Boris Zhukov

James Kirk Harrell (born January 29, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler.

He is best known for his appearances with the American Wrestling Association (AWA) and the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) under the ring name Boris Zhukov, as well as his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions as Private Jim Nelson.

Inspired by his Northside High School football coach and hope to become a pro wrestler, 160-pound wide receiver and defensive halfback Harrell became interested in gaining mass in his senior year, 1977.

While exercising at a YMCA, he met Ric McCord, who introduced him to Don Hogan and Steve Savage, two wrestlers from Salem, Virginia who trained him.

After wrestling in Virginia in a tag team, Harrell moved to Atlanta, Georgia.

In his first big match, the 210-pound Harrell (now called Jim Nelson) teamed with Mike Stallings to lose to Ivan Koloff and Ole Anderson.

Harrell debuted in Jim Crockett Promotions in August 1980, wrestling as "Jim Nelson".

In December 1981, Harrell adopted the name "Private Jim Nelson" and joined Sgt. Slaughter's villainous "Cobra Corps".

He formed a tag team with fellow Corps member Don Kernodle.

In May 1982, Nelson and Kernodle defeated Jay Youngblood and Porkchop Cash to win the NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship.

They lost the titles to Cash and Iceman Parsons in June, but regained them later that month.

Their second reign lasted until August 1982 when they lost to Youngblood and Ricky Steamboat.

In early 1983, Harrell left the Cobra Corps and began feuding with Slaughter and Kernodle, losing to Kernodle in a series of "boot camp matches" in April and May.

He left Jim Crockett Promotions in May 1983.

In May 1983, Harrell joined the Louisiana-based Mid-South Wrestling promotion as "Boris Zurhkov".

This is where he became a "Russian", shaved his head and grew a beard.

He left the promotion in September 1983.

In August 1983, Harrell began wrestling for the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling promotion.

He adopted the character of "Boris Zurkov", a mercenary hired by Skandor Akbar to face Bruiser Brody.

He left the promotion in December 1983.

In January 1984, Harrell debuted in the Birmingham, Alabama-based Southeastern Championship Wrestling promotion as "Boris Zhukov".

He feuded with wrestlers including Jacques Rougeau, Jimmy Golden, and Rick McGraw.

In August 1984, Harrell defeated McGraw for the NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship.

He lost the title to Porkchop Cash the following month.

He left the promotion in October 1984.

Harrell returned to the promotion the following March, this time wrestling under a mask as "Mr. Russia".

He left the next month after losing a mask versus mask Lights Out match to Mr. Olympia.

In April 1985, Harrell debuted in the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based American Wrestling Association as "Boris Zukhov", adopting Chris Markoff as his manager.

During 1985, he unsuccessfully challenged AWA World Heavyweight Champion Rick Martel and AWA America's Champion Sgt. Slaughter.

In early 1986, Harrell formed a tag team with Nord the Barbarian.

The duo occasionally teamed with other foreign heels such as The Mongolian Stomper and Adnan Al-Kaissie.

After the tag team dissolved in August 1986, Harrell unsuccessfully challenged AWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Bockwinkel on several occasions.

In April 1987, Harrell formed another tag team with Soldat Ustinov, winning a tag team tournament.

The following month, they defeated The Midnight Rockers for the AWA World Tag Team Championship.

In September 1987, Harrell left the AWA to join the World Wrestling Federation, with the explanation given being that Wahoo McDaniel had driven him out of the promotion after a brutal chain match.

Harrell debuted in the World Wrestling Federation in October 1987, once again performing as "Boris Zhukov".

He formed a villainous tag team with fellow pseudo-Russian Nikolai Volkoff (whose previous tag partner The Iron Sheik had just been fired by the WWF) known as "The Bolsheviks".

Over the following 15 months, The Bolsheviks competed against teams such as The British Bulldogs, The Killer Bees, The Powers of Pain, The Rougeau Brothers, and The Young Stallions.

Both men entered the 1988 Royal Rumble, which was won by Jim Duggan.

In October 1988, Zhukov took part in the King of the Ring tournament, losing to Mike Sharpe in the first round.