The Bolsheviks

Last updated
The Bolsheviks
Tag team
Members Nikolai Volkoff [1]
Boris Zhukov [1]
Slick (manager)
Name(s)The Bolsheviks
Billed heightsVolkoff:
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Zhukov:
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Combined
billed weight		606 lb (275 kg) [2]
Billed from The Soviet Union [1]
Debut1987 [3]
Disbanded1990 [4]
Years active1987–1990

The Bolsheviks were a professional wrestling tag team in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from late 1987 until the spring of 1990. The team was composed of Nikolai Volkoff and Boris Zhukov portraying a pair of Soviet-themed bad guys. Volkoff was born Josip Peruzovic on October 14, 1947. Although he portrayed a Russian as a wrestler, he was, in fact, from Croatia. Zhukov was an American named Jim Harrel, who had spent the previous few years of his wrestling career portraying a Russian.

Contents

Team history

1987

Zhukov was brought in from the American Wrestling Association (he was one-half of AWA World Tag Team Champions with Soldat Ustinov when he left) as Volkoff's partner in 1987 after Volkoff's regular partner The Iron Sheik was fired. The team made their debut on the October 24, 1987 edition of 'WWF Superstars of Wrestling', defeating Lance Allen and Sonny Rodgers. [5] The team then appeared in a 10-man battle royal on the following episode of WWF Superstars on October 31, 1987. As with the previous pairing of Volkoff and The Iron Sheik, the Bolsheviks were managed by Slick. [1] The pair made their first pay-per-view (PPV) appearance together in the 10 team elimination match at the inaugural Survivor Series in 1987. The pair had little success and were the first team eliminated from the match. [6] [7] [8] In December they began to feud with The Young Stallions and had success against the young duo on house shows around the country, while also facing The British Bulldogs later in the month.

1988

The Bolsheviks began the new year on NBC television, as they received a title opportunity against WWF World Tag Team Champions Strike Force on the January 2 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event XIV . Zhukov and Volkoff were unsuccessful, and then began a house show series against The Killer Bees. They accumulated multiple losses to Blair and Brunzell that month, then rebounded in February and secured several wins against The Rougueau Brothers, Killer Bees, and Young Stallions. The duo's next prominent appearance came in the 20 man battle royal held at WrestleMania IV in Atlantic City. [9]

During the spring Zhukov and Volkoff began to sustain more losses than wins in continuing house show encounters with The Young Stallions and The Killer Bees. On July 3 they faced the latest signing from Jim Crockett Promotions, The Powers of Pain and were defeated. While gearing up for a pivotal televised match against The Powers of Pain at SummerSlam they began a house show series with The British Bulldogs that saw both teams secure victories. They appeared on a WWF coliseum VHS cassette called Best of the WWF volume 17 and scored a major win when they defeated The British Bulldogs in short time in a match that was recorded in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 23. [10] The Bolsheviks wrestled The Powers of Pain at SummerSlam '88, and were defeated. [11]

The Bolsheviks began to slide down the card in the fall of 1988 and were winless in encounters with The Powers of Pain, The Hart Foundation, and in a match with WWF World Tag Team Champions and fellow heels Demolition with whom the audience sided against the Bolsheviks. A month later, the duo was once again a part of the 10 team elimination match held at Survivor Series '88, this time captained by Demolition (who would end the night turning babyface.) During the match Zhukov pinned Jim Powers thus eliminating The Young Stallions, but they were also eliminated shortly after by The Rockers. [12] On November 28 they finally gained their first victory since the summer, when they teamed with fellow Slick protege Akeem and defeated Sam Houston and The Young Stallions on November 29 edition of Prime Time Wrestling . [13] At the end of December 1988 they were programmed against the latest acquisition from Crockett, The Bushwhackers.

1989

The duo continued their house show series with The Bushwhackers in January and February and continued to be winless. They were now at the bottom of the card in the tag-team division, and the partnership went into hiatus when Volkoff took a sabbatical from the WWF in March 1989 to go compete in the independents. Slick was also phased out as their manager around this time, but did appear in Zhukov's corner as Zhukov faced a returning Jimmy Snuka during the May 27 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event XXI . In Volkoff's absence Zukhov became an opening card singles wrestler mostly working as a jobber and faced much of the WWF roster as the year progressed. Finally on September 29, 1989, Nikolai returned, and he Zhukov reformed the Bolsheviks, [4] and began to face The Rockers and Young Stallions in losing efforts on house shows. On the October 30 edition of Prime Time Wrestling The Bolsheviks finally obtained their first victory of the year when they defeated Trent Knight and Reno Riggins. After several more victories against preliminary wrestlers in televised matches, Volkoff and Zhukov renewed their rivalry with The Bushwhackers in December, but went winless in all of their matches. [14]

1990

The Bolsheviks began the year with an encounter with The Hart Foundation on the January 1 edition of Prime Time Wrestling. Two weeks later they fell to Demolition on Prime Time Wrestling. On the house show circuit they continued their series with The Bushwhackers, but were winless throughout January and February. On the March 10, 1990 edition of Superstars of Wrestling a match between The Bolsheviks and The Hart Foundation was announced for WrestleMania VI. At the PPV event they were received music "lessons" from Steve Allen. [2] Later that night they were defeated by Hart and Neidhart in a mere 18 seconds.

Breakup and feud

On the April 21 edition of Superstars of Wrestling they received a match with new World Tag-Team champions Demolition and were again unsuccessful. On the May 6 edition of Wrestling Challenge the Bolsheviks were again defeated, this time in a rematch with The Hart Foundation. This time frustrations boiled over and Boris Zhukov and Nikolai Volkoff began to fight each other after the match concluded. The re-united for the May 19 edition of Superstars of Wrestling, only to lose to The Rockers. After the match Volkoff attacked his partner. On the May 26 edition of the show Boris challenged Nikolai to a match, effectively ending The Bolsheviks partnership. [15]

On the June 2 edition of 'Superstars of Wrestling' the former partners faced off. Volkoff defeated Zhukov by disqualification when Boris hit him with his boot. Prior to the match Zhukov sang the Soviet national anthem as normal, while Nikolai stunned the audience by singing the American national anthem. Volkoff became a flag-waving American babyface and Zhukov remained the Russian heel. [4] The duo feuded throughout 1990, with Volkoff dominating the feud, and ultimately culminated at Survivor Series 1990 in an eight-man elimination match when Volkoff's team of Tito Santana and The Bushwhackers, called The Alliance defeated The Mercenaries, a team consisting of Sgt. Slaughter, The Orient Express and Zhukov. Santana was the sole survivor. [16]

Nikolai Volkoff died on July 29, 2018.

Championships and accomplishments

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nikolai Volkoff</span> Croatian-American professional wrestler (1947–2018)

Josip Hrvoje Peruzović, better known by his ring name Nikolai Volkoff, was a Croatian-American professional wrestler from Yugoslavia, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation where he usually played a Soviet heel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demolition (professional wrestling)</span> Professional wrestling tag team

Demolition was an American professional wrestling tag team most prominent during the late 1980s and early 1990s in the World Wrestling Federation made up of Ax, Smash, and later Crush. In the WWF, Demolition were three-time WWF World Tag Team Champions, and hold the record for the most combined days as reigning champions with that championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Roma</span> American professional wrestler

Paul Centopani is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Paul Roma. He is best known for his appearances as a jobber with the World Wrestling Federation and World Championship Wrestling, between 1984 and 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Powers of Pain</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Powers of Pain are a professional wrestling tag team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushwhacker Butch</span> New Zealand professional wrestler (1944–2023)

Robert Miller was a New Zealand professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Butch, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Luke as The Bushwhackers. He was also known for his appearances under the ring name Butch Miller for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he teamed with Luke as The Kiwis and The Sheepherders.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bushwhacker Luke</span> New Zealand professional wrestler

Brian Wickens is a New Zealand professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Bushwhacker Luke, where he teamed with Bushwhacker Butch as The Bushwhackers. He is also known for his appearances under the ring name Luke Williams for promotions such as NWA New Zealand, Stampede Wrestling, Pacific Northwest Wrestling, Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling, Southwest Championship Wrestling, and the Universal Wrestling Federation, where he teamed with Butch as "The Kiwis" and "The Sheepherders".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bushwhackers</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Bushwhackers were a professional wrestling tag team who competed first as the New Zealand Kiwis and then as The Sheepherders during their 36-year career as a tag team. They wrestled in the World Wrestling Federation, Jim Crockett Promotions, and on the independent territorial wrestling circuits. The Bushwhackers consisted of Butch Miller and Luke Williams while the Sheepherders also included Jonathan Boyd and Rip Morgan as members at times. Williams and Miller were inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2015, and the Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steve Lombardi</span> American professional wrestler

Steven Kenneth Lombardi is an American professional wrestler and road agent, better known by his ring name, the Brooklyn Brawler. He is best known for his tenure in WWE, as well as several independent promotions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Brunzell</span> American professional wrestler

James Brunzell is an American retired professional wrestler. Best known for his successful tag teams, Brunzell performed for various wrestling promotions during his 21-year career.

Barry Horowitz is an American professional wrestler, best known for his time in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).

The Young Stallions were a professional wrestling tag team composed of Jim Powers and Paul Roma who competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1987 to 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SummerSlam (1990)</span> World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

The 1990 SummerSlam was the third annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on August 27, 1990, at The Spectrum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The card consisted of 10 televised matches, including two main events. The Ultimate Warrior successfully defended the WWF World Heavyweight Championship against Rick Rude in a Steel Cage match, and Hulk Hogan defeated Earthquake by countout.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Rumble (1988)</span> World Wrestling Federation television special

The 1988 Royal Rumble was the inaugural Royal Rumble professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on January 24, 1988, at the Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The event aired as a television special on the USA Network on the same night as Jim Crockett Promotions' Bunkhouse Stampede pay-per-view (PPV) and was centered on the Royal Rumble match, a modified battle royal in which participants enter at timed intervals instead of all beginning in the ring at the same time. It would be the only Royal Rumble event to broadcast as a television special, as beginning with the 1989 event, it began airing on pay-per-view. After the launch of the WWE Network in 2014, this inaugural Royal Rumble was included with the rest of the Royal Rumble events in the PPV section.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Rumble (1990)</span> World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

The 1990 Royal Rumble was the third annual Royal Rumble professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on January 21, 1990, at the Orlando Arena in Orlando, Florida. It centered on the Royal Rumble match, a modified battle royal in which participants enter at timed intervals instead of all beginning in the ring at the same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survivor Series (1987)</span> World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

The 1987 Survivor Series was the inaugural Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on Thanksgiving Night on November 26, 1987, and was held at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield Township, Ohio. It was one of the first four annual pay-per-view events produced by the WWF, along with WrestleMania introduced in 1985 and Royal Rumble and SummerSlam introduced in 1988, referred to as the "Big Four".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survivor Series (1988)</span> World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

The 1988 Survivor Series was the second annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on November 24, 1988, at the Richfield Coliseum, in Richfield Township, Ohio for the second consecutive year. Four matches were contested at the event.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Survivor Series (1989)</span> World Wrestling Federation pay-per-view event

The 1989 Survivor Series was the third annual Survivor Series professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by the World Wrestling Federation. It took place on Thanksgiving Day on November 23, 1989, at the Rosemont Horizon in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Powers</span> American professional wrestler

James Manley is an American retired professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Jim Powers. He worked for the World Wrestling Federation from 1984 to 1994, then elsewhere until 2010. He was born in Washington Heights, Manhattan, and grew up watching the then-regional promotion at Madison Square Garden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boris Zhukov</span> American professional wrestler

James Kirk Harrell is an American retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Boris Zhukov, as well as his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions as Private Jim Nelson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff</span> Professional wrestling tag team

The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff were a professional wrestling tag team who competed in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) from 1984 to 1987.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 1: WWF 1963 - 1989. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ISBN   978-1492825975.
  2. 1 2 Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p.  39. ISBN   978-0-7566-4190-0.
  3. ↑ Shields, Brian; Sullivan, Kevin (2009). WWE Encyclopedia. DK. p.  41. ISBN   978-0-7566-4190-0.
  4. 1 2 3 Cawthon, Graham (2013). the History of Professional Wrestling Vol 2: WWF 1990 - 1999. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. ASIN   B00RWUNSRS.
  5. ↑ "1987". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "Survivor Series 1987 results". Wrestling Supercards and Tournaments. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  7. ↑ "Survivor Series 1987 review". Complete WWE. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  8. ↑ "Survivor Series 1987 results". Online World of Wrestling. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-05-27.
  9. ↑ "WrestleMania IV official results". WWE. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  10. ↑ "1988". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  11. ↑ "SummerSlam 1988 Full Event Results". WWE . Retrieved 2012-01-02.
  12. ↑ "Survivor Series 1988 official results". WWE . Retrieved June 10, 2008.
  13. ↑ Sam Houston & Young Stallions vs Akeem & Bolsheviks Prime Time Nov 29th, 1988, archived from the original on 2016-03-04, retrieved 2019-11-07
  14. ↑ "1989". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  15. ↑ "1990". thehistoryofwwe.com. 16 January 2023.
  16. ↑ "Survivor Series 1990". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.