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Nikolai Volkoff

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Nikolai Volkoff
BornOctober 1947
Croatia
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Nikolai Volkoff
Bepo Mongol
Billed height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Billed weight315 lb (143 kg)
Billed fromMoscow, Russia
Debut1968

Nikolai Volkoff (born Josip Peruzovic around October 1947) Although he portrayed a Russian as a wrestler, he was, in fact, from the Croatia.

Career

Peruzovic grew up in the Croatia, which was then part of former Yugoslavia, which was under Communist control. His mother is Russian and his father was Croat and Italian. He was on the Yugoslavian weightlifting team until 1968, when, at age 18, he defected to Canada while at a weightlifting tournament in Vienna, Austria. He came to the United States in 1970.

As soon as he arrived, he began wrestling in the WWWF. Wrestling as Bepo Mongol, managed by Captain Lou Albano and partnered with Geto Mongol, he captured the WWWF International Tag Team Titles from Tony Marino and Victor Rivera on June 15, 1970. After losing the titles to Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler in a match that unified the WWWF International and WWWF World Tag Team Titles, Peruzovic went on to singles competition under the name Nikolai Volkoff.

In 1974, he had what he considers to be the most memorable match of his life when he sold out Madison Square Garden wrestling Bruno Sammartino. Volkoff was always given a considerable amount of title shots from whoever was the current WWWF Champion. He continued to chase the title for some time before leaving the WWWF.

In 1984, Volkoff returned to the WWWF (now WWF)and teamed with The Iron Sheik. They captured the WWF Tag-Team Championship from Mike Rotundo and Barry Windham at Wrestlemania I, on March 31, 1985. After losing the titles back Rotundo and Windham three months later, Volkoff began to wrestle more in singles competition, most notably feuding with Corporal Kirschner.

In late 1987, Volkoff was teamed with Boris Zhukov, another alleged Russian (actually an American), to form The Bolsheviks. The Bolsheviks never held any titles together, and are perhaps best remembered for being defeated in 19 seconds by The Hart Foundation at Wrestlemania VI.

During the Cold War period, Volkoff played a communist villain who was one of the most hated men in professional wrestling. His act included angering fans by insulting America and singing a mock "Russian National Anthem" before each match. Peruzovic, who had originally sought to be the "good guy," finally got his wish as the Cold War was ending. Stated Peruzovic to his managers, "I told them, communism is over. I did my job. No more bad guy."

In 1990, The Bolsheviks split up, and Volkoff became a fan favourite for the first time in his career. His gimmick was now that of a proud American citizen, which led to a feud with Sgt. Slaughter, who had recently began an Iraqi sympathizer gimmick. After this feud was over, Volkoff's popularity declined, and he left WWF in 1992.

In 1995, Volkoff again returned to WWF television and turned heel again by playing the whipping-boy of Ted Dibiase's Million Dollar Corporation.

On February 3, 2005, Volkoff was announced as one of the inductees for the Class of 2005 into the WWE Hall of Fame along with Paul Orndorff, "Cowboy" Bob Orton, Jimmy Hart, The Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, and "Rowdy" Roddy Piper. The induction ceremony took place on April 2, 2005 in the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, California.

Currently, Peruzovic is working as a code enforcement officer in Baltimore County, Maryland. He still wrestles the odd independent show.

Peruzovic has been married for 35 years and is the father of two grown daughters - a teacher and a nurse.

Political Involvement

Peruzovic is considering running as a Republican for the Maryland House of Delegates in 2006. He has created an exploratory committee to look at his political options.

Finishing and signature maneuvers

Previous Managers

Championships/Accomplishments

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