Top-Down Smackdown: We Interviewed the Iron Sheik Again

Last week we interviewed Igal Hecht, director of the Iron Sheik documentary The Sheik, which is a must-watch for any fan of either pro-wrestling or the way performers create characters. But we couldn’t stop there. No blogger in his right mind – particularly at a site like this that does not censor profanity – could write about the Iron Sheik movie and not talk to the Sheik himself. Especially when it went so well the last time.

As before, the interview was conducted by email, so it’s anyone’s guess whether it was Khosrow Vaziri himself who wrote back, or his managers Jian and Page Magen. Not that it really matters – there are mirrors and smoke aplenty in the wrestling business, very few of today’s performers write all their own material, and the character of the Iron Sheik is very much in evidence.

Several of the questions came from Facebook fans of TR; the Iron Sheik’s responses are entirely unedited…

Luke Y. Thompson: How do you feel watching the documentary about yourself? Do you think the movie really captures your life well?

Iron Sheik: I love my documentary. I love how it show that I work harder than anyone on this earth to be the legend. You see my up and my down you see how hard it is to be a legend. Nothing is easy bubba

LYT: How is director Igal Hecht to work with?

IS: Igal good man. He work hard he love the business and he love the legend so he tell excellent the story and let everyone feel the real legend.

LYT:When you first came to America, what was the strangest thing about it for you?

IS: All the people laughing living smiling happy. This way I love the America

LYT: Do you still have any family back in Iran?

IS: Yes of course bubba. A lot of my family there. I miss them. Only wish I have I go back to them they see me and my movie. They hear about what I do how I become famous but they never see me yet in 45 years. This way I wish I see them one more time before I die.

LYT: What were the challenges of raising a family here at the same time you were trying to make everyone hate you? Did the neighbors know you weren’t really a bad guy? Were any of your daughters’ teachers afraid they’d be made humble?

IS: NEVERMIND

LYT: When you first started in American wrestling, did any of the veterans try to “make you humble”? If so, what did you do?

IS: They know I am a real shooter. They know I am Olympic class. This way they never fuck with me. they ask me for help I teach them. Overnight I get the respect from the locker room. Nobody ever try to fuck with me because they know I fuck them up big time.

LYT: The movie doesn’t mention the time you came back to WWE as Colonel Mustafa. What was that like, to main-event Summerslam years after being let go before?

IS: Colonel Mustafa good. excellent. Mr McMahon know what to do with me and the Iraq war hottest thing in the world so he say now you work with Slaughter and you become Colonel Mustafa. I get lot of heat because I am Iron Sheik and I know how to make the fans mad.

LYT: Who did you most hate wrestling and why? Were they too sloppy, always drunk, missed their spots, etc.?

IS: Piece of shit garbage man Andre The Giant. I don’t waste my time on that fat fuck

LYT: The Rock says in the movie that you invented the word “jabroni.” Where did it come from? How did you come up with it?

IS: Jabroni come natural to me because I was the real. I was the gold medal I toughest man and everybody know this. anytime I talk about my opponent in the interview the word jabroni come out and make them look like jabroni and forever they know I am the toughest.

LYT: Who in wrestling today needs to be made humble?

IS: The Rusev bubba. He not like real Iron Sheik heat.

LYT: Rusev now has Nikolai Volkoff’s old gimmick and uses your finishing move. What do you think about that? Is he worthy to be Sheik class?

IS: Fuck the Rusev. He not original Iron Sheik . he try to steal my gimmick forever he never be like me. he was smart he have his own finisher. Still I respect him still he can go fuck himself

LYT: What do you think about CM Punk leaving WWE, and his recent comments about Vince and Triple H?

IS: This not my business. I don’t walk his shoe. I don’t know how he feel. He do what best for him and Mr. McMahon do same. You have one life you do whatever you want

LYT: Will we ever see you on Monday Night Raw again? Or maybe Legends House?

IS: Oh I hope so bubba. Anytime they call me I be ready. They know I come for my first company the WWE they know I am the legend.

LYT: What is the best way to grow a great mustache? Similarly, what’s the best way to get a smooth head shave without too many cuts?

IS: You have to be natural with the mustache. Not everyone have Iron Sheik class mustache. Every hundred year baby born like me Muhammad ali michael Jordan you see that my mustache the most real

LYT: Conan the Barbarian had a great answer to the question “What is best in life?” For the Iron Sheik, what is best in life?

IS: Best in life is training, love the family and be best to yourself.

LYT: What do you love most about America? What do you love least?

IS: I love I come here with nothing and I make it to most famous arena in the world and I live American dream. This way I never forget how good the America is to the legend

LYT: There have been reports that Mel Gibson would like to direct Iron Man 4. What movie do you think he should direct?

IS: I think he a punk piece of shit he insult all my intelligent Jew friends and he a fucking no good piece of jabroni raisin balls he can go fuck himself

LYT: Who would win in a fight: Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus?

IS: Both fucking jabroni

LYT: If you could have one more match, against anybody living or dead, who would it be against?

IS: I love I work with the Brock Lesnar or the Bruno Samartino. I have lot of respect for them bubba

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The Sheik is available to rent or buy at Google Play and other sites.

(You may also use this thread to talk about Raw/The Slammy Awards)