Thanks Nikita for hearing Gods heart. I was a huge Koloff fan. The Russians, with Ivan and either Kortsia Korchenko or Krusher Khrushchev (Barry Darsow). Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis on March 9, 1959. He debuted in 1984 and was introduced as "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff's "nephew" just arrived from the Soviet Union. National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. This ended Koloff's reign of nearly 11 months, which still stands today as the fifth longest U.S. title reign in the more than 33-year history of the title. Admins: [2] He debuted on June 5, 1984 and won his first match in 13 seconds, with the only edict from Crockett being that should Koloff trip on the ropes, he would be fired on the spot.[1]. During this time, he looked like The Russian Nightmare of old, still crushing opponents with his intense power. Read millions of eBooks and audiobooks on the web, iPad, iPhone and Android. 13.06.1992. In spring of 1986, Koloff started one of the biggest, most anticipated feuds in the history of Jim Crockett Promotions when he attacked NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum T. A. Koloff would travel the roads with his stablemates Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle, learning about psychology and other essentials from his more experienced partners and arriving at shows hours beforehand so he could also learn and practice physical in-ring techniques. He attacked Lex Luger, claiming he had "stolen" the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from him in 1987 and that he wanted it back. Smash of Demolition. Nikita Koloff discusses his career as a professional wrestler and what has been going on with him since he left the business. In March, as part of his ongoing feud with Ivan and Dick Murdoch, Koloff's neck was "injured" by a Murdoch brainbuster on the concrete floor (of course this was a work). Nikita Koloff The Brevity of Life It's Time to Man Up! Koloff lost the NWA TV Title to Mike Rotunda of The Varsity Club on January 30, 1988. With a major babyface role to be filled and the Soviet heel becoming played out, it was decided that Koloff would turn face by partnering with Dusty Rhodes. While at the same time, the flip side of that is Im in, I think, some veryby my own standardsrare air The rare air is Im probably one of the few guys that retired and has actually stayed retired and not done a one-off or tried to get one more big payday or more big cheer from the fans., So I guess, for me, coming to a place like Baltimore [at the Celebfest convention] and meeting the fans therethat satisfies my interest. "He gives support to the Eblen Charities," said Murdock. Frederick Kenneth Blassman (February 8, 1918 - June 2, 2003) was an American professional wrestler and manager, known by the ring name "Classy" Freddie Blassie.Renowned as "The Hollywood Fashion Plate", he was a one-time NWA World Junior Heavyweight Champion, and was inducted into the WWF Hall of Fame in 1994. Capture your dreams and your life becomes full. And I feel confident to say I certainly could have went there [to the WWF]. It's by taking chances that you'll learn how to be brave. 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. 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. When Nelson Scott Simpson first broke into the wrestling business in 1984, he was told that his new character was going to be named "The Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff, because by the mid-'80s hating Russians was at a career-making high. As the1987 Great American Bashtour got under way, the feud between Koloff, Rhodes,The Road Warriors, andPaul Elleringversus The Four Horsemen and J.J. Dillon was booked as the centerpiece. Lots of guests who tell their personal stories of faith. Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis as Scott Simpson. In October 1986, Magnum T.A. Nikita Koloff's stated motivation was out of a newfound respect for Magnum TA. He stepped away from active competition in 1992 to become an ordained minister. Lifetime. Koloff went to great lengths to keep the "Evil Russian" gimmick as realistic as possible. 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 . Nikita Koloff hasn't wrestled in over 30 years, and he says he could probably have another match but doesn't see it happening. The idea of head booker Dusty Rhodes was for Koloff to reignite his feud with Magnum T. A. the following year. Young Scott was a weight training fanatic and superb football player at Robbinsdale High School, a Minneapolis suburb. [20] At her funeral he met Mandys longtime friend and his future wife, Victoria. Then tragedy would strike. That's the main reason why I stepped away for a season of time there at WCW.". Theworkedinjury set up the pretext for dropping the U.S. He debuted in 1984 and was introduced as "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff 's "nephew" just arrived from the Soviet Union. Not that Im at their level, but at the same time, some have thrown me in the same category with guys like that. Booker T just voted in the Sportskeeda Wrestling Awards. The war between the two sides was getting white hot until TA tragically lost his career and nearly his life in a horrific automobile accident. 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. 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. Then came Wrestling with Success: Developing a Championship Mentality in 2004, a self-help book that uses Koloffs wrestling career as a springboard for more generalized advice about success. The dreams you choose to believe in come to be. Im very humbled by that.. Listen as he shares his passion and God's providence. 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. He enrolled in Golden Valley Lutheran College where he played college football alongside fellow future wrestler Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis. In late 1992, he began feuding withBig Van Vader, with the two men facing one other atHalloween Havocon October 25. His improvement negated the need for Kernodle to continue teaming with Ivan and, shortly thereafter, the Russians turned on the American turncoat. Among the various Russian bad guys in the sport, one that fans should definitely know about is Nikita Koloff, who made his debut in WCW in the mid-1980s and ended up becoming a surprisingly popular babyface after a couple of years. Nikita and Victoria were divorced on April 23, 2007. And regardless of your beliefs, that's a lesson we should all live by. The fans in Charlotte erupted when Koloff entered the cage to help Rhodes. [6] His character has been described as "wrestling's equivalent of the Drago character in Rocky IVbig, strong, scary and Russian. had a bitter rivalry, T.A. While in junior high school, Koloff began weightlifting. After StarrCade, Koloff was firmly established as one of the NWA's most popular stars. This caused Koloff to become a face againstThe Four Horsemen. 27: 26.08.1986: I watched several cameos from different wrestlers and Nikita Koloff was by far the most professional. Koloff stated that even though he and Magnum T.A. He suffered an injury playing football but rehabbed to play for Minnesota State University Moorhead where he suffered another injury. Nikita Koloff, the Minnesota-native also known as the 'Russian Nightmare,' will preach the gospel at a Christian church in Union Grove. Nikita Koloffs time in the Russians earned him not only the first championship gold in his career, but also his only tag team titles in his career. The title was also won after Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation promotion was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions. 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. With Kernodle out of the picture, Uncle Ivan Koloff introduced a new comrade namedKrusher Khruschev. Ivan and Krusher lost the titles to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson) on July 9. Mike Schmitz), The Catechism in a Year (with Fr. According to Koloff, it was his favourite match of his career.[7]. [1] 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. Today, Koloff travels all over, making personal appearances, preaching his message and meeting wrestling fans who fondly remember him. started a brawl with Nikita during a contract signing (which started when the Koloffs berated Magnum's mother, who was present), T.A. But the following year, while feuding with Big Van Vader, a stiff clothesline ended up giving Nikita Koloff a neck injury that forced him to put his in-ring career to an end. "Well, the time off, to clarify, wasn't business related as much as it was personal related," revealed Koloff. She passed away in 1989. Nikita Koloff WELDED It's Time to Man Up! During his career, Koloff held championships including the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, NWA World Tag Team Championship, NWA United States Championship, NWA World Television Championship, and UWF World Television Championship. Nikita defeated T.A. Flair's Four Horsemen comrades bailed him out almost every time. NWA Title: Ric Flair vs. Nikita Koloff, NWA Tag Team Titles (Steel Cage Match): The Rock n' Roll Express vs. Good guests, energetic, positive, dialogues. Koloff defeated Flair by disqualification so the title was retained by Flair. 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. He explained on WCW's syndicated shows that he had seen the error of attacking Sting. The rare air is I'm probably . This text is hidden because it is only available in German language. His character appeared in the 2004 videogame Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. November 22, 1984 - NWA Starrcade: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita Koloff) defeated Ole Anderson and Keith Larson. [13] He was nicknamed "The Russian Nightmare", a play on Dusty Rhodes' nickname, "The American Dream". The Russian Assassins were victorious. Expecting it to happen energizes your goal and actually gives it momentum. Eventually, Koloff eased back into the business part-time. Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends, There is a mistake in the text of this quote. Tully on Tully (Melbourne) "Quiet Company" LIVE at the AU review's 6th Birthday Party in Brisbane. Im just content to be in that rare group. Koloff's departure resulted in the Junkyard Dog substituting for him as Ivan's partner. had earned his respect, and that Nikita would work to earn the respect of the American people. [citation needed] They married on August 17, 1990. He played college football and was dreaming of an NFL career when injuries sidelined him. On November 26, Koloff and Taylor battled in what would be the only NWA/UWF unification bout at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. On that night, the Super Powers were born, and it was the perfect pairing: The American Dream and The Russian Nightmare. NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament First Round: Nikita Koloff & Ricky Steamboat defeat The Malenko Brothers ( Dean Malenko & Joe Malenko) (9:50) WCW Clash Of The Champions #19 - "NWA World Tag Team Title Tournament" - TV-Show @ McAlister Field House in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. The following month, Koloff defeated Wahoo McDaniel to unify his US Title with Wahoo's NWA National Heavyweight Championship on September 28. Koloff and T.A. Babb hosts a weekly radio show "Your Morning Manna" on Mondays on 99.9 WUCC. You can live your dreams if you can embrace change. A booked showdown at StarrCade '88 in December was to pit Ivan and Koloff against the Russian Assassins. 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 year 1986 brought a major singles feud for Nikita Koloff when he challenged fast-rising babyface Magnum TA for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. He evolved even moreso as a man. Koloff lost to Flair and was even attacked by a fan during the match. Koloff and Taylor were booked to face each other in a unification bout at StarrCade '87, but Koloff vowed to get his TV belt back before the match. The two fought to a double disqualification at StarrCade '86 on November 26. They are of course led by Nikita Koloff, a man who has held many titles including the NWA National Heavyweight, United States and Tag Team Championships. During the bout, Koloff sustained a herniated disc in his neck after receiving a stiff clothesline to the head from Vader, leading him to retire from professional wrestling. February 24, 1985 - NWA/AWA Star Wars: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) defeated Steve Keirn and Jimmy Valiant. Wrestling stories are entertaining, ministry discussions are sincere and informative. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. A devout Christian, Nikita and his wife, Victoria, live in Concord, NC. Real Name Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson) Ring Names Nikita Koloff ( June 24, 1984 - Present) Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) Weight 275 lbs (125 kg) Born March 9, 1959 (age 63) Birth Place Minneapolis, Minnesota Billed From Lithuania ( December 27, 1991 - October 25, 1992) Soviet Union ( June 24, 1984 - December 26, 1991) I always thought he could have been such a bigger star. The final match took place on August 17 and featured run-ins by Kruschev and Ivan and several false-finishes. big fan of Nikita Koloff right here..love The Nightmare. The history of wrestling is full of evil Russian or Soviet heels, with notable ones including former WWE Champion Ivan Koloff, Nikolai Volkoff, Vladimir Kozlov, and Rusev. In the fall of 1988, Koloff was quickly losing interest in professional wrestling due to personal reasons. He returned to WCW as a special guest referee atWrestleWar '89in match for theWCW World Tag Team ChampionshipbetweenThe Road WarriorsandMike Rotundaand"Dr. Death" Steve Williams. He attacked Lex Luger, claiming he had "stolen" the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship from him in 1987 and that he wanted it back. Was part of The Russians, a three-man stable with his "uncle" Ivan and Krusher Khrushchev. In spring of 1986, Koloff started one of the biggest, most anticipated feuds in the history ofWCWwhen he attackedWCW United States Heavyweight ChampionMagnum T.A.. He learned Russian and refused to come out of character, even when away from the ring. The first, 2002s Breaking the Chains, is entirely concerned about advice about living as a good Christian, as he became a Born Again in 1993. Even during any hardship, love will shine through. After a few years, he took the name of "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff. 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. Koloff rebounded quickly and won the WCW World Television Championship from Tully Blanchard on August 27. Several months ago, Koloff was a call-in guest. The Koloffs went on to regain the WCW World Tag Team Titles from the Rock 'N' Roll Express three months later, on October 13, but lost it to the same opponents on November 28 atStarrcade 1985in asteel cage match. In front of his first pay-per-view audience, Nikita became the Television Champion by defeating Taylor on November 26. But it just wasn't the same. His time in the ring was only a step in his journey; the rest of the steps are happening right now. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson on March 9, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. Danny Djeljosevic is a writer based in San Diego, CA. . And she unfortunately passed away at age 26. He met Vince McMahon only twice: first time while working out in a gym in Las Vegas, Nevada (they shook hands and said "hello") and again at Road Warrior Hawk's funeral. In October 1986, Magnum T. A. was involved in a career-ending car accident. Stillwater, OK 74075 The promotion was in its twilight and given Nikita's stature, Gagne positioned Nikita to challenge then-AWA World Heavyweight ChampionLarry Zbyszkoalmost immediately. Now a babyface and comrade of Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff found himself feuding with the top heel group and Dustys greatest enemies, the Four Horsemen. 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