Bios
Nikolai Volkoff
Height: 6' 4"
Weight: 315 lbs
From: Moscow, Russia
Birthday: Oct 14th
Pro Debut: 1968
Aliases: Bepo Mongol, Big O, Boris Breznikoff, Executioner #3, Joe Croatian, Joe Peruzovic, Super Destroyer
Feds Worked For: MSW, TSW, AWA, NWA, WWE, WWF, WWWF, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Allied Powers Wrestling Federation (PA), Atomic Championship Wrestling (PA), Ballpark Brawl (NY), Big Bear Promotions (Canada), Big Time Wrestling (MI), Billtown Championship Wrestling (PA), Bloody Rage American Wrestling League (NY), Brew City Wrestling (WI), Central Canadian Championship Wrestling (Canada), Championship International Wrestling (MI), Championship Pro Wrestling (WV), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Classic Championship Wrestling (OH/PA), Combat Zone Wrestling (NJ), Destination One Wrestling (IN), Devastation Wrestling Federation (NJ), East Coast Pro Wrestling (NJ/NY/PA), East Coast Wrestling Association (DE/NJ/PA), Eastern Championship Wrestling (PA), EWA, Forgotten Championship Wrestling (NY), Georgia Championship Wrestling (GA), Great North Wrestling (Canada), Gulf Athletic Club (TX), Hardcore Hustle Organization (NJ), Heroes and Legends Wrestling (IN), Heroes of Wrestling (MS), House of Pain Wrestling Federation (MD/PA/WV), Impact Zone Wrestling (AZ/NM), Independent Professional Wrestling Alliance (VA), International Championship Wrestling (ME/NJ/NY/VT), International Wrestling (Canada), International Wrestling Cartel (PA), Japan Wrestling Association (Japan), Keystone State Wrestling Alliance (PA), Lucky Pro Wrestling (MA), Maple Leaf Wrestling (Canada), Mid Eastern Wrestling Federation (MD), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), National Wrestling Federation (NJ/NY/OH/PA/DC), National Wrestling League (MD/PA/VA/WV), National Wrestling Superstars (NJ), New Breed Wrestling (NY), New Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Northern Championship Wrestling (Canada), NWA Championship Wrestling America (NJ/PA), NWA Big Time Wrestling (TX), NWA Hollywood (CA), NWA Jersey (NJ), NWA New Jersey/New York (NJ/NY), NWA Over the Top (NJ/PA), NWA Shockwave (NJ), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA),Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling (PA), Pennsylvania Championship Wrestling Alliance (PA), Pennsylvania Premiere Wrestling (PA), Pioneer Wrestling Alliance (PA), Powerhouse Wrestling (MA), Pro Wrestling Entertainment (PA), Rice Pro Wrestling, Southern Championship Wrestling Florida (FL), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Stampede Wrestling (Canada), Super Pro Wrestling (PA), Susquehanna Wrestling Organization (PA), Trans World Wrestling Federation (CT/MD/NJ/PA), Ultimate Wrestling (NY), United Pro Wrestling Association (NC/NJ), United States Wrestling Federation (MA), Universal Wrestling Federation (CA/FL/ND/NV/NY/SC), World Wide Wrestling Alliance (PA), World Wrestling Council (Puerto Rico), World Xtreme Wrestling (FL/PA), Wrestling Fan Xperience (Canada), WWSA
Finisher: Russian Bear Hug
Signature Moves: Body Slam, Backbreaker
Career Highlights: -APWF 2000 Champion
-HoPWF Tag Team Champion (w/ Morgus the Maniac)
-MSW North American Champion
-NWA (Chicago/Indianapolis) World Tag Team Champion (4x; all w/ Boris Volkoff)
-NWA (Detroit) World Tag Team Champion (w/ Geeto Mongol)
-NWA Florida Tag Team Champion (w/ Ivan Koloff)
-NWA Georgia Champion
-NWA Macon Tag Team Champion (w/ Brute Bernard)
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Champion (w/ Chris Markoff)
-NWA Pacific Northwest Champion
-NWF Tag Team Champion (w/ Geeto Mongol)
-WWA Champion
-WWF World Tag Team Champion (w/ The Iron Sheik)
-WWWA Champion
-WWWF International Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Geeto Mongol)
Affiliates: Boris Volkoff, The Iron Sheik, Boris Zhukov, Geeto Mongol, Chris Markoff, Ivan Koloff, Krusher Darsow, Super Destroyer, Korstia Korchenko, Bobby Heenan, Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, Slick, Ted DiBiase, Irwin R. Schyster, Bam Bam Bigelow, The Undertaker, Kama, King Kong Bundy, Psycho Sid, Tatanka, The 1-2-3 Kid, The Ringmaster, Xanta Klaus, Bushwacker Butch, Bushwacker Luke, Tito Santana, Jim Duggan, Executioner #1/Killer Kowalski, Executioner #2/John Studd, Alfred Hays, Tony Angelo
Notable Feuds: Barry Windham, Mike Rotundo, Bugsy McGraw, Cpl. Kirschner, Davey Boy Smith, Dynamite Kid, Jim Brunzell, Jay Strongbow, Junkyard Dog, S. D. Jones, Gorilla Monsoon, B. Brian Blair, Sgt. Slaughter, Dusty Rhodes, Bruno Sammartino, Johnny Weaver, Bushwacker Luke, Bushwacker Butch, Ivan Putski, Jerry Brisco, King Konga/The Barbarian, The Warlord, Jim Nelson/Boris Zhukov, Victor Rivera, Tony Garea, Dominic DeNucci, Giant Baba, Jim Powers, Paul Roma, Blackjack Mulligan, Manny Fernández, Bobo Brazil, Lanny Poffo, George Steele, Scott McGhee, Dick Murdoch, Mike Graham, Tito Santana, Seiji Sakaguchi, Paul Jones, Jumbo Tsuruta, Prince Tonga/King Tonga/Haku, Jim Duggan, Jacques Rougeau, Raymond Rougeau, André the Giant, Terry Taylor/Dr. Feel Good, Jack Brisco, Dan Spivey, Manuel Soto, Masked Superstar/Super Machine/Ax, Bret Hart, Jim Neidhart, Jay Youngblood, Antonio Inoki, The Tonga Kid/Tama, Mikel Scicluna, Dewey Robertson/The Missing Link, Pete Sánchez, José Gonzales, José Luis Rivera/Conquistador #1, Hillbilly Jim, Steve Keirn/Skinner, Koko B. Ware, Hulk Hogan, Kenny Casanova
Other Facts: -Real name was Josip Nikolai Peruzovic. Volkoff was his mother's maiden name.
-Sometimes billed from Siberia
-Was actually born in Croatia to a Russian mother and a Croatian/Italian father.
-Achieved fame as an amateur wrestler and body builder in his native Yugoslavia
-Became an official United States citizen in 1970. He fled his native country at 19 and chose his wrestling character to educate Americans about the evils of communism, which he calls "the worst shape of capitalism."
-Boasted a 64 inch chest and 23 inch biceps. He could crush an apple in one hand and used that gimmick while feuding with Bruno Sammartino.
-Sang Russian National Anthem before his matches. This was a gimmick given to him by Bill Watts while he was in MSW and he carried it into the WWF.
-Was Al Farat's 1st professional opponent
-Former member of The Million Dollar Corporation
-Opened a wrestling training center in Baltimore, MD in 2004
-Appeared in the movie "Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb" in 2007
-Served as a Baltimore County Code inspector
-Became a vegetarian late in his life
-Ranked #260 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked #224 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Ranked #312 in the 1993 PWI 500
-Ranked #134 in the 1994 PWI 500
-Ranked #226 in the 1995 PWI 500
-Ranked #330 in the 1996 PWI 500
-Inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005
-Passed away July 29, 2018 at the age of 70. He had recently spent time in the hospital for extreme dehydration among other things and it is unclear exactly what led to his death.
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Spotlight in History
- 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
Week of Sun 04-28 to Sat: 05-04
- 04-28 1954 Red Berry def. Whitey Whittler for the TSW Tri-State Champion
- 04-28 1976 Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch def. Buck Robley & Bob Slaughter for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 04-28 1980 Kevin Von Erich def. Toru Tanaka for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 04-28 1989 The Simpson Brothers (Steve Simpson & Shaun Simpson) def. Beauty & The Beast (Terrance M. Garvin & The Beast [2nd]) for the WCCW Texas Tag Team Champion
- 04-28 2000 Heather Savage def. Jenna Love for the OPW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2002 Summer Rain became the OCW Oklahoma Womens Champion
- 04-28 2007 Eric Rose def. Jersey Devil for the UWF06 Light Heavyweight Champion
- 04-28 2007 Joe Herell became the UWF06 Violent Division Champion
- 04-28 2017 Brandon Groom def. Sam Stackhouse for the BPPW Oklahoma Champion
- 04-28 2018 Dusty Gold def. Wesley Crane for the UWE United States Champion
- 04-29 2006 AWOL def. Michael York for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2006 Natural Born Sinners (Appolyon & El Lotus) def. Pretty Young Things (Cade Sydal & Mitch Carter) for the ACW Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2006 Rexx Reed def. Carnage for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 04-29 2006 Carnage def. Rexx Reed for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 04-29 2007 Aaron Neil def. Tyler Bateman for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 04-29 2007 Brad Michaels def. Ryan Davidson for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2007 Bad Boy & Outlaw became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 04-29 2011 The Unknown & Johnny USA def. Michael H & Mr. Big for the NCW Tag Team Champions
- 04-29 2011 Mr. Big became the NCW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Sam Stackhouse def. Prophet for the BYEW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Rage Logan became the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Champion
- 04-29 2012 Nemesis (Damien Morte & Damon Windsor) became the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 04-29 2017 Aaron Anders became the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 04-30 1954 Frenchy Roy became the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 1955 Ricki Starr became the TSW Oklahoma Champion
- 04-30 2004 Shadow of Death def. Terry Montana for the TPW Hardcore Champion
- 04-30 2011 Ryan Reed def. Rolling Thunder for the UWE United States Champion
- 04-30 2011 Ray Martinez def. Ryan Reed for the UWE United States Champion
- 04-30 2016 Ray Martinez became the SRPW Heavyweight Champion
- 04-30 2022 Clayton Bloodstone def. Ky-Ote for the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
- 04-30 2023 El Gallardo/El Vaquero def. Cappuccino Jones for the BPW Lion Heart Champion
- 04-30 2023 Heavyweight Grappling (Dan Webber & Morrison) def. Subject To Death (Cade Fite & Leo Fox) for the BPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 05-01 1981 Super Destroyer def. Jim Garvin for the MSW Louisiana Champion
- 05-01 2016 Skylar Slice def. Nikki Knight for the MSWA Ladies Champion
- 05-01 2021 Fuel def. Derek James for the UWE Heavyweight Champion
- 05-02 1964 Mike Clancy & Al Lovelock def. Karol Krauser & Stan Pulaski for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-02 1969 Johnny Valentine def. Fritz Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 05-02 1977 Stan Hansen def. Dick Murdoch for the TSW North American Champion
- 05-02 1984 Krusher Khrushchev became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-02 1984 The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) def. The Midnight Express (Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 05-02 2009 Ozzy Hendrix def. Shank for the SWCW Luchadore Champion
- 05-02 2015 Gail Kim became the IWR Diamonds Champion
- 05-02 2015 Kareem Sadat became the BCW Independent Hardcore Champion
- 05-02 2021 Drake Gallows def. Blade [2nd] for the AIWF National Champion
- 05-03 1973 Rip Tyler & Eddie Sullivan def. The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Dale Valentine) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-03 1985 Ted DiBiase & Steve Williams def. The Rock-N-Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 05-03 2003 El Sufamilico def. Ichiban [1st] for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-03 2008 Damon Windsor def. Havoc for the SWCW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-03 2008 Miss Sheila def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 05-03 2014 Sam Stackhouse def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Champion
- 05-04 1953 Mike Clancy def. Karl Von Poppenheim for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-04 1968 Danny Hodge & Skandar Akbar became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-04 1969 Jerry Miller & Jim Osborne def. Danny Little Bear & Frank Dalton for the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 05-04 1973 Blackjack Mulligan def. Jose Lothario for the WCCW Texas Heavyweight Champion
- 05-04 1986 Kerry Von Erich & Lance Von Erich & Steve Simpson def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 05-04 1986 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Lance Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 05-04 1987 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW World Tag Team Champion
- 05-04 2003 Ichiban [1st]/Rocco Valentino def. El Sufamilico for the TPW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-04 2013 Tim Rockwell def. Daemon Storm for the UWE United States Champion
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