Josip Hrvoje Peruzović better known by his ring name of Nikolai Volkoff was a CroatianAmerican 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 newlyturned 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