theidealstranger

Debuting in 1961, people did not need any particular reason to hate him other than his character by itself warranted it. He was this Russian Bear billed from Ukraine except that he was from Canada and was not a Russian.

He debuted as a Irish Rogue wrestling with a eye patch around Toronto for three years making a trip to Japan where he learned the trade. He started out as the Russian Bear in IWF and was imported into WWWF for feuding with Bruno Sammartino successfully ending his 7.25 year reign as a transitional champion handing it over to Pedro Morales in 21 days. He went on to become one of the only two men who faced Bruno, Morales, Billy Graham and Bob Backlund for the title ranging four generation of title runs along with Stan Stasiak.

During the 70s and 80s, he moved on to NWA forming a tag team with Nikita Koloff as Russian heel tag team which evolved into a heel stable, The Russians to include Krusher Kruschev training Nikita to become a major heel, as he was eventually continuing his career in the tag division before retiring.

With over 45 title runs which included one as WWWF heavyweight champion and 24 tag titles across 16 organizations, he is a forgotten legendary heel in pro-wrestling.

__________________
“My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!” ~ De Sade

Shutthehellup

I met him a few times at the church.He was quite nice to me and we took a photograph together.He is sadly forgotten and will be remembered by hardcore fans as the guy that ended Bruno's reign.

theidealstranger

Wonder how the IWC would have reacted to Bruno's 7+ year run and would have marked out for Koloff when he broke that run in effect saving them.

__________________
“My manner of thinking, so you say, cannot be approved. Do you suppose I care? A poor fool indeed is he who adopts a manner of thinking for others!” ~ De Sade

Shutthehellup

The IWC criticizes everything.Ivan would have been the rage for a few months and they would have turned on him.
Bruno was the champion when I started watching wrestling.My dad says that I cried when Bruno lost to Graham,though I don't remember the incident well.