The Iron Sheik Vs. Hulk Hogan: 7 Shocking Secrets Behind Wrestling's Most Vulgar Feud And The 'F*** The Hulk Hogan' Catchphrase

The phrase "F*** the Hulk Hogan" is arguably one of the most infamous and consistently venomous catchphrases in the history of professional wrestling, a raw, unscripted battle cry that defined the later career of the legendary Iron Sheik. As of December 2025, the story behind this vulgar, decades-long obsession has taken on a new, poignant finality following the passing of Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, the man behind The Iron Sheik persona, in June 2023, leaving behind a legacy forever intertwined with the man he loved to hate, Terry Bollea, a.k.a. Hulk Hogan.

This deep-seated, often hilarious, but always intense rivalry began at the most critical juncture of wrestling history, marking the true birth of the '80s wrestling boom. It was a feud that transcended the ring, becoming a cultural meme and a permanent fixture in wrestling lore, fueled by real-life resentment, a massive financial offer, and the pure, unadulterated passion of one of the sport's greatest heels.

The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri) and Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea) Biographical Profile

The intensity of their rivalry is best understood by looking at the distinguished, yet contrasting, careers of the two men.

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The Iron Sheik (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri)

• Ring Name: The Iron Sheik, Colonel Mustafa, Sheiky Baby
• Real Name: Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri
• Born: March 15, 1942, in Damghan, Iran
• Died: June 7, 2023 (Age 81)
• Training: Trained by Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson (Gagne's wrestling camp in Minnesota)
• Amateur Career: Represented Iran in the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City (Greco-Roman wrestling)
• Major Championships: WWF World Heavyweight Championship (1-time), WWF Tag Team Championship (with Nikolai Volkoff)
• Signature Move: The Camel Clutch
• Hall of Fame: WWE Hall of Fame (2004)

Hulk Hogan (Terry Gene Bollea)

• Ring Name: Hulk Hogan, Hollywood Hogan, Terry Boulder
• Real Name: Terry Gene Bollea
• Born: August 11, 1953, in Augusta, Georgia
• Training: Trained by Hiro Matsuda
• Major Championships: WWF/WWE Champion (6-time), WCW World Heavyweight Champion (6-time)
• Signature Move: Atomic Leg Drop
• Hall of Fame: WWE Hall of Fame (2005, 2020)
• Cultural Impact: Launched the "Hulkamania" phenomenon, credited with ushering in the '80s wrestling boom and the rise of the WWF into a global entertainment powerhouse.

The 1984 Match: The True Origin of the Obsession

The foundation of The Iron Sheik's lifelong hatred for Hulk Hogan was laid on January 23, 1984, at Madison Square Garden. This was not just a title match; it was the moment the entire professional wrestling landscape shifted.

The Sheik's Short-Lived Reign

The Iron Sheik had only captured the WWF World Heavyweight Championship 25 days earlier from Bob Backlund, a title change orchestrated by promoter Vince McMahon Sr. and his son, Vince McMahon Jr. The Sheik, a legitimate amateur wrestler and a perfect foreign heel, was intended to be a transitional champion. His job was to lose the title to the company’s new, charismatic, muscle-bound hero: Hulk Hogan.

The Birth of Hulkamania

Hogan defeated The Iron Sheik to win his first WWF World Heavyweight Championship. The crowd reaction was explosive, marking the official beginning of "Hulkamania," the phenomenon that would propel the WWF to unprecedented mainstream success. For The Iron Sheik, this match was the beginning of his marginalization from the top spot, forever cementing Hogan as the man who took his glory, his championship, and his place in history.

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The $100,000 Offer: Why the Hatred Was 'Real'

The animosity was not just a standard wrestling storyline; it was fueled by a real-life, high-stakes proposition that The Iron Sheik famously rejected. This event is the key to understanding the sheer intensity behind the "F*** the Hulk Hogan" catchphrase.

Verne Gagne's Desperate Plea

Prior to the 1984 match, The Iron Sheik was approached by legendary promoter Verne Gagne, who had trained the Sheik and was the owner of the American Wrestling Association (AWA), the WWF’s main competitor at the time. Gagne offered The Iron Sheik a staggering $100,000 cash bonus to "shoot" on Hulk Hogan.

The Plan: Break Hogan's Leg

The instruction was simple and brutal: during the match, The Iron Sheik was to legitimately break Hulk Hogan’s leg using a submission hold or a real maneuver, effectively ending his career and crippling Vince McMahon Jr.'s plans for a national expansion. The Sheik, despite his own grievances and the massive sum of money, refused to betray the business, choosing to remain professional and drop the title as planned.

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His refusal, while honorable to the industry, meant he allowed the man he resented to become the biggest star in the world. This lingering "what if" scenario and the memory of the title loss became the emotional fuel for his character's decades-long tirades.

From Kayfabe Heel to Vulgar Internet Legend

While The Iron Sheik's in-ring career wound down, his persona found a shocking second life in the digital age, largely thanks to his unhinged, often profane, and constantly updated social media presence, which amplified his hatred for Hogan.

The Catchphrase Takes Over

In the 2000s, The Iron Sheik, often managed by his handlers, began making appearances and interviews that were less character and more unfiltered, raw emotion. The "F*** the Hulk Hogan" sentiment—often expanded with vulgar and graphic threats—became his signature line, a viral sensation that resonated with wrestling fans who appreciated his authentic, unscripted rage.

The phrase was a simple, brutal distillation of his entire career narrative: a talented, legitimate athlete who felt cheated out of his moment by the rise of a muscle-bound showman. It allowed him to stay relevant for decades, constantly reminding the world of the 1984 turning point.

Other Feud-Fueling Entities

The Sheik's venom wasn't limited to Terry Bollea alone. His rants often expanded to include:

• Nick Hogan: Hulk Hogan's son, often mentioned in the Sheik's most vulgar rants.
• The Camel Clutch: His signature submission move, which he constantly threatened to use to "break the back" of Hogan and "make him humble."
• Howard Stern: The Sheik was a frequent, unpredictable guest on the Howard Stern Show, where his vulgar tirades became a radio staple.

The Final Chapter: Hogan's Surprising Tribute

The decades-long, public feud finally reached a surprising and poignant conclusion with The Iron Sheik's death on June 7, 2023. Despite the years of vitriol, the final public exchange between the two men was one of mutual respect.

Hulk Hogan's Public Statement

Upon hearing the news of his passing, Hulk Hogan released a public statement via social media. Instead of reflecting on the feud, Hogan offered genuine condolences, acknowledging the Sheik's legendary status and his role in the wrestling world.

"Rest in peace, Iron Sheikh. You will always be remembered as a true warrior of the ring," Hogan wrote. This final, respectful tribute confirmed that beneath the layers of kayfabe and the vulgar catchphrases, the two icons shared a deep, professional bond forged by their historic match that changed the industry forever.

The Iron Sheik's legacy, therefore, is not just his championship reign or his amateur wrestling background. It is his defiant, hilarious, and ultimately unforgettable persona, forever immortalized by the four vulgar words that cemented his place as a wrestling immortal who refused to be forgotten. The Sheik may be gone, but the spirit of "F*** the Hulk Hogan" lives on as a testament to wrestling's most enduring rivalry.