10 Awesome Facts From The Iron Sheik’s Documentary

9. He Was Shah Pahlavi's Bodyguard

Thanks to the intense training Vaziri went through during his early years as well as his military training and wrestling accomplishments while in the military, he became a bodyguard for the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. To put that in perspective, imagine Kurt Angle becoming a member of the U.S. Secret Service after winning his Olympic Gold Medal, but before signing with WWE. Being a bodyguard for a head-of-state is a very rare kind of legitimacy that helped build Vaziri€™s image and reputation as a badass. During his service, no one ever hurt the Shah or his family, which is a testament to his skill as a bodyguard. He was also able to translate this experience into his on-screen character, which gave him even more heat as a true Iranian. This experience also provides the viewer with Vaziri€™s perspective on working for the Shah. According to Vaziri, the Shah was good to the athletes, but was not willing to give money to build more crucial infrastructure for the Iranian people. When he asked Takhti if he wanted money, Takhti instead asked him to use that to build schools, highways, hospitals, etc. But the Shah got furious and left the room. This gives the viewer a rare perspective on what was happening behind closed doors in Iranian politics at the time, and it a treat for those who€™re interested in that sort of thing.