Nikita Koloff: NWA Legend

Nikita Koloff. The Russian Nightmare. Two hundred seventy-five pounds of big muscle and raw power, wrapped up with an ice cold intensity and a thick Russian accent. Nikita Koloff was ruthless aggression years before the era was born. One look at this man was all fans needed to know that he meant business.

I was just a kid when Nikita burst onto the scene in Jim Crockett Promotions, and truth be told, he scared the life out of me. Just the size of the guy, the animalistic rage in his eyes, that was all it took to make me look under the bed before going to sleep at night.

I remember how ferocious he was. Didn’t matter who he was working, or what move he was hit with, nothing seemed to phase the guy. He was quick on his feet, and pounced on his opponent like a predator attacking his prey. I was convinced that nothing could stop him.

Of course, behind every great character is just a normal guy.

Nelson Simpson grew up in Minneapolis Minnesota, wanting to be a pro football player, but suffered a career ending injury in college. In 1984, Road Warrior Animal brought Simpson into the National Wrestling Alliance, and after he was given a freshly shaven head and new name, The Russian Nightmare was born.

Nikita was more than up for the role. He was so committed to his new gimmick that he learned some Russian and stayed in character all the time, even away from the ring.

Nikita was brought in as the “nephew” of Ivan Koloff. Ivan was a hard nosed wrestler who was legitimately tough and played the Russian gimmick to perfection. He was also a former WWWF Champion, possessing the credibility and respect that comes along with being a main event wrestler.

Nikita, after getting the rub from Ivan, really came into his own, and began to be pushed as one of the top heels in the NWA. And Nikita filled the role perfectly.

In addition to his size and strength, Nikita also brought an evolving work ethic and a willingness to learn. And there was no better place for him to learn his craft than the home of the best professional wrestling in the world, the NWA.

But, the NWA wasn’t the only promotion that recognized Nikita’s potential, and in 1985, Vince came calling.

Vince McMahon gave Nikita the opportunity to go up north, join the WWF and begin a program with Hogan that would have built to Wrestlemania 2. Nikita said no.

I can’t imagine what would have happened had Nikita said yes.

On one hand, Vince McMahon is a star maker and would have propelled Nikita to a level that Jim Crockett just couldn’t reach. Hogan never seemed to have a real threat to his title, as he consistently faced big guys who most of the time were either worse than he was in the ring, or had to slow down to make Hogan look good.

This wasn’t Nikita.

Nikita Koloff, The Russian Nightmare, feuding with Hogan, wrestling’s original Captain America. This quite possibly could have went down as one of the top money making feuds in the history of the business.

Then again, this is Vince McMahon we’re talking about here, the 1980’s P.T. Barnum of professional wrestling.

The WWF was nothing more than a big circus during those days, with all of the animals, lousy music albums, and over the top colorful characters. Yes, Vince is a star maker, but he also shoves a lot of crap onto TV, now, and then.

Nikita would not have benefited from being portrayed as anything other than The Russian Nightmare. There was no guarantee, even though Vince was sold on him, that he would have done right by Nikita.

Look at Nikolai Volkoff. Volkoff was from Croatia, and his mother was actually Russian. He was a lot closer to being authentic than Nikita was, but the truth is, Volkoff’s character was treated as a joke. He became a punch line in the years that followed, and Nikita could not have been encouraged by that.

After choosing to stay with the NWA, Nikita embarked on one of the most memorable feuds the sport has ever seen with Magnum TA.

Magnum was everything that Hogan wasn’t. He was not only good looking and down to earth, but he was very good in the ring, possessing true heart and passion for the business. Magnum had star potential by the truckload, and when his career intersected with Nikita’s, both men rose to new heights.

Their Best of Seven Series for the United States Title was one for the ages, and solidified Nikita as one of the top guys in the NWA. Nikita would get his epic shot at a World Title, not in the WWF against Hogan, but in the NWA against Magnum. Magnum was the next in line, he was the heir apparent. But all of that changed in October of 1986.

Magnum TA was nearly killed when his Porsche 911 hydroplaned on a wet road and hit a telephone pole. Thankfully, Magnum survived, but his career was over. Nikita’s career, however, was now going to take a massive turn in a totally different direction.

Later that same month, Dusty Rhodes stepped into a steel cage to take on The Four Horsemen’s Ole Anderson, and their manager, JJ Dillon. Stepping into the cage behind him was Nikita Koloff.

On that night in Charlotte, The Superpowers were born, amidst one of the loudest pops I have ever heard.

Nikita and Magnum’s chemistry in the ring as opponents was equaled by Nikita’s chemistry with Dusty as partners.

Turning Nikita face and using his respect for Magnum TA as his reason for teaming with Dusty is sheer brilliance. Nikita’s heat with the crowd as a heel could not compare to how over he was as a baby, and he became nearly as popular as his new tag team partner.

Nikita went on to get even better in the ring by working a program with the NWA’s best, the World Heavyweight Champion, Ric Flair. Even though he didn’t go over on Flair for the title, he became even better in the ring and more than earned his place in the business.

Nikita eventually retired in 1992, but his initial run in the mid eighties stands out as the best years of his career. I will always have fond memories of those days, and though he’s not in Vince McMahon’s Hall of Fame, he is truly a legend in this business.

(Wikipedia used as reference)