- Al Blake
Infobox Wrestler
name=Al Blake
img_capt=
names=Vladimir Petrov
height=height|ft=6|in=3
weight=convert|285|lb|kg|abbr=on
birth_date=1961
death_date=
birth_place=Minneapolis, Minnesota ,United States
death_place=
resides=Minneapolis, Minnesota
billed=
trainer=Ivan Koloff
debut=1987
retired=1992
website=|Al Blake is a retired American professional wrestler, known by his ringname Vladimir Petrov, who wrestled in North American regional promotions including the
Universal Wrestling Federation and theNational Wrestling Alliance , most notably as a member ofRussian Team andPaul Jones' Army withIvan Koloff during the 1980s. [ cite web |url=http://www.mikemooneyham.com/pages/viewfull.cfm?ObjectID=E8041837-3101-480F-8C86E4C9409E09B6 |title=The Wrestling Gospel According To Mike Mooneyham: "Russian Bear" Embraces New Life |accessdate= |author=Mooneyham, Mike|date=2000-04-23|publisher=MikeMooneyham.com ]Career
A former bouncer, Al Blake was brought into the Jim Crockett Promotions in February 1987 as Vladimir Petrov, "The Russian Assassin" after
Krusher Khruschev had left for the World Wrestling Federation. Although then head booker Dusty Rhodes was to originally have brought inJohn Nord , he instead had Blake team with Koloff at the last minute. Introduced as a protege of Ivan Koloff, he had been brought to the United States to help Ivan Koloff in his feud withNikita Koloff after turning on Ivan Koloff's group. [ cite web |url=http://members.aol.com/WCVIII/archives.html |title=Question and Answer Archives: Who was Vladmir Petrov he was a tag partner of Ivan Koloff where is he now? |accessdate=|date=1998-06-16 |year= |month=|publisher=Pro Wrestling's Unsolved Mysteries ]Facing Nikita Koloff in a series of Russian Chain Matches, they eventually injured Koloff's neck with the help of
Dick Murdoch in April. They also had a series of matches with then NWA World Tag Team Champions theRock 'n' Roll Express [ cite web |url=http://www.oowrestling.com/columns/skrants/20021016.shtml |title=Video Rant: Best of the Rock 'n' Roll Express, Vol. 2 |accessdate= 2008-04-20 |author=Scott, Keith |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2002-10-16 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=OnlineOnslaught.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] ,The Freebirds and Jimmy &Ron Garvin . They would again lose to Ron Garvin &Barry Windham in a tournament for the vacant NWA US Tag Team titles and were eliminated in the opening round of the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup by Bob &Brad Armstrong . [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wcw/1987#crocket87 |title=World Championship Wrestling: Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup |accessdate= |author=Karlsson, Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-04-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]Petrov also went to the Universal Wrestling Federation [ cite web |url=http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/video_reviews/50399/The-Enlightenment:-Mid-South-UWF-Wrestling-Vol.-17.htm |title=The Enlightenment: Mid-South/UWF Wrestling Vol. 17 |accessdate= |author=Dunn, J.D. |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-02-27 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=411mania.com |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] briefly to feud with
"Dr. Death" Steve Williams over the UWF Title and also teamed with the Angel of Death in a losing effort against the NWA U.S. Tag Team champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express at the Superdome Extravaganza supercard on June 13, 1987.Later during the year, he would wrestle single matches against Barry Windham and
Todd Champion during the year before losing to Jim and Ron Garvin in a tag team match withThe Barbarian at the Great American Bash on June 4, 1987. [ cite web |url=http://www.softwolves.pp.se/wrestling/wcw/1987#bash87 |title=World Championship Wrestling: Great American Bash 1987 |accessdate= |author=Karlsson, Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2005-04-10 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=American Wrestling Trivia |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]Joining
Paul Jones' Army with Ivan Koloff in late 1987, Petrov feuded with Ron Garvin although he would lose that feud too. As Vladimir Petrov, helped Ivan Koloff defend the NWA United States Tag Team titles after Koloff's tag team partner Dick Murdoch was suspended in April - this was the only time Blake held a championship title.Near the end of 1987, Blake suddenly disappeared from television and was not mentioned after he had been arrested for selling drugs and eventually sent to prison.
In 1991, after his release, Blake began wrestling under his own name in the World Wrestling Federation. However, he was used mainly as a preliminary wrestler and left the following year retiring to Minnesota.
Life after wrestling
Blake is married to
Karla Nelson , who was 4th runner up for the NABBA Ms. Universe title in 1994 (losing because the judges felt she was "too big"). Together, they made female wrestling videos (starring Karla). Aside from training with his wife at the Twin Cities Gym in Roseville, MN, Blake owned and operated his own towing business. He now resides in Circle Pines, MN (a suburb of Minneapolis).In wrestling
*Finishing and signature moves
**"The Bearhug"
**Elbox smash
**SuplexChampionships and accomplishments
*
National Wrestling Alliance :National :*NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Ivan Koloff [ cite web |url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-us-t.html |title=N.W.A. United States Tag Team Title |accessdate= |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year=2003 |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Puroresu Dojo |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]References
External links
* [http://www.onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/v/vladimir-petrov.html Profile at Online World of Wrestling]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
