| Alex Koslov | |
|---|---|
 Koslov in 2013 | |
| Birth name | Alex Sherman[1][2][3] |
| Born | (1984-01-21)January 21, 1984 (age 41)[4][5] Chișinău,Moldavian SSR,Soviet Union[6] |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Aleksandr Vladimirovich[4] Alex Koslov[4] Alex Pincheck[4] Alex Sherman[7] Cárlos Sanchez[8] Peter Orlov[1][9][10] |
| Billed height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[9][5] |
| Billed weight | 190 lb (86 kg)[9][5][11] |
| Billed from | Moscow, Russia[9][5][11][12] |
| Trained by | Jesse Hernandez[3][12] Skayde[13] Ricky Reyes[12] Kendo Kashin[12] Shinsuke Nakamura[12] Minoru Tanaka Rocky Romero[12] Toru Yano[12] Bryan Danielson[12] Negro Navarro Inoki Dojo |
| Debut | May 23, 2003[4] |
Alex Sherman[1][2][3] (born January 21, 1984)[4][5] is aMoldovan-bornRussian retiredprofessional wrestler andcolor commentator, currently working forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling under thering nameAlex Koslov.
Koslov has mainly worked in Mexico from 2005 until 2008 forConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), but in October 2008 he made a surprise jump to rivalpromotionAAA, where he worked until October 2010. In AAA he is a two–timeAAA Cruiserweight Champion and a one–timeAAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion with partnerChristina Von Eerie. From August 2010 to February 2012 he was signed toWWE, working in itsdevelopmental territoryFlorida Championship Wrestling under the ring namePeter Orlov. After his release from WWE, Sherman resumed working on the Americanindependent circuit for promotions such as Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) andPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), while also making his debut forNew Japan Pro-Wrestling. Sherman formed a tag team withRocky Romero known asForever Hooligans and would go on to winIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship twice and theROH World Tag Team Championship once.
Koslov was trained byJesse Hernandez and made his professional wrestling debut in Covina, California on May 23, 2003, against Kid Karnage working as "Alex Pincheck". From 2003 until 2006 Koslov worked exclusively on the west coast of the United States, making appearances for promotions such asPro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG),Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF) and localNational Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliated groups. From 2005 and forward Koslov began working in Mexico and later on started making appearances all over the United States. On June 11, 2006, Koslov won theNWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship inSanta Monica, California fromKarl Anderson, less than a month later he lost the title to Justin White.[14]
In 2008 Koslov participated in the annual ECWA Super 8 tournament working with other young "high flyers". In the first round he defeatedShannon Moore in what was considered an upset, then he defeated Chase del Monte in the second round before losing to Aden Chambers in the finals.[15] Koslov's performance earned him positive reviews. Koslov did not win the tournament but he stole the show, working as avillain he riled up the crowd enough for one audience member to threaten him with a chair.[16]
In August 2006, Koslov began working for the Mexicanlucha libre promotionConsejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) as avillain, or a "Rudo" in Mexico. He was the first Russian to ever wrestle inArena Coliseo in its 70-year history.[17] Shortly after starting with CMLL, Koslov participated in their annualLeyenda de Plata tournament, losing toMístico in the quarter-final.[18] He also participated in the 2006Leyenda de Azul tournament defeatingHirooki Goto in the first round but losing toDr. Wagner Jr. in the second round.[19] In November, 2006 Koslov won an 8-mantorneo cibernetico to earn a shot at theWorld Middleweight Championship, but lost against championAverno. Over the next year, Koslov worked mid-card to semi-main event matches, usually insix-man tag team matches that is the most common match format in lucha libre. In May 2007, Koslov unsuccessfully challengedNWA World Light Heavyweight ChampionAtlantis for the title.
Having turned into acrowd favorite, or "technico", in mid-2007, Koslov joined forces withMarco Corleone,Rey Bucanero andShocker to form a group called High Society, a group of self-professedmetrosexuals. The group saw limited success and by the start of 2008 rarely teamed together, when Rey Bucanero returned toLos Guerreros de Atlantida the stable dropped altogether. Throughout 2008 Koslov kept working mid-card matches, rarely working any kind of storyline, with the odd unsuccessful title match here and there.
In 2008Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) he was able to participate in the2008 World X Cup Tournament that took place in June and July 2008. Koslov was part of Team International along withCanadianTyson Dux,BritDoug Williams, andIranian AmericanDaivari. Koslov made a couple of "pre-tournament" appearances defeatingCurry Man one week and losing to Team USA captainKaz.[20][21] In tournament action Koslov lost to fellow CMLL workerRey Bucanero representing Team Mexico.[22] In the finals of the tournament, held at theVictory RoadPay-Per-View, Koslov took part in a four team triple eliminationbattle royal. He eliminated another fellow CMLL workerÚltimo Guerrero andChris Sabin from the match, before tapping out toMasato Yoshino in the second to last elimination of the match.[23] Team International ended up with just three points finishing last in the tournament.[4]
After having worked on a handshake deal with CMLL for two years Koslov was approached by rival promotionAAA and offered a deal. According to Koslov he decided to take the deal with AAA because he was unhappy with CMLL's direction.
I was with CMLL for two years. They treated me great and made a star out of me, but I was dying mentally. I lost my passion. I became bored. It was always the same old stuff.
— Alex Koslov,Pro Wrestling Illustrated[16]
Only a few people knew that Koslov had signed with AAA before he made his surprise debut on October 10, 2008, at a AAA Television taping inQuerétaro, Mexico. To avoid spoiling the surprise Koslov had covered his face as he travelled to the arena, then stayed out of sight during the show. Koslov's defection to AAA made front-page news on newspapers and wrestling magazines, liking it to theMonday Night Wars betweenWorld Championship Wrestling and theWorld Wrestling Federation.[16][24] Koslov helped found thestable "D-Generation Mex" together withSean Waltman andRocky Romero.[25]
On March 20, 2009, Koslov was one of thirteen wrestlers in a "Dome of Death" cage match to qualify for a tournament to establish theAAA Cruiserweight Championship where he qualified for the tournament itself.[26] In the first round Koslov defeated his D-Generation-Mex partner Rocky Romero on April 17, 2009. After the match the two partners hugged without showing any animosity between them.[27] In the semi-final Koslov defeatedNicho el Millonario to qualify for the final.[28] On May 21 Koslov defeatedExtreme Tiger andAlan Stone to become the first ever AAA Cruiserweight Champion.[29] Alex Koslov's run with the Cruiserweight title only lasted 23 days as he lost to Extreme Tiger atTriplemania XVII on June 13, 2009.[30] Following the title loss Koslov turnedRudo attacking his D-Generation-Mex partners after a match. On August 21, 2009, Koslov regained the Cruiserweight championship by winning a five-way elimination match at the 2009Verano de Escándalo defeating Extreme Tiger,Jack Evans,Teddy Hart and Rocky Romero.[31] On August 30 Koslov lost a six-man steel cage match and as a result was forced out of AAA.[32][33] Koslov confirmed on hisTwitter page that he was done with the company.[34] AAA later vacated his Cruiserweight Championship.[35]
On September 26, 2009, atHeroes Inmortales IIIKonnan kidnapped AAA owner Dorian Roldán[36] and on the October 17 tapings of AAA's television show offered to return him if his father Joaquín reinstated Alex Koslov.[37] Later in the evening, during a match between Marco Corleone andChessman, a masked man entered the ring and attacked Corleone. The masked man was caught and unmasked to reveal Koslov, whom Konnan then saved by threatening Dorian with violence if Koslov wasn't freed.[37][38] After Koslov was reinstated he joined Konnan'sLa Legión Extranjera and atRey de Reyes unsuccessfully challenged Extreme Tiger for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship.[39] On June 2, 2010, Koslov teamed up with fellowLa Legión memberChristina Von Eerie to defeatAero Star andFaby Apache to win theAAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship.[40] On October 1 atHéroes Inmortales IV Koslov and Von Eerie lost the titles to Faby Apache andPimpinela Escarlata.[41] Afterwards Koslov announced that Héroes Inmortales IV had been his last night with AAA, before leaving for WWE.[42]
In April 2009, Koslov made a couple of appearances forRing of Honor (ROH) when they promoted a couple of shows inHouston,Texas. Koslov first worked a singles match, losing toBryan Danielson on the April 3 showSupercard of Honor IV.[43] The following day at the tapings of theTake No Prisoners pay-per-view, Koslov was defeated byRoderick Strong in another singles match.[44] Koslov returned to ROH in December 2009, losing toThe Briscoe Brothers and Rocky Romero in a six-man tag team match, where he teamed withDavey Richards andEddie Edwards, on the 18 and to Romero in a singles match on the 19 atFinal Battle 2009, ROH's first live pay-per-view.[45][46] Due to the controversy surrounding the Final Battle 2009 match,[47] Koslov and Romero were booked in a rematch on March 26, 2010, inPhoenix, Arizona, which Koslov won.[48]
On March 2, 2013, Koslov and Romero, now working together as a tag team, returned to ROH at the11th Anniversary Show, where they were defeated byThe American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards).[49] The following day, they unsuccessfully challengedreDRagon (Bobby Fish andKyle O'Reilly) for theROH World Tag Team Championship.[50] Koslov and Romero returned to ROH on July 27 and defeated reDRagon in a rematch to become the new ROH World Tag Team Champions.[51] They lost the title to The American Wolves in their first defense on August 3.[52] On September 20 atDeath Before Dishonor XI, Koslov and Romero successfully defended theIWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against The American Wolves.[53] At the following day's tapings ofRing of Honor Wrestling, Koslov and Romero unsuccessfully challenged reDRagon for the ROH World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match, which also included C&C Wrestle Factory (Caprice Coleman andCedric Alexander).[54]
On the August 27, 2010, edition ofWorld Wrestling Entertainment'sSmackDown television program, Koslov, using the ring name Cárlos Sanchez, wrestled in a match, where he was defeated byAlberto Del Rio.[8] It was later reported that Koslov had signed a developmental contract with the WWE and would report to theirdevelopmental territory,Florida Championship Wrestling in October 2010, when his AAA contract would expire.[55][56]
Sherman, using his real name, made his FCW debut on November 20, 2010, at ahouse show inPunta Gorda, Florida in a losing effort againstBo Rotundo.[7][57] Sherman made his televised debut on the November 28 edition of FCW TV, wrestling under the ring name Peter Orlov in a match, where he andAJ were defeated byLucky Cannon andNaomi.[1][10][58] On February 3, 2012, it was reported that Sherman had been released from his FCW contract.[59][60]
Sherman made his first post-WWE appearance on March 4, 2012, when he, once again performing as Alex Koslov, defeated SoCal Crazy at an Empire Wrestling Federation event inCovina, California.[61] On March 17, Koslov returned to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, losing to Kyle O'Reilly.[62]
From January 24 to 25, 2015, Koslov participated in the Alternative Wrestling Show's Race for the Ring Tag Team Tournament with Romero. They were defeated in the finals by the ASW Tag team Champions PPRay (Peter Avalon andRay Rosas). It was his final wrestling match.[63] Following the match, Sherman stated that it was "absolutely necessary" for him to step away from professional wrestling and that he did not know if he would wrestle again.[64]
On April 16, Koslov was announced as a participant inNew Japan Pro-Wrestling's (NJPW)2012 Best of the Super Juniors tournament.[65][66] In theround-robin stage of the tournament, which ran from May 27 to June 9, Koslov won five out of his eight matches, but a loss toLow Ki in his final round-robin match caused him to narrowly miss advancing to the semifinals of the tournament.[67][68] Koslov returned to New Japan on July 7, now representing the promotion's top villainous stable,Chaos,[69][70] as a member of which he also reunited with former AAA partner Rocky Romero, with the two dubbing their tag team "Forever Hooligans".[71] On July 22, Koslov and Romero defeatedJyushin Thunder Liger andTiger Mask to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[72] Koslov and Romero made their first successful title defense on August 26 at a Sacramento Wrestling Federation (SWF) event inGridley, California, defeating the team of A.J. Kirsch andAlex Shelley.[73][74] Forever Hooligans made their second successful title defense on October 8 atKing of Pro-Wrestling, defeating theTime Splitters (Alex Shelley andKushida).[75][76] On October 21, Forever Hooligans entered the2012 Super Jr. Tag Tournament, defeating Jyushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask in their first round match.[77] On November 2, Koslov and Romero were eliminated from the tournament in the semifinals byApollo 55 (Prince Devitt andRyusuke Taguchi).[78] On November 11 atPower Struggle, Forever Hooligans lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the winners of the Super Jr. Tag Tournament, the Time Splitters, ending their reign at 112 days.[79][80] Koslov returned to New Japan in early 2013, and on February 10 atThe New Beginning, he and Romero unsuccessfully challenged the Time Splitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship.[81] On May 3 atWrestling Dontaku 2013, Koslov and Romero regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from the Time Splitters.[82][83] From late May to early June, Koslov took part in the2013 Best of the Super Juniors, where he won four of his eight matches with a loss toBrian Kendrick in his final round-robin match on June 6 costing him a spot in the semifinals.[84] Koslov and Romero made their first successful defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on June 22 atDominion 6.22 in a rematch with the Time Splitters.[85][86] Koslov and Romero then got involved in Chaos' rivalry with theSuzuki-gun stable, which led to their second successful title defense on July 20 againstTaichi andTaka Michinoku.[87][88] Koslov and Romero lost the title to Taichi and Michinoku in a rematch on October 14 atKing of Pro-Wrestling.[89] For the first half of 2014, Forever Hooligans received several new shots at the title, now held byThe Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), but were defeated each time,[90][91] including in a three-way match, also involving the Time Splitters, on May 10 atGlobal Wars, a special event co-produced by NJPW and ROH inToronto.[92] Later in the month, Koslov was scheduled to take part in the2014 Best of the Super Juniors, but after dislocating his left shoulder in his first match, he was forced to pull out of the tournament.[93]
On January 4, 2015, atWrestle Kingdom 9 in Tokyo Dome, Forever Hooligans challenged for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, but were defeated by the defending champions, reDRagon, in a four-way match, also involving Time Splitters and The Young Bucks.[94] After he and Romero lost to reDRagon in a non-title match the following day, Koslov took a victory lap around the ring and thanked Romero for sharing his career with for the past decade. On January 9, Koslov announced he was taking an "indefinite sabbatical" from professional wrestling until 2022.[95]
After a 5-year hiatus, Koslov made his return to New Japan Pro Wrestling on August 7, 2020, as a color commentator onNew Japan Cup USA alongsideKevin Kelly. Koslov would then become a regular commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling alongside Kelley on the NJPW weekly seriesNJPW Strong.[96] On October 28, 2022, onNew Japan Pro WrestlingRumble on 44th Street Koslov came out of retirement for one night only to wrestle one more time with fellow tag team partnerRocky Romero in a brief reunion of theForever Hooligans in a losing effort against The DKC andKevin Knight.
Sherman resides inCalifornia. He runs aYouTube channel "The Alex Koslov Show" where he postsprank videos and his best moments as aprofessional wrestler.
He is very private about his personal life, but it's known that he has a brother and he is very close with his mother.
Sherman is close friends with some professional wrestlers such asShinsuke Nakamura,Kazuchika Okada,Konnan,Rocky Romero,The Young Bucks, and many others.
Sherman is fluent inRussian,English,Spanish andRomanian.
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