Vladimir Kozlov: Difference between revisions
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{{otheruses4|the WWE wrestler|Soviet Union international footballer|Vladimir Kozlov (footballer)}} |
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|image=Oleg Prudius in 2007.jpg |
|image=Oleg Prudius in 2007.jpg |
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|names=Oleg Prudius <br>'''Vladimir Kozlov'''<ref name="bio"/> |
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[[ja:オレッグ・プルディウス]] |
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[[pt:Oleg Prudius]] |
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[[fi:Oleg Prudius]] |
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Revision as of 23:02, 8 November 2008
| Vladimir Kozlov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ukraine[1] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Oleg Prudius Vladimir Kozlov[2] |
| Billed height | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)[2] |
| Billed weight | 302 lb (137 kg; 21.6 st)[2] |
| Billed from | Moscow, Russia[2] |
| Trained by | DSW Training staff OVW Training staff |
| Debut | 2005 |
Oleg Alexandrovich Prudius is a Ukrainian professional wrestler, better known by his ring name, Vladimir Kozlov. He is currently signed to World Wrestling Entertainment and is working on the SmackDown brand.[2] He is trained in freestyle wrestling, rugby, American football, sambo, kickboxing, judo, and mixed martial arts.[3] He was introduced to WWE by Jerry Jarrett.[3]
Prudius has also worked as a stage and screen actor, notably having a very small role in Spike Lee's 25th Hour.[3] Kozlov also had an extremely small role in Grindhouse, appearing in the "Werewolf Women of the SS" trailer; he was credited under his real name and his WWE persona for the appearance. He is a former Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
Career
Pre-wrestling
Prudius has won numerous achievements, becoming 2005 USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Champion and United States Kickboxing Association (USKBA) International Heavyweight Grappling Champion. He has also played American football for the Ukrainian National Team as well as Santa Barbara College.[2]
World Wrestling Entertainment
On January 17, 2006, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced that Prudius had signed a developmental deal and was sent to Deep South Wrestling (DSW).[4] On April 7, 2006 he debuted under his real name Oleg Prudius and had his first match in DSW against Tommy Suede.
On May 5, 2006, Prudius had his first untelevised WWE match during a house show in San Jose, California, defeating Rob Conway. The next night, at another house show in Sacramento, California, Matt Striker cut a promo on Prudius, calling him a "filthy immigrant," causing Prudius to attack him. Prudius then picked up the microphone and said he that he is "proud to be in America."
On the December 18, 2006 edition of Raw, Prudius made an appearance as a WWE prospect named Vladimir Kozlov, which became his ring name. For the next several weeks, Kozlov was interviewed on WWE programming, proclaiming his love for "Double Double E" (WWE), but drawing some heel heat for declaring his superiority over whatever wrestlers were competing at the time, saying "I could beat both of them." He then was taken off television for over a year while working in the developmental system and participating in a number of dark matches all of which he won.[5]
Ohio Valley Wrestling
On July 28, 2007 in Louisville, Kentucky, he won the OVW Heavyweight Championship by defeating Paul Burchill, but gave the Championship the same night to Michael W. Kruel due to an agreement they made before.
SmackDown
On the April 4, 2008 edition of SmackDown, Kozlov made his official WWE debut as a heel, with the unique quirk of entering to no music, no titantron, and complete darkness except for a solitary spotlight following him to the ring. However, he soon got an entering music to fit his persona. He defeated Matt Bentley in his first match,[6] and over the following weeks, Kozlov would win a series of squash matches, first against local talent, and then established names including Colin Delaney,[7] Funaki,[8] Nunzio,[9] Shannon Moore,[10] Jimmy Wang Yang,[11] Jamie Noble,[12] and Domino.[13] On the July 11, 2008 airing of SmackDown, Kozlov debuted an entrance theme and titantron video as he defeated Stevie Richards.[14]
In the following weeks, as Kozlov continued to easily win matches, he began demanding "better competition." On the September 12, 2008 edition of SmackDown, he began actively seeking that competition, attacking Jeff Hardy. Over the following weeks, Kozlov would continue attacking both Hardy and the WWE Champion Triple H. He defeated Hardy on the October 17, 2008 airing of SmackDown.Vladmir Kozlov was an option to face Triple H at Cyber Sunday with the options being Jeff Hardy, Vladmir Kozlov or a triple threat match with both contenders, but it was Jeff Hardy who got the most votes to face the WWE Champion. The week after, Kozlov made his intentions clear, he wanted the WWE Championship. At the end of the show, Smackdown general manager Vickie Guerrero announced that it would be Kozlov against The Undertaker the following week week on Smackdown, with the stipulation being that if Kozlov won, he would be granted a title match against Triple H at Survivor Series. Kozlov won the match by disqualification after interference by Jeff Hardy, continuing his undefeated record, and he was declared the number one contender for the WWE Championship at Survivor Series to fight Triple H.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Backbreaker rack drop – OVW / WWE; 2007–Early 2008
- Battering ram to a charging or diving opponent – WWE
- Scoop lift dropped into a reverse DDT – WWE
- Signature moves
- The Moscow Mauler
- The Ruthless Russian
Championships and accomplishments
- United States Kickboxing Association
- USKBA International Heavyweight Grappling Champion (1 time)
Other media
Prudius has made many television appearances. He appeared in the second season of the HBO drama series The Wire, as well as Roksalana and It's Not To Easy on Ukrainian TV.[3] In 2002, he appeared in Spike Lee's film 25th Hour, playing a Russian mafia enforcer.[3] He appeared in the Russian military theatre play Victory Day and a Ukraine University play Three Musketeers.[3]
Personal life
Prudius is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian, but can speak English very well.[3]
References
- ^ http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://www.sqorpio.narod.ru/prudius.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Doleg%2Bprudius%26hl%3Den%26lr%3Dlang_ru%257Clang_uk%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dopera%26rls%3Den-GB%26sa%3DG
- ^ a b c d e f "WWE: Superstars > SmackDown > Vladimir Kozlov > Bio". WWE. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Vladimir Kozlov resume" (PDF). Carry Company. Retrieved 2008-06-16.
- ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1294376/bio
- ^ Online World of Wrestling
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-04-04). "Mixed Emotions". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-05-02). "Championship Friday". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-05-16). "Fear and loathing in Grand Rapids". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ DiFino, Lennie (2008-05-23). "Stood up". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Burdick, Michael (2008-05-30). "The Animal is Running Wild". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-06-06). "California dreamin'". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Passero, Mitch (2008-06-20). "Spear of influence". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Rote, Andrew (2008-06-27). "SmackDown goes gold". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ DiFinno, Lennie (2008-07-11). "SmackDown: Endless love?". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-08-13.
- ^ Dupree, Jim. "NWA - NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE NWA OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING HEAVYWEIGHT/OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY". Solie. Retrieved 2008-06-21.