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Nikita Koloff

Nickname: The Russian Nightmare; The Lithuanian Nightmare

Height: 6' 3"

Weight: 275 lbs.

From: Moscow, Russia

Birthday: Mar 9th

Pro Debut: 1984

Aliases: Mr. Wrestling IV

Feds Worked For: UWF, AWA, NWA, NWA-TNA, WCW, All Japan Pro Wrestling (Japan), Canadian Wrestling's Elite (Canada), Central States Wrestling (IA/KS/MO), Championship Wrestling from Florida (FL), Championship Wrestling from Georgia (GA), Championship Wrestling UA (OR), Continental Wrestling Association (AL/TN), Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling (NC/SC), Mid-Pacific Promotions (HI), National Wrestling League (MD/PA/VA/WV), NWA Charlotte (NC), NWA Mid-Atlantic (NC/SC), Pacific Northwest Wrestling (OR/WA), Pro Wrestling USA, Professional Wrestling Federation (FL), St. Louis Wrestling Club (MO), Trans World Wrestling Federation (CT/MD/NJ/PA), Tri-State Wrestling Alliance (DE/MD/NJ/PA), Universal Wrestling Federation (CA/FL/ND/NV/NY/SC)

Finisher: Russian Sickle (Running Clothesline)

Signature Moves: Bear Hug

Career Highlights: -NWA (Georgia) National Champion
-NWA Mid-Atlantic Heritage Champion
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World 6-Man Tag Team Champion (4x; 2 w/ Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev, 1 each w/ Ivan Koloff & Don Kernodle and Ivan Koloff & Baron Von Rashcke)
-NWA (Mid-Atlantic) World Tag Team Champion (2x; both w/ Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khrushchev [as a 3-man team])
-NWA United States Champion
-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, Magnum T. A., Sting, Road Warrior Animal, Road Warrior Hawk, Rick Steiner, Larry Zbyszko, Alexis Laree, B. G. James, Cassidy O'Reilly, Chase Stevens, Chris Sabin, Christopher Daniels, Curt Hennig, David Flair, David Young, Desire, Disgraceland, Don Harris, Ron Harris, Elix Skipper, Glen Gilberti, Holly Wood, Julio DiNero, Lo-Ki, Mike Barton, Mike Sanders, Raven, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, Sonny Siaki, Tony Schiavone, Vince Russo, Tyler Colton

Notable Feuds: Magnum T. A., Lex Luger, Tully Blanchard, Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Road Warrior Animal, Road Warrior Hawk, Manny Fernández, Don Kernodle, Ricky Morton, Robert Gibson, Ivan Koloff, Rick Rude, Bobby Eaton, Mike Rotunda, Barry Windham, Eddie Gilbert, Al Pérez, Dick Murdoch, Dick Slater, Angel of Death, Ronnie Garvin, Sting, Dusty Rhodes

Other Facts: -Billed as the nephew of pro wrestler Ivan Koloff
-Billed as the great-nephew of pro wrestler Dan Koloff
-Billed as the cousin of pro wrestler Vladimir Koloff
-Billed as the cousin, once removed, of Alexis Smirnoff
-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.
-According to a story told by Jim Cornette, Nikita saved his first 6-8 months worth of checks from Jim Crocket Promotions and had them stacked on the headboard of his bed, never cashing them. He lived a very spartan, monkish lifestyle.
-Billed from Moscow, Russia until the fall of the Soviet Union. He was then billed from Lithuania
-Was offered a WWE contract on 2 occasions 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 feud 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.
-Screen tested for the role of Ivan Drago in "Rocky IV". Was told that he nailed the lines, but was too big, engulfing Sylvester Stallone in his shadow in a particular close-up.
-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.
-Former owner of the Universal Wrestling Alliance.
-His daughter won the $10,000 prize on an episode of America's Funniest Home Videos
-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 the book "Wrestling With God" by Chad Bonham. He then released his autobiography "Nikita: A Tale of the Ring and Redemption" in 2012.
-Appeared in the movies "Stuck in the Past" in 2007 and "C Me Dance" in 2009
-Voted Feud of the Year (w/ Dusty Rhodes & The Road Warriors [Animal & Hawk] vs. The Four Horsemen [Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, & Lex Luger]) by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1987
-Voted Inspirational Wrestling of the Year by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated in 1987
-Former member of The First Family
-Former member of Sports Entertainment eXtreme
-Ranked #19 in the 1991 PWI 500
-Ranked #17 in the 1992 PWI 500
-Received the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame's Frank Gotch Award in 2006
-Inducted into the NWA Hall of Fame in 2008
-Appeared in the "Tales from the Territories" episode entitled "Crockett: Evil Heels of the Carolinas"
-Among the interviewees for "Dark Side of the Ring" episodes entitled "Shattered: The Magnum T. A. Story"