Boris: “I figured they would use us quite well. I was told that on day 1.”
T: “November 26, 1987 – The first ever Survivor Series, and you are part of a huge 10 vs. 10 Survivor Series Elimination Match, where The Bolsheviks teamed with Demolition, The Hart Foundation, The New Dream Team & The Islanders to face The British Bulldogs, The Killer Bees, Strike Force, The Rougeau Brothers & The Young Stallions. What are your memories of this historic night?”
Boris: “Great time at the very first Survivor Series at Thanksgiving time in the beginning. It was different and a great night for all of us! I was just proud and honored to be a part of history that night.”
T: “2 weeks after the first Survivor Series, The Bolsheviks challenged Strike Force for the WWF Tag Team Championship Titles at the 14th episode of NBC´s Saturday Night’s Main Event. Was there ever talk of putting the belts on you and Volkoff?”
Boris: “There was some talk about the belts. But the main thing is to stay booked. If not booked, no pay day. All the houses everywhere were packed. Everyone on the card made good money. Having the belts is ok if you are in a good spot on the card. But the belts are only props, its up to those who wear them to make them mean something. But we had so much heat just because of the Russian gimmick, WWF never really thought we needed the belts. I never cared either way.”
T: “After that it seemed like the team was turned into an undercard tag team, mainly used to get new teams over, like for example the Powers of Pain. What happened there?”
Boris: “The office felt as no one else could get them over in better than us, besides they wanted to run Powers of Pain against Demolition for the belts. Also to put Fuji with Powers of Pain. The office felt with the heat we had, it would not hurt us. Even at that time, wrestlers were becoming nothing more than actors. We just played a part on tv and in the arena. What Pro Wrestling use to be and promoted as, was changing more and more.”
T: “Memories of the second ever Survivor Series in 1988 where The Bolsheviks competed in yet another 10 vs 10 (5 tag teams vs 5 tag teams) Elimination Match?”
Boris: “Just another great night at the next Survivor Series, not to mention a super pay day. To me that was the bottom line at this point in my career. No matter what the finish was. Because it always was here today, gone tomorrow. As 1989 approached, other territories to go work and make a good pay day and a good living were dropping like a stone.”
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