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. Starrcade: With Ric Flair, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson. This caused Koloff to become a face againstThe Four Horsemen. There, he shaved his head and was cast as Nikita Koloff, the nephew of veteran Soviet heel Ivan Koloff and part of the faction known as The Russians alongside his kayfabe uncle and American traitor Don Kernodle. In front of his first pay-per-view audience, Nikita became the undisputed Television Champion by defeating Taylor on November 26. A tell tell sign that Sting is talking, even if you can't see him, is that he doesn't cuss. Koloff also wrestled briefly in Herb Abrams' Universal Wrestling Federation, in no way affiliated with the original UWF of Bill Watts, where he reignited a feud with 'Uncle' Ivan. With it, your life will vibrate with warmth and meaning. [15][16] Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Koloff was billed from Lithuania. [17] To enhance the verisimilitude of his character, Koloff learned to speak Russian. That's the main reason why I stepped away for a season of time there at WCW.". He won many titles along the way. Rotunda and Williams were disqualified for attacking Koloff, and later stripped of the titles. 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. National Wrestling Hall of Fame Dan Gable Museum. How old is Kolby? Read The Return of Edge by with a free trial. He played college football and was dreaming of an NFL career when injuries sidelined him. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson on March 9, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. He explained on WCW's syndicated shows that he had seen the error of attacking Sting. I always thought he could have been such a bigger star. In the fall of 1988, Koloff was quickly losing interest in professional wrestling due to personal reasons. And who knows? Not only did he defend his United States Championship against the Horsemen members on various occasions, but he also ended up challenging Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Title. JCP Crockett Cup 1987 (11th April 1987) Matches Fought. It's the first step towards attaining your destiny. During the interview Koloff addressed why he had stepped away from WCW in the late 1980's. Huffman is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment under his first name. Phone: (319) 233-0745 Check here, Be the first one to comment on this story. Manage all your favorite fandoms in one place. Even during any hardship, love will shine through. He explained on WCW's syndicated shows that he had seen the error of attacking Sting. After graduating high school, Koloff -- continued his football career in college, playing for Golden Valley Lutheran College in St. Paul, Minnesota. Phone: (405) 377-5243 He is regarded as one of the greatest wrestling heels, or villains, of all time. Koloff stated that even though he and Magnum T.A. Nikita Koloff hasn't wrestled in over 30 years, and he says he could probably have another match but doesn't see it happening. [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. In the midst of the Cold War, many patriotic heroes battled foreign invaders inside the squared circle. RELATED: 10 Best Foreign Heels In Wrestling History, Ranked. Nikita Koloff A Man of Faith in the Marketplace It's Time to Man Up! Legendary announcer Tony Schiavone described it as the loudest pop he had ever heard during his career. 16.06.1992. In 1988, Ivan Koloff and his manager Paul Jones recruited two masked Russian Assassins to feud with Nikita. 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. The feud came to an end in August 1991 when Koloff left WCW. With little to no experience, he teamed up with another American playing a Russian character: Ivan Koloff. He gives his time to motivating others, living a Christian life and talking about character and development. His wife Mandy was suffering from Hodgkin's disease and died in the summer of 1989. In late-1992, he began feuding with Big Van Vader, with the two men facing one other at Halloween Havoc on October 25. LLBD. He debuted on June 5, 1984 and won his first match in thirteen seconds. He entered the NWA and became a star, then moved over to the WCW and became an even bigger star. Search for love, for it is the most important ingredient of life. 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. Keep going Nik! After StarrCade, Koloff was firmly established as one of the NWA's most popular stars. The title was also won after Bill Watts' Universal Wrestling Federation promotion was purchased by Jim Crockett Promotions. 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. 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. He was billed as the nephew of fellow faux-Russian Ivan Koloff, from whom he took his ring name. Expecting it to happen energizes your goal and actually gives it momentum. During this time, it became notable that Nikita stayed constantly in character, even speaking with a thick Russian accent when in public. [13] He was nicknamed "The Russian Nightmare", a play on Dusty Rhodes' nickname, "The American Dream". Rhodes decided to strike while the iron was hot, booking Koloff to become a face and his greatest ally against The Four Horsemen. During aWorld Championship Wrestling broadcast, Taylor and Gilbert jumped Koloff again, beating him unconscious, and draping his version of the TV title across his limp body. This evening established Koloff as one of the top faces in the NWA.[10]. Nikita married his first wife, Mandy Smithson, on September 20, 1988, who died from Hodgkin's disease on June 14, 1989. In the fall of 1987, a feud began between Koloff and Terry Taylor when Taylor, alongside his fellow members of Hot Stuff International, Inc. -Eddie GilbertandRick Steiner- attacked Koloff and stole his championship belt. 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. Lots of guests who tell their personal stories of faith. 25 years (May 14, 1996) Kolby Koloff/Age He attacked Lex Luger, claiming he had "stolen" the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship from him in 1987 and that he wanted it back. 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. Koloff returned to WCW in February 1992, saving Sting from an attack by The Dangerous Alliance. Nikita Koloff returned to action with WCW in the early 1990s before leaving wrestling to pursue another calling Koloff made a comeback with World Championship. She passed away in 1989. Former NWA and WCW wrestler Nikita Koloff recently sat down for an interview with Wrestling Inc.'s Drew Rice for The Wrestling Inc. Daily. As you browse, we hope you'll learn more about the man, his mission and his ministry. At this point, Nikita was at the height of his career. Rhodes needed a partner to take on Ole Anderson and J. J. Dillon in a cage match. So, I had made up my mind that I [was going to] retire and walk away from active wrestling, and [with] no regrets. Koloff stated that even though he and Magnum T. A. had a bitter rivalry, T.A. He went from a hated heel to a beloved babyface. While Nikita Koloff is best known for his appearances with Jim Crockett Promotions and WCW between 1984 and 1992, Koloff hasnt wrestled for over three decades following his retirement from the ring in late 1992. You can live your dreams if you can embrace change. The full audio and video from part one his interview can be found below. Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis as Scott Simpson. Nikita Koloff Overcoming Adversity It's Time to Man Up! NIKITA KOLOFF Welcome to the official home page of the "Russian Nightmare" Nikita Koloff. Koloff and T.A. On Popular Bio, He is one of the successful Professional Wrestler. v1.0: Stats/Moveset/Logic ported from the Lord Worm FPR Edit . Kevin Sorbo- From Hercules to Mere Mortal. Published March 22, 1998. While at the same time, the flip side of that is I'm in, I think, some veryby my own standardsrare air. Koloff has written two books: Breaking the Chains (ISBN 1-57090-107-4) in 2000, which is a Christian Living guide and Wrestling with Success (ISBN -471-48732-5) in 2004 along with Jeffrey Gitomer, which is a guide to positive thinking in life situations. "I'm a goal setter. And the legendary Nikita Koloff was right there, in the middle of it all. Was part of The Russians, a three-man stable with his "uncle" Ivan and Krusher Khrushchev. 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. She had Hodgkin's and she went through a series of chemotherapy and radiation but it ended up coming back with more vengeance. . It's part of the speculation.". Smash of Demolition. A booked showdown at StarrCade '88 in December was to pit Ivan and Koloff against the Russian Assassins. Be encouraged and challenged by listening to what he is offering! [1] However, the Assassins and Jones turned on Koloff after he lost a Russian Chain match to Ricky Morton at Clash of the Champions III: Fall Brawl. 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. He also wrote a book about Christian Wrestlers: Wrestling with God, 2001, by Chad Bonham. Once the WWE's Russian Nightmare, now the DEVIL'S worst nightmare - Nikita Koloff! "Well, the time off, to clarify, wasn't business related as much as it was personal related," revealed Koloff. 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). He might have retired from the ring in 1992 . Koloff wrestled briefly in Puerto Rico for World Wrestling Council (WWC) and engaged in some bouts with Hercules Ayala. And it was at that time, at that moment, that I told WCW that I was going to step away, take a sabbatical if you will. The following year, Nikita and Ivan Koloff won the NWA World Tag Team Title, a belt the Russians would defend via the Freebird Rule and hold for a 113 day run followed by a second 46-day run. February 24, 1985 - NWA/AWA Star Wars: The Russians (Ivan and Nikita) defeated Steve Keirn and Jimmy Valiant. Welcome to Nikita Koloff's personal website. After a few years, he took the name of "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff. wrestled all summer, ending up tied after six matches with one no contest. Among his in-ring achievements, he was a 1x NWA National Heavyweight Champion, a 1x NWA United States Heavyweight Champion, an NWA (Mid-Atlantic) 6-Man Tag Team Champion, a 2x NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion and a 1x NWA World Television Champion. I could've had a run with Hogan, I feel confident. 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). 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