Jim Barrell (born December 13, 1959) is an American professional wrestler best known as Boris Zhukov (sometimes spelled Boris Zukhov) in his time with the World Wrestling Federation.

Career

Barrell started wrestling in 1982 as "Pvt. Jim Nelson" in Sgt. Slaughter's "Cobra Corps" in the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions. He frequently teamed with Don Kernodle and he feuded with Porkchop Cash.

In 1984, he went to Alabama's Southeast Championship Wrestling and continued his feud with Cash.

In 1985, he went to the American Wrestling Association as "Boris Zukhov" from the Soviet Union, taking on Chris Markoff as his manager and challenging AWA World Champion Rick Martel and AWA Americas Champion Sgt. Slaughter.

In 1987, he formed a tag team with Soldat Ustinov under Sheik Adnan El Kassey's management. The pair won the AWA World tag team title that same year. Zhukov, however, left the AWA for the WWF while he was still one half of the tag team champions (the storyline being that Wahoo McDaniel chased him out after a brutal chain match). As a result, former tag team title holder Doug Somers was brought in to team with Ustinov, losing the titles to the team of Jerry Lawler and Bill Dundee.

Upon entering the WWF, he formed a team with Nikolai Volkoff known as The Bolsheviks. They teamed for over 2 years, but never rose above mid-card status. By mid 1990, Zukhov was wrestling in singles competition, being used primarily as a jobber. He even feuded with his former tag team partner when Volkoff received a push as a face that same year.

Zhukov then left the WWF for the independent circuit until he retired in 1996.

Zhukov often makes appearances for many independent promotions in Virginia and North Carolina and has returned to his Jim Nelson character, now as a Sergeant.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • Running or diving headbutt drop

• Signature moves
  • Diving reverse crossbody
  • Knee drop
  • Running clothesline

• Managers
  • Adnan El Kassey
  • Chris Markoff
  • Slick

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Soldat Ustinov

• Maple Leaf Wrestling
  • NWA Canadian Television Championship (2 times)

• Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship (2 times) - with Don Kernodle

• Southeastern Championship Wrestling
  • NWA Alabama Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Worst Feud of the Year (1985) vs. Sgt. Slaughter
  • Worst Tag Team (1988) with Nikolai Volkoff

• World Wrestling Federation
  • Slammy Award for Best Personal Hygiene (1987) with Nikolai Volkoff and Slick

References

Birthdate:January 29, 1959 Roanoke Va
Real Name:James Kirk Harrell
     Debut:May 1979 New Castle Va Mid Eastern Championship Wrestling  May 1980 Georgia Championship Wrestling Atlanta TV

More Info: Midatlanticgateway.com Jim Nelson Interview