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. Of course, part of that story was, 'We're gonna take all the . A complete newcomer to pro wrestling with absolutely no training, Nikita Koloffs first wrestling match lasted a little over 10 seconds, with following bouts all being quick squashes. With scathing promos directed at the United States, it didn't take long before they faced the wrath of Dusty Rhodes and his partner, Magnum TA. Koloff said no, and discusses the opportunities he believes he would've had if he'd ultimately gone to the WWF. Neal Koloff, formerly known as Jeff Lewis Neal along with Aleksandr Koloff, the former Tyson Alexander Dean are now known as The Koloff Dynasty. Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. LLBD. Good guests, energetic, positive, dialogues. Thanks Nikita for hearing Gods heart. He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Nikita Koloff Is Confident He Could Have Had WWF Run With Hulk Hogan. "My wife had been diagnosed with cancer at the age of 24. 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. NIKITA KOLOFF! Email: dgmstaff@nwhof.org. Attending Robbinsdale High School in the 1970s, Koloff played on the football team, making him one of the many former football players to enter the pro wrestling business. 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. Also during The War Games, Flair and Blanchard re-aggravated Koloff's neck injury by delivering two spike piledrivers. After graduating high school, Koloff -- continued his football career in college, playing for Golden Valley Lutheran College in St. Paul, Minnesota. While at the same time, the flip side of that is I'm in, I think, some veryby my own standardsrare air. [19] His finishing move was the "Russian Sickle", a clothesline.[4]. Admins: 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. Dusty Rhodes decided which members of the UWF roster to retain and how best to use the infusion of new talent that he now had access to on an exclusive basis, beginning with a cross-promotional program between NWA Television Champion Koloff and UWF Television Champion, Terry Taylor. 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. 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. 2 Koloff defeated Terry Taylor to unify the title with the NWA World Television Championship. Nikita Koloff was a professional wrestling from 1984 to 1992. THANK YOU NIKITA for making my friend's . With it, your life will vibrate with warmth and meaning. He would compete primarily for National Wrestling Alliance promoter Jim Crockett in the Carolinas and for WCW, with side trips in "Cowboy" Bill Watts' Mid-South/UWF promotion and in the AWA until he retired in late 1992. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. RELATED: 13 Best Wrestling Swerves Nobody Saw Coming. The final match took place on August 17 and featured run-ins by Kruschev and Ivan and several false-finishes. [6], In 1984, Simpson was going to try out for the USFL when Road Warrior Animal, a professional wrestler from the Minnesota area, called him to ask him to become a professional wrestler. You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. The feud was often fought in steel cage Russia chain matches, with lights-out stipulations. 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. Nikita Koloff A Real & True Hero It's Time to Man Up! I watched several cameos from different wrestlers and Nikita Koloff was by far the most professional. At SuperBrawl I on May 19, 1991, Koloff accidentally hit Sting with a chain while interfering in a tag team match between Sting and Lex Luger and The Steiner Brothers. Former NWA and WCW wrestler Nikita Koloff recently sat down for an interview with Wrestling Inc.'s Drew Rice for The Wrestling Inc. Daily.During the interview Koloff addressed why he had stepped . He still has the UWF belt as a trophy from that night. Nikita defeated T.A. Koloff has written three books. What came next was one of the most epic babyface turns in professional wrestling history. Have the courage to follow your dreams. Koloff retired from the grind of professional wrestling in 1992 and began giving back to his fans in a variety of ways. Choose to believe something good can happen. He is one of the Richest Professional Wrestler who was born in United States. That invitation from Road Warrior Animal brought the former Nelson Simpson to Jim Crockett Promotions, arguably the largest territory in the National Wrestling Alliance. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 27: 26.08.1986: After Ivan Koloff turned face when manager Paul Jones went against him, Koloff helped Ivan briefly against Jones' henchmen, the masked Russian Assassins, and then he took a sabbatical on November 27. The Russians would win the NWA World Tag Team Championship, but more importantly, they would terrorize every babyface in the promotion. 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. The two were then booked in a best-of-seven series, which took place duringThe Great American Bash 1986tour. In late 1989, Koloff joinedVerne Gagne's AWA. Unable to fulfill that dream, he turned again to weights and became an obsessive trainer, putting in extremely long hours at the gym. 8 Dusty Rhodes & Ole Anderson Vs The Assassins (GCW 1980) While it wasn't one of his finest matches from a wrestling perspective, it was one of the biggest moments in Georgia Championship Wrestling, and is still considered one of the greatest heel turns of all time. The AU Review. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. Three months later, on March 18, 1985, Koloff and Ivan defeatedDusty RhodesandManny Fernandezto win theWCW Tag Team Championships. The AU Review. Nikita Koloff hasn't wrestled in over 30 years, and he says he could probably have another match but doesn't see it happening. Koloff stated that even though he and Magnum T. A. had a bitter rivalry, T.A. Nikita Koloff The Brevity of Life It's Time to Man Up! 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. In late 1992, he began feuding withBig Van Vader, with the two men facing one other atHalloween Havocon October 25. His nickname was the Russian nightmare. Koloff returned to WCW in February 1992, saving Sting from an attack by The Dangerous Alliance. Today Nikita speaks with gospel group Sunday Drive for another great episode of questions and answers. Booker T just voted in the Sportskeeda Wrestling Awards. Koloff and Sting went on to face on another in a Russian chain matchatThe Great American Bashon July 14 which was won by Koloff. 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. On July 11, 1987 Koloff faced Luger in a steel cage match and was defeated after being hit with a chair. One of the greats that really helped the NWA get over the loss of Magnum T.A.. Got admire someone that dedicated. After three wins each and a No Contest finish, Koloff and Magnum had an eighth and final match for the belt, which Koloff would end up winning. Koloff went to great lengths to keep the "Evil Russian" gimmick as realistic as possible. In the midst of the Cold War, many patriotic heroes battled foreign invaders inside the squared circle. During the interview Koloff shared his . He was readying to embark on a feud withRon Garvinthat would last through the upcomingStarrcade 1986. 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. [14] he was also known as "The Russian Road Warrior" due to his power and ferocity, which was compared to The Road Warriors. [4] His fellow students included other future professional wrestlers Barry Darsow, Brady Boone, Curt Hennig, John Nord, Rick Rude, and Tom Zenk. On top of that, he had several classmates in Robbinsdale High that would also become pro wrestlers who werent necessarily on the football team, including Curt Hennig, Rick Rude, and Barry Darsow, a.k.a. Praise God for this podcast Its time to man up. The fans in Charlotte erupted when Koloff entered the cage to help Rhodes. Not that Im at their level, but at the same time, some have thrown me in the same category with guys like that. 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. Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. During this period, Koloff had altered his appearance somewhat, dropping some muscle mass (Koloff used anabolic steroids during the early part of his career but stopped when he saw where they were leading - he lost his muscle mass due to taking time off to take care of his wife, Mandy) and growing his hair out into a crewcut. The final match took place on August 17 and featured run-ins by Kruschev and Ivan and several false-finishes. 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 entered the NWA and became a star, then moved over to the WCW and became an even bigger star. You can live your dreams if you can embrace change. Koloff said the entire ordeal had a significant impact on him. 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. Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis as Scott Simpson. That's what makes the story of Nikita Koloff such a fascinating one. He went from a hated heel to a beloved babyface. I could've had a run with Hogan, I feel confident. had a bitter rivalry, T.A. Nikita Koloff: Yes indeed, we are so very excited that we will continue to spread the word of God with our 'The Man Up Show' on All Nations TV starting July 7th. "I'm a goal setter. Nikita and Victoria were divorced on April 23, 2007. The idea of head booker Dusty Rhodes was for Koloff to reignite his feud with Magnum T. A. the following year. He also runs his own small wrestling promotion, the Universal Wrestling Alliance UWA as an outreach of his ministry. 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. The rare air is I'm probably . Finally, 2011 brought Nikita: A Tale of the Ring and Redemption, which covers the story of his life, from his wrestling days to his ministry work. Title to Lex Luger. He attacked Lex Luger, claiming he had "stolen" the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship from him in 1987 and that he wanted it back. On 1987, Krusher, who left the NWA for the World Wrestling Federation, asked Koloff to join him. Koloff was born on March 9, 1959 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, one of four children born to Paige and Olive Simpson. 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. ", Our Mission: To honor the sport of wrestling by preserving its history, recognizing extraordinary individual achievements, and inspiring future generations, 405 West Hall of Fame Avenue 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. Please click this line if you do not care and want to view it anyway. She had Hodgkin's and she went through a series of chemotherapy and radiation but it ended up coming back with more vengeance. Ivan invoked the Freebird rule which dictated that any two of the three could defend the titles. The feud came to an end in August 1991 when Koloff left WCW. Koloff now admits it was a character he was playing, but still has people expecting him. [citation needed] They married on August 17, 1990. "I mean, I'm in the peak of my career, right? One of their encounters was voted Match of the Year runner-up by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated. He enrolled in Golden Valley Lutheran College where he played college football alongside fellow future wrestler Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis. The Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev had been growing in popularity throughout the country with his political reform of Glasnost and Perestroika. He's probably still in my top 20. Koloff returned to WCW on February 24, 1991 atWrestleWar. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson on March 9, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. Legendary announcer Tony Schiavone described it as the loudest pop he had ever heard during his career. I told them I'd be back, but she was a priority. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Young Scott was a weight training fanatic and superb football player at Robbinsdale High School, a Minneapolis suburb. Until now, there is no biography text. He made a few appearances for NWA:TNA in 2003 as a masked man called "Mr. Wrestling IV" who attacked Dusty Rhodes. Koloff, who retired from the ring in late 1992, appeared on . A tell tell sign that Sting is talking, even if you can't see him, is that he doesn't cuss. JCP Crockett Cup 1987 (11th April 1987) Matches Fought. was involved in a career-ending car accident. 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). You can tell that some people are only taking peoples money and doing a cameo while they eat, or drive in their car. The promotion was in its twilight and given Nikita's stature, Gagne positioned Nikita to challenge then-AWA World Heavyweight ChampionLarry Zbyszkoalmost immediately. Continuing to improve, Koloff became a big enough heel to get a match against NWA World Champion Ric Flair at The Great American Bash 1985 on July 6. 1 Koloff defeated Wahoo McDaniel to unify the title with the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. It's by taking chances that you'll learn how to be brave. It's a weekly challenge for men It's Time TO MAN UP! During television promos, Nikita stood behind Ivan and Kernodle with his arms folded while they took interviews. The feud began when Taylor, alongside his fellow members of Hot Stuff International, Inc. - Eddie Gilbert and Rick Steiner- attacked Koloff and stole his championship belt. Choose to believe something good can happen. Capture your dreams and your life becomes full. [1] On that night, the Super Powers were born, and it was the perfect pairing: The American Dream and The Russian Nightmare. 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