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.
Supplemental Information
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Spotlight in History
- 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
- 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 2007 Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
- 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
Week of Sun 05-05 to Sat: 05-11
- 05-05 1941 Maurice Shapiro became the TSW Missouri Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock became the TSW United States Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-05 1958 Jim LaRock def. Sandor Kovacs for the TSW Oklahoma Junior Heavyweight Champion
- 05-05 1978 Jerry Brown & Bobby Jaggers def. Ray Candy & Steven Little Bear for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-05 1982 King Kong Bundy def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 05-05 1982 Junkyard Dog & Mr. Olympia def. The Wild Samoans (Afa & Sika) for the MSW Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 05-05 1986 Rick Rude def. Lance Von Erich for the WCCW Television Champion
- 05-05 2002 Red Eagle def. Terry Montana for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 05-05 2002 Terry Montana def. Red Eagle for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Champion
- 05-05 2007 Compound Varsity (Romero Contreras & Justin Lee) became the FCW Tag Team Champions
- 05-05 2012 Kareem Sadat def. David Kyzer for the SWCW Hardcore Champion
- 05-05 2017 El Greengo Loco & Karnage def. Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1959 Pretty Boy Collins & Duke Scarbo became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1969 Ramon Torres & Alberto Torres def. Karl Von Stroheim & Treacherous Phillips for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1974 Rip Tyler def. Bob Sweetan for the TSW Brass Knucks Champion
- 05-06 1984 The Rock & Soul Connection (Buck Zumhofe & King Parsons) def. The Super Destroyers (Super Destroyer 1 & Super Destroyer 2) for the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Fritz Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) def. The Fabulous Freebirds (Terry Gordy, Michael Hayes, & Buddy Roberts) for the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1984 The Von Erichs (Kerry Von Erich & Kevin Von Erich & Mike Von Erich) became the WCCW World 6-Man Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 1985 The Fantastics (Tommy Rogers & Bobby Fulton) became the WCCW American Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 2005 Shane Morbid def. Kenny Campbell for the SRPW X Division Champion
- 05-06 2005 The 918 Boyz (Timmy J & Cade Sydal) became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
- 05-06 2011 Jeff Starchild became the MWA Heavyweight Champion
- 05-06 2017 Lone Star, Inc. (Cody Burns & Trey Cole & The Longhorn Outlaw) def. Simply the Future (J. D. & Alex) for the WFC Tag Team Champions
- 05-06 2017 Team Dean Machine (Christopher Dean & Jerry Dean) def. El Greengo Loco & Karnage for the BPPW Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 05-06 2023 Thrash def. Jason Jones for the WFC Prime Champion
- 05-06 2023 MLP def. Red James for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
- 05-06 2023 Red James def. MLP for the RDW Brass Knucks Champion
- 05-07 1984 Killer Khan became the WCCW Television Champion
- 05-07 2010 Cody Jones became the NWA-OK Texoma Champion
- 05-07 2010 Jack Legacy def. Jeff Starchild for the MWA Heavyweight Champion
- 05-07 2010 Dustin Heritage def. Shane Morbid for the MWA MAX-Division Champion
- 05-07 2010 A. T. F. (Al Farat & Gurkha Singh) became the NWA-OK Oklahoma Tag Team Champion
- 05-07 2010 La Reina de Corazones became the NWA-OK Women's Champion
- 05-07 2011 Rudy Edwards def. Ryan Styles for the SWCW All-American Champion
- 05-07 2011 Bernie D & Max McGuirk def. Nemesis (Rage Logan & Damien Morte) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 05-07 2016 Tyson Jaymes def. Brandon Groom for the BCW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-07 2018 Jack Swagger became the WCR Heavyweight Champion
- 05-07 2018 The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich & Ross Von Erich) became the WCR Tag Team Champions
- 05-07 2018 Damon Windsor became the WCR Revolutionary Champion
- 05-07 2021 Jerome Daniel Griffey def. Tino Valentino for the ASP Heavyweight Champion
- 05-07 2022 Drake Gallows def. Oxley for the RDW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-07 2022 Derek James became the AWE Lion Heart Champion
- 05-07 2022 Luna Nightshade became the RDW Women's Champion
- 05-07 2022 Brandon Groom def. Derek James for the AWE Lion Heart Champion
- 05-07 2022 Becky def. Luna Nightshade for the RDW Women's Champion
- 05-08 1970 The Hollywood Blondes (Jerry Brown & Buddy Roberts) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-08 1985 The Snowman became the MSW Television Champion
- 05-08 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. King Parsons for the WCCW World Champion
- 05-08 2004 Brandon Groom def. Michael Barry for the NWA-OK Oklahoma Heavyweight Champion
- 05-08 2004 John O'Malley became the IZW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-08 2004 Kenny Campbell became the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 05-08 2004 Luc Lapointe & Se7en became the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 05-08 2010 Excellence Personified (Dustin Heritage & Se7en & Michael Barry & Jack Legacy) became the TAP Tag Team Champions
- 05-08 2010 Wage def. Eric Rose for the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 05-08 2010 John O'Malley def. Kevin Morgan for the IZW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-08 2010 Michael H def. Tex for the 412PE Heavyweight Champion
- 05-08 2010 J. R. Orullian & The Unknown def. The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Dennis Williams) for the 412PE Tag Team Champions
- 05-09 1967 Gorgeous George, Jr. & Jack Brisco def. The Assassins (Assassin #1 & Assassin #2) for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-09 2004 John O'Malley def. Chris Matthews for the ACW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-09 2004 Se7en became the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 05-09 2004 Bernie Donderwitz def. Se7en for the ACW Hardcore Champion
- 05-09 2009 Crazy Beautiful (Brett Taylor & Michael York) def. Team SuperBad (El Super Colibri & Justin Lee) for the ComPro Tag Team Champions
- 05-09 2009 Dane Griffin def. Dustin Heritage for the IZW Impact Division Champion
- 05-09 2009 BLK-OUT (Jermaine Johnson & Montego Seeka) def. Impact, Inc. (Johnny Z & Bernie D) for the IZW Tag Team Champions
- 05-09 2015 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Hurricane Ross & J. R. Orullian for the NAW Tag Team Champions
- 05-09 2021 Erica def. Brandon Barricade for the ASP All Time Champion
- 05-10 1966 The Assassins (Assassin 1 & Assassin 2) became the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-10 2008 Jerry Bostic became the 3DW Violent Division Champion
- 05-10 2014 Billy Ray [1st] def. Running Wolf for the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-10 2014 American Made def. Tim Rockwell for the UWE United States Champion
- 05-10 2019 Kody Lane def. Latrell Upton for the ComPro Oklahoma X Division Champion
- 05-10 2023 Leo Fox def. The Wolf of War for the RDW Iron Man Champion
- 05-11 1976 Karl Kox & Bob Sweetan def. Ted DiBiase & Dick Murdoch for the TSW United States Tag Team Champion
- 05-11 1981 Ernie Ladd def. Kerry Von Erich for the WCCW American Heavyweight Champion
- 05-11 2008 The Midnite Rider def. Outlaw for the MSWA Oklahoma Champion
- 05-11 2008 Limited Edition (Les Mayne & Dane Griffin) def. The South Side Soul Assassins (Tyson Jaymes & 3rd Rail) for the MSWA Mid-South Tag Team Champion
- 05-11 2013 Billy Ray [1st] became the NAW Heavyweight Champion
- 05-11 2013 The Trenchcoat Mafia (Ryan Reed & Billy Ray [1st]) def. Pretty In Pink (Mike Rose & Michael Duplanti) for the NAW Tag Team Champions
- 05-11 2019 Drake Gallows became the KCW National Champion
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