE Night of Champions recaps

In this issue:

• Match of the week and performer of the week
• Full Double or Nothing coverage
• All the business notes on the show
• How the show did on PPV and in theaters
• Tony Khan's goals for Collision
• More on the new AEW TV deal with WBD
• Where All In 2023 stands on the biggest crowds and gates in wrestling history
• Tony Khan talks Bill Goldberg
• Bryan Danielson talks AEW creative
• Matt Jackson on coming back so quickly from a muscle tear, the stunts in the match, how preparation was less than last year and why
• The latest Bloodline saga
• Business notes on Night of Champions and how AEW/WWE crossover viewership changed this past weekend from the past
• How comparisons of big event interest changed greatly
• Best of the Super Juniors finals, Dominion and All Together Now, a look at the big events in Japan
• NXT Battleground coverage
• One of the longest lasting wrestling promoters who ever lived, Brian Dixon, passes away at 74
• Stardom has World & Wonder of Stardom champions face off on PPV show and where this leads
• Two future stars leave two different promotions this past week
• Will Ospreay talks future
• New Japan President Takami Ohbari talks the state of the business, how close the company was to being in real trouble, and how they've had to change the business
• Billy Graham funeral notes
• Bobo Brazil day and a look at the iconic figure
• Advance ticket sales for all upcoming WWE and AEW shows
• Streaming and international TV numbers
• Records at stake in UFC fights this week
• International promotion looking at crowd of 50,000 for a show tomorrow
• WWE's arguments to get MLW lawsuit dismissed
• Injury updates
• WWE market value
• Two people under WWE deals are one week away from competing for a sports world championship shot
• Merch updates

This Week's Retro Observer Newsletter:

• April 19, 2006 Observer Newsletter: Randy Orton, UFC Ultimate Fight Night recap, more

Moderators needed:

We are currently looking for two people to moderate our message board. Those interested please contact tonyleder@f4wonline.com.

Ordering Info:

Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to dave@wrestlingobserver.com or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to dave@wrestlingobserver.com.

Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.

In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.

For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.

If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.

Wednesday Update

WWE

• WWE extended its condolences to The Iron Sheik’s family, friends, and fans following his passing.
• Paul “Triple H” Levesque tweeted: “The legend. An all-time great performer and WWE Hall of Famer who brought his character to life and transcended our business. My condolences to The Iron Sheik’s family, friends and fans.”
• Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson shared a video sending his condolences to Sheik’s family.
• Ric Flair: “My Dear Friend Khosrow Vaziri!!! We Started Wrestling Together In 1972. Seems Like So Long Ago! We Crossed Paths So Many Times Over The Years & You Were Always So Entertaining. The Greatest Line You Ever Said To Me In 1972: 'If I Had Your Hair, I Would Be With Elizabeth Taylor!' Rest In Peace My Friend. Be As Entertaining To God As You Were To All Of Us!”
• Bray Wyatt: “We will miss you Bubba #HUMBLE”
• Natalya: “NOTHING BUT LOVE AND RESPECT to the Iron Sheik. The wrestling world has lost an icon and a very special person.”
• Jimmy Hart: “Sheiky baby - love you forever - so many incredible memories and moments from our time in Memphis, our 2005 HOF induction, and many more - you will be missed”
• Michael Hayes: “So sorry to hear of one of the all time greats passing away, Iron Sheik. Had a lot of funny times with ‘Sheiky Baby.’ My prayers and condolences to his family, friends and fans.”
• Mick Foley:
• The wrestling world lost a true legend today, with the passing of Khosrow Vaziri, better known to fans across the globe as The Iron Sheik. Although I never got to know The Sheik well, I was fortunate to have been on hand for two of his most iconic matches - his WWE title victory over Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden on December 26, 1983 and his 'Boot Camp Match' with Sgt Slaughter at MSG in August, 1984. I also had the honor of wrestling the iron sheik for the first and only time – on a tour of Dominica in 1987.
• Khosrow Vaziri was truly one of a kind.
• I send my deepest condolences to his family, friends, and all those who loved him.
• Today is Foley’s 58th birthday.
• On his radio show today, Pat McAfee held a moment of silence for Iron Sheik.
• Paul Heyman was interviewed on Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin.
• Zelina Vega, LA Knight, and Tiffany Stratton were guests on WWE’s The Bump this afternoon.

AEW/Other Wrestling

• AEW joined the wrestling world in mourning the passing of The Iron Sheik.
• Miro reflected on how Sheik influenced him: “Iron Sheik had a huge influence in my career. Back in FCW ( WWE DEVELOPMENTAL SYSTEM )DAYS I had no idea about speaking on the microphone. then i went and studied his ability and that’s where things started to turn. Legit wrestler, pro wrestler and amazing entertainer. RIP”
• Jake “The Snake” Roberts: “RIP to my old friend The Iron Sheik. A true icon and someone who left a mark on wrestling that can never be erased. Another great one gone.”
• Taz: “I remember working small shows throughout the north east in the very late 80’s/ early 90s… Trying to learn my way Sheik was one of the very few veterans that always helped the young guys. Condolences to his family & friends. #Legend”
• The NWA tweeted: “The NWA is saddened to hear of the passing of one of the sports great legends, Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, 'The Iron Sheik.' We send our condolences to all of his family, friends and fans.”
• Dave Meltzer discussed Iron Sheik’s passing during an appearance on The Jeff Marek Show today.
• Tony Khan spoke to Sports Illustrated about working with Bryan Danielson:
• Bryan and I have had a very close relationship since he came to AEW. He’s one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and he’s one of the most intelligent people I’ve ever known. He has a great mind, and I love talking to him about stories, matches, ideas and psychology. I work with a number of people closely to bounce ideas off, and Bryan has been involved with us in the office more than ever lately. He had some very complimentary things to say about our relationship and working together, and to receive that type of praise from someone I respect so much, those are quotes I’d want on my tombstone.
• AEW shared Fight Forever character spotlights on Sting, Brodie Lee, and Abadon.
• During a virtual signing for K&S WrestleFest, Jim Ross was asked if we could see Mauro Ranallo join the commentary team for AEW Collision: “He’s a friend of mine... no. He has mental health issues. He can help any organization, Mauro. Mauro Ranallo is that good. He’s not a great traveler and that’s not knocking Mauro. It’s just he has issues that are more important than who’s doing Dynamite next week.”
• Trinity appeared on the Sherri Shepherd talk show to discuss her return to the ring.
• Big Japan wrestler Yuji Okabayashi announced that he’s taking an indefinite hiatus away from the ring starting in July.
• In response to a fan on Twitter, KENTA commented on potentially facing CM Punk: “I don’t really care who’s the original G2S. There is only one truth. If you want me to have match against Punk, Give Me correct amount of money. Other than that I don’t need to have this match. Seriously.”
• Richard Holliday noted that he’s reached one year without consuming alcohol: “Today marks one full year with no alcohol. Not stating I’m practicing Sobriety, but for the past year it simply didn’t interest me. If something doesn’t fit into YOUR lifestyle, cut it out! Don’t worry about what other people do. *Coffee is better anyway* Also, if alcohol is a problem for you, I can’t speak to the process of properly eliminating it, but there are plenty of people who can, and you should reach out, I’m sure they’d be happy to help.”