WWE legend The Iron Sheik ‘died of a cardiac arrest’ last month at the age of 81 in…

WWE legend ‘The Iron Sheik’ died of a cardiac arrest, according to TMZ Sports.

The wrestler, real name Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, passed away at the age of 81 last month in Georgia.

TMZ says it has seen his death certificate and says he also suffered with congestive heart failure before his death.

He was born in Iran but became a global superstar in the 1980s, winning the WWF World Heavyweight Championship in 1983.

Previously he competed on Iran’s Greco-Roman wrestling team at the 1968 Summer Games, and later won a national AAU title in 1971 after moving to the United States. 

The Iron Sheik attends Supercon 2010 on June 19, 2010 in Miami

Confirming the news of his death on Twitter last month, his family paid tribute to ‘a true legend, a force of nature, and an iconic figure who left an incredible mark on the world of professional wrestling.’ 

‘WWE is saddened to hear of the passing of WWE Hall of Famer The Iron Sheik, and extends its condolences to his family, friends, and fans,’ read a tweet from the circuit formerly known as the WWF. 

The Iron Sheik made his way to theatrical wrestling after being invited to train at promoter Verne Gagne’s gym in the early 1970s. It was there that the barrel-chested, 6-foot, 250-pound Vaziri learned the business and soon began working as a trainer. He even taught the likes of Ricky Steamboat, Greg Gagne and Jim Brunzell.

Following in the footsteps of a previous wrestler known as ‘The Sheik,’ Vaziri became a heel – another word for ‘bad guy’ – and quickly caught the eye of the World Wrestling Federation.

He’d go on to win the first ever Battle Royal at Madison Square Garden before bouncing around to several rival circuits, and eventually finding a home with the WWF.

Known as the tag-team partner of Nikolai Volkoff, Sheik became a Wrestlemania staple and one of the biggest stars in the sport.