Josip Peruzović

    Josip Peruzović

    October 14, 1947 (77 years old) in Split, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia

    Josip Hrvoje Peruzović better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff, was a Croatian-American professional wrestler who was best known for his performances in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Although the Volkoff character was often portrayed as a villainous Russian, Peruzović originated from Yugoslavia. In the 1970s, he was Bepo of the Mongols tag team, one of the masked Executioners and feuded with Bruno Sammartino over the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship as Volkoff. In the 1980s, he was known for teaming with The Iron Sheik, with whom he won the WWF Tag Team Championship at the inaugural WrestleMania event, and later with Boris Zhukov as The Bolsheviks. In 1990, he turned face and embraced America, briefly feuding with Zhukov and newly-turned 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.

    Known For

    RawRaw
    WWF Wrestling ChallengeWWF Wrestling Challenge
    WrestleManiaWrestleMania
    WWE WrestleMania X-SevenWWE WrestleMania X-Seven
    WWE Survivor Series 1988WWE Survivor Series 1988

    Credits