Nikolai Volkoff

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Nikolai Volkoff
Newton Tattrie
Debut1967

Josip Hrvoje Peruzović (October 14, 1947 – July 29, 2018),

World Wrestling Federation where he usually played a Soviet heel
.

In the 1970s, Peruzović was Bepo of the Mongols

Executioners and feuded with Bruno Sammartino over the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship as Volkoff. In the 1980s, he tag teamed with the Iron Sheik and won the WWF Tag Team Championship at the inaugural WrestleMania event, and then with Boris Zhukov as The Bolsheviks
.

In 1990, Volkoff turned face and defected to America, briefly feuding with Zhukov and newly-heel Iraqi sympathizer Sgt. Slaughter. In 1994, after a hiatus, he returned as a destitute and desperate character, exploited by Ted DiBiase as the first member of his Million Dollar Corporation. He continued to wrestle in various promotions until his death in 2018.

Early life

Peruzović grew up in the

née Tomašević). His brother is Croatian footballer Luka Peruzović. Despite what he sometimes claimed, his actual middle name was not Nikolai but Hrvoje, and his mother's maiden name was not Volkoff but Tomašević. These inconsistencies cast doubt on his ethnic background and seem to indicate a Croat ethnicity.[7][8] His maternal grandfather Ante Tomašević was world champion in the Greco-Roman wrestling style at the turn of the 20th century.[9][8]
Ante was born in Cetina, a small village near Sinj, Croatia to Croatian parents Stipe and Katerina in 1872.

Peruzović was on the Yugoslavian weightlifting team until 1967, when he emigrated to Canada after a weightlifting tournament in Vienna, Austria.[10] He received training in Calgary from Stu Hart, followed by his arrival in the United States in 1970.[7] A fellow Croatian-native played the first Soviet Volkoff character in American pro-wrestling. Steve Gobb, born Gobrokovich, wrestled as USSR's Nicoli Volkoff in the 1960s before the character was picked up by Josip.

Professional wrestling career

Early years (1967–1970)

While trying his luck as a wrestler in

NWA Detroit, the International Wrestling Association and the National Wrestling Federation
where they won tag gold.

World Wide Wrestling Federation (1970–1971)

Volkoff (left) as one half of the Mongols

In 1970 he began wrestling in

Tarzan Tyler in a match over a year later that unified the WWWF International and WWWF World Tag Team Championship, Peruzovic left the WWWF and went on to singles competition under the name "Nikolai Volkoff".[2]

Return to the WWWF (1974–1980)

In 1974, Volkoff returned to the company and appeared in a memorable match at a sold out Madison Square Garden and wrestled one of the sport's most famous champions, Bruno Sammartino.[2] In 1976, he was masked as an Executioner as he became the third member along with Killer Kowalski and Big John Studd. They captured the World Tag Team Championship, but it was vacated due to a third member interfering. Later he reverted to the Volkoff name. During this time in the WWWF, Volkoff was announced as being from Mongolia. He had a very successful feud with Bruno Sammartino, which started when Volkoff attacked him during an interview segment. They sold-out arenas throughout the Northeast. During this tenure, he began crushing fresh apples with one hand as a sign of what he would do to his opponents. He later had a feud with Bob Backlund during Backlund's tenure as champion.

American Wrestling Association; Mid-South; and Japan (1972–1984, 1989)

Late in 1974, Volkoff moved to the AWA where he wrestled under the name Boris Breznikoff, managed by Bobby "The Brain" Heenan, he used the same gimmick with a different ring name. From 1977 to 1983 he wrestled in Japan for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 1983, Volkoff wrestled for "Cowboy" Bill Watts in the Mid-South region. On October 29, 1989, he returned to AWA for a one night appearance as he lost to Ken Patera.

Second return to the WWF (1984–1990, 1992)

Teaming with the Iron Sheik (1984–1987)

Main article: The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
Volkoff with the Iron Sheik and their manager, Freddie Blassie

In July 1984, Volkoff returned to the renamed WWF defeating

Brendan Byrne Arena
).

Volkoff also feuded with former

the Killer Bees at WrestleMania III (Sheik and Volkoff won by disqualification when Duggan entered the ring while chasing Volkoff and then hitting the Sheik with his 2x4 while he had the camel clutch on "Jumping" Jim Brunzell
).

The Bolsheviks (1987–1990)

Main article: The Bolsheviks

In late 1987, Volkoff was teamed with

the Hart Foundation at WrestleMania VI.[2] Eventually, by 1990, the Bolsheviks split up. Volkoff publicly ended the partnership prior to a match where he confronted Zhukhov and then started singing "The Star-Spangled Banner", drawing loud cheers from the audience and turning babyface
in the process.

Babyface turn (1990; 1992)

A short time after the Bolsheviks split, Volkoff became a face for the first time in his career. His gimmick was now that of a recent defector, he became very pro-west which led to a feud with Sgt. Slaughter who had an Iraqi sympathizer role and teamed with the former Iron Sheik, who had recently begun an Iraqi gimmick under the name Colonel Mustafa.[2] After Volkoff's team defeated Slaughter's team at the 1990 Survivor Series (Tito Santana was the sole survivor), Volkoff left the WWF at the end of 1990. He made a brief return to compete in the 1992 Royal Rumble match, as well as to face Hercules in a house show match on January 29 in Lowell, Massachusetts.[11] [12]

Various promotions (1991-1994)

After leaving WWF, Volkoff began competing in the independent circuit. On May 3, 1991, he defeated his former Bolshevik partner Boris Zhukov for Trans World Wrestling Federation in Newington, Connecticut. On August 8, 1992, he went to Puerto Rico to wrestled for World Wrestling Council WCC 19th Anniversario 1992 losing to the Patriot. On April 4, 1993, he wrestled his former partner the Iron Sheik to a double count out at Wrestling in the USA event in Livingston, New Jersey.

Eastern Championship Wrestling (1992–1993)

In 1992 he went to Eastern Championship Wrestling in Philadelphia where he feuded with Vladimir Markoff. On October 2, he lost to ECW Champion Don Muraco. He then returned to ECW on October 16, 1993, as he lost to Jimmy Snuka.

Third return to the WWF (1993; 1994-1995)

One night appearance (1993)

Volkoff in 2009

He returned as a babyface to pin Barry Horowitz at a WWF Superstars/All-American Wrestling taping on July 6, 1993, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.[13]

The Million Dollar Corporation; departure (1994–1995)

See also:
The Million Dollar Corporation

On February 1, 1994, Volkoff began a full-time return to the WWF, making a ringside appearance at a Superstars taping in White Plains, New York during a match between Diesel and Mike Moraldo.

¢ on his trunks where the Russian sickle once was along with a sign on his ring attire that read "Property of the Million Dollar Man". The final WWF match for Volkoff was on December 30, 1994, when he defeated jobber Bob Starr in a house show. Volkoff's final appearance was at the WWF's final show at the Boston Garden on May 13, 1995. During a match between Bam Bam Bigelow and Tatanka, Volkoff made an appearance to chase Tatanka's manager Ted Dibiase away.[15]
Following this last run in the WWF, Volkoff entered semi-retirement.

Semi-retirement (1995–2018)

Volkoff made a brief cameo on an episode of Shotgun Saturday Night in 1997 where Todd Pettengill discovered him homeless sleeping in a box on the streets of New York City. He also appeared at WrestleMania X-Seven at the Astrodome in Houston in the gimmick battle royal which was won by the Iron Sheik. On November 30, 2001, he lost to King Kong Bundy at AAWA event in Jersey City, New Jersey. On February 3, 2005, Volkoff was announced as one of the WWE Hall of Fame inductees for the class of 2005. He was inducted on April 2, 2005, by Jim Ross at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles. In 2006, Volkoff took part in the World Wrestling Legends pay-per-view 6:05 The Reunion. Managed by the Iron Sheik, he wrestled a match against Duggan. Before the match, he once again sang the national anthem of the Soviet Union and riled up the crowd. Volkoff made his first appearance on WWE television in over two years on the August 13, 2007 episode of Raw as a contestant on WWE Idol, a parody of American Idol. Volkoff appeared alongside the Iron Sheik and Howard Finkel, although Volkoff was the only one who sang. Volkoff sang the Soviet Union national anthem, receiving boos from the crowd (despite being a babyface) and was insulted by judge William Regal, although judges Mick Foley and Maria both praised the performance. In response, Sheik, who was also insulted, went on a tirade until both he and Volkoff were escorted out of the building by security.

Volkoff in 2015

The March 10, 2008, edition of WWE Raw, featured rematches from previous WrestleManias. The Iron Sheik appeared along with Nikolai Volkoff to face off against the U.S. Express in a rematch from the first WrestleMania. The match never started as Jillian Hall came out to interrupt Volkoff's singing so she could sing Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A.", which the U.S. Express used as their ring entrance music in 1984–85. On the November 15, 2010, edition of Raw, as part of the "old school" theme, Volkoff appeared with the Iron Sheik, singing the Soviet national anthem before being interrupted by Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov, the latter of whom then sung a duet with Volkoff of the Soviet national anthem. Afterwards, Volkoff worked for various independent promotions throughout North America. He remained popular on the autograph convention circuit. In June 2013 he threw out the first pitch at a Bowie Baysox baseball game and sang "God Bless America" after the pitch. In October 2013, he sang the Soviet national anthem at a show in New Jersey, after being introduced by Howard Finkel.

Volkoff in 2008

Volkoff lent his name to a forward for a fiction novel called Only the Beginning which is set in the 1980s and is about a girl's life during high school. While the book is not wrestling related, the author Jason Strecker was a personal friend of Volkoff's and in the foreword Volkoff responds to his friendship with the author along with the book's message of being of strong character and doing positive actions for others. The book also has a foreword by

Lana and sang the Soviet national anthem.[16] On February 28, 2015, Volkoff appeared for the Superstars of Wrestling promotion in Bayville, New Jersey, where he teamed with ECW legend the Sandman
to take on independent standouts Kentucky Bred – in a 3 on 2 handicap tag match. Before the match, Volkoff and Sandman sang the Soviet national anthem and proceeded to drink beer together. The duo squashed Kentucky Bred and then poured beer all over them.

On March 21, 2015, Volkoff participated at a SICW event taking place on East Carondelet. Volkoff managed and mentored the team of younger wrestlers Ricky Cruz and Red River Jack, while also managing veteran wrestler "Cowboy" Bob Orton Jr. to take on the team of Chris Hargas, Bull Bronson, and Attila Khan. Volkoff and Orton appeared in their outfit and gimmick from their WWF days. The team of Volkoff, Orton, Cruz, and Jack came up victorious. On March 5, 2016, Volkoff showed up at Night of Legends at Billtown Wrestling in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, sang the American national anthem and teamed with Cash Money, who turned on him to give the win to Koko B. Ware and Jim Neidhart. On June 25, 2016, he wrestled his last match in Canada where he defeated the Messiah for Great North Wrestling in Pembroke, Ontario. On June 9, 2017, Volkoff wrestled for H2O Wrestling: 1 Year Anniversary in Willamstown, New Jersey as he defeated D. J. Hyde. On May 5, 2018, at the age of 70, Volkoff wrestled his final match, teaming with Jim Duggan to defeat the team of Mecha Mercenary and Nicky Benz for Battleground Championship Wrestling in Feasterville, Pennsylvania.

Personal life

Volkoff (right) with Paul Orndorff

Peruzović met his wife Lynn in 1970, and became an American citizen that year.[17][18] In Freddie Blassie's autobiography Listen, You Pencil Neck Geeks, he describes Peruzović as a "good family man" who helped Blassie reconnect with a daughter from whom he had been estranged for many years. In a 2009 shoot interview released by Pro Wrestling Diary on DVD, Peruzović discusses his in-depth history with Freddie Blassie as well as helping Blassie re-connect with his daughter. During his career he was also known for his frugality, and traveled with a hot plate to avoid having to spend money on meals at restaurants.

Peruzović worked with the Baltimore County Police Athletic League kids programs.[17] He previously worked as a code enforcement officer in Baltimore County.[19][20]

Politics

Peruzović ran unsuccessfully in the 2006 Maryland Republican primary for state delegate in District 7 (representing parts of Baltimore and Harford County).[20][21]

Death

Peruzović died at home on July 29, 2018, at the age of 70, days after being released from a Maryland hospital where he had been treated for dehydration and other medical issues.[4]

Other media

  • Volkoff is a playable character in the following video games: Legends of Wrestling (2001), Legends of Wrestling II (2002), WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain (2003),[22] Showdown: Legends of Wrestling (2004), and WWE Legends of WrestleMania (2009).
  • On October 29, 2007, a Homestar Runner Halloween special was released, in which Strong Mad was dressed as Nikolai Volkoff.
  • In 2010, Volkoff appeared along with wrestler
    internet TV
    show Monster Madhouse.
  • In 2016, Volkoff released a biographical comic book miniseries through Squared Circle Comics, titled "Nikolai" (2016–2018).
  • In 2018, Volkoff appeared in the horror film WrestleMassacre as the father of the film's central character, played by pro wrestler Richie the Cuban Assassin Acevedo. The film was released on DVD and on demand on June 16, 2020.[23]

Championships and accomplishments

  • WWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[29]

References

  1. ^ Summer, Ben (July 30, 2018). "Nikolai Volkoff, professional wrestler who played a Soviet villain, dies at 70". Washington Post. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Nikolai Volkoff Profile". Online World Of Wrestling. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d "Nikolai Volkoff WWE Hall of Fame Profile". WWE. Retrieved March 30, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Johnson, Mike (July 29, 2018). "WWE Hall of Famer Nikolai Volkoff Passes Away (Updated With Career Retrospective)". PW Insider. United States: PW Insider, LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  5. ^ Born in 1946 per search of FamilyTreeNow.com
  6. ^ Mooneyham, Mike (May 27, 2018). "Did you know that Nikolai Volkoff ran for the Maryland statehouse?". The Post and Courier. Charleston, South Carolina: Evening Post Industries. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  7. ^ a b "Dragica Peruzović - eOsmrtnice.ba". eOsmrtnice.ba. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Sandomir, Richard (July 31, 2018). "Nikolai Volkoff, Soviet Villain in the Wrestling Ring, Is Dead at 70". The New York Times. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  9. ^ www.eternus-web.hr, Eternus web -. "Povijest hrvanja u Hrvatskoj". www.hhs.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved August 2, 2018.
  10. ^ Grasso 2014, p. 332.
  11. ^ "92". The History of WWE. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  12. ^ "Osmrtnic Livno". All obituaris from Livno. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  13. ^ "93". The History of WWE. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  14. ^ "94". The History of WWE. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
  15. ^ "Bam Bam Bigelow vs. Tatanka 05/13/95". YouTube. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  16. ^ WWE (September 8, 2014), Nikolai Volkoff joins Rusev & Lana - Raw Fallout - Sept. 8, 2014, retrieved May 31, 2018
  17. ^
    Tronc, Inc.
    Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  18. ^ Sears, Bryan P. (March 30, 2005). "Ex-wrestler finds code of conduct". Towson Times. Walla Walla, Washington. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007.
  19. ^ Iole, Kevin (June 23, 2013). "The cruel tragedy of The Iron Sheik". Yahoo! Sports. United States: Yahoo!. Retrieved January 16, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Capital News Service (March 25, 2006). "Another Former Pro Wrestler Seeks Political Fortune". Fox News. New York City: Fox Entertainment Group. Retrieved March 25, 2006.
  21. Tronc, Inc.
    Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  22. ^ "Legend: Nikolai Volkoff - WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain Wiki Guide".
  23. ^ "Wrestling meets horror in trailer for "WrestleMassacre"". May 29, 2020.
  24. ^ NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship History
  25. ^ Tanabe, Hisaharu. "N.W.F. North American Heavyweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
  26. Maryland Championship Wrestling (2009). "Nikolai Volkoff". 2009 Inductee. MarylandWrestling.com. Archived from the original
    on June 25, 2013. Retrieved October 5, 2011.
  27. ^ NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team title history
  28. ^ "List of Past Inductees". Archived from the original on July 6, 2013. Retrieved June 14, 2010.
  29. ^
    ISBN 0-9698161-5-4
    .
  30. ^ "National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Title [Detroit]". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  31. ^ "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 500 for 1994". The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved August 25, 2015.
  32. ^ a b "PWI 500 of the PWI Years". Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  33. ^ Official World Tag Team Championship Title History
  34. ^ WWWF/WWF International Tag Team Title History
  35. ^ "WWE Hall of Fame". Pro Wrestling History. Archived from the original on May 21, 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  36. ^ a b "The Slammy Awards". ProWrestlingHistory.com. Retrieved April 28, 2018.

Further reading

External links

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