Nikola Bogojević, known to the WWE Universe as Otis, has carved a unique path in professional wrestling. From his amateur wrestling background to his current role in the Alpha Academy, Otis's journey is one of dedication and evolution.
Amateur Wrestling Roots
Born on December 21, 1991, in Duluth, Minnesota, Nikola Bogojević's athletic journey began in Superior, Wisconsin. His Serbian heritage and Christian faith have been important aspects of his life. Excelling in amateur wrestling at Superior High School, he secured the 2010 WIAA State Championship at 285lbs, remaining undefeated. Furthering his achievements, he became a champion at the 2009 Greco-Roman Junior Nationals. His wrestling prowess continued at the collegiate level, representing Augsburg University and Colorado State University-Pueblo. Bogojević's early success marked him as a prospect for the 2012 Olympic Games team, although he was not ultimately selected.
From NXT to Heavy Machinery
In 2016, Bogojević signed with WWE and was assigned to NXT, WWE's developmental brand. There, he formed a tag team with Tucker Knight, and they became known as Heavy Machinery. The duo made their NXT television debut on October 19, losing to Austin Aries and Roderick Strong. Heavy Machinery secured their first televised victory on the March 29, 2017, episode of NXT, defeating Jonathan Ortagun and Q. T. Marshall.
Main Roster Debut and Initial Impact
Heavy Machinery made their main roster debut in 2018, quickly making their presence known. In January 2019, they defeated The Ascension. However, slight name changes occurred, with Bogojević becoming known as Otis Dozovic. The team participated in WrestleMania 35.
The Mandy Rose Storyline
A significant storyline for Otis involved his pursuit of Mandy Rose. A Valentine's Day date was set for Otis and Mandy Rose. However, Sonya Deville was revealed to be manipulating Rose and Dolph Ziggler's relationship. This led to a match between Otis and Dolph Ziggler at WrestleMania 36, which Otis won.
Read also: Weight Loss Guide Andalusia, AL
Money in the Bank and Shift in Alliances
Otis's career reached new heights when he won the Men's Money in the Bank Ladder Match. However, this victory was followed by a shift in alliances and a new direction for his character.
Joining Alpha Academy
Otis's career took another turn when he became associated with Chad Gable and the Alpha Academy. On the November 13, 2020 episode of SmackDown, after Otis defeated Dolph Ziggler, Chad Gable proposed to Otis that he would help him discover his "Inner Alpha".
Heel Turn and Association with Maximum Male Models
Otis went through a heel turn, displaying a more aggressive and villainous persona. On the March 13, 2023 episode of Raw, Otis was seen backstage in a photo shoot with Maximum Male Models (ma.çé and mån.sôör, managed by Maxxine Dupri). Otis then decided to leave with Maximum Male Models instead of Gable.
Face Turn and Maxxine Dupri's Debut
Alpha Academy began to slowly turn face. After weeks of training, Maxxine made her in-ring debut on the July 3 episode of Raw in a mixed six-person tag team match with Gable and Otis against The Viking Raiders (Erik, Ivar and Valhalla).
Alpha Academy Graduation Ceremony
On the July 10 episode of Raw, Alpha Academy held a graduation ceremony for Dupri. At the end of the ceremony, Gable presented Dupri with her own Alpha Academy letterman's jacket. As Dupri was about to put on the jacket, The Viking Raiders appeared on the ramp to distract the team. Valhalla then attacked Dupri from behind and stole her jacket.
Read also: Beef jerky: A high-protein option for shedding pounds?
Training with Chad Gable and Sheamus
In episode 118 of YouTube’s “Celtic Warrior Workouts,” Sheamus joined the Alpha Academy for a workout. Gable guided the others through stretches designed to loosen up the muscle fibers and joints. Otis quipped that elevated deadlifts also “save your back.” Gable helped Sheamus protect his back further by encouraging him to lift without hunching over the bar. Sheamus completed his leg extensions and bodyweight squats only to be met with a “Greco-Roman Surprise” in the form of the immovable beast that is Otis. The two engaged in pummelling - gripping each other tightly around the upper body and using their legs to push each other backward.
Akira Tozawa's Weight Loss
Alpha Academy's Akira Tozawa recently spoke about his weight loss. He feels stronger than before, and that grinding repeatedly only helped in his charisma and skill to go out and perform. "I was like, 240 pounds. So right now, 155," Tozawa stated. "Yeah. It's been 10 years. But I changed the routine, lifestyle, yeah. I'm going to the gym every day."
Wrestling Style and Persona
Otis is known for his power, agility, and unique personality. His signature move, "The Caterpillar," showcases his agility and showmanship. Otis explained that he started doing the Caterpillar move because "no girls would dance" with him.
In-Game Presence
Otis has been featured in several WWE video games, including WWE 2K19, WWE 2K20, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, and WWE 2K24.
Recognition
Otis was ranked No. 70 in the PWI 500 in 2020.
Read also: Inspiring Health Transformation