Born on December 21, 1991, Nikola Bogojevic, famously known as Otis, is an American professional wrestler. He lights up the WWE Raw brand with his performances. Impressively, Otis clinched the 2008 Greco-Roman junior Nationals in his category. Furthermore, he grabbed the national title at the 2011 Junior Pan-American Games. In 2014, at the Pan American Sports Festival, Otis secured a bronze in Greco-Roman wrestling. He was a strong contender for the 2012 Olympic Games team but, unfortunately, did not make the cut.
In 2016, WWE recognized his talent and brought him on board. Otis formed a formidable duo with Tucker Knight in NXT as Heavy Machinery. Subsequently, in 2018, they ascended to WWE’s main roster. Standing at 5’10” and weighing 330 pounds, Otis is a powerhouse in the ring. His “Compactor” move is his trademark.
In 2020, Otis triumphed in the Men’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Additionally, he won the Raw Tag Team Championship with Chad Gable in 2022 as part of Alpha Academy. Gold Medalist Rulon Gardner and the U.S. Olympic Training Center played a key role in his training. Moreover, Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) honored him as Rookie of the Year in 2018. Today, Otis continues to impress and grow his fan base in WWE, cementing his status as a top figure in professional wrestling.
Otis WWE Biography/Wiki
| Birth Name | Nikola Bogojević |
| Born | December 21, 1991 (age 32) Duluth, Minnesota, United States |
| Ring Names | Dozer, El Gran Gordo, Niko Bogojevic, Otis, Otis Dozovic |
| Billed Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Billed Weight | 330 lb (150 kg) |
| Billed From | Superior, Wisconsin |
| Trained By | Mercury Pro Wrestling Academy, WWE Performance Center |
| Debut | 2015 |
Otis WWE Early Life
Nikola Bogojevic, better known as Otis, entered the world on December 21, 1991, in Duluth, Minnesota. His journey in wrestling began at Superior High School, where he first uncovered his talent. In the early phase of his career, Otis clinched the 2009 Greco-Roman junior Nationals. Moreover, he secured third place in the 2009 Junior Freestyle championships.
Furthermore, in 2011, he captured a national title in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Junior Pan-American Games. He also earned a Greco-Roman bronze at the 2014 Pan-American Games. Otis’s early life revolved around his commitment to wrestling. Impressively, he received training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado.
Otis WWE Parents & Siblings
Otis’s roots trace back to Duluth, Minnesota, with his parents hailing from Serbia. Details about his siblings remain private, as Otis keeps his personal life and relationships under wraps.
Otis WWE Ethnicity, Nationality, Religion & Race
As an American professional wrestler of Serbian descent, Otis was born and raised in Duluth, Minnesota. While specific details about his religious beliefs are not well-documented, his nationality and ethnic background paint a picture of diverse cultural influences.
Otis WWE Age
Otis, born on December 21, 1991, is 32 years old. At this age, he shows significant experience and success in wrestling.
Otis WWE Height
In terms of height, Otis measures 5 feet 10 inches (177 cm). This stature, coupled with his strength, makes him a formidable figure in the ring.
Otis WWE Weight
Weighing in at 330 lbs (150 kg), Otis’s weight enhances his ability to overpower rivals.
Otis WWE Physique
Otis’s physique stands out with a height of 177 cm and weight of 150 kg (330 lbs). His dark brown eyes and hair add to his unique look. This build reflects his commitment to fitness and rigorous training.
Otis WWE Nicknames
Throughout his wrestling career, Otis has been known by various ring names, including Dozer, El Gran Gordo, Niko Bogojevic, Otis, and Otis Dozovic. These nicknames reflect different stages of his career and his evolving persona in the wrestling world.
Otis Amateur Wrestling Career
Nikola Bogojevic, widely known as Otis in the wrestling world, began his journey in wrestling at Superior High School. His talent quickly shone through as he became the undefeated WIAA State Champion in the 285lb category in 2010. His success continued with a championship win at the 2009 Greco-Roman junior Nationals and a third-place finish at the 2009 Junior Freestyle championships.
Initially committed to the University of Wisconsin, Bogojevic chose to wrestle at the collegiate level for Augsburg College and Colorado State University-Pueblo. His achievements in the sport continued to grow, winning the national title in Greco-Roman wrestling at the Junior Pan-American Games in 2011, and earning a Greco-Roman bronze at the 2014 Pan American Sports Festival.
Bogojevic’s prowess in wrestling even led him to be considered a prospect for the U.S. Greco-Roman wrestling team at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He spent valuable time training at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, further honing his skills.
Otis Early Professional Wrestling Career (2015–2016)
In 2015, Nikola Bogojević, later known as Otis, started training as a professional wrestler at Mercury Pro Wrestling Academy in Arvada, Colorado. He competed under the ring name Dozer for various regional promotions in Colorado and Utah. Notably, he won the NRW Charged Championship in New Revolution Wrestling.
Otis WWE Career (2016-present)
Heavy Machinery (2016–2020)
Gerald Brisco, a WWE scout focusing on award-winning amateur wrestlers, noticed Bogojević. He signed with WWE on April 12, 2016, and joined the WWE Performance Center. Otis debuted at a NXT house show on July 8, 2016, teaming with Adrian Jaoude. Unfortunately, they lost to The Authors of Pain.
Tag Team Formation and Early Success
Otis teamed up with Tucker Knight to form Heavy Machinery. They entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament in October. Renamed Otis Dozovic, the team debuted on NXT TV on October 19, losing to Austin Aries and Roderick Strong. Their first TV win came on March 29, 2017, against Jonathan Ortagun and Q. T. Marshall.
Despite a strong effort, Heavy Machinery couldn’t win the NXT Tag Team Championship on July 12. They competed again in the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic in March 2018 but lost in the first round to The Street Profits. Heavy Machinery’s final NXT match was a victory over Blake Howell and Danny D’Accardo on December 19.
Main Roster Debut and Competitions
Heavy Machinery debuted on the main roster on January 14, 2019, on Raw. They interrupted an interview between Alexa Bliss and Paul Heyman. The next week, they beat The Ascension in their in-ring debut. Otis’s ring name was shortened to just Otis, and Tucker Knight became Tucker. Their pay-per-view debut was at WrestleMania 35 in the André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.
After the Superstar Shake-Up, Heavy Machinery moved to SmackDown. They challenged for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship at Stomping Grounds and Extreme Rules but fell short. At Crown Jewel, they participated in a tag team turmoil match. They were also in an interbrand tag team battle royal at Survivor Series.
Romantic Storyline and Money in the Bank Victory
In late 2019, Otis started a romantic storyline with Mandy Rose. Their storyline evolved into a love triangle involving a feud with Dolph Ziggler. Otis won against Ziggler at WrestleMania 36 with Rose’s help. He also won the Money in the Bank ladder match on May 10.
Feud with John Morrison and The Miz
Otis began a feud with John Morrison and the Miz over the Money in the Bank briefcase. He was sued by Miz and Morrison but refused to relinquish the contract.
During the 2020 Draft in October, Otis stayed on SmackDown, while Tucker moved to Raw, ending Heavy Machinery. Otis then appeared on Raw under the disguise of El Gran Gordo. He lost his Money in the Bank briefcase to the Miz at Hell in a Cell after Tucker betrayed him.
Alpha Academy (2020–present)
On the November 6 SmackDown episode, Otis faced Seth Rollins but lost in a Survivor Series qualifying match. He then beat Dolph Ziggler on November 13, after which Chad Gable approached him. Gable offered to help Otis discover his “Inner Alpha.” WWE Official Adam Pearce then named Otis as the final member of the Men’s SmackDown Survivor Series team on November 20. However, at Survivor Series, Braun Strowman eliminated Otis, and Team SmackDown lost.
Tag Team Matches and Royal Rumble
During TLC’s pre-show on December 20, Otis, Gable, Big E, and Daniel Bryan triumphed over Shinsuke Nakamura, Cesaro, King Corbin, and Sami Zayn in an eight-man tag team match. At the Royal Rumble on January 31, 2021, King Corbin quickly eliminated Otis in his first Rumble match.
Turning Heel and Tag Team Championship
On February 19, Otis turned heel for the first time by attacking Rey Mysterio, following Gable’s orders. At WrestleMania SmackDown on April 8, Alpha Academy, Rey & Dominik Mysterio, and The Street Profits challenged for the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode, however, retained the titles.
Losing Titles and WrestleMania 38
Alpha Academy dropped the titles back to RK-Bro on March 7, ending their reign at 55 days. They failed to regain the titles at WrestleMania 38 in a triple threat match.
Alliance with Maximum Male Models
At WrestleMania 38 on April 3, Alpha Academy couldn’t regain the titles in a triple threat match involving The Street Profits. On March 13, 2023, Gable found Otis with Maximum Male Models during a photo shoot. Otis chose to leave with them, sparking a rivalry between Dupri and Gable for his allegiance. Maxxine sided with Alpha Academy on May 15, cheering for Otis and Gable in a battle royal.
“Viking Rules” Match and Ongoing Feud
Alpha Academy’s popularity grew, turning them face. Maxxine debuted in the ring on July 3 in a mixed tag team match, pinning Valhalla. On July 10, Alpha Academy celebrated Dupri’s graduation, but The Viking Raiders interrupted, leading to Valhalla stealing Dupri’s jacket. The next episode saw Gable and Otis battle Erik and Ivar in a “Viking Rules” match. Despite their strong performance, Gable and Otis lost. However, Dupri successfully retrieved her jacket.
Otis Personal Life & Girlfriend
Otis has posted a photo of WWE Diva Mandy Rose calling her his future wife. By the end of 2019, Otis was in a romantic relationship with Mandy Rose. On the February 14, 2020 episode of SmackDown, Otis went on a date with Rose. But Dolph Ziggler came to Otis’s place during the date. The storyline changed into a love triangle involving a feud between Otis and Ziggler over Rose.
Otis Injury
As a wrestler Otis has faced different injuries in different wrestling matches. Among all the injuries recently, WWE Digital has just released storyline injury updates. It is about Otis and Jey Uso following last night’s SmackDown.
After Jey Uso’s attack, WWE Medical had evaluated Otis. It was revealed that he is suffering from multiple areas of bruise. It also discomforts the muscles throughout the thoracic spine region.
Otis WWE Net Worth & Salary 2024
Otis, a professional wrestler, has amassed about $2 million. He boosts his income through merchandise sales. This success signifies his hard work and fan popularity. Before WWE, Otis wrestled in smaller leagues like Ultra-Championship Wrestling-Zero and New Revolution Wrestling. His major breakthrough came with WWE. There, he formed the tag team Heavy Machinery with a fellow wrestler. Although they didn’t clinch championships, they made a strong impact in WWE’s tag team division.
Industry insiders recognize Otis’s impressive wrestling career. They estimate his annual earnings at around $350,000. This figure reflects his status as a valuable WWE superstar. Otis also profits from major match appearances and merchandise sales. While not the top earner in WWE, his status as a mid-level wrestler still secures him a substantial income.
Otis Accomplishments
Champion
- Fila Cadet Greco-Roman National Champion (2007)
- USA Wrestling Junior Greco-Roman National Champion (2009)
- Wisconsin State Champion (2010) NRW (New Revolution Wrestling) Charged Championship (1 time)
- WWE Raw Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Chad Gable
- Men’s Money in the Bank (2020)
Honors
- Ranked No. 255 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2018.
- Rookie of the Year in 2017
- WWE Money in the Bank Winner (2020 – Men’s)
- WWE Bumpy Award – WWE’s Biggest Social Reaction of the Half-Year (2020 – for kissing Mandy Rose at WrestleMania 36)
- 2 times USA Wrestling Cadet All-American
- 3 times USA Wrestling Junior All-American
Otis Theme songs
- “Shoooosh” by def rebel – with Alpha Academy – Team ( June 26, 2023 – Present)
- “For the Academy” by def rebel – with Chad Gable – Team ( July 2, 2021 – June 25, 2023)
- “Blue Collar Solid” by def rebel – Single (October 25, 2020 – July 1, 2021)
- “Mariachi Core” by CFO$ – Single (October 16, 2020 – October 24, 2020)
- “Heavy” by CFO$ – with Tucker – Team (December 9, 2016 – October 15, 2020)
- “Deny Them Pain” by Saltybeats – with Tucker – Team (October 19, 2016 – December 8, 2016)
Otis Social media
Bogojevic, who is popularly known as Otis isn’t just a world-class Fighter but also very attractive as an individual. Other than being well famed as a WWE wrestler, he has a huge fanbase on social media. He also has an official Instagram account. There he shares his daily activities as well as quality time with friends and family. Moreover, he has 698K followers, and follows only 984 people on his Instagram account. In addition, at every post, he gets no less than a thousand likes. It means he has got some die heart fans too. He has an official Twitter account with 174K followers and follows only 581 people.
Instagram: @otis_wwe
Twitter: @otiswwe
FAQs
Does Otis WWE have a disability?
Otis suffered from Dyslexia since a very early age
Who is Otis Married to in Real Life?
Although Otis is not married, he is in a serious relationship. He and his girlfriend have dated for three years and it’s believed that the duo will tie the knot soon. While he shared a romance story line with Mandy Rose, the duo is not dating. Just like him, Mandy Rose is in a serious relationship off the ring.
Did Otis turn heel?
Otis used The Caterpillar as a finishing maneuver during his matches when he was a babyface. It is very similar to Scotty 2 Hotty’s finishing maneuver, The Worm. But after turning heel, he started using a corner slingshot splash and a falling powerslam as his finishing maneuvers.
Is Otis on Raw or Smackdown?
He is currently a Wrestler, working for WWE on the Raw brand, under the ring name of Otis. Currently, he is a member of the team of Alpha Academy.
Why did Otis shave his beard?
Asked to explain the switch, he said: ‘I think it’s part of the plan of looking like we used to be. When I say that, it’s back to how it used to be. When I say that, it’s back when we used to compete as Chad was in the Olympics. Moreover, I was then in amateur wrestling, we had the shorter hair look. ‘Basically, the beard was just getting annoying for me.
