The rare air is I'm probably . 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. In front of his first pay-per-view audience, Nikita became the undisputed Television Champion by defeating Taylor on November 26. And who knows? Koloff went to great lengths to keep the "Evil Russian" gimmick as realistic as possible. He also wrote a book about Christian Wrestlers: Wrestling with God, 2001, by Chad Bonham. Koloff made a comeback with World Championship Wrestling and began targeting some of his old rivals like Sting and Lex Luger. The powerfully built "Russian Nightmare" made short work of his opponents with his Russian sickle maneuver and formed one of the most hated teams in the . A devout Christian, Nikita and his wife, Victoria, live in Concord, NC. He then lost to Barry Windham in the finals of the tournament for the vacant NWA United States Championship, before beginning a feud with Al Perez and teaming with Sting to feud with the Four Horsemen. Koloff retired from the grind of professional wrestling in 1992 and began giving back to his fans in a variety of ways. I could've had a run with Hogan, I feel confident. In the 80s, good wrestlers hopped around promotions fairly frequently, but Koloff never stepped foot in the WWE. Post by marino13 onSep 17, 2012 at 1:51pm. That's what makes the story of Nikita Koloff such a fascinating one. Welcome to Nikita Koloff's personal website. The plan called for T.A. [5] Now a babyface, Ivan reunited with Nikita to feud with the Assassins. Nikita and Victoria were divorced on April 23, 2007. Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Top 250 TV Shows Most Popular TV Shows Most Popular Video Games Most Popular Music Videos Most Popular Podcasts Stepping out showing men the Kingdom of God and His Love. The feud came to an end in August 1991 when Koloff left WCW. Koloff returned to WCW in February 1992, saving Sting from an attack byThe Dangerous Alliance. 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. Koloff lost the WCW Television Title toMike RotundaofThe Varsity Clubon January 30, 1988. During this period, Koloff had altered his appearance somewhat, dropping some muscle mass and growing his hair out into a crewcut. Even during any hardship, love will shine through. Shows Commentated. Copyright 2023 Apple Inc. All rights reserved. He was billed as the nephew of fellow faux-Russian Ivan Koloff, from whom he took his ring name. He's probably still in my top 20. Im just content to be in that rare group. During the year, he legally changed his name to 'Nikita S. Koloff'. 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. 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. Koloff, who retired from the ring in late 1992, appeared on . Nikita defeated T.A. Alongside Nidia Guenard, Huffman was the You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on. I always have been, for many, many years. Nikita Koloff was a professional wrestling from 1984 to 1992. Nikita Katsalapov - Nikita Gennadyevich Katsalapov (Russian: ; born 10 July 1991) is a Russian ice dancer. 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. According to the storyline, Koloff gained respect for Magnum from their feud and wanted to take his place. 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. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson on March 9, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. 27: 26.08.1986: Today, Nikita speaks with Kevin Sorbo about his new book. Moonshame. News on all your favorite celebs, reality TV, and movies. Today Nikita speaks with gospel group Sunday Drive for another great episode of questions and answers. You can keep up with all your wrestling news right here on eWrestlingNews.com. Rotunda & Williams were disqualified for attacking Koloff, and later stripped of the titles. Former NWA and WCW wrestler Nikita Koloff recently sat down for an interview with Wrestling Inc.'s Drew Rice for The Wrestling Inc. Daily. This evening established Koloff as one of the top faces in WCW. The AU Review. 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) But it just wasn't the same. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. "He has provided help in building churches and other worthwhile organizations. 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. He enrolled in Golden Valley Lutheran College where he played college football alongside fellow future wrestler Joe "Animal" Laurinaitis. 26: 26.08.1986: Magnum TA defeats Jack Jackson. (*then he changed his name legally, which makes his new life as a preacher pretty awkward, I'm sure*) He's the best (or at least most dedicated to kayfabe) fake-Russian wrestler of all time, at least until they tried to say HANDSOME RUSEV was Russian and not Bulgarian. Or, you can follow us over on our Twitter and Facebook pages. Phone: (319) 233-0745 It's a weekly challenge for men It's Time TO MAN UP! 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. Have the courage to follow your dreams. 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. She had Hodgkin's and she went through a series of chemotherapy and radiation but it ended up coming back with more vengeance. During this period he had rivalries with Lex Luger, Sting, and Rick Rude, often for his old United States Heavyweight Championship. to win the title. The pair would battle the Horsemen in War Games and also win the Crockett Cup. Nikita Koloff's stated motivation was out of a newfound respect for Magnum TA. "I'm a goal setter. 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?' The following month, Koloff defeatedWahoo McDanielon September 28. Nikita Koloff was born in Minneapolis on March 9, 1959. Nikita Koloff Dream, Inspiration, Thinking 15 Copy quote The dreams you choose to believe in come to be. 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. He was readying to embark on a feud with Ron Garvin that would last through the upcoming Starrcade 1986. Further education would come from other greats that he shared a ring with, including Ricky Steamboat, Baron Von Raschke, and even Ric Flair. The tour began and ended with two revolutionary matches created by Rhodes, known as WarGames: The Match Beyond. When you emerge from a time of solitude like this, people will recognize you having the qualities of an authentic . Following an incident where Magnum hit on-screen NWA President Bob Geigel for demanding an apology after T.A. The full audio and video from part one his interview can be found below. He went from a hated heel to a beloved babyface. The fans in Charlotte erupted when Koloff entered the cage to help Rhodes. Nikita Koloff WELDED It's Time to Man Up! [citation needed] They married on August 17, 1990. [1] 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. Great way to start the day. His improvement negated the need for Kernodle to continue teaming with Ivan and, shortly thereafter, the Russians turned on the American turncoat. Kevin Sorbo- From Hercules to Mere Mortal. Barry Sanders, theres another name that comes to mind. 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. Her mom, a Christian preacher who gives abstinence talks to teens, won't let her date till she comes to one of her seminars. Koloff debuted in World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1984 as the Russian Nightmare, and teamed with "uncle"Ivan KoloffandDon Kernodle, a turncoat American. Young Scott was a weight training fanatic and superb football player at Robbinsdale High School, a Minneapolis suburb. In the midst of the Cold War, many patriotic heroes battled foreign invaders inside the squared circle. By Rex Ivanovic Mar 19, 2013, 2:57pm EDT. You can live your dreams if you can embrace change. 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. He stepped away from active competition in 1992 to become an ordained minister. 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. Koloff said, "I probably could. 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. Koloff returned to WCW on February 24, 1991 atWrestleWar. The promotion was in its twilight and given Nikita's stature, Gagne positioned Nikita to challenge then AWA World Heavyweight Champion Larry Zbyszko almost immediately. On November 26, Koloff and Taylor battledinChicago. Starrcade: With Ric Flair, Nikita Koloff, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson. 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. 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. 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. Today, Nikita speaks with Bill Janosik for another great episode of questions and answers. 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. NWA (Mid-Atlantic) 6-Man Tag Team Champion, NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion. The World's Most Entertaining Car Website. 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. On 1987, Krusher, who left the NWA for the World Wrestling Federation, asked Koloff to join him. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way. Three months later, on March 18, 1985, Koloff and Ivan defeatedDusty RhodesandManny Fernandezto win theWCW Tag Team Championships. Ivan invoked the Freebird rule which dictated that any two of the three could defend the titles. Do his choices match yours? Lots of guests who tell their personal stories of faith. Search for love, for it is the most important ingredient of life. 2023 National Wrestling Hall Of Fame. Koloff lost to Flair and was even attacked by a fan during the match, but he established himself as a superstar in the wrestling business. Courtesy photo. What came next was one of the most epic babyface turns in professional wrestling history. The promotion was in its twilight and given Nikita's stature, Gagne positioned Nikita to challenge then-AWA World Heavyweight ChampionLarry Zbyszkoalmost immediately. 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. THANK YOU NIKITA for making my friend's . Once the WWE's Russian Nightmare, now the DEVIL'S worst nightmare - Nikita Koloff! Part two will air on this Friday's The Wrestling Inc. Daily. Improve yourself, find your inspiration, share with friends, There is a mistake in the text of this quote. 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. Stillwater, OK 74075 Good guests, energetic, positive, dialogues. 1 Koloff defeated Wahoo McDaniel to unify the title with the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship. Prior to committing themselves to WCW, The Koloffs feuded with then-AWA World Tag Team Championsthe Road Warriors in both the AWA and WCW in a brutal series during 1985. Every day we present the best quotes! This text is hidden because it is only available in German language. When you spend money on a Nikita Koloff cameo, you feel like he means what he says. He has ranked on the list of those famous people who were born on March 9, 1959. Tully on Tully (Melbourne) "Quiet Company" LIVE at the AU review's 6th Birthday Party in Brisbane. He says he also calls upon those past experiences to help others who may be going through what he did. Nikita Koloff (born Nelson Scott Simpson on March 9, 1959) is an American retired professional wrestler. was involved in a career-ending car accident. Losing Allen as a wrestler prompted NWA booker Dusty Rhodes to turn Nikita Koloff, Allen's last rival prior to his wreck, into a babyface. started a brawl with Nikita during a contract signing (which started when the Koloffs berated Magnum's mother, who was present), T.A. His character appeared in the 2004 videogame Showdown: Legends of Wrestling. 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). Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. Nikita married his first wife, Mandy Smithson, on September 20, 1988, who died from Hodgkin's disease on June 14, 1989. www.cracked.com/article_20029_5-insane-true-tales-wrestlers-refusing-to-break-character.html. In March, as part of his ongoing feud with Ivan andDick Murdoch, Koloff's neck was "injured" by a Murdochbrainbusteron the concrete floor. 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