Alex Koslov

At 40 years old, Alex Koslov has this physical status:

Alex Sherman (born January 21, 1984) is a retired professional wrestler from Moldovan-born Alex Koslov, better known by the ring name Alex Koslov. Koslov has mainly worked in Mexico from 2005 to 2008 for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), but in October 2008, he made a surprise jump to rival promotion AAA, where he served until October 2010.

He is a two-time AAA Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champion, with partner Christina Von Eerie.

He was signed to WWE from August 2010 to February 2012, mainly in its overseas Florida Championship Wrestling, under the ring name Peter Orlov.

Sherman returned to action after being cut from WWE (EWF) and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), as well as making his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Sherman formed a tag team with Rocky Romero named Forever Hooligans and went on to win the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship twice and the ROH World Tag Team Championship once.

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Professional wrestling career

On May 23, 2003, Koslov was coached by Jesse Hernandez and made his professional wrestling debut in Covina, California, against Kid Karnage's "Alex Pincheck" role. Koslov appeared exclusively on the west coast of the United States from 2003 to 2006, making appearances for Pro Wrestling Federation (EWF), Empire Wrestling Federation (EWF), and local National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) affiliated organisations. Koslov, a 2005-forward, first began working in Mexico and later on began making appearances throughout the United States. In Santa Monica, California, Koslov claimed the NWA British Commonwealth Heavyweight Championship from Karl Anderson on June 11, 2006, less than a month later, he lost the title to Justin White.

Koslov was a participant in the annual ECWA Super 8 tournament in 2008, competing with other young "high flyers" in the tournament. He defeated Shannon Moore in the first round, then defeated Chase del Monte in the second round, before losing to Aden Chambers in the finals. Positive feedback have been given to Koslov for his efforts. Koslov did not win the tournament, but he stole the show, angering one audience member enough to threaten him with a chair.

Koslov, or a "Rudo" in Mexico, started working for the Mexican lucha libre company Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) in August 2006. He was the first Russian to compete in Arena Coliseo in its 70-year history. Koslov competed in the annual Leyenda de Plata tournament, losing to Mstico in the quarterfinals just after starting with CMLL. He won the Leyenda de Azul tournament in 2006, defeating Hirooki Goto in the first round but losing to Dr. Wagner Jr. in the second round. Koslov won an 8-man torneo cibernetico in November 2006, but lost in the World Middleweight Championship to champion Averno. Koslov performed mid-card to semi-main event matches, mainly in six-man tag team matches, the most common match format in lucha libre. Koslov unsuccessfully challenged Atlantis for the NWA World Light Heavyweight Championship in May 2007.

Koslov, a crowd favorite or "technico" in mid-2007, formed the High Society, a group of self-professed metrosexuals. The group had limited success, and by the start of 2008, it had hardly collaborated together, when Rey Bucanero returned to Los Guerreros de Atlantida, the stable fell altogether. Koslov continued to play mid-card matches throughout 2008, but there were times when a storyline was not being followed, as shown by the occasional unsuccessful title match here and there.

He was able to compete in the 2008 World X Cup Tournament, which took place in June and July 2008. Koslov, along with Canadian Tyson Dux, Brit Doug Williams, and Iranian American Daivari were among Team International's members. Koslov made a few "pre-tournament" appearances against Curry Man one week and then losing to Team USA captain Kaz on Monday. Koslov lost to Rey Bucanero, a fellow CMLL employee representing Team Mexico in a tournament match. Koslov competed in a four-team triple elimination battle royal in the finals of the tournament, held at the Victory Road Pay-Perspective Centre. He banned another CMLL employee, ltimo Guerrero and Chris Sabin, from the match, before handing over to Masato Yoshino in the second round of the match. In the tournament, Team International ended up losing by just three points.

Koslov had been trying to reach an understanding with CMLL for two years, and was approached by rival promotion AAA and asked for a contract. According to Koslov, he decided to go into bankruptcy because he was dissatisfied with the company's course.

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 in Querétaro, Mexico. Koslov had plastered his face as he arrived at the arena but then stayed out of sight during the performance to prevent spoiling the surprise. Koslov's defection to AAA made front-page news on newspapers and wrestling magazines, all referring to the World Championship Wrestling Federation and the World Wrestling Federation's Monday Night Wars. Koslov, along with Sean Waltman and Rocky Romero, created the dependable "D-Generation Mex" that has been around for many years.

Koslov was one of thirteen wrestlers in a "Dome of Death" cage match on March 20, 2009, where he qualified for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship, where he qualified for the tournament itself. On April 17, 2009, Koslov defeated his D-Generation-Mex colleague Rocky Romero in the first round. Following the match, the two teams hugged without revealing any animosity between them. In the semi-finals, Koslov defeated Nicho el Millonario to advance to the final. Koslov became the first AAA Cruiserweight Champion on May 21 after defeating Extreme Tiger and Alan Stone. Alex Koslov's time with the Cruiserweight title lasted only 23 days, after he lost to Extreme Tiger at Triplemania XVII on June 13, 2009. Following Koslov's humiliation in the title loss, Rudo abused his D-Generation-Mex teammates after a match. Koslov regained the Cruiserweight championship by winning a five-way elimination match at the 2009 Verano de Escándalo, beating Extreme Tiger, Jack Evans, Teddy Hart, and Rocky Romero. On August 30, Koslov lost a six-man steel cage match, which pushed him out of AAA as a result. On his Twitter page, Koslov said he was done with the company. The Cruiserweight Championship was later vacated by AAA.

Dorian Roldán, the founder of Heroes Inmortales III, was kidnapped by AAA's television station on September 26, 2009, and AAA's television show provided him with a return ticket if his father Joaqun revived Alex Koslov. A masked man stepped into the arena and assaulted Corleone later in the evening, during a match between Marco Corleone and Chessman. The masked man was arrested and unveiled his Koslov, who Konnan saved Konnan from being jailed by assaulting Dorian with violence if Koslov was not released. Since Koslov was reinstated, he joined Konnan's La Legión Extranjera and Rey de Reyes unsuccessfully battling Extreme Tiger for the AAA Cruiserweight Championship. Koslov and Christina Von Eerie, two other La Legión teammates, defeated Aero Star and Faby Apache to win the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship on June 2, 2010. Héroes Inmortales IV Koslov and Von Eerie lost their titles to Faby Apache and Pimpinela Escarlata on October 1st. Héroes Inmortales IV had been his last night with AAA before heading to WWE, according to Koslov.

When they promoted a couple of shows in Houston, Texas, Koslov made a few appearances for Ring of Honor (ROH). On the show Supercard of Honor IV, Koslov first appeared in a singles match, losing to Bryan Danielson on April 3. Koslov was defeated by Roderick Strong in another singles match the following day at the tapings of the Take No Prisoners pay-per-view. In December 2009, Koslov returned to ROH in a six-man tag team match against The Briscoe Brothers and Rocky Romero, where he teamed with Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards on the 18 and to Romero in a singles match against ROH's first live pay-per-view. Koslov and Romero were rematching in Phoenix, Arizona, where Koslov defeated in the drama surrounding the Final Battle 2009 match.

On March 2, 2013, Koslov and Romero, who are now working together as a tag team, returned to ROH for the 11th anniversary show, where they were defeated by The American Wolves (Davey Richards and Eddie Edwards). They unsuccessfully challenged reDRagon (Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly) for the ROH World Tag Team Championship the following day. In a rematch to become the new ROH World Tag Team Champions, Koslov and Romero returned to ROH on July 27 and defeated reDRagon. In their first defense on August 3, the British Wolves lost the title to The American Wolves. Koslov and Romero successfully defended the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship against The American Wolves on September 20 at Death Before Dishonor XI. Caprice Coleman and Cedric Alexander competed unsuccessfully for the ROH World Tag Team Championship in a three-way match the following day, defeating reDRagon for the ROH World Tag Team Championship.

On the 2010 version of World Wrestling Entertainment's SmackDown television show, Koslov, battled Carlos Sanchez, who was defeated by Alberto Del Rio in a match. In October 2010, Koslov had signed a developmental deal with the WWE and would return to their developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling, before his AAA deal came to an end.

Sherman made his FCW debut on November 20, 2010 at a house show in Punta Gorda, Florida, in a losing attempt against Bo Rotundo. Sherman made his television debut on the November 28 edition of FCW TV, wrestling under the ring name Peter Orlov in a match, where he and AJ were defeated by Lucky Cannon and Naomi. Sherman had been suspended from his FCW deal on February 3, 2012, according to a newspaper on February 3, 2012.

Sherman defeated SoCal Crazy at an Empire Wrestling Federation event in Covina, California, on March 4, 2012. He was his first post-WWE appearance as Alex Koslov. On March 17, Koslov returned to Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, losing to Kyle O'Reilly.

Koslov competed in the Alternative Wrestling Showcase's Race for the Ring Tag Team Tournament with Romero from January 24 to May 25, 2015. The ASW Tag team Champions PPRay had defeated them in the finals (Peter Avalon and Ray Rosas). It was his last wrestling match. Sherman said it was "fully necessary" for him to step away from professional wrestling and that he did not know if he would return to the ring.

On April 16, Koslov was announced as a participant in the 2012 Best of the Super Juniors tournament in New Japan by New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Koslov won five out of his eight matches from May 27 to June 9, but a loss to Low Ki in his final round-robin match forced him to barely avoid qualifying for the tournament's semifinals. Koslov returned to New Japan on July 7, as a co-leader of Chaos, which he also joined with former AAA partner Rocky Romero, with the two dubbing their tag team "Forever Hooligans." The IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship was won by Koslov and Romero on July 22, beating Jyushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask. On August 26, Koslov and Romero earned their first fruitful title defense at a Sacramento Wrestling Federation (SWF) match in Gridley, California, defeating A.J.'s team. Kirsch and Alex Shelley. On October 8, the Forever Hooligans defeated the Time Splitters in their second straight title defense at King of Pro-Wrestling, defeating the Time Splitters (Alex Shelley and Kushida). The Forever Hooligans defionated the 2012 Super Jr. Tag Tournament on October 21, defeating Jyushin Thunder Liger and Tiger Mask in their first round match. By Apollo 55, Koslov and Romero were both barred from the tournament in the semifinals on November 2 (Prince Devitt and Ryusuke Taguchi). The Time Splitters, the winners of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship, lost the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship to the winners of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on November 11, the End of the Time Splitters' reign. Koslov returned to New Japan in early 2013, and the Time Splitters were unsuccessfully battling the Time Splitters for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship on February 10, at The New Beginning. Koslov and Romero regained the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship from the Time Splitters on May 3 in Wrestling Dontaku 2013. Koslov appeared in the 2013 Best of the Super Juniors tournament, winning four of his eight matches with a loss to Brian Kendrick in his final round-robin match on June 6, costing him a spot in the semifinals from late May to early June. On June 22, Koslov and Romero won their first successful defense of the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in a rematch with the Time Splitters. With the Suzuki-gun stable, Koslov and Romero became involved in Chaos's rivalry, resulting in their second successful title defense against Taichi and Taka Michinoku on July 20. In a rematch against Taichi and Michinoku on October 14, Koslov and Romero lost the title to Taichi and Michinoku. Forever Hooligans were up for a second round of the 2014 season, now owned by The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson), but they were disqualified every time, including in a three-way match involving the Time Splitters, on May 10 in Toronto, a special event co-produced by NJPW and ROH in Toronto. Koslov was supposed to compete in the 2014 Best of the Super Juniors later this month, but he was forced to cancel due to his left shoulder injury in his first match.

Forever Hooligans qualified for the IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship in Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2015, but they were disqualified by the defending champions, reDRagon, in a four-way match that also involved Time Splitters and The Young Bucks. Koslov rodeted around the ring and thanked Romero for sharing his work with him for the past decade after he and Romero lost to reDRagon in a non-title match the following day. On January 9, Koslov declared that he would be taking a "indefinite break" from professional wrestling.

Koslov returned to New Japan Pro Wrestling on August 7, 2020 as a colour commentator on New Japan Cup USA with Kevin Kelly, following a five-year absence. On the NJPW weekly series NJPW Strong, Koslov will then become a regular commentator for New Japan Pro Wrestling alongside Kelley.

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