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- Hulk Hogan Spoke On Their Relationship After Iron Sheik's Death
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When looking at some of the most important and pivotal feuds in professional wrestling history, Hulk Hogan’s rivalry with The Iron Sheik is in contention for the top spot on that list. A feud with Iron Sheik pushed Hulk Hogan to great heights, leading to him becoming the face of WWE. From there, with Hogan at the helm, the company would continue to grow and grow into a worldwide phenomenon throughout the Rock N’ Wrestling era, and that may not have happened without Iron Sheik. Some fans may be a little confused at the relationship between the pair though, as the lines between kayfabe and reality felt blurred at times.
UPDATE: 2023/08/30 14:30 EST BY ANDREW KELLY
Hulk Hogan Spoke On Their Relationship After Iron Sheik's Death
The Iron Sheik and Hulk Hogan had one of the most celebrated rivalries of all time, one which carried on for decades after their prime, with both men upkeeping kayfabe forever. With The Iron Sheik now passing away, their rivalry is one that has now ended, but it has led to fans looking back in retrospect with a lot more celebration and love. Their relationship was one which always blurred the lines, and much of Sheik’s legacy will be defined by his wonderful commitment to character and his feud with Hogan, which confused many due to the fact that their feud lasted forever. Hogan has since spoken about his bond with Sheik.
Hulk Hogan And The Iron Sheik Were Huge Rivals In WWE
Back in the day, the kayfabe elements of professional wrestling were kept tight-lipped, with it only being revealed over the years that the sport was predetermined. To maintain kayfabe, heels had to be heels 24/7, and babyfaces had to do the same. The Iron Sheik was one of the biggest heels in the industry throughout his prime, as his reign as a top bad guy lasted into the 1980s when he would win the WWE Championship. He was the epitome of the “foreign heel” character, and he played it to perfection.
At the time of his title reign, Hulk Hogan was rising the ranks as an American hero in the professional wrestling industry, and he managed to take down the dastardly Iron Sheik in a feud which started the HulkaMania phase. The pair hated each other on-screen, with Sheik doing his best to insult the USA any chance he got. The world was shocked when the Iranian-born Sheik won the WWE Title over Bob Backlund, and it set the groundwork for Hogan to be the hero to save the day. Ever since that day, at least from a kayfabe perspective, Iron Sheik displayed a hatred for Hogan - but does this cross the lines into something more real?
The Iron Sheik Regularly Insulted Hulk Hogan On Twitter
Being a wrestler from back in the 70s and 80s, the Iron Sheik knew all about the importance of keeping kayfabe alive (especially since a break in kayfabe saw him get fired when he and babyface Jim Duggan were arrested and found with drugs). Whether it was truly him behind the account, his personal Twitter was very active for years, and fans would often be able to see him sharing insults and abuse towards Hulk Hogan. Given the tone of how he tweets, it all felt very tongue in cheek and done out of fun.
However, Sheik is someone who displayed dislike for Hogan numerous times over the years. Sheik allegedly wanted a job in WCW, and had spoken to Hogan about potentially getting him a spot in the company, though Hogan never got back to him. Additionally, Sheik had apparently believed that him putting over Hogan in 1984 should have led to something more which would see Sheik get a win at some point, though this never came to fruition. However, Sheik was never really in a prominent enough position from that moment on to be a top champion, so it is unclear whether Hogan is to blame for this entirely.
Hulk Hogan And The Iron Sheik May Have Been Fine Behind The Scenes
What made the relationship between Hogan and Sheik so confusing is that there did feel to be some respect between the two at times. For instance, in an interview with WWE.com back in 2014, Sheik was asked to talk about his feud with Hogan. For the most part, he remains in his classic character, but when talking about his interactions with Hogan closer to the present day, he had this to say; “Last time I saw Hulk Hogan was at a summer wrestling convention. I saw him, he said hello, I said hello to him. I talked to him, but nobody talked bad about the past. I get along with him. I say hello to him, but not any bad mouthing or nothing.” It is nice to see that behind the curtain, the men have developed a strong level of respect with one another.
Over the years, Sheik has been found to defend and praise Hogan at other times too, though he just as much bashes him and keeps their feud alive. It is one of the few relationships which was always quite confusing in terms of how much they dislike one another, although as time went on, it felt more and more like Sheik just called Hogan out to get people to engage with his Twitter, which is understandable.
Hulk Hogan Described Their Bond As One "Only Fellow Wrestlers Will Understand"
The Iron Sheik’s passing brought about a lot of love for his career, and a big part of that was his feud with Hulk Hogan and the relationship they upheld over the years. It was nice to see what Hulk Hogan had to say when giving respect to Sheik, detailing his love for the man and also making a comment on how unique their relationship was in a social media post.
‘Today, we honor the legacy of a wrestling icon. Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. The wrestling world has lost a true legend, and Sheikh’s contributions to our industry will never be forgotten. I’ll always cherish the battles we had in the ring. Our matches were intense, and our rivalry was legendary. We shared a bond that only fellow wrestlers can understand.‘Iron Sheikh’s unique charisma, undeniable talent, and unforgettable personality made him an unforgettable figure in the hearts of wrestling fans worldwide. His legacy will continue to inspire generations of wrestlers to come. Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. You will always be remembered as a true warrior of the ring.’
Hogan perhaps sums it up perfectly, stating how it is a relationship and bond only other wrestlers can understand. Having a connection with someone which on the outside was full of hate and back-and-forths, but under the surface being one of respect, is a bizarre thing that only wrestlers would in fact understand - especially those from a bygone era.