The Man, The Myth, The Legend Vol. 4: Nikolai Volkoff

#2. The Executioners

Volkoff's friend and partner Newton Tattrie grew disgruntled with the intense road schedule of the WWWF, and left to form his own company. Volkoff briefly used the Nikolai Volkoff character before leaving the company as well. He returned several years later under as mask as one of the Executioners. His partners were legends themselves: Killer Kowalski and Big John Studd.

Like the Mongols, the Executioners were bullying heels who the fans hated. Since Volkoff spoke little English and Kowalski's identity was supposed to be secret, they communicated through their manager Captain Lou Albano. Eventually, the idea of a three-man tag team was scrapped, just before the Freebirds made it popular, and Volkoff ended up on his own for the first time in his career.