Early career (1978–1980) Inspired by his
Northside High School football coach and hope to become a pro wrestler, 160-pound wide receiver and defensive halfback Harrell became interested in gaining mass in his senior year, 1977. While exercising at a
YMCA, he met Ric McCord, who introduced him to Don Hogan and Steve Savage, two wrestlers from
Salem, Virginia who trained him. After wrestling in Virginia in a tag team, Harrell moved to
Atlanta, Georgia. In his first big match, the 210-pound Harrell (now called Jim Nelson) teamed with Mike Stallings to lose to
Ivan Koloff and
Ole Anderson.
Jim Crockett Promotions (1980–1983) Harrell debuted in
Jim Crockett Promotions in August 1980, wrestling as "Jim Nelson". In December 1981, Harrell adopted the name "
Private Jim Nelson" and joined
Sgt. Slaughter's villainous "Cobra Corps". He formed a tag team with fellow Corps member
Don Kernodle. In May 1982, Nelson and Kernodle defeated
Jay Youngblood and
Porkchop Cash to win the
NWA Mid-Atlantic Tag Team Championship. The team lost the title to Cash and
Iceman Parsons in June, but regained it, later that month. The teams second reign lasted until August 1982 when they lost to Youngblood and
Ricky Steamboat. In early 1983, Harrell left the Cobra Corps and began feuding with Slaughter and Kernodle, losing to Kernodle in a series of "boot camp matches" in April and May. He left Jim Crockett Promotions in May 1983. He formed a villainous
tag team with fellow pseudo-Russian
Nikolai Volkoff (whose previous tag partner
The Iron Sheik had just been fired by the WWF) known as "
The Bolsheviks". The Bolsheviks separated in early 1989 after Volkoff temporarily departed the WWF, with Zhukov competing as a single wrestler. His regular opponents included
Paul Roma,
Ronnie Garvin, and
Tim Horner. In September 1989, Volkoff returned to the WWF and reformed their tag team. In December 1989, The Bolsheviks began a lengthy series of matches with
The Bushwhackers. The Bolsheviks permanently disbanded in May 1990 after a further crushing defeat by the Rockers, with Volkoff
turning face by embracing America and
feuding with Zhukov. Zhukov last match was on October 6, 2012, losing to Colonel Spud Wade. ==Personal life==