Posted on 4/05/124 by Alan Wojcik
In 2005, Brad Balukjian PhD left his position as a magazine
fact-checker to pursue a dream job: partner with his
childhood hero, The Iron Sheik (whose real name was Khosrow
Vaziri), to write his biography. Let’s just say right now
things didn’t go as planned. Years later he decided to
revisit the project, but from a different perspective.
Many people of my generation (who grew up on 1980’s World
Wrestling Federation programming) know Sheik was the
opponent to Hulk Hogan on January 23, 1984 when “Hulkamania”
was launched. Sheik had previously won the WWF World
championship on December 26, 1983 from perennial champion
Bob Backlund.
So Mister Balukjian decided if Sheik wasn’t going to talk,
he could get information from people that were involved in
the 12/26/83 or 1/23/84 wrestling events held at Madison
Square Garden. The end result is a wild journey entitled The
Six Pack: On the Open Road in Search of Wrestlemania (April
2, Hachette, $30, 304pp)
Mister Balukjian’s childhood love of Sheik and the initial
attempt to write the book I outlined. The mere fact he even
decided to try again is amazing, especially when you read
how it and he nearly DIED. The next attempt at the project
is to speak to WWF (now called WWE) Hall of Fame members
Hulk Hogan, Tony Atlas, Sergeant Slaughter & Tito Santana
plus Jose Luis Rivera, Demolition Ax (then working as the
Masked Superstar) and then owner of the WWF; Vince K
McMahon. The goal is their perspectives on Sheik and the
night the wrestling business changed forever. Also the hope
at the end of the traveling is to possibly see Sheik again
and have a different experience.
The end product (which went over 33 states and Puerto Rico)
is a wonderful look at the professional wrestling world as
Vince J McMahon sold the family promotion to his son. I am
not sure if it intentional but Mister Balukjian’s work feels
like the transcript of a documentary film. His attention to
detail is impeccable. I will not spoil which of the “Six
Pack” Mister Balukjian spoke to, but each person’s view of
the time frame will enrich the journey.
The book can be purchased on all shopping platforms like
Amazon and Barnes & Noble. For more work from Alan Wojcik
check out www.Facebook.com/KayfabeWrestlingRadio or
MyNameisWojcik on Twitter/X.