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Boris Zhukov

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Boris Zhukov
Zukhov in 1986
Birth nameJames Kirk Harrell
Born(1959-01-29)January 29, 1959(age 65)
Roanoke, Virginia,U.S.[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Boris Zhukov[2]
Boris Zurhkov[1]
Jason[1]
Jim Nelson[1]
Mr. Russia[1]
Private Jim Nelson[2][3]
Billed height6 ft 2 in (188 cm)[2]
Billed weight254 lb (115 kg)[2]
Billed fromSoviet Union
Siberia
Trained byDon Hogan[1]
Steve Savage[1]
DebutMay 18, 1978[1]
Retired2012

James Kirk Harrell(born January 29, 1959) is an American retiredprofessional wrestler.He is best known for his appearances with theAmerican Wrestling Association(AWA) and theWorld Wrestling Federation(WWF) under thering nameBoris Zhukov,as well as his appearances withJim Crockett PromotionsasPrivate Jim Nelson.

Professional wrestling career[edit]

Early career (1978–1980)[edit]

Inspired by hisNorthside High Schoolfootballcoach and hope to become a pro wrestler, 160-pound wide receiver and defensive halfback Harrell became interested in gaining mass in his senior year, 1977. While exercising at aYMCA,he met Ric McCord, who introduced him to Don Hogan and Steve Savage, two wrestlers fromSalem, Virginiawho trained him. After wrestling in Virginia in a tag team, Harrell moved toAtlanta, Georgia.In his first big match, the 210-pound Harrell (now called Jim Nelson) teamed with Mike Stallings to lose toIvan KoloffandOle Anderson.[4]

Jim Crockett Promotions (1980–1983)[edit]

Harrell debuted inJim Crockett Promotionsin August 1980, wrestling as "Jim Nelson". In December 1981, Harrell adopted the name "PrivateJim Nelson "and joinedSgt. Slaughter's villainous "Cobra Corps". He formed a tag team with fellow Corps memberDon Kernodle.In May 1982, Nelson and Kernodle defeatedJay YoungbloodandPorkchop Cashto win theNWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.They lost the titles to Cash andIceman Parsonsin June, but regained them later that month. Their second reign lasted until August 1982 when they lost to Youngblood andRicky Steamboat.In early 1983, Harrell left the Cobra Corps and began feuding with Slaughter and Kernodle, losing to Kernodle in a series of "boot camp matches" in April and May. He left Jim Crockett Promotions in May 1983.[5][6]

Mid-South Wrestling (1983)[edit]

In May 1983, Harrell joined theLouisiana-basedMid-South Wrestlingpromotion as "Boris Zurhkov". This is where he became a "Russian", shaved his head and grew a beard. He left the promotion in September 1983.[7]

World Class Wrestling Association (1983)[edit]

In August 1983, Harrell began wrestling for theDallas,Texas-basedWorld Class Championship Wrestlingpromotion. He adopted the character of "Boris Zurkov", a mercenary hired bySkandor Akbarto faceBruiser Brody.He left the promotion in December 1983.[8]

Southeastern Championship Wrestling (1984, 1985)[edit]

In January 1984, Harrell debuted in theBirmingham, Alabama-basedSoutheastern Championship Wrestlingpromotion as "Boris Zhukov". He feuded with wrestlers includingJacques Rougeau,Jimmy Golden,andRick McGraw.In August 1984, Harrell defeated McGraw for theNWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship.He lost the title toPorkchop Cashthe following month. He left the promotion in October 1984.[9]

Harrell returned to the promotion the following March, this time wrestling under amaskas "Mr. Russia". He left the next month after losing amask versus maskLights Out matchtoMr. Olympia.[9]

American Wrestling Association (1985–1987)[edit]

In April 1985, Harrell debuted in theMinneapolis, Minnesota-basedAmerican Wrestling Associationas "Boris Zukhov", adoptingChris Markoffas hismanager.During 1985, he unsuccessfully challengedAWA World Heavyweight ChampionRick MartelandAWA America's ChampionSgt. Slaughter.

In early 1986, Harrell formed a tag team withNord the Barbarian.The duo occasionally teamed with other foreign heels such asThe Mongolian StomperandAdnan Al-Kaissie.After the tag team dissolved in August 1986, Harrell unsuccessfully challenged AWA World Heavyweight ChampionNick Bockwinkelon several occasions.

In April 1987, Harrell formed another tag team withSoldat Ustinov,winning a tag team tournament. The following month, they defeatedThe Midnight Rockersfor theAWA World Tag Team Championship.In September 1987, Harrell left the AWA to join theWorld Wrestling Federation,with the explanation given being thatWahoo McDanielhad driven him out of the promotion after a brutalchain match.[10][11][12]

World Wrestling Federation (1987–1991)[edit]

Main article:The Bolsheviks

Harrell debuted in theWorld Wrestling Federationin October 1987, once again performing as "Boris Zhukov". He formed a villainoustag teamwith fellow pseudo-RussianNikolai Volkoff(whose previous tag partnerThe Iron Sheikhad just been fired by the WWF) known as "The Bolsheviks".[13]Over the following 15 months, The Bolsheviks competed against teams such asThe British Bulldogs,The Killer Bees,The Powers of Pain,The Rougeau Brothers,andThe Young Stallions.Both men entered the1988 Royal Rumble,which was won byJim Duggan.In October 1988, Zhukov took part in theKing of the Ringtournament, losing toMike Sharpein the first round.[14]That same month the Bolsheviks unsuccessfully challenged fellow heelsDemolitionfor theWWF World Tag Team Championshipin a match, later released on a Demolition VHS compilation, where the crowds cheered Demolition who turned babyface a month later at the Survivor Series after teaming with the Bolsheviks.[15][16]

The Bolsheviks separated in early 1989 after Volkoff temporarily departed the WWF, with Zhukov competing as a single wrestler. His regular opponents includedPaul Roma,Ronnie Garvin,andTim Horner.In September 1989, Volkoff returned to the WWF and reformed their tag team. In December 1989, The Bolsheviks began a lengthy series of matches withThe Bushwhackers.[14]AtWrestleMania VIin April 1990, The Bolsheviks lost toThe Hart Foundationin asquash.[17]and days later again failed to capture the World tag team title from Demolition in another squash.[18]

The Bolsheviks permanently disbanded in May 1990 after a further crushing defeat by the Rockers, with Volkoffturningfaceby embracing America andfeudingwith Zhukov.[3]After the feud ended in August 1990, Zhukov facedKoko B. Warein a series of matches. AtSurvivor Series 1990,Zhukov teamed with his former Cobra Corps partnerSgt. Slaughterplus "The Orient Express" (Sato,andTanaka) as "The Mercenaries", losing to "The Alliance" (Volkoff, The Bushwhackers, andTito Santana).[14]

Zhukov left the WWF in February 1991.[14]

Late career (1991–2001, 2007–2012)[edit]

In January 1991, Harrell made a brief tour of Japan with theSuper World of Sportspromotion.[19]

In April 1991, Harrell began wrestling for theUniversal Wrestling Federationin Florida and New York. He made his final appearance in June 1991 at theBeach Brawlpay-per-viewinPalmetto, Florida,defeating Paul Samson.[20]

After leaving the UWF, Harrell wrestled sporadically over the following decade. He formally retired in 2001.

In 2007, Zhukov resurfaced as aheelin Virginia-based promotion American Championship Wrestling (ACW) and allied with local heel Eclipso. He was attacked and injured, leading to afaceturn and a "Wrestle or Retire" match on September 8 for Eclipso's ACW Championship. Before the match, Zhukov told the crowd he was retiring, but a replacement had been chosen. Later that night, his old persona, Pvt. Jim Nelson (who had not been seen since an assault by Jack & Gerry Brisco in 1983) was revealed as that replacement. Now clean-shaven and dressed in army camouflage, he'd redone Sgt. Slaughter's boot camp and was promoted to Sgt. Jim Nelson in apre-match ceremony.Nelson won the match and title after interference from both managers. Due to the controversy, the title was held up.[21]

Zhukov last match was on October 6, 2012, losing to Colonel Spud Wade.[22]

Personal life[edit]

In July 2016, Zhukov was named part of aclass actionlawsuitfiled against WWE which alleged that wrestlers incurred traumatic brain injuries during their tenure and that the company concealed the risks of injury. The suit was litigated by attorney Konstantine Kyros, who has been involved in a number of other lawsuits against WWE.[23]The lawsuit was dismissed by US District JudgeVanessa Lynne Bryantin September 2018.[24]

Championships and accomplishments[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdefghKreikenbohm, Philip."Boris Zhukov".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 25,2020.
  2. ^abcdefLentz III, Harris M. (2003).Biographical Dictionary of Professional Wrestling(2 ed.).McFarland & Company.p. 392.ISBN978-0-7864-1754-4.
  3. ^abShoemaker, David (2013).The Squared Circle: Life, Death, and Professional Wrestling.Penguin Group.p. 292.ISBN978-1-101-60974-3.
  4. ^"1982 Roanoke Article on Jim Nelson (Mid-Atlantic Gateway)".www.midatlanticwrestling.net.RetrievedDecember 19,2019.
  5. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 26,2020.
  6. ^Meltzer, Dave(1988).The Wrestling Observer's Who's who in Pro Wrestling.Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
  7. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - Universal Wrestling Association".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 25,2020.
  8. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - World Class Wrestling Association".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 25,2020.
  9. ^abKreikenbohm, Philip."Career - Continental Wrestling Federation".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 25,2020.
  10. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - American Wrestling Association".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 27,2020.
  11. ^abDuncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006). "AWA Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4 ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 29–30.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  12. ^Hornbaker, Tim (2018).Death of the Territories: Expansion, Betrayal and the War that Changed Pro Wrestling Forever.ECW Press.p. 324.ISBN978-1-77305-232-8.
  13. ^Hogg, Kevin (2018)."Deepest, Darkest Africa (, Illinois): Cultural Appropriation in Professional Wrestling".In Horton, Aaron D. (ed.).Identity in Professional Wrestling: Essays on Nationality, Race and Gender.McFarland & Company.p. 106.ISBN978-1-4766-6728-7.
  14. ^abcdKreikenbohm, Philip."Career - World Wrestling Federation".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 26,2020.
  15. ^History of WWE - WWF 1987
  16. ^History of WWE - WWF 1988
  17. ^Keith, Scott (2012).Dungeon of Death: Chris Benoit and the Hart Family Curse.Kensington Books.p. 87.ISBN978-0-8065-3562-3.
  18. ^History of WWE - WWF 1990
  19. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - Super World Sports".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 26,2020.
  20. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Career - Universal Wrestling Association".Cagematch.net.RetrievedAugust 25,2020.
  21. ^Bourne, Dick (September 9, 2007)."The Return of Pvt. Jim Nelson".Mid-Atlantic Gateway. Archived fromthe originalon December 18, 2011.RetrievedJuly 15,2016.
  22. ^"Boris Zhukov".Cagematch.net.RetrievedOctober 5,2022.
  23. ^"WWE sued in wrestler class action lawsuit featuring Jimmy 'Superfly' Snuka, Paul 'Mr Wonderful' Orndorff".FoxSports.com.Fox Entertainment Group(21st Century Fox). July 18, 2015.RetrievedJuly 20,2016.
  24. ^Robinson, Byron (September 22, 2018)."Piledriver: WWE uses 'Hell in a Cell' as springboard to future shows".Montgomery Advertiser.RetrievedMay 17,2019.
  25. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Canadian Television Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 353.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  26. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. p. 115.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.
  27. ^Kreikenbohm, Philip."Awards « Boris Zhukov « Wrestlers Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database".www.cagematch.net.RetrievedMay 1,2018.
  28. ^Royal Duncan & Gary Will (2006). "NWA Alabama Heavyweight Title".Wrestling Title Histories(4th ed.). Archeus Communications. pp. 182–183.ISBN0-9698161-5-4.

External links[edit]

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