- Oleg Prudius
Infobox Wrestler
name=Oleg Prudius
names=Oleg Prudius
Vladimir Kozlov
height=height|feet=6|inches=8cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/vladimirkozlov/bio/|title=WWE: Superstars > SmackDown > Vladimir Kozlov > Bio|publisher=WWE|accessdate=2008-06-17]
weight=convert|302|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on
birth_date=
birth_place=Ukraine
resides=Louisville, Kentucky
billed=Moscow ,Russia
trainer=DSW Training staff
OVW Training staff
debut=2005
bench press=220 kg (485 lbs)Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudiuscite web|url=http://www.carrycompany.com/Oleg%20Aleksandrovich%20Prudius.htm|title=Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius|publisher=Carry Company|accessdate=2008-06-16] is a Ukrainian professional wrestler who was introduced to WWE by
Jerry Jarrett . Prudius is currently signed toWorld Wrestling Entertainment and is working on the SmackDown brand as Vladimir Kozlov. He is trained infreestyle wrestling , rugby,American football , sambo,kickboxing ,judo , andmixed martial arts .cite web|url=http://www.carrycompany.com/pdf/prudius.pdf|title=Oleg Prudius resume|publisher=Carry Company|accessdate=2008-06-16]Prudius has also worked as a stage and screen actor, notably having a very small role in
Spike Lee 's "25th Hour ". Prudius also had an extremely small role in "Grindhouse", appearing in the "Werewolf Women of the SS" trailer; he was credited under his real name and his WWE persona for the appearance. He is a formerOhio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.Career
Pre-wrestling
Prudius has won numerous achievements, becoming 2005 USA Open Heavyweight Sambo Championand United States Kickboxing Association (USKBA) International Heavyweight Grappling Champion. He has also played American football for the Ukrainian National Team as well as Santa Barbara College.
World Wrestling Entertainment
On January 17, 2006, World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) announced that Prudius had signed a developmental deal and was sent to
Deep South Wrestling (DSW). [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1294376/bio] On 7 April 2006, Prudius had his first match in DSW against Tommy Suede.On May 5, 2006, Prudius had his first untelevised WWE match during a
house show inSan Jose, California , defeatingRob Conway . The next night, at another house show inSacramento, California , Matt Striker cut a promo on Prudius, calling him a "filthy immigrant," causing Prudius to attack him. Prudius then picked up the microphone and said he that he is "proud to be in America."On the December 18, 2006 edition of "RAW", Prudius made an appearance as a WWE prospect named Vladimir Kozlov. For the next several weeks, Kozlov was interviewed on WWE programming, proclaiming his love for "Double Double E" (WWE), but drawing some heel heat for declaring his superiority over whatever wrestlers were competing at the time, saying "I could beat both of them." He then was taken off television for over a year while working in the developmental system and participating in a number of dark matches all of which he won. [ [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/v/vladimir-kozlov.html Online World of Wrestling ] ]
Ohio Valley Wrestling
On July 28, 2007 in
Louisville, Kentucky , he won theOVW Heavyweight Championship by defeatingPaul Burchill , but gave the Championship the same night to Michael W. Kruel due to an agreement they made before.mackDown
On the April 4, 2008 edition of "SmackDown", Kozlov made his official WWE debut as a heel, with the unique quirk of entering to no music, no titantron, and complete darkness except for a solitary spotlight following him to the ring. He defeated
Matt Bentley in his first match, [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/04042008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-04-04|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Mixed Emotions|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] and over the following weeks, Kozlov would win a series of squash matches, first against local talent, and then established names includingColin Delaney , [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05022008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-05-02|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Championship Friday|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Funaki, [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05162008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-05-16|last=Passero|first=Mitch|title=Fear and loathing in Grand Rapids|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Nunzio, [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05232008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-05-23|last=DiFino|first=Lennie|title=Stood up|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]Shannon Moore , [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/05302008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-05-30|last=Burdick
first=Michael|title=The Animal is Running Wild|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] Jimmy Wang Yang, [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06062008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-06-06|last=Passero
first=Mitch|title=California dreamin'|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]Jamie Noble , [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06202008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-06-20|last=Passero
first=Mitch|title=Spear of influence|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] and Domino. [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/06272008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-06-27|last=Rote
first=Andrew|title=SmackDown goes gold|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment] On the July 11, 2008 airing of "SmackDown", Kozlov debuted an entrance theme and titantron video as he defeatedStevie Richards . [citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/smackdown/archive/07112008/|accessdate=2008-08-13|date=2008-07-11|last=DiFinno
first=Lennie|title=SmackDown: Endless love?|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment]In the following weeks, as Kozlov continued to easily win matches, he began demanding "better competition." On the September 12, 2008 edition of "SmackDown", he began actively seeking that competition, attacking
Jeff Hardy . Over the following weeks, Kozlov would continue attacking both Hardy and theWWE Champion Triple H .In wrestling
*Finishing moves:*Backbreaker rack drop – OVW / WWE; Early 2008 :*Battering ram to a charging or diving opponent – WWE:*Scoop lift dropped into a reverse DDT – WWE
*Signature moves:*Big boot to the chest of an opponent:*Fallaway slam:*Fireman's carry takeover:*Kick to the chest of an opponent draped horizontally over the top turnbuckle:*Overhead / Side belly to belly suplex:*Over the shoulder arm drag:*Scoop powerslam:*Single leg Boston crab*Nicknames:*The
Moscow Mauler:*The Ruthless RussianChampionships and accomplishments
Martial arts
*United States
Kickboxing Association:*USKBA International Heavyweight Grappling Champion (1 time)Professional wrestling
*
Ohio Valley Wrestling :*OVW Heavyweight Championship (1 time) [citeweb|url=http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/ovhtnwa.html|accessdate=2008-06-21|last=Dupree|first=Jim|title=NWA - NATIONAL WRESTLING ALLIANCE NWA OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING HEAVYWEIGHT/OHIO VALLEY WRESTLING HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY|publisher=Solie]Other media
;Television, Film, and TheatrePrudius has made many television appearances. Prudius appeared on the television drama series "The Wire", "Roksalana", and "It's Not To Easy". In 2002, he appeared in
Spike Lee 's film "25th Hour " as a principal. He appeared in the Russian militarytheatre play "Victory Day" and a Ukraine University play "Three Musketeers".Personal life
Prudius is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian, but can speak English very well.
References
External links
* [http://www.wwe.com/superstars/smackdown/vladimirkozlov/ WWE.com Profile]
* [http://www.gerweck.net/olegprudius.htm Gerweck.net Profile]
* [http://vladimirkozlov.co.cc Official Site]
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/v/vladimir-kozlov.html onlineworldofwrestling.com Profile]
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