Nikolai Volkoff

Nikolai Volkoff was one of the most underrated WWF superstars of the 1970's and 80's. Volkoff, despite being a former WWF World Tag Team Champion, never got the respect he deserved. A major factor in the lack of respect he received was that for most of his career he portrayed a Soviet sympathizer, despite the fact that he really hated communism.

During his first tenure in the World Wide Wrestling Federation Volkoff went by the name of Bepo, one half of the Mongols. He and his partner, Geeto, won the WWWF International Tag Team Championship on two occasions. They defeated many all-time greats, such as Victor Rivera & Tony Marino. Volkoff left the WWWF in 1971, soon after the Mongols second title reign ended.

Volkoff returned to the WWWF in the mid 70's as the infamous Russian, Nikolai Volkoff. He became a top contender, vying for both Bruno Sammaratino and Bob Backlund's WWWF World Heavyweight Championships. He also was apart of a controversial WWWF World Tag Team Championship match. He came to the ring to aide the Executioners (who were John Studd and Killer Kowalski under masks) in a executioner outfit. The title was deemed vacant because of Volkoff's interference. Volkoff and Tor Kamata were in a tournament for the vacant title, but lost.

As the calender changed to the early 80's Volkoff once again emerged as a top singles competitor. He surpassed many legends, such as Pat Patterson and Chief Jay Strongbow. Soon Volkoff was partnered with the Iron Sheik. In the 80's patriotism was at a all-time high, Volkoff and the Iron Sheik were the most hated wrestlers in the WWF. They went on to defeat Barry Windham & Mike Rotunda for the WWF World Tag Team Championship. They would later lose the titles back to the young duo of Windham and Rotunda.

In the 90's Volkoff teamed with Boris Zhukov, forming the Bolshevicks. Despite minimal success, the Bolshevicks were dominated by the great teams of the era. Nikolai's career took a big turn after he met American patriot Hacksaw Jim Duggan. Duggan got Volkoff to show his true feelings of the United States. Volkoff turned against Zhukov and carried the American Flag.

After a short time away from the WWF Volkoff returned, as a poor man in need of money to get him out of debt caused by some bad investments. Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase offered him a job, basically as a servant. Volkoff became the first member of DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation. DiBiase pulled some strings and got Volkoff an opportunity. If Volkoff was able to defeat the 1-2-3 Kid he would get a shot at Bret "Hit Man" Hart's WWF World Heavyweight Championship. Volkoff lost his opportunity match for what would have been his first WWF World title match in years. In the following months Volkoff wrestled less and less, mainly making appearances in aide of fellow Million Dollar Corporation members. Soon Nikolai Volkoff retired from the WWF. Over the next few years Volkoff was often spotted in the crowds of WWF events.