[1] A former bouncer, Al Blake was brought into the Jim Crockett Promotions in January 1987 as Vladimir Petrov, "The Russian Assassin" after Krusher Khruschev had left for the World Wrestling Federation.
They also had a series of matches with then-NWA World Tag Team Champions the Rock 'n' Roll Express,[3] The Fabulous Freebirds and Jimmy & Ron Garvin.
They would again lose to Ron Garvin & Barry Windham in a tournament for the vacant NWA US Tag Team titles and were eliminated in the opening round of the Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup by Bob & Brad Armstrong.
[4] Petrov also went to the Universal Wrestling Federation [5] briefly to feud with "Dr. Death" Steve Williams over the UWF Title and also teamed with the Angel of Death (who later, under a mask, became another Russian Asassin) in a losing effort against the NWA World Tag Team champions The Rock 'n' Roll Express at the Superdome Extravaganza supercard on June 13, 1987.
Blake was married to Karla Nelsen, who was fourth runner up for the NABBA Ms. Universe title in 1994 (losing because the judges felt she was "too muscular").