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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

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WWF Wrestling Challenge
Nikolai Volkoff
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Saturday Night's Main Event
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WrestleMania II
Nikolai Volkoff
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WWE: The Best of Saturday Night's Main Event
Nikolai Volkoff
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The Sheik
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WWE WrestleMania VI
Nikolai Volkoff
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WWE: 150 Best Pay-Per-View Matches, Vol 1
Nikolai Volkoff
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WWE Royal Rumble 1992
Nikolai Volkoff
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WWE Survivor Series 1990
Nikolai Volkoff
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WWE: Allied Powers - The World's Greatest Tag Teams
Nikolai Volkoff

Credits