profile image

Josip Peruzović

Oct 14, 1947 - Jul 29, 2018 (70 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

poster
WWF Wrestling Challenge
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
Saturday Night's Main Event
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
WWE Old School
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
Mid-South Wrestling
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
WWF All-Star Wrestling
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
WrestleMania II
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
WWE Hall of Fame
Self - Inductee (as Nikolai Volkoff)
poster
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
Nikolai Volkoff
poster
WWE SummerSlam 1988
Nikolai Volkoff

Credits