Salman Hashimikov, also spelled Hasimikov , is a prominent Soviet heavyweight

Wrestling weight classes

-For men's freestyle and Greco-Roman:Currently, men's freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling is divided into four main age categories internationally: schoolboys, cadets, juniors, and seniors....

 wrestler. A Chechen

Chechen people

Chechens constitute the largest native ethnic group originating in the North Caucasus region. They refer to themselves as Noxçi . Also known as Sadiks , Gargareans, Malkhs...

 from Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, he holds two European and four World Championship gold medals in freestyle wrestling

Freestyle wrestling

Freestyle wrestling is a style of amateur wrestling that is practised throughout the world. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic games. It is, along with track and field, one of the oldest organized sports in history...

 (1979, 1981, 1982, 1983). He had also won European and World gold as a Junior in 1970-71.

After an unsuccessful business career, Salman spent five years as a professional wrestler

Professional wrestling

Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

 in Japan. There he won the IWGP Heavyweight Championship from Big Van Vader in May 1989 when Steve Williams refused to lose the title to him.

Hashimikov was the first actual Russian to win a professional wrestling title in the capitalist countries before the Cold War was over (most "Russians" or "Soviets" in North America

North America

North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...

 were in fact gimmicks). He was brought to Japan by Antonio Inoki

Antonio Inoki

is a Japanese professional wrestling promoter and retired professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who now resides between New York City and Tokyo. He was also the founder and former owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling before selling his controlling share in the promotion to Yukes...

 and stayed at the dojo to train as a professional.

Hashimikov later competed in UWF International

UWF International

Union of Wrestling Forces International, better known as UWF International, U-Inter, or simply UWFi, was a shoot style professional wrestling promotion in Japan from 1991 to 1996. Although the matches were worked , the UWF-i was very convincing for its time, promoting a more hard-hitting, realistic...

 but did not challenge for titles again.

Hashimikov's one major North America professional wrestling appearance was as part of the International Tag Team Tournament held at Starrcade 1990 with partner, Victor Zangiev

Victor Zangiev

Victor Zangiev is a retired Soviet amateur wrestler, who wrestled professionally in Japan.-Amateur wrestling career:Victor Zangiev was a great amateur wrestler from the Soviet Union. In 1981, he reversed the first seat in the 100 kg class for the Junior World Championships in freestyle wrestling...

.

Championship and Accomplishment

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  New Japan Pro Wrestling
  is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
  
  
• IWGP Heavyweight Championship (1 time)