page_title: Vladimir Kozlov
section_title: World Wrestling Entertainment (2006-2011)
hierarchical_section_title: Vladimir Kozlov / Career / World Wrestling Entertainment (2006-2011)
caption_attribution_description: English: Vladimir Kozlov Entering The Arena
context_page_description: Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius is a Ukrainian American professional wrestler, also known by his ring name Vladimir Kozlov. He is currently signed to Inoki Genome Federation. He also worked for WWE from 2006 to 2011. He is trained in freestyle wrestling, rugby, American football, sambo, kickboxing, judo, and mixed martial arts.
  Prudius has also worked as a stage and screen actor, having a small part in Spike Lee's 25th Hour. Kozlov also had a role in Grindhouse, appearing in the "Werewolf Women of the SS" trailer; he was credited under his real name and his WWE persona for the appearance. He is a former Ohio Valley Wrestling Heavyweight Champion.
  On December 8, 2009, Prudius became a United States citizen.
context_section_description: On January 17, 2006, World Wrestling Entertainment announced that Prudius had signed a developmental deal and was sent to Deep South Wrestling. On April 7, 2006 he started wrestling under his real name "Oleg Prudius" and had his first match in DSW against Tommy Suede.
  On May 5, 2006, Prudius  had his first untelevised WWE match during a house show in San Jose, California, defeating Rob Conway. The next night, at another house show in Sacramento, California, Matt Striker cut a promo on Prudius, calling him a "filthy immigrant," causing Prudius to attack him. Prudius then picked up the microphone and said he that he is "proud to be in America."
  On the December 18, 2006 episode of Raw, Prudius  made an appearance as a WWE prospect named Vladimir Kozlov, which became his ring name. For the next several weeks, Kozlov was interviewed on WWE programming, proclaiming his love for "Double Double E" (WWE), but drawing some heel heat for declaring his superiority over whatever wrestlers were competing at the time.
caption: Kozlov entering the arena during a match on February 25, 2008
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