Nickname(s): The
Russian Nightmare; The Lithuanian Nightmare
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 275 lbs
From: Moscow, Russia
Birthday: Mar 9
Pro Debut: 1984
Aliases: Mr. Wrestling IV
Feds worked for: NWA,
WCW,
AWA, NWA-TNA, Universal Wrestling Federation (FL), NWA Mid-Atlantic (NC), NWA Charlotte (NC)
Finisher: Russian Sickle (Running Clothesline)
Signature Moves: Bear Hug
Career Highlights: -NWA (Georgia) National Champion
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World 6-
Man Tag Team Champion (w/ Ivan Koloff & Don Kernodle)
-NWA United States Champion
-NWA World Tag Team Champion (2x, both w/ Ivan Koloff &
Krusher Khrushchev [as a 3 man team])
-NWA World Television Champion
-UWF Television Champion
-1987 Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup winner (w/
Dusty Rhodes)
Affiliates: Ivan Koloff, Don Kernodle, Krusher Khrushchev, Dusty Rhodes,
Rick Steiner, Larry
Zbyszko
Notable Feuds: Magnum T. A., Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard,
Sting, Dusty Rhodes
Official Website: www.nikitakoloff.com
Other Facts: -Nephew of pro wrestler Ivan Koloff
-Great Nephew of pro wrestler Dan Koloff
-Cousin of pro wrestler Vladimir Koloff
-Actually born Nelson Scott Simpson in Minneapolis, MN. He legally changed his name to
Nikita Koloff
-Attended Robbinsdale High School in Robbinsdale, MN with future pro wrestlers Tom Zenk, Brady Boone,
Rick Rude, Curt Hennig,
John Nord, and
Barry Darsow
-Won his debut match in 13 seconds. He had very little training and was told by Jim Crockett that if he tripped on the ropes, he would be fired on the spot.
-Billed from Moscow, Russia until the fall of the Soviet Union. He was then billed from Lithuania
-Was offered a
WWE contract on 2 occassions in 1985 & 1986, In '85, the contract came with the provision that he would either win the
WWF Intercontinental Title or get the main event slot against Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 2. In '86, both those slots were taken, so all Vince could offer was a fued against
Jake Roberts. Koloff refused the offer on both occasions.
-Held the NWA World Television Title when he defeated
UWF Television Champion
Terry Taylor in a Title Unification Match on November 26, 1987. He still has the UWF belt today as a trophy from that epic night.
-Quit wrestling in 1988 when his wife
Mandy was diagnosed with cancer and her health deteriorated. He returned after her death in 1989.
-Retired from wrestling in 1992 after being sent to the hospital after a vicious clothesline from
Big Van Vader. The blow resulted in a herniated disc and he doctors told Nikita he had the neck of a 55 year old man. Combining that injury with a hernia suffered while trying to slam Vader and Nikita decided to retire from wrestling at the age of 33.
-Owner of the Universal Wrestling Alliance.
-His daughter won the $10,000 prize on an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008
-Wrote 2 books: "Breaking the
Chains" , which is a Christian Living guide and "Wrestling with Success" in 2004 along with Jeffrey Gitomer, which is a guide to positive thinking in life situations. He also contributed to book "Wrestling With God" by Chad Bonham. He then released his autobiography "Nikita: A Tale of the Ring and Redemption" in 2012.
-Former member of The First
Family
-Ranked # 19 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked # 17 in the 1992 PWI 500
