Athletes - Al Blake

Home > Listing Index > Athletes > Al Blake

	Athletes - Al Blake

Al Blake was a professional wrestler best known as Vladimir Petrov.

Career

Al Blake broke into wrestling in February 1987 for the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions. He was called Vladimir Petrov, "The Russian Assassin". He had been hired to go after Nikita Koloff for turning on Ivan Koloff. He was also brought in to replace Krusher Khruschev, who had left for the WWF (World Wrestling Entertainment).

He was big and had a shaved head and red beard. He looked menacing and Ivan Koloff told RF Video during a shoot interview that he once backed down his boss, Jim Crockett, Jr., with a cold stare.

Vladimir and Ivan feuded with Nikita for several months and had many "Russian Chain Matches". Petrov could never beat Nikita though. They were joined by Dick Murdoch in April and managed to "injure" Nikita's neck. Petrov and Ivan also had matches withe the Rock 'N Roll Express.

In late 1987, Ivan and Petrov became members of Paul Jones' stable. Petrov feuded with Ron Garvin but lost that feud too. He was clumsy and he did not get much of a push. Petrov also went to the Universal Wrestling Federation briefly to feud with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams over the UWF Title.

Near the end of 1987, Petrov disappeared from television and was not mentioned. He had been caught selling drugs and sent to prison.

In 1991, Blake wrestled in the WWF under his own name. He was only used as a jobber and by 1992, he was retired for good.

Profile

Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight: 285 lb
Birthday: 1961
Hometown: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Other Gimmicks: Vladimir Petrov
Managers: Ivan Koloff, Paul Jones
Trainer: Ivan Koloff
Finishing Maneuver: Russian Sickle Clothesline

Trivia

Was a bouncer prior to becoming a wrestler.
At one time managed a supermarket in the Minneapolis area.
Rumored to have Mafia connections, but the rumors were never substantiated.
As Vladimir Petrov, helped Ivan Koloff defend the NWA United States Tag Team Titles after Koloff's tag team partner Dick Murdoch was suspended - this was the only time Blake held a championship title.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Al Blake ]

This page is based on the copyrighted Wikipedia article Al Blake; it is used under the GNU Free Documentation License. You may redistribute it, verbatim or modified, providing that you comply with the terms of the GFDL.

Searches on eBay