On this page, you find the full wrestling profile of Nikolai Volkoff, with his Career History, real name, age, height and weight, the Promotions he worked for, all the Face/Heel turns, the Championship Titles he won, his Finishers, Theme Songs, Tag Teams and Stables, his appearance changes through the years, and more.
Josip Nikolai Peruzović was born in Split, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia on October 14, 1947.
He died on July 29, 2018 at the age of 70.
Nikolai Volkoff has won a total of 3 championships in major promotions during his career.
Nikolai Volkoff was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Nikolai Volkoff Profile Index
Profile Info
- GenderMale
- Real NameJosip Nikolai Peruzović
- Ring Names
- Nikolai Volkoff (June 25, 1973 - May 5, 2018)
- Boris Breznikoff (August 30, 1974 - October 25, 1975)
- Bepo Mongol (November 4, 1969 - June 23, 1972)
- John Foti (October 4, 1968 - July 1, 1969)
- Born October 14, 1947
- Died July 29, 2018 (aged 70)
- Nationality
Croatia, 
United States - Birth PlaceSplit, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
- Billed From
- Moscow, Soviet Union
- Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
- Weight
- 313 lbs (142 kg)
Career History
-
Roles
- Wrestler (January 1, 1967 - May 5, 2018)
-
Promotions History
Promotion from to Promotion 
INDYJanuary 14, 1994 May 5, 2018 Promotion 
WWFFebruary 1, 1994 May 13, 1995 Promotion 
ECWJuly 14, 1992 October 3, 1992 Promotion WWFAugust 10, 1984 December 31, 1990 Promotion 
GCWFebruary 26, 1984 July 13, 1984 Promotion 
NWAJuly 22, 1983 July 13, 1984 Promotion 
MSWSeptember 14, 1983 May 27, 1984 Promotion 
GACOctober 16, 1983 May 11, 1984 Promotion 
AJPWBrand
Heavyweight
January 2, 1982 June 8, 1983 Promotion NWASeptember 8, 1979 December 16, 1981 Promotion 
CWFJanuary 9, 1980 April 29, 1981 Promotion 
WWWFJanuary 14, 1974 February 23, 1980 Promotion 
NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
March 4, 1977 December 6, 1979 Promotion NWA, GCWAugust 11, 1975 December 19, 1975 Promotion 
AWAOctober 26, 1974 October 25, 1975 Promotion NJPWBrand
Heavyweight
August 30, 1974 October 10, 1974 Promotion NWASeptember 20, 1968 November 8, 1973 Promotion 
BTW DALLAS, GACJune 25, 1973 November 8, 1973 Promotion GCWJanuary 26, 1972 June 23, 1972 Promotion 
NWFMay 6, 1971 October 7, 1971 Promotion 
WWWFApril 4, 1970 August 13, 1971 Promotion 
STAMPEDESeptember 20, 1968 July 1, 1969 -
Images History
Jan 2010
May 1995
Feb 1994
Aug 1984
Aug 1974
Jun 1972
Nov 1969
Jan 1967 -
Face / Heel Turns
Alignment Details from to Heel February 1, 1994 May 5, 2018 Face April 24, 1990 January 31, 1994 Heel September 20, 1968 April 23, 1990
-
Finishers
- Russian Bearhug - Bearhug (April 4, 1970 - May 5, 2018)
- The Russian Backbreaker - Lifting Backbreaker (April 4, 1970 - May 5, 2018)
-
Theme Songs
- Theme Song"All for the Motherland" by Jim Johnston - Single (April 4, 1970 - May 13, 1995)
Titles & Accomplishments
Career Awards
- WWE Hall of Fame - Individual (Year2005)
-
World Wrestling Entertainment
-
x1 WWF Tag Team Championship (with The Iron Sheik) -
x2 WWWF International Tag Team Championship (1 with Geto Mongol, 1 with Geeto Mongol)
-
Championship Wrestling from Florida
- 1 NWA Florida Tag Team Championship (with Ivan Koloff)
Georgia Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Georgia Heavyweight Championship
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
- 1 NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (with Chris Markoff)
Mid-South Wrestling
- 1 Mid-South North American Championship
National Wrestling Federation
- 1 NWF World Tag Team Championship (with Geeto Mongol)
North American Wrestling
- 2 NAW Heavyweight Championship
Northeast Championship Wrestling (Tom Janette)
- 1 NCW Heavyweight Championship
NWA Detroit
- 1 NWA World Tag Team Championship (Detroit version) (with Boris Volkoff)
Universal Wrestling Association
- 1 UWA Heavyweight Championship
World Wide Wrestling Alliance
- 1 WWWA Heavyweight Championship
World Wrestling Association (Larry Sharpe)
- 1 WWA Heavyweight Championship
-
Other Accomplishments
- NEPW Hall of Fame induction (class of 2013)
- 1986 WWF Slammy Award - Most Ignominious
- 1897 WWF Slammy Award - Best Personal Hygiene (with Boris Zhukov and Slick)
- 136° in the PWI Years Top 500 (2003)
- 96° in the PWI Years Top 100 Teams (2003 - with The Iron Sheik)
Teams & Relations
-
Tag Teams & Stables
- The Million Dollar Corporation - Bam Bam Bigelow, Irwin R. Schyster / Mike Rotunda, King Kong Bundy, Lex Luger, Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Tatanka, Brian Lee / Chainz (May 16, 1994 - December 30, 1994)
- The Bolsheviks - Boris Zhukov (September 30, 1989 - April 24, 1990)
- The Bolsheviks - Boris Zhukov (October 6, 1987 - January 29, 1989)
- Iron Sheik & Nikolai Volkoff - The Iron Sheik (August 29, 1984 - May 26, 1987)
- Chris Markoff & Nikolai Volkoff - Chris Markoff (January 6, 1981 - November 26, 1981)
- Ivan Koloff & Nikolai Volkoff - Ivan Koloff (June 16, 1980 - September 23, 1980)
- The Mongols - Geeto Mongol (November 24, 1969 - July 16, 1971)
- Managers
