Josip Peruzović

Biography

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

Raw

as Nikolai Volkoff

WWE WrestleMania X-Seven

as Nikolai Volkoff

WrestleMania

as Nikolai Volkoff

WWE WrestleMania III

as Nikolai Volkoff

Saturday Night's Main Event

WrestleMania II

as Nikolai Volkoff

WWE WrestleMania IV

as Nikolai Volkoff

The Sheik

WWE WrestleMania VI

as Nikolai Volkoff

WWE Royal Rumble

as Nikolai Volkoff