In some sad news to report today, PWInsider has reported that WWE Hall Of Famer Nikolai Volkoff has passed away at the age of 70. Recently, Nikolai had been in a Maryland medical facility for some health issues, however it’s not currently known if that’s what led to his passing.

Nikolai, who was born in what’s now known as Croatia, starting out as a member of the Yugoslavian weightlifting team (Croatia used to be part of Yugoslavia) before making his professional wrestling debut in 1967, working shows for the legendary Stu Hart’s Stampede Wrestling in Calgary. In 1970, Volkoff would make his way to the United States, but had previously worked some events for the WWWF under Vince McMahon Sr.

While he also spent time with Verne Gagne’s AWA, Nikolai of course saw his greatest success in the 1980’s for the man we all know as Vince McMahon, most notably in a tag team with The Iron Sheik. The duo would win the now-WWF Tag Team Championships at the inaugural WrestleMania, defeating The US Express of Barry Windham and Mike Rotunda. This pairing would last until 1987, Volkoff then teaming with Boris Zhukov to form the Russian duo of The Bolsheviks.

His WWF run would run until 1995, which included a face turn during the time to team with Hacksaw Jim Duggan as a lower level tag team. Following his retirement, we would see Nikolai make sporadic appearances on WWE television, including taking part in the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania X-7 in 2001. He would then be inducted into the WWE’s Hall Of Fame in 2004.

The Chairshot would like to send its deepest condolences to the friends and family of Nikolai Volkoff.

Continue following TheChairshot for all the latest skull smashing opinion, news, reviews and so much more! @theCHAIRSHOTcom on Twitter
Always #UseYourHead