The Iron Sheik 1985 Oakland Promo

Mean Gene Okerlund interivews The Iron Sheik about an upcoming match in Oakland in January 1985..

[@faddas9539]

Only the sheik's mustache has more charisma than any of today's top actors. Great entertainer.

[@nvkulk]

After a hard day at work the Sheik’s promos make me alright!

[@westnblu]

Yes... a sheik promo a day keeps the doctor away haha

[@christophercasey6775]

Like him or not, he gets the job done.

[@musicfan5520]

Iron Sheik/Mean Gene appearance combo & their interviews are legendary & historic. I miss those times.

[@dildonius]

*Gene Mean

[@troylowe814]

Even though English wasn't his native language, no one can deny that Iron Sheik wasn't a master of promos. Always entertaining. God bless him.

[@ericrojasvelez8891]

Both...mean gene face gestures when interviewing him are 🤪

[@Vagajammer]

It's amazing. He debited as the Iron Sheik in 1984 and his English NEVER improved!

[@AxeDharme]

Nobody can deny that he *WAS a master of promos. He definitely was one.

[@llg3pe]

I think that bad English was part of his shtick

[@christophercasey6775]

He's from Iran. He was the real deal.

[@citizenlizard]

I LOVE IRON SHEIK! His shit never gets old I swear! Bless his heart!

[@marklauder783]

Exactly 💯

[@matimus100]

Mari is in love everyone 💕 congratulations Mari 👏

[@REAL6]

R.I.P to the Sheik!!!

[@manuginobilisbaldspot424]

THAT'S RIGHT! NOW, YOU DON'T HAVE TO CORRECT ME! I KNOW MY ENGALISH IS NOT GOOD LIKE YOU SIR! lmao...the most polite heel ever

[@aberod11]

bro, I'm a San Antonio Spurs fan, but I still think you have the GREATEST account/screen name. EVER. PERIOD. LOL!

[@sheamus4300]

I really still don’t understand what the sheik is saying

[@SouthernSkeptic]

He loved Gene Mean.

[@Vagajammer]

@@sheamus4300 *Channeling my inner Sheik* Needer ded Jin Min!

[@Kromsmitesyou]

Gene mean was the best man at his wedding

[@madometal]

Oh man never gets old all the iron sheik promo ..pure genius classic

[@Doug41160]

It's funny as hell when Gene looks upward with Sheiky!

[@someorclad9738]

Same. What makes it even more hilarious is that he starts talking about Allah and Gene face looks like "Wait Allah is here?".

[@Nightrain76]

That was a great promo.

[@wolfiethedog76]

Mean Gene's voice was perfect

[@Camcolito]

'That's right!' 'No, you don't have to correct me!' - LMAO Sheik is the best

[@TheEnigma7111]

They are great wisdom in his speeches, encoded in Iranian accent.

[@mrtrin]

F M Heel Sheik would give babyface promos in Farsi

[@MsSmitty9]

The Iron Sheik has been at for 50 Years and not for one second has he ever broke character. Really. 😂😂😂

[@liverneck2001]

Around this time I saw the iron sheik eating at the el morocco restaurant in worcester, am. I was 13-14 years old and was eating with my mom and dad..

[@abndGems]

1:28 you don havv to Corrrrrrect me 🤣🤣😆 Legendary stuff

[@SquirrelASMR]

Sheiks eyebrows are cute, they slope down like he's sad, it's so adorable when he's yelling lol.

[@larrylove4911]

"'Im not school teacher!!" Shiek Galahani, Khosrow Vaziri........One of THE very Best!!! LL

[@EmmaBonn96]

Iron Sheik Number One! We will never see a greater heel, ever!

[@mcentepede]

Ravishing Rick Rude, The Iron Sheik, Macho Man Savage,Rick Flair, and The Rock are my fave wrestlers all time. My top 5 beats anybodys top 5 all day and nite. In the ring or on the mic!

[@_1ben]

@@mcentepede classy Freddie Blassie beats all

Iron sheik best heel ever

[@ElimGarakSpoonHead]

mcentepede Ric*

[@mateoloza3525]

Bakorafanboy13 how are u gonna disrespect jake the snake

[@theironsheik875]

That night he humbled the black junk yard dog

[@tedstriker6646]

you mean jan jar doll?

[@JohnDoe-id1es]

The Iron Sheik he beat de FAK outta dat Blak Howdy ehDoody

[@PunkSlapper123]

Sheik is the man. No wrestler active today can match the Sheik. They are not even close.

[@232lalas]

Such a great showman

[@lamontevans2823]

We will miss a one of the great legends. RIP Sheik!

[@mercedes25fl]

The Iron Sheik is trip me out here. I use to hate him because he was so evil back then with those sharpe camel boots of his. Now I can honestly admit, He played the bad guy part very well. I'm glad he was inducted in the Hall of Fame. He deserved it. He wrestled some great matches over the last 20 years. I wish wrestling could be like that again. WWE just sucks now.

[@ltcolumbo9708]

" Puhleese with the flag".... these are my childhood heroes. So lucky to be growing up in the 80s

[@mikewilliams4443]

I never knew there was a sheik promo where the head towel stayed on.

[@OhJaniceWhyOhWhy]

Good call.

[@SHANKDAWGBABY]

He's surprisingly calm here due to the shawl staying on

[@Me-qp8vz]

He started doing that a few months later.

[@cyrusparsa1724]

The towel on his head is not even what Iranians wear. That’s an Arabic outfit, not Iranian, but he used it to promote his business. Most people don’t know the difference anyway 🤣🤣

[@johninjersey]

I think the reason the Sheik is so good at the promos is he actually believes it :)

[@redfoley9608]

Yes. His wife Carol said he really thinks he is Iron Sheik.

[@lhooq27]

"Puhleeze with the flag." Gotta love Mean Gene.

[@drumzRfun1]

Gene Mean and Shiekie Baby. Classic.

[@aberod11]

“All the white people and black people!!!” 😂🤣😂

[@machomanOOOOHYEEEAH]

Vite people I think you mean

[@PunkSlapper123]

Sheik was great at bringing people together.

[@OrbitalTrails-x5s]

''The great black star Junk yard Dog''

[@harrykadaras9459]

I love when he calls HH "Hulka Hogahn"...the big JABRONI! Sheik #1

[@feckyoo2]

Great interaction between Sheiky and Gene Mean

[@bo0tsy1]

Sheik had swag..

[@dvader4731]

bo0tsy1 yes he did lol

[@madbrowniac7871]

At one time in Georgia Ole Anderson gave an interview and he was interrupted and jumped by a crew of Precious Paul Ellering, Killer Tim Brooks, Abdullah The Butcher, and The Iron Sheik. He was rescued by among others Stan The Man Hansen. Can you even imagine all these truly demented larger than life guys on a Monday Night or Tuesday Night rampage in their primes? Good Gravy!😱B.W.

[@moking222]

Sheik actually had his own style he is still strong and hilarious ..new cats learn

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Mo King He is timeless

[@miltonhalepis6483]

Legendary

[@Malkmusianful]

oh my god he literally sounds like his batshit insane twitter feed

[@sntsbc]

literally?

[@xxlivebaitxx3363]

Mr. Junkyard Dog would be a great name for a Chihuahua

[@llg3pe]

1985… oh how I wish I could go back.

[@shayboogs]

"Katy, bar the door". Love Mean Gene.

[@theprocessbeginshere]

Actually. outside the Entertainment world he considers himself American. As off the wall he sometimes gets I believe he's truly sincere about that. It's too bad that it wasn't until his final years in the business that he realized how much of an impact he had on American wrestling fans.

[@daisukegori2112]

" You don't have to correct me, I know my English is not as good as you sir." Wow he was really polite there.

[@Lenoh]

You're always welcome in the Oakland and the San Fran...cisco, Sheiky Baby!

[@zmajodnocaja5088]

don't forget san cromento, as he calls it.

[@stellaluna4u2]

I WAS THERE!!!!!!!!!! Iron Sheik got a beer in his face thanks to my ex husband! LOL

[@michaelcalero1119]

Mean gene was the best man in Iron Sheik's wedding.

[@Vagajammer]

"Remember Jin Min, if some jabronie vant to stop de veddin, you take dem out and tell dem ACH PTUI!"

[@TheCambias]

RIP Sheiky Baby

[@-CrampedStyle-]

This time, gonna be..complainly different!

[@Doug41160]

"i hope somevone call de San Francisco Californa Oakland hospital to bring ze ambulance...." "actually San Francisco & Oakland both have their own hospitals" "now you no have to correct me, i know my english not so good...."

[@hf6150]

Thankfully, both cities had one.

[@VolumedMusicMan]

Even though he is kayfabed anti USA. Khasrow showed respect toward Gene Mean and his “intelligent American” fans.

[@mkind7765]

LOL. That old school mentality of having fans believe your character is real 24/7 is rare in wrestlers today like The Sheik. There was a rare interview with the Sheik (I can't find it on the internet anymore) where for a good minute, his English was clear and the accent wasn't so thick. He was speaking about his daughter that almost made him cry.

[@oscarwinner2034]

Proud family man. Married a nice Minnesota girl. I think he has three daughters. Can’t imagine the fear their boyfriends had of Him. Home by 9! Yes sir. Home by 7.

[@suicidality2744]

Sheik was American as apple pie.

[@jasonparks2454]

Mean Gene with the PERFECT lead in.....

[@dan3628]

"The great black star?" "Dirty black dog?" Yikes!

[@bobmathews9072]

Damn , the headwear didn’t get ripped off , disappointed

[@musicfan5520]

1:02 "but the honest intelligent American, Arabian, Iranian on the oakland side said Iran Iran...." I guess if you are an honest American, you'd be cheering for Iran :)😃

[@riggins5028]

The Sheik checked gene you don't have to correct my English

[@frankpalancio8471]

Best heel ever

[@joshuas1960]

This was actually very tame for Sheiky Baby.

[@ea9-g5y]

he always gives good interview to that intelligent jew gene mean

[@Nunzi3]

Sheik says The Junkyard Dog 🐶 turned him onto Crack ! Isn’t it ironic, don’t you think?!

[@mattstiles-ok8yz]

R.I.P. IRON SHEIK

[@nsxdarin]

8 jabronis downvoted this

[@lino580nunya5]

11

[@Thecolemineexpress.]

His moustache was always awesome.

[@MultiDanzig]

Sheik had the charisma

[@DrewKane]

GENE MEAN THE MEAN SHEIK KNOW ALL INTELLIGENT AMERICAN FAN FOR THE INTELLIGENT ITALIAN, IRANIAN, INTELLIGENT JEW ALL KNOW IRON SHEIK IS CALIFORNIA BEST WRESTLER FOREVER.

[@tedstriker6646]

But intelligent Jew gets all the money and the Sheik ends up poor in the end.

[@123clintonk]

Ted Striker Absolutely not guy has a fortune with television appearances & new documentary dvd thru wwe..

[@tedstriker6646]

123clintonk Have you seen how he lives?

[@zmajodnocaja5088]

Mister Jar Jar Doll, whatever your name is...

[@westhollywood77]

lmao when gene looks up as the sheik starts praying!!

[@mikepatterson1510]

Jar Jar Dog haha Iron Sheik was awesome

[@JBone400]

"And the Vhite peepil and Black peepil.

[@harrykadaras9459]

These old Sheiky promos compared to now... no contest

[@mkind7765]

WTF did he just say @ 00:46 ? Talk about a heat seeker! 😂

[@dsriggs]

"The great black star..."

[@B166ER-]

It's like a middle and last name. "Al" means "of" meaning where he comes from or where he was born...Like Sadaam Hussein, his full Arabic name was Sadaam Hussein Al -Tikriti IIRC...

[@AirBuddDwyer]

Certainly not a bad inference or guess, but "min" or من means "of," in Arabic while "al" (ال) is a definite article directly equivalent to "the." So in the example you gave (Sadam), "al-Tikriti" would translate more dircetly to "Sadam Hussein The Tikritian" (or whatever the demonym would be in English) rather than "Sadam Hussein of Tikrit." Ultimately though in that specific context they mean basically the same thing, and I honestly have no idea if "al" is a word in Farsi outside of their Arabic-influenced naming convention.

[@davidcoleman9317]

Love The Sheik he is the best. More heat than a hot ha ha. Love you Sheiky baby. He had the most heat ever.

[@miltonhalepis6483]

So funny

[@JBone400]

Anybody know what transpired between Junkyard Dog and the Sheik that preceded this?

[@JackieAprileJr]

ezzzactly. god bless you, mr mcmahon, and the baby jesus.

[@steveeisenhowereisenhower7130]

For sure as you

[@SquirrelASMR]

I thought that was Gene's name spelled wrong in the title, until I remembered it's a city or something in America. Okerlund > Oakland in my heart

[@MegaGum1]

Gene always looked like he was about 50 years old. In actual fact in this interview he's 24

[@wdc9633]

Sorry, but that statement is not close to being an "actual fact". He was born in 1942, so he would be about 43. A lot closer to 50.

[@arcticwanderer2109]

hahaha. are u fuckin kiddin me

[@jerryaprian1049]

Lmao

[@abndGems]

😆🤣😂

[@tonybandanna4895]

Hes the best lol

[@westhollywood77]

mean gene was the best!! Long live the shiek......

[@fhb3]

Gene Mean!

[@ericwright2594]

Rip mean gene

[@JKTube]

@lockenjr: Gordon Solie used it too in Florida.

[@mrgoodtime87]

#MeanGene #GOAT

[@PsychomachineryEBM]

The Iron Sheik was great back in the day, and truly he deserved to be WWF champ, but it's a shame he was used only as transitional one prior to Hogan. I wished his run as champion lasted longer

[@Vagajammer]

If it was a southern territory (where it was about the babyface chasing a heel champ), it could've been longer. However, WWF was all about the babyface triumphing against the heels trying to take his title

[@Pt0wN973b0iI]

THAT NAME!!!!! I AM GOING TO USE IT IN ICEPOSEIDON LIVE STREAM CHAT! "BLACK JUNK YARD DOG".

[@samueljonis434]

"The great Black star" .... within weeks, around the time of Wrestlemania, that sort of language was no longer used.

[@samueljonis434]

... furthermore the Iron Sheik spoke less in his native tongue.

[@hockeynutt9434]

Mr Gene Mean.

[@thorinscudodiquercia7127]

The best, we need another middle East character like him in the world of wrestling

[@brandonhudson9952]

Mean Gene was like what da fak get outta here with that shit

[@jmjfanss]

The iron sheik paved the way for rusev.

[@JustADudu]

Make him humble!Old country way!

[@jonmolina948]

Were they talking about the same coliseum that the Raiders played in?

[@MrHmg55]

No, the arena in Oakland where the Warriors played -- then known as the Oakland Coliseum Arena.

[@JKTube]

@Y2JROCKFAN: The truth about the Iron Sheik's past is VERY hard to piece together because the guy always kayfabes everything. You don't see wrestlers doing promos for local events like this anymore because PPVs have become more important than house shows.

[@JKTube]

Well, just imagine the suffering the English language would take in a mic battle between Sheiky and Dusty Rhodes.

[@elijahrobinson2362]

SanFran Cisco 🤣

[@marc108]

P.A. leeese with the flag....priceless

[@jpwjr1199]

Apparently, in real life Gene Okerlund and Iron Sheik were good friends....I think Gene was Sheik's best man at his wedding! Notice at 1:48 or so how Gene plays Sheik's praising of Allah to the hilt....lol....very funny stuff

[@truepridejb]

lol iron shiek still better promo than anyone in the wwe today

[@Vagajammer]

That because there's no way in hell anyone could write a promo like that

[@Hawkee316]

amen

[@glasshalffull8471]

Gene Mean

[@Swizzul81]

Sheik looks like he was coked out right here, lol

[@petegeraghty2587]

He did always look coked out of it because he was