Below are a couple of top NWA & SmackDown news stories of the day.
• We are saddened to announce that Old School NWA Veteran Vladimir Petrov (Real name: Al Blake) passed away last week at the age of 66.
After Khrusher Khruschev left Jim Crockett Promotions to join the WWF as Demolition Smash, and Nikita Koloff was turned babyface after Magnum T.A.’s terrible accident, that left Ivan Koloff on his own, which is why he brought in Vladimir Petrov as a replacement.
Together with Ivan, Petrov feuded with Nikita Koloff on NWA TV in 1987.
Here’s what the Wrestling Observer reported:
“Al Blake, who had a seven month run as a pushed star in Jim Crockett Promotions as Vladimir Petrov, passed away. Petrov debuted against three men in a handicap match on January 3, 1987, beating Big Bill Tabb & The Mukley brothers in 33 seconds. Dusty booked him to destroy people on television, just like he booked Nikita. But lightning didn’t strike twice. Petrov didn’t have the aggressiveness of Nikita.
He was sentenced to 6 years in prison, but was out by 1990 since he had a WWF tryout that year. He did a couple of dark matches at WWF television tapings on October 29 and October 30 in Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, against Bobby Bradley and Pez Whatley, but WWF decided against signing him.”
Rest In Peace Vladimir Petrov
November 12, 1957 – July 27, 2024
• As we reported before, Roman Reigns is scheduled to make his return to the blue brand on this Friday’s SmackDown at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as announced on WWE’s website.
According to PWInsider, AJ Styles will also return to the blue brand on this Friday’s post-SummerSlam episode.
Also scheduled for the August 9th episode are Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, new WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax, Bayley, Jade Cargill, and Bianca Belair.
