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.
Also Known As
Movie Appearances
WrestleMania
as Nikolai Volkoff
1985
WrestleMania II
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
WWE WrestleMania III
as Nikolai Volkoff
1987
The British Bulldogs
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
WWE SuperTape: Volume 1
as Nikolai Volkoff
1990
Demolition: Witness the Power
as Nikolai Volkoff
1989
Villains of the Squared Circle
as Nikolai Volkoff (Ringside)
1986
Daisy Derkins and the Dinosaur Apocalypse
as Self (as Nikolai Volkoff)
2021
The Wrestling Classic
as Nikolai Volkoff
1985
WWE WrestleMania VI
as Nikolai Volkoff
1990
WWE Survivor Series 1990
as Nikolai Volkoff
1990
WWE Survivor Series 1988
as Nikolai Volkoff
1988
WWE SummerSlam 1990
as Nikolai Volkoff
1990
WWE War to Settle the Score
as Nikolai Volkoff
1985
Terror in the Pharaoh's Tomb
as Count Zarkoff
2007
Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports
as Nikolai Volkoff
1987
WWE WrestleMania X-Seven
as Nikolai Volkoff
2001
Grand Masters of Wrestling: First Blood Vol. 1
as Nikolai Volkoff
2006
The Best of the WWF: volume 7
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
The Best of the WWF: volume 9
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
TV Appearances
Raw
as Nikolai Volkoff
1993
WWF Wrestling Challenge
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
WWE Saturday Night's Main Event
as Nikolai Volkoff
1985
WWF All-Star Wrestling
as Nikolai Volkoff
1975
WWE Old School
as Nikolai Volkoff
1973
Mid-South Wrestling
as Nikolai Volkoff
1981
WWF Prime Time Wrestling
as Nikolai Volkoff
1985
Tuesday Night Titans
as Nikolai Volkoff
1984
Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
as Nikolai Volkoff
1981
WWE Hall of Fame
as Self
2005
WWF Superstars
as Nikolai Volkoff
1986
WWE Pay Per View
1985