T: “Memories of touring Japan for the SWS `Super World Sports´ Promotion, as part of a talent exchange with their partner company, the WWF?
“Boris: “Going to Japan was a huge honor and privilege for me. I got to work with Tenryu who I was with in Ga and the Carolinas early in my career. He had really made it big back home in Japan. I just loved getting to see him and work with him and so many other great worker’s there in Japan. They all were just phenomenal workers. I wanted to go back again, but it would not be with this group. And because I had come over with them the first time I was never able to get booked with any other promotion in Japan.”
T: “What finally led to your departure from the World Wrestling Federation in early 1991?”
Boris: “It was just the end of the road for the Russian gimmick and for me as well. I had learned very early on thanks to Baron Von Rasche that the day you have to leave comes for everyone. Hear today,gone tomorrow. Just be on your guard and ready to do something else when need be to move on. I prepared myself to be a truck driver. Both my grandfathers and my Dad were in the transportation business,I decided to go that route as well. Being a traveling man was always in my blood,still is today. It’s all I have ever known!”
T: “What was it like to work for Herb Abrams´UWF Universal Wrestling Federation only a few months after you left the WWF?”
Boris: “It was great working for Herb Abrams and lots of other independent organizations. I tried going to WCW in Atlanta but I just could not get booked for anything. Dusty had told me when I was finishing up with Vince he would love to use me. But he never would talk to me at all. I guess I had heat because I had made Boris Zhukov my legal name early on in my WWF career. I felt I had to do something to protect my name as well as myself. To patent my name would have been outrageous. But I got a lot of heat when Vince and the office found out. He wanted to punish me I guess. But I was already making plans to take my life in another direction. I got the last laugh. They wanted to keep me on a string and use and abuse me. I said no, I don’t think so!”
T: “You still competed in the independent scene before you retired in 1996. What was the reason you quit doing indy shows? Did you just want a change or were there any health issues?”
Boris: “I worked a lot of independent shows. Got good guarantees plus expenses paid for. But I was slowly having hernia problems. I was born with it, in the belly button area. Years of weight lifting since Jr High School Plus picking guys up for years and years finally took its toll. I had to have major surgery in 1998. Any chance to work steady and hard in the ring like years past was gone. I had to be extremely careful from that day forward to anything I tried and did in the ring. My career was all but done.”
T: “The Boris Zhukov gimmick was controversial to say the least, representing an anti-american Soviet during the cold war certainly didn’t make you a fan favorite but a great heel who drew a lot of legit heat. Do you recall any incidents were fans would take your gimmick too serious? Were there ever any riots, threats or anything similar?”
Boris: “A lot of rough, scary times in Southeastern in 1984. Almost got cut and stabbed. People in Birmingham Al. tried to turn my high rise conversion van over. I had my wife and son Wayne with me. I had lost a loser leave town match to Austin Idol. But I had stole the Southeastern title belt and left the ring with it. The police was out numbered but I got very lucky as just managed to escape. None of my family and I were injured, just scared pretty good. Today, no one could get enough heat, not even close to cause any problems like that. Wrestling is laughed at, poked fun at today!”
T: “Thank you very much for the interview! The WWF Old School team and our loyal fans wish you all the best in your future!”
Boris Zhukov: “Thank you all, my pleasure. I really enjoyed doing this interview. Hope everyone will enjoy reading it. Pro Wrestling for me started out as a big dream, than one day I woke up and it was all real. I just chased this dream and gave it all I had. I did not want not to go for it, only to look back one day and regret not trying. That was never an option for me. I had the time of my life!! Very many, many thanks to all the great wrestling fans everywhere who came out and booed or cheered me on!! Thank you all so very much!!”
