Victor Zangiev

[Grimmas]

Control21 said:

The archetype of the burly strongman from the Soviet bloc. Zangiev would become one of the most recognizable and impactful foreigners from the late 1980s for Puroresu. Even influencing video games such as Street Fighter. Zangiev would make his debut in 1989 for NJPW after Antonio Inoki visited the Soviet Union and negotiated access to two Russian amateur wrestlers (Salman Hashimikov was the other). Zangiev was perhaps the more charismatic of the two and was capable of having good matches. Seemingly a natural, Zangiev became one of the most formidable outsiders in 1989. Zangiev would later work on several UWFi shows.

Recommended matches –

vs Shinya Hashimoto (4/24/1989)

vs Nobuhiko Takada (10/8/1994)

w/Vladimir Berkovich vs Naoki Sano & Yoji Anjo (8/18/1994)

w/Salman Hashimikov vs Kazuo Yamazaki & Yoji Anjo (6/10/1994)

[club]

I bloody love Victor Zangiev. He seemingly 'got' pro wrestling straight off the bat in a way none of the other Soviets of the era did. It was a shame he wasn't the featured guy instead of Hashimikov as he was far and away the more engaging worker. Would recommend Riki Choshu & Tatsumi Fujinami vs Victor Zangiev & Vladimir Berkovich from May 25 1989 and his Buzz Sawyer Tokyo Dome match.