He was inducted into the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Wrestling Alliance Hall of Fame of 2008. He might have retired from the ring in 1992 . I told them I'd be back, but she was a priority. As the 1987 Great American Bash tour got under way, the feud between Koloff, Rhodes, The Road Warriors, and Paul Ellering versus The Four Horsemen and J. J. Dillon was booked as the centerpiece. 6 Nikita Koloff Koloff was a big name in the 80s who eventually spent a few years at WCW in the early years of the company. That's the main reason why I stepped away for a season of time there at WCW.". He was readying to embark on a feud with Ron Garvin that would last through the upcoming Starrcade 1986. During this period he had rivalries with Lex Luger, Sting, and Rick Rude, often for his old United States Heavyweight Championship. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. During this time, it became notable that Nikita stayed constantly in character, even speaking with a thick Russian accent when in public. A tell tell sign that Sting is talking, even if you can't see him, is that he doesn't cuss. One of the greats that really helped the NWA get over the loss of Magnum T.A.. Got admire someone that dedicated. Throughout the early months of 1987, Koloff continued to defend the United States title against members of the Four Horsemen and Paul Jones' Army, which now included "Uncle" Ivan. Lets take a look at the life and career of Nikita Koloff. Ivan and Krusher lost the titles toThe Rock 'n' Roll Express(Ricky MortonandRobert Gibson) on July 9. During the year, he legally changed his name to 'Nikita S. Koloff'. He entered the NWA and became a star, then moved over to the WCW and became an even bigger star. Koloff now admits it was a character he was playing, but still has people expecting him. Be encouraged and challenged by listening to what he is offering! In the 80s, good wrestlers hopped around promotions fairly frequently, but Koloff never stepped foot in the WWE. When my minds made up, that's what I'm going to do. The 21st century saw Nikita Koloff follow in the footsteps of many of his contemporaries by writing a book, but he managed to set himself apart from the rest by writing three books to date. He's probably still in my top 20. Interview: Tully on Tully at The Aussie BBQ (Part Two) CMW 2014! This evening established Koloff as one of the top faces in the NWA.[10]. He stepped away from active competition in 1992 to become an ordained minister. v1.0: Stats/Moveset/Logic ported from the Lord Worm FPR Edit . Koloff lost the WCW Television Title toMike RotundaofThe Varsity Clubon January 30, 1988. started a brawl with Nikita during a contract signing (which started when the Koloffs berated Magnum's mother, who was present), T.A. Koloff rebounded quickly and won the WCW World Television Championship from Tully Blanchard on August 27. [19] His finishing move was the "Russian Sickle", a clothesline.[4]. The two fought to a double disqualification at StarrCade '86 on November 26. It's a weekly challenge for men It's Time TO MAN UP! He was given the singles main event when he wrestled WCW World ChampionRic Flairat the final Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. When you feel in your innermost being that you will achieve what you set out to do, you open the way for miracles. The Russian Assassins were victorious. Koloff made a comeback with World Championship Wrestling and began targeting some of his old rivals like Sting and Lex Luger. Nikita Koloff on Ric Flair Starrcade Match 7,390 views Premiered Nov 9, 2021 195 Dislike Share Save THE HANNIBAL TV 336K subscribers Nikita Koloff on Ric Flair Starrcade Match Learn More. He is best known for his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions and its successor, World Championship Wrestling between 1984 and 1992, where he was billed from Russia (and, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Lithuania). While speaking about his eventual retirement from professional wrestling in 1992, which he had already been planning for, Koloff was asked if he would have stayed in the business had Vince McMahon come calling with an offer. He has acted in a small number of films and television episodes, as well as appearing on an episode of America's Funniest People in which his daughter won the $10,000 grand prize. He returned with Ivan Koloff in 1986 and faced Invader I and Invader III at a big house show at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in Bayamon. Alongside Nidia Guenard, Huffman was the You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on. JCP Crockett Cup 1987 (11th April 1987) Matches Fought. During the bout, Koloff sustained aherniated discin his neck after receiving astiffclothesline to the head from Vader, leading him to retire from professional wrestling. Your login session has expired. This caused Koloff to become a face againstThe Four Horsemen. "I'm a goal setter. The two were then booked in a best-of-seven series, which took place during The Great American Bash 1986 tour. In December 1984, Jim Crockett rewarded the Russians with the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship. Second of a two-part series. You can tell that some people are only taking peoples money and doing a cameo while they eat, or drive in their car. TVTropes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. Unique lists featuring pop culture, entertainment and crazy facts. Dusty Rhodes needed a partner to take onOle AndersonandJames J. Dillonin a cage match. He learned Russian and refused to come out of character, even when away from the ring. His nickname was the Russian nightmare. One of their encounters was voted Match of the Year runner-up by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. The couple had two daughters together, Kendra, who was born in June 1992, and Kolby, who was born in May 1996, while Victoria had two daughters (Teryn and Tawni) from her previous relationship. Do his choices match yours? He played college football and was dreaming of an NFL career when injuries sidelined him. Jim Crockett, Jr., the promoter of the NWA's Jim Crockett Promotions, renamed him "Nikita Koloff", the Russian Nightmare, and teamed him with "uncle" Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle, a turncoat American. At this point, Nikita was at the height of his career. had earned his respect, and that Nikita would work to earn the respect of the American people. Nikita married his first wife, Mandy Smithson, on September 20, 1988, who died from Hodgkin's disease on June 14, 1989. What came next was one of the most epic babyface turns in professional wrestling history. During a TBS World Championship Wrestling (WCW) broadcast leading up to what would be Jim Crockett's first foray into pay-per-view, Taylor and Gilbert jumped Koloff again, beating him unconscious, and draping his version of the TV title across his limp body. He played college football and was dreaming of an NFL career when injuries sidelined him. 3 Competed In The First War Games Now a babyface and comrade of Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff found himself feuding with the top heel group and Dusty's greatest enemies, the Four Horsemen. On a recent episode of "Busted Open Radio," Koloff addressed the possibility of wrestling one last match in the same way Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat both did. However, Koloffs in-ring career lasted less than a decade and involved zero time spent in WWE, so its likely many modern fans don't know much about him if they know of him at all. "Nikita is as much a champion in the service of other as he was in the ring," said Bill Murdock, a museum board member who is executive director of Eblen Charities in Asheville, NC. The Eblen Charities would not be where it is without the help of people like Nikita. She had Hodgkin's and she went through a series of chemotherapy and radiation but it ended up coming back with more vengeance. The man who once pursued championships longed for more in his life. Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis as Scott Simpson. This persisted even when "Asshole" became a common Crowd Chant. The Andersons, NWA Television Title (First Blood Match): Dusty Rhodes vs. Tully Blanchard, United States Tag Team Title Match (No DQ Match): Krusher Khruschev and Ivan Koloff vs. Neal Koloff, formerly known as Jeff Lewis Neal along with Aleksandr Koloff, the former Tyson Alexander Dean are now known as The Koloff Dynasty. During this period, Koloff had altered his appearance somewhat, dropping some muscle mass and growing his hair out into a crewcut. Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. Part two will air on this Friday's The Wrestling Inc. Daily. Also during The War Games, Flair and Blanchard re-aggravated Koloff's neck injury by delivering two spike piledrivers. NIKITA KOLOFF! Immediately after his face turn, Koloff resumed his quest for Ric Flair's WCW World Title and came very close to winning it on several occasions. Mike Schmitz), The Assembly Call IU Basketball Podcast and Postgame Show. Eventually, he went from villain to hero, teaming with Dusty Rhodes, "The American Dream," to become a super patriot and a super star. Please click this line if you do not care and want to view it anyway. Koloff became a born-again Christian in 1993. [20] At her funeral he met Mandys longtime friend and his future wife, Victoria. A big brawl during a contract signing resulted in the belt being vacated and the two rivals meeting in a best of seven series to determine a new US Champion. Prior to committing themselves with Jim Crocket Promotions, The Koloffs feuded with then AWA World tag team champions the Road Warriors in both the AWA and the NWA in a brutal series during 1985. Further education would come from other greats that he shared a ring with, including Ricky Steamboat, Baron Von Raschke, and even Ric Flair. Koloff went on to feud with Rick Rude over Rude's WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. He would go on to say that it was that experience that really taught him the shortness and brevity of life. Koloff was born on March 9, 1959 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of four children born to Paige and Olive Simpson. Koloff was originally billed as being a Russian. November 22, 1984 - NWA Starrcade: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita Koloff) defeated Ole Anderson and Keith Larson. He enrolled in Golden Valley Lutheran College where he played college football alongside fellow future wrestler Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis. He gives his time to motivating others, living a Christian life and talking about character and development. He finally unmasked but ended up helping Rhodes against the Sports Entertainment Xtreme stable.[12]. So proud of Nikita for using his platform to enrich the lives of men. Even during any hardship, love will shine through. About a month after their feud ran its course, Magnum TA was involved in a devastating car accident that he thankfully survived, but would never be able to wrestle again. Koloff continued wrestling in the AWA for the remainder of the year and the first half of 1990, headlining numerous television broadcasts and Twin Wars '90, the last major event with the AWA under Gagne. big fan of Nikita Koloff right here..love The Nightmare. On a recent episode of Busted Open Radio, Koloff addressed the possibility of wrestling one last match in the same way Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat both did. Published March 22, 1998. All Nations TV is a very innovative Christian based broadcasting company that uses modern technology similar to Netflix, Hulu Plus and 1,233 other channels that stream to your TV. Eventually, Koloff eased back into the business part-time. Koloff would battle Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship, and was seriously considered to be the man to take the title. Koloff returned to WCW on February 24, 1991 atWrestleWar. During one bout, Koloff sustained a cut to the arm when an audience member threw a spark plug at him.[8]. February 24, 1985 - NWA/AWA Star Wars: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) defeated Steve Keirn and Jimmy Valiant. He was given the singles main event when he wrestled NWA World Champion Ric Flair at the final Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament. He then lost toBarry Windhamin the finals of the tournament for the vacant WCW United States Championship, before beginning a feud withAl Perezand teaming withStingto feud with the Four Horsemen. On that night, the Super Powers were born, and it was the perfect pairing: The American Dream and The Russian Nightmare. Ivan invoked the Freebird rule which dictated that any two of the three could defend the titles. Born Nelson Simpson in Minneapolis, Nikita Koloff he legally changed his real name to his ring name in the late 80s spent his teenage years in a nearby suburb called Robbinsdale. The worked injury set up the pretext for dropping the US Title to Lex Luger. World Championship Wrestling (1991, 1992), George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame, second-annual Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, WCW United States Heavyweight Championship, NWA United States Heavyweight Championship, Jim Crockett, Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year, "Nikita Koloff Q&A Part 1: Mentors, ring psychology, chains", "Nikita Koloff Q&A Part 2: Mid-Atlantic days, loyalty, fan memories", "Hall of Fame Inductions Report: Bret Hart, Larrry Hennig, Mike DiBiase, Dory Funk Sr., Bop Roop", Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament, Creative Control/The Harris Brothers (Gerald/Ron Harris and Patrick/Don Harris), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nikita_Koloff&oldid=1121200145, Golden Valley Lutheran Royals football players, Minnesota StateMoorhead Dragons football players, Minnesota State University Moorhead alumni, NWA/WCW/WWE United States Heavyweight Champions, Players of American football from Minnesota, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2010, Official website different in Wikidata and Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 11 November 2022, at 01:18. FEB 6, 2023; Q&A With Koloff- Episode #107 Q&A With Koloff- Episode #107 Today, Nikita sits down with Ed Snaidecki & John Boneck for another great . Simpson decided to go with wrestling and was told to shave his head bald and to show up. He explained on WCW's syndicated shows that he had seen the error of attacking Sting. From a hard-scrabble beginning to rings around the world, Nikita Koloff filled arenas, thrilled .more Get A Copy Kindle Store $9.99 Amazon Stores Kindle Edition, 253 pages This text is hidden because it is only available in German language. The feud came to an abortive end in August 1991 when Koloff left WCW to focus on running his gym, "Nikita's Fortress of Fitness," in Concord, North Carolina. AtWrestleWaron May 17, 1992, Koloff teamed with Sting,Ricky Steamboat,Barry Windham, andDustin Rhodesto face The Dangerous Alliance in a WarGames match. Her mom, a Christian preacher who gives abstinence talks to teens, won't let her date till she comes to one of her seminars. The dreams you choose to believe in come to be. 27: 26.08.1986: Koloff lost to Flair and was even attacked by a fan during the match. Despite some people's beliefs, Nikita was never offered any sort of contract with WWF. Stepping out showing men the Kingdom of God and His Love. Slaughter. The winner of the series would be declared champion. The Koloffs went on to regain the NWA World Tag Team title from the Rock 'N Roll Express three months later, on October 13, but lost it to the same opponents on November 28 at StarrCade 1985 in a steel cage match. The rare air is I'm probably . Nikita Koloff discusses his career as a professional wrestler and what has been going on with him since he left the business. 4:39. But it just wasn't the same. Lots of guests who tell their personal stories of faith. In 1985 and 1986, Koloff wrestled several matches for Capitol Sports Promotions in Puerto Rico as part of a talent exchange, facing Hercules Ayala on several occasions. Praise God for this podcast Its time to man up. Former NWA and WCW wrestler Nikita Koloff recently sat down for an interview with Wrestling Inc.'s Drew Rice. Koloff retired from the grind of professional wrestling in 1992 and began giving back to his fans in a variety of ways. Today Nikita speaks with gospel group Sunday Drive for another great episode of questions and answers. I always have been, for many, many years. Legendary announcer Tony Schiavone described it as the loudest pop he had ever heard during his career. And I look back, of course back in the days with magazines before the internet and all that, they were touting the Hulk Hogan vs. Nikita Koloff WrestleMania, 'what would happen if?' 16.06.1992. He was billed as the nephew of fellow faux-Russian Ivan Koloff, from whom he took his ring name. Nikita Koloff made a major impact on the professional wrestling scene when promoter Jim Crockett brought him into Charlotte in 1984. However, Koloff declined the offer because he felt loyalty to the promotion and he didn't want to start a new gimmick. He played college football and was dreaming of an NFL career when injuries sidelined him. was stripped of his title. When you emerge from a time of solitude like this, people will recognize you having the qualities of an authentic . He made a few appearances for NWA:TNA in 2003 as a masked man called "Mr. Wrestling IV" who attacked Dusty Rhodes. April Babb, who co-pastors CSRA Worship Center with her husband, Paul, said they are excited to have Koloff speak. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson in Minneapolis, March 9, 1959) is a retired American professional wrestler who was a top Foreign Wrestling Heel in the mid-1980s. His character appeared in the 2004 videogame Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. 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