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>>Eric Gargiulo: Did you ever think a wrestler such as Jesse "The Body" Ventura would ever
wind up being Governor?
>>Nikita Koloff: Well I think whatís amazing is that most people think that wrestlers canít
even read, let alone write and become Governors. But, he certainly put the wrestlers on the
map.
>>Eric: How did you get started in the wrestling business?
>>Nikita: Well itís quite a unique story you know. I hailed from the ghettos of Minneapolis,
Minnesota. I was spending many hours in the gym working out, like many guys do, and training
for a pro football tryout with the old United States Football League, and a very close,
good friend of mine by the name of Road Warrior Animal had broke into the wrestling business
and he was wrestling for about a year and a half and Jim Crockett Promotions, they kind
of put a word out they were looking for some new athletes and some new life to the business
and asked if they knew any big guys, and Animal said "I think I might have a guy in mind,"
and he called me one morning and said "what do you think about wrestling"? I said "I think
youíre doing great." He said "no, what do YOU think about wrestling"? I said "you, as
in me getting in the ring"? He says "yeah." I said, "I havenít thought much about it.
What do I got to do"? He said, "You just call this promoter Jim Crockett down in the Carolinas."
I said, "Do they know that I have never been in a wrestling ring? Do they know I have never
hit a ring rope?" He said" oh yeah, they know all of that." I called Jim Crockett. Itís
kind of interesting, you know the old saying "timing is everything" is what they say. I
called Jim Crockett Promotions, and talked to Jim Crockett and told him upfront "I have
never been in the ring." Sight unseen, he said "be in my office on such and such a date,
with your head shaved bald." I thought, "So far this is a piece of cake." I thought, "I
got nothing to lose here, Iíll give it a shot and if Animal can do it, I certainly
can, and if it doesnít work out I still have the tryout with the USFL." So I showed up
in his office, 285 pounds, 8% body fat, 34" waist, and he took a double and triple take
and said "wait right here." He walked back in with Uncle Ivan and Don Kernodle, who was
at the time the NWA World Tag Team Champions, and said "take a look at your new partner,"
and I had never even hit a ring rope, and they were cutting interviews that day, put
me right on the interviews with them and said "stand behind them and look mean." I thought,
"So far so good, I could do that to you know"? When that was done they said "youíll wrestle
tomorrow night, huge television taping four hours in Raleigh, NC at the Dalton Arena.
I said, "Ok." He said, "Get here early and these guys will work out with you a little
bit," and we got there late and I had about 5 minutes in the ring. The funniest part of
the story is, Crockett was really hot that we got there late and he wasnít going to
let me wrestle, but Uncle Ivan talked him into it and came back and said whatever you
do "donít trip on the ropes getting in the ring or your history. Youíre out of here."
I said, "I think I can handle that one too." Well, we had the match, 13 seconds later I
had my first victory and the rest as the saying goes is history.
>>Eric: Did you watch wrestling growing up and how familiar were you with the sport?
>>Nikita: I watched it some. I wasnít what youíd call an avid fan. Cause I was so focused
on my sights of playing pro football, although Iíd flip through the channels sometimes and
catching it, and then I got to know Jesse, back in college. He had a gym, an old gym
in Minneapolis, called Venturaís Gym, and there were about 20 of us gym mullets, that
started working out at his club, and we got to know him. So every now and then theyíd
wrestle at the St. Paul Civic Center, we may pop in there, 18,000 fans, and they loved
the other guy and we loved Jesse you know? That was probably my biggest exposure to the
wrestling business, and if he were on Iíd watch it. If he wasnít on, maybe I would,
maybe I wouldnít.
>>Eric: What were your first impressions of the wrestling business?
>>Nikita: Well, it was somewhat, or quite overwhelming initially, early on you know
cause I didnít have the experience that the other guys had or gone through a camp or something
of that nature. I was fortunate and blessed to have the ability to adjust to it quickly,
and what we did for the next couple months is, weíd get to the towns and Iíd have on
the job training. Uncle Ivan and Don Kernodle would work out with me and then Iíd have
a single match that would last about 13 seconds again and theyíd have a world tag title match
and Iíd sit in their corner and Iíd sit in my corner and thatís just how it evolved.
Of course the whole story, that most people know or they donít know. In 1984 the Russians
boycotted the Olympics in La. So that was perfect timing. You know I didnít speak any
English back then, which is why Iíve mastered the English language so well you understand?
Actually, I even studied Russian. Which I did it all on my own? Nobody told me to do
it, didnít have to do it. Like anything Iíve ever done, I put 110% into it, and I thought,
"if Iím going to do it, Iím going to do it right." So that was how it began.
>>Eric: What was it like working for Jim Crockett, Jr.?
>>Nikita: Overall, I donít have a bad thing to say about Jim for the most part. He treated
me well. Of course, I made him lots of money. Which is reason I guess to treat him well?
I made him millions of dollars. But, I had Jimís respect I believe from how I conducted
myself in the wrestling business. When I broke in, there was no ego involved for me; it was
a business for me. Again, I feel honored that I had the opportunity, but I made the most
of it, and I think he respected that, and I respected him. Did I agree with everything
he did? No, not necessarily. But as far as how he treated me for the bulk of my career,
I just have good things to say about Jim Crockett.
>>Eric: How did you evolve from thirteen-second matches to one-hour matches? How hard was
it?
>>Nikita: Well, I was very fortunate to have Uncle Ivan as a mentor of the business and
being an old school wrestler he taught me a lot of great ring psychology for the business,
and I worked with a lot of great guys, as you know. Whoo, Nature Boy Ric Flair was one.
Of course, he is one of the masters of the business. He brought me around. The Rock and
Roll Express, Magnum T.A., of course he was an up and coming star of his own. There was
a natural chemistry with him and I. The Golden Boy of America, just as good looking a kid
as you can get and the Russian Nightmare, you know which was real natural. I had some
great talent to work with which really catapulted me to the level of reaching a world champion
in a very, very short time.
>>Eric: First impressions of wrestling the Road Warriors, and what were the matches like?
>>Nikita: The matches were pretty awesome. They were pretty powerful guys. A couple guys
who didnít even really know their own strength, if you know what Iím saying? Iíll tell you
a funny story about the Road Warriors. They were infamous for one of the innovators of
the press slam. They were one of the first to really bring that to the business. There
was an ongoing joke within the business. They had never press slammed me throughout the
career right? Well, one particular evening I guess I let my guard down and Animal snatched
me up before I knew it, and had me up there press slammed right? I said, "Okay. Yo, big
man you want to really show what you can do?" I just put the arms out you know, like I was
the 747, I said "letís really show them how strong you are," you know? He had me out there
flying and laid me down, you know pressed me down and when it was all said and done
I said "never again, you caught me one time. Never again buddy." That was it that was the
one time. That was one of the memories from the matches. We had some great matches though.
Ivan and I had some fantastic matches, you know? Great guys to work with, just a natural
you know? The people really loved those guys. You could feel the electricity in the buildings
you know, and the thing is you know at that point in the career, course they were very
intense in hating me as well you know, at that particular time.
>>Eric: Memories of headlining the first ever Great American Bash against Ric Flair?
>>Nikita: In fact, you know we toured the whole country. RFK Stadium in Washington,
the stadium here in Philadelphia, PA, the Vet, we toured all over. We were putting thousands
of people in those stadiums. Of course, you know a whole different era. That particular
match again, I feel pretty privileged to have been in it. I was only 13 months into the
business, and here Iím wrestling in front of 30,000 plus people for the World Heavyweight
Title, and needless to say I was pumped and ready brother. I was pumped, and I just look
back on that match and feel thankful that I had an opportunity to partake in that.
>>Eric: How was Ric Flair to work with, under that pressure and being that young in the
business?
>>Nikita: Ric was phenomenal. As I alluded to earlier, heís a master of the wrestling
business. I think he could take a broomstick and make it look good you know? I think thatís
the truth of the matter you know? But he was phenomenal. I think back to some of the matches.
I sometimes joke, I read the USA Today and they say, "In a two hour show, thereís 34
minutes of wrestling." I think to myself, my average match lasted 34 minutes against
Flair, you know? I think of some of them 1 hour draws and I sometimes wonder how I got
through it you know? Being 285 pounds, how my tongue wasnít dragging on the mat, but
I guess just through Godís grace I made it through. But we had phenomenal matches, again
I feel fortunate the hour matches were fantastic to be in with him. It was a privilege.
>>Eric: Are you surprised at Ric Flairís longevity?
>>Nikita: Just speaks loudly for his ability doesnít it? Iím not amazed at all. Iím
really not. Better him than me. You know Iíve been home about seven years, enjoying life
to itís fullest with my family, traveling all over the world. Itís just been fantastic.
That works for him, thatís good. It works for him and thatís good.
>>Eric: Memories of the angle in which he sickled David Crockett?
>>Nikita: Of course heís got a unique attitude anyway. I donít know. I think heís always
dreamed of being in the business anyway. I think he really got a thrill that he was part
of it I think. Interesting angle you know because, Ric and I never had a confrontation
or nothing. I did some dungeon scenes leading up to that and up to that point. Actually
no confrontation what so ever until I leveled David Crockett. All the boys in the dressing
room popped, because nobody knew it was happening. Oh, nobody. This was a different era you understand?
Nobody knew anything back then, for the most part. Itís not like the business now where
you can actually tell me what Iím going to do before I do it. But back then nobody knew.
Oh, the boys actually thought it was a shoot you know? They thought "Geez, Nikita went
off the deep end man, and nailed this guy," and when you see it on video itís just devastating
looking, and you know what? I didnít hold back. I did not hold back. I said "ok brother
you want to be part of this deal, then letís see how much you want to be part of this deal."
Flair and I did a little ditty right after that, and that was our only contact prior
to stepping into the ring, on that night before thirty- something thousand people. Very unique
angle, to never have touched each other for the most part, and draw that kind of crowd
was a privilege.
>>Eric: Memories of working for, and against Bill Watts briefly in the UWF?
>>Nikita: Well, we just came in for a couple shots to boost his territory down there. Ivan
and I, you know we had a tremendous amount of heat on us, and Bill was over pretty strong
in the Louisiana territory, the old Mid South. So we came in kind of, I think Jim Crockett
as a favor to Bill Watts to try and help him out, again, just natural heat. The six man
matches. I donít know that I was ever in my career in too many bad matches. Because
one of my goals when I broke into the business was for them (fans) to say, "Well, I donít
know about any of the other matches, but we got a hundred percent, we got our moneyís
worth from Nikita Koloff and his match." So we had great matches with Watts, great matches.
>>Eric: How do you feel about the comparisons between yourself and Bill Goldberg?
>>Nikita: Iíve had many who have said, "Boy, this guy must have studied your films." I
joke with people and say, "Often imitated, but never duplicated." You know what Iím
saying, although Iíve never met Bill as of yet. Iíve heard much about his career, and
heís done tremendously well, obviously. Itís interesting, everything works in cycles and
itís like people have said, "Heís the Nikita Koloff of this era," if you will. Itís been
interesting to see what he has done.
>>Eric: What was Dusty Rhodes like as a booker?
>>Nikita: (Imitating Dustyís voice) Super Powers baby, Dusty Rhodes the America Dream,
tower of power, too sweet to be sour baby, yeah. Nikitaís my man, yeah. I sleep with
the bulls baby, I sleep with the bulls, going to get funky like a monkey yeah. (In normal
voice again) Dusty was a great guy. Personally, I got to know him very well. We drove up and
down the road for a good year and a half together as the Super Powers, and personally I donít
have a cross word to say about Dusty at all. He treated me well, respected me, and I respected
Dusty. Part of it was, unlike some of the guys in the business. I didnít elevate him
to an untouchable level. I didnít feel he was any different than I was, even though
heís the booker. Because of that I think he respected me more for that which is why
he allowed me to become close to him, and personal friends with he and his family. To
this day, every year I get the Christmas card, with an updated picture of the kids. Heís
got great looking kids you know? I had a great time traveling up and down the road with Dusty.
>>Eric: How different was it headlining Starrcade against Flair a year after the Bash?
>>Nikita: Well, of course the Bash was in 85. Starrcade 86 was a major change, because
both of us were now on opposite ends of the tracks. I made the turn to become the Super
Powers. He turned with the Horseman and what not, really two different dimensions now.
So, I came into it with a whole different perspective in the wrestling fans eyes, as
well as he. You know I think back to that match, although, I donít remember specifics.
Iíve had hundreds of matches against Ric Flair. I do remember Starrcade 86. I just
remember it was a very intense match, and the people were really into it, if Iím not
mistaken there was also a scaffold match that was part of that. Probably one of the things
that I remember most was when he and I pulling the scaffold into the match by ourselves utilizing
it as some kind of a battering ram if you will. But it was a great match.
>>Eric: I talk about the influence that he and the rest of the NWA crew had on Philadelphia
and putting it on the map and making it a capital of wrestling.
Nikita: Youíre giving me goose bumps here. Youíre literally giving me chill bumps. You
know why? Because I remember Philadelphia, there were two towns that stand out in my
mind as having the greatest wrestling fans in the world. One was Baltimore and the other
was Philadelphia. And I remember when we first came to Philly, they were used to the five-minute
cartoon, Iím not naming and donít you name any names either. Iím not speaking of any
competition or anything. All Iím saying is we came into the building and we started wrestling
for 30-45 minutes and we heard a lot of borings. BORING! But you know about 6 months later
we had 10-12,000 people in the seats. But I say in the seats, they were actually on
their feet. They were wrestling 45 minutes. No more boring brother, theyíre into it.
I loved it. I saw the transformation of the Philadelphia fan, and we brought something
new to the marketplace and it was phenomenal. Iím flattered to be part of that era. (I
point out how WWF and NWA would go head to head on the same night, 20 minutes apart here)
>>Eric: Dusty Rhodes recently stated that the feud between you and Magnum T.A. was a
shoot. Can you elaborate on that?
>>Nikita: Well, like I said there was a natural chemistry, a natural competitiveness to that
whole angle if you will? You know, I didnít know Magnum that well; he didnít know me
that well. I think most of the fans walked out of there, pretty much every night saying,
"Man that was quite a match." In fact, Iíve actually heard comments that said, "Well they
might say wrestling is fake, but I know that match wasnít." As far as elaborating on it,
I would just say there was a natural competitiveness there from two athletes, which is what really
made it the intensity that it was. As I travel, probably what I hear more than anything from
the wrestling fan is the best of seven series. Never before was that ever done, you know
there were two out of three falls and that sort of thing, but never a best of seven series.
The world series of wrestling if you will, it just didnít happen. I think back in the
way we had to strategize, how to plot it out; the fact that it went up one-nothing, two-nothing,
and three-nothing. The fans were, I think they were wondering, "Can Magnum even win
a match against this powerhouse." All the sudden, he won that first one, by the skin
of his teeth if you will. They were like "thereís hope, thereís hope." Then he came back and
won number two and now its 3-2, and of course their hope built, and the momentum built,
and all the sudden he slipped by in the third one, it is 3-3, which really just peaked for
that final match, that seventh match, which again was in Charlotte, NC. Some phenomenal
matches in Charlotte, I want to tell you, it was a real Mecca for wrestling there. As
we pulled that seventh match together, which was televised, we pulled Krusher Kruschev
into the thing. I donít think it could have worked out any better, when you watch the
old footage of it; you know how we use the Russian Chain, and when the chain was kind
of thrown down. Even the camera angle, all of it was so unplanned. There the camera was
perfectly placed, where the chain, just like a snake, slithered out of the ring. So the
referee never saw what was used. It couldnít have worked out any better, and the fans.
Oh my gosh, it was just incredible.
>>Eric: Who was your favorite Horseman to work with and why?
>>Nikita: I donít know necessarily that I had a favorite overall from the standpoint
that I had great matches with Arn Anderson, with Tully Blanchard, with Lex Luger, with
Ric Flair, and so when I think about that era. Whether it was a single, a tag, a six
man, or an eight man, they were all great matches. If I had to try and isolate one match,
I would say the first time we went into Landover, Maryland. You know the Cap Center? It was
right around the July 4, era. Nobody thought weíd do any business, because it was the
holidays, weíd never been in the Cap Center before. Weíd finally been able to negotiate
and get in. Vince said, "Yeah sure, they can get in." Because he didnít figure weíd do
any business around the holidays. Yet, we put 23,000 people in there that night. We
had an eight-man tag against the Horseman. The Super Powers and The Road Warriors against
the Horseman, and Iím going to tell you something. The entire time we really milked it to where
I never even got in the ring for the first 15 minutes, and the people were chanting for
the entire 15 minutes "Nikita, Nikita, Nikita." When I came in, just a tremendous roar, a
pop from the crowd and 23 minutes they were on their feet watching that match, and that
was probably one of the most memorable with the Horseman.
>>Eric: Memories of the original War Games?
>>Nikita: Depending on whom you would talk to. Some would say I had one of the easiest
jobs in the world next to Road Warrior Hawk. I tell you one of the guys I compliment the
most is Arn Anderson. He was always the first one in the ring. Youíre going to pull the
first load, which meant he was in there for thirty-plus minutes you know? It was a brutal
match, believe it or not. Innovative, unique, wire on the top, and it was just non-stop
action, just on and on and on, and but the level of excitement for the fans. Every two
minutes the bell was ringing, here comes another guy, whatís going to happen? So, you know
it was great. It was great to be part of that. To lay the foundation for what is now a tremendous
marketing for them. People werenít really sure whatís going to happen, especially,
early on because you had Paul Ellering in there and J.J. Dillon. They were hopeful that
J.J. would be the weak link. But they werenít too sure about Paul anymore. He had trimmed
down to good shape. They were just uncertain, the wrestling fan. To what the end result
would be.
>>Eric: What are your memories of your feud with Lex Luger?
>>Nikita: You know what? Like I said, I canít remember having too many bad matches. I really
canít no matter who I was in the ring with, because of my commitment to the business and
giving it the best that I could give. Again, I think about my matches with Lex Luger and
we had some great matches together. He was great to work with. No complaints about Lex.
Iím probably one of the few perhaps, from the feedback I get, that could actually tolerate
Lex. But I enjoyed those matches.
>>Eric: Why did you grow your hair in?
>>Nikita: I flipped out. I flipped out. Iíve always been a radical from youth and I said,
"Iím going to do something different this time around." If I had to do all over again
would I have? Well, no, I wouldnít have. In fact Dusty would always say (in Dustyís
voice) "baby youíre rebel baby, youíre tearing me up, youíre a rebel baby, youíre a rebel
man, youíre making my job hard man, youíre making it hard." So, it was just something
I tried.
>>Eric: What happened to the Vladimir Petrov angle?
>>Nikita: You know I truthfully donít know the whole entire story on that. I really donít.
Itís hard to comment on that. As with the wrestling promotion, they try different things.
Some work and some donít. I guess thatís the best way I can summarize that.
>>Eric: What lead to your comeback with WCW in the early nineties?
>>Nikita: They called me and I said "well, ok letís give it a shot." So I presented
him with the U.S. belt and left an impression upon his face with it you know, and half the
crowd popped, and I thought, "Wait a minute." Lex was one of the top babies in the business.
I said "ok." We ran with that for a few months, and half the crowd was for him, and half was
for me. So they said "well ok, weíll hereís what weíll do, weíll put you with Sting."
So we did the deal. They were against the Steiners in a tag match in St. Pete, and I
made a lunge for Luger, and he ducked and I hit Sting. Of Course we had a brawl, Sting
and I had a brawl in the parking lot, and that lead to the thing with Sting. That was
a little bit better. It was maybe about 75/25. Then it finally dawned on them "maybe he does
know what heís talking about." So I took again, a minor hiatus and came back on the
other side, kissed and made up with Sting. Brought the little Stinger out, which by the
way on that show in Atlanta was one of my daughters. Then you know, finish out the career
on the good side of the tracks.
>>Eric: Where are you at as far as a comeback?
>>Nikita: Well you know the old expression, ìNever say neverî So I wouldnít rule out
anything of course. If it was the right situation, you never know what could happen. We do have a couple
things coming up in the Pennsylvania area, that I am going to participate in with my
good friend Afa the Wild Samoan. The Wild Samoan, in fact in July weíre doing a couple
of big shows. Iím actually going to be involved.
>>Eric: What is your current physical state? >>Nikita: Iím pretty fortunate. You know,
I was only 33 when I retired, so really at that point I could have wrestled another 17
more years according to some of the statistics that I have seen. I try to keep myself in
shape, working out not everyday, but enough to maintain, home with my beautiful family.
I have four beautiful children and a beautiful wife, so Iím around the family quite a bit.
Iím involved in some business ventures. Afa has teamed up with us, as well as some of
the other guys. The fans may see down the road The Rock and Rikishi team up with us
on some business ventures, and we may give people the opportunity to get in business
with their favorite wrestler, with a company called Pre Paid Legal Services, and weíll
talk more about that down the road. So we got some things going on there. Very involved
too Eric, many know, many donít in ministry now, in fact a good friend of mine, The Million
Dollar Man, Ted DiBiase. You know we had a parallel career in wrestling, him with the
WWF, and me with the WCW. Now we are having similar parallel careers if you will, in the
evangelism field. He is out speaking, as well as I. Motivational talks in schools, and then
weíre traveling around all over the globe now, sharing the gospel quite frankly which
is
a whole other story for another time. Life is good brother. Life is good. Let me say
if I could, how we even came together. It was through my father in law of course. Iím
negotiating right now for a Legends Of Wrestling doll. Which will be a classic, you know why? We could never come
to an agreement during my career. They always wanted 99% and wanted to give me 1%. I just
donít understand that math. So this will be a true collectable. We are in negotiations, and nearing completion of that
as well, for the wrestling doll.
>>Eric: Would you cut your hair again for a comeback?
>>Nikita: Right now youíve got people going "hair, heís got hair." Rogaine, in fact when
I walk into different churches, or wherever Iím at. They go "whoís this guy, the bodyguard."
You know I give them the accent. As soon as I start talking, then they go, "Oh my gosh that
is Nikita." But you know Iím under camouflage, I can actually go out with my family and eat in peace. I can actually
do that. You know what? It
just ties into the story of Nikita Koloff. Yes, I
got hair, and lots of it. Thatís another story
for another time.