Soldat Ustinov
Soldat Ustinov | |
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Birth name | Jim Lanning |
Born | October 10, 1960 Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
Professional wrestling career | |
Ring name(s) | Soldat Ustinov Ivan the Terrible Big Jim Steele The Russian Krusher |
Billed height | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) |
Billed weight | 315 lb (143 kg) |
Billed from | Soviet Union |
Debut | 1985 |
Retired | October 26, 1990 |
Jim Lanning (born October 10, 1960) is an American retired professional wrestler, best known by the ring name Soldat Ustinov, who played a fictional Russian character during his career. He competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and the American Wrestling Association (AWA) during the 1980s. Before his professional wrestling career, Jim Lanning was a left offensive tackle known for pass blocking - he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys,[1] and also spent time in the USFL for the San Antonio Gunslingers.[citation needed]
Career
American Wrestling Association (1987 - 1988)
Arriving in the AWA in 1987, he would begin teaming with Boris Zukhov under manager Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie and together would defeat the Midnight Rockers for the AWA World tag team title in Lake Tahoe, Nevada on May 25, 1987.[2] After defending the titles for almost five months with victories over Wahoo McDaniel & D.J. Peterson on August 10,[3] Zukhov jumped to the World Wrestling Federation in October as part of The Bolsheviks with Nikolai Volkoff.
Replaced by "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers, he and Somers would hold the titles little more than a week before losing them to Jerry "The King" Lawler & "Superstar" Bill Dundee on October 10, 1987.[4]
In 1988, Lanning would team with Sheik Adnan Al-Kaissie losing to Greg Gagne & "The Crippler" Ray Stevens on January 10 and to Wahoo McDaniel & Baron von Raschke on January 17 as well as single matches to Tom Zenk and Stevens.[5]
Later that year, he feuded with Sgt. Slaughter losing to him by disqualification on September 17 although he and Teijho Khan would defeat Slaughter and Keith Eric by countout in a tag team match the following night.
On September 19, Lanning teamed with Khan and Colonel DeBeers in a 6-man tag team match losing to Sgt. Slaughter and The Rock 'n' Roll Express. He and Teijho Khan would later feud with Baron von Raschke and The Top Guns (Ricky Rice & Derrick Dukes) before leaving the promotion by the end of the year.
Championships and accomplishments
- American Wrestling Association
- AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) with Boris Zhukov and replacement partner Doug Somers[6]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked him # 310 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the PWI 500 in 1991
Notes
- ^ "Jottings". Star Tribune. July 22, 1983. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Mooneyham, Mike (March 11, 2007). "The Wrestling Gospel According to Mike Mooneyham: Zhukov's Son 'Can Only Get Better'". MikeMooneyham.com.
- ^ "Mid-South Colliseum: 1987 (Jarrett)". ProWrestlingHistory.com. March 2006.
- ^ Keith, Scott (June 20, 2002). "Regional Territories: American Wrestling Association #5, Page #2". KayfabeMemories.com.
- ^ "Tom Zenk in the American Wrestling Association". TomZenk.net. 2007.
- ^ "A.W.A. World Tag Team Title". Puroresu Dojo. 2003.
External links
- Profile at Online World of Wrestling
Media related to Jim Lanning at Wikimedia Commons
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- Murder, Inc. (Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills)
- Hard Boiled Haggerty and Len Montana / Gene Kiniski
- Leo Nomellini and Wilbur Snyder
- Hard Boiled Haggerty and Bob Geigel
- Pat Kennedy and Dale Lewis
- Bob Geigel and Otto Von Krupp
- Larry Hennig and Duke Hoffman
- Bob Geigel and Stan Kowalski
- The Neilsons (Art Neilson and Stan Neilson)
- Doug Gilbert and Dick Steinborn
- The Kalmikoffs (Ivan and Karol)
- The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser
- Moose Evans and Verne Gagne
- Larry Hennig and Harley Race
- The Crusher and Verne Gagne
- Larry Hennig and Chris Markoff/Harley Race
- Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder
- Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto
- The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog)
- The Von Steigers (Karl Von Steiger and Kurt Von Steiger)
- The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog)
- Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson
- Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens
- The Crusher and Billy Robinson
- Bobby Duncum and Blackjack Lanza
- The High Flyers (Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne)
- Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens
- Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon
- East-West Connection (Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura)
- The Sheiks (Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera)
- The Crusher and Baron von Raschke
- Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk)
- Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal
- Scott Hall and Curt Hennig
- Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
- The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels)
- Soldat Ustinov and Boris Zhukov / Doug Somers
- Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler
- Dr. D and Héctor Guerrero
- The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose)
- Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka)
- Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera
- The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos)
- D.J. Peterson and The Trooper