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 was inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.
Profile Info
- Gender Male
- Real Name Josip Nikolai Peruzović
- Ring Names
- Nikolai Volkoff ( June 25, 1973 - May 5, 2018)
- Boris Breznikoff ( August 30, 1974 - October 25, 1975)
- Bepo Mongol ( August 14, 1971 - June 23, 1972)
- Beppo ( November 4, 1969 - August 13, 1971)
- John Foti ( October 4, 1968 - July 1, 1969)
- Born October 14, 1947
- Died July 29, 2018 (aged 70)
- Nationality
CroatiaUnited States - Birth Place Split, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
- Billed From
- Moscow, Soviet Union
- Height 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
- Weight
- 313 lbs (142 kg)
Croatia
United StatesCareer History
- Roles
- Wrestler ( January 1, 1967 - May 5, 2018)
- Promotions / Brands
Promotion from to Promotion INDY January 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 NWAJuly 22, 1983 July 13, 1984 Promotion AJPWJanuary 2, 1982 June 8, 1983 Promotion NWASeptember 8, 1979 December 16, 1981 Promotion WWWFJanuary 14, 1974 February 23, 1980 Promotion NJPWMarch 4, 1977 December 6, 1979 Promotion AWAOctober 26, 1974 October 25, 1975 Promotion NJPWAugust 30, 1974 October 10, 1974 Promotion NWASeptember 20, 1968 March 26, 1972 Promotion WWWFApril 4, 1970 August 13, 1971 Promotion STAMPEDESeptember 20, 1968 July 1, 1969 - Face / Heel Turns
Alignment from to Heel February 1, 1994 May 5, 2018 Face April 24, 1990 January 31, 1994 Heel September 20, 1968 April 23, 1990 - Images History
Jan 1974Apr 1970
WWF
ECW
NWA
AJPW
WWWF
NJPW
AWA
WWWF
STAMPEDE
- 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
- Halls of Fame
- WWE Hall of Fame - Year 2005, Individual
- Titles Won
World Wide Wrestling Federation / World Wrestling Federation
- 1 WWF Tag Team Championship (with The Iron Sheik)
- 3 WWWF International Tag Team Championship (2 with Geto Mongol, 1 with Johnny De Fazio)
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)
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, The Undertaker (fake) ( May 16, 1994 - December 30, 1994)
- The Bolsheviks - Boris Zhukov ( October 6, 1987 - April 24, 1990)
- 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 ( November 24, 1969 - July 16, 1971)
- Managers Bobby Heenan, Captain Lou Albano, Freddie Blassie, Gary Hart, Lord Alfred Hayes, Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, Slick
