Ivan Koloff 2009 Shoot Interview
There is a small club of former WWWF world champions. Only a handful of pro wrestlers can stake claim to holding one of the most prestigious titles in all of wrestling. RF Video is honored to sit down with our second former WWWF world champion. RF Video is proud to present a new shoot interview with the “Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff. Ivan Koloff is one of the most successful pro wrestlers of his generation. Spanning three decades, Ivan made his mark all over the world as one of the most successful heels. Ivan is one of only a few men who have headlined in main-events in the AWA, WWWF, and the NWA. The road to the top wasn’t always full of roses and Ivan talks all about it to RF Video. Ivan’s love for wrestling began as a teenager. Ivan takes us back to the day he met Jack Wentworth and his early days as Red McNulty. Ivan’s rivalry with Bruno Sammartino dates back years before their infamous Madison Square Garden title change. Ivan talks about his first match with Bruno and how his inexperience rattled the legend. Koloff also gives a revealing story about Bruno the man when Ivan showed up late for his big break with the WWWF. Ivan goes into great detail about he morphed from Red McNulty to Ivan Koloff. What kind of lengths did Ivan go through to maintain his gimmick? How did he handle his Russian fans when Ivan didn’t know a lick of Russian? Ivan tells some great stories about the kind of heat he received in the early territories and how hot things got with the rabid fans. It definitely wasn’t easy being the Russian Bear for Ivan Koloff. Ivan goes into great detail about the circumstances surrounding his one-month reign as WWWF champion. When did he find out about the title change? Who recruited him to come back to the WWWF? What were his expectations? How did Ivan react to losing the belt so quickly? How did Bruno react to the quick change? This is one of the most fascinating parts of the interview considering how closed the business was back then. Ivan talks about his first match with Verne Gagne and how real Verne took wrestling. Ivan also talks about his first of many trips to the Carolina territory. How did he come up with the Russian Chain Match? Ivan also talks about leaving for the outlaw IWA company. Ivan talks about the reaction of the industry and how he was blackballed for it. Ivan also talks about the one wrestler that gave him a shot when he was down on his luck. Ivan has some great stories about his territorial travels. Ivan talks about meeting a young Ric Flair and how a young Ric Flair helped Ivan later in Charlotte. Ivan talks about working for Ole Anderson. What happened when Ole wanted to fine Ivan $500? What two wrestlers had a famous amateur match in a hotel room? What wrestler fought with Ivan on a plane and wound up biting Ivan in the neck? Ivan also talks about many of his legendary bouts. Ivan talks about working with Bob Backlund. Find out why the Road Warriors nicknamed him the Machine. Ivan talks about his relationship with Nikita and what it was like working with Nikita. Ivan also talks about the matches he and the Russians had with the Rock N’ Roll Express, and more. Ivan talks in great detail about his journey to the lord. Ivan’s story is a very inspirational one to say the least. Ivan also talks about adjusting to life after wrestling. Why doesn’t Vince McMahon induct him into the Hall of Fame? What is he doing today? This is one of the most interesting interviews we have ever done at RF Video. Ivan Koloff breaks kayfabe on camera for the first time ever in this fun yet revealing shoot interview. Were you a wrestling fan growing up Memories as a fan What drew you to wrestling Was it a big part of your life growing up How did you get started Talk about training under Jack Wentworth What was the hardest thing about training Can you talk about your incident with Sailor Clark Who is Red McNulty Was it difficult to wrestle with a patch Did any veterans take you under their wing early on How important was it back then to know how to shoot How did Red McNulty morph into Ivan Koloff Did you notice how successful the character change would become right away Did you study Russia and Russian traits Who did you base your voice change on Was it hard to stay in character with the voice outside of the ring Memories of the IWA in Canada Memories of matches with Johnnie Rougeau Can you talk about the heat you had at this time Memories of wrestling Dory Funk for the title Memories of Frank Tunney How did you wind up in the WWWF Initial memories of Vince SR Initial memories of Toots Mondt How did you get paired with Cpt. Lou Memories of Lou Did you feel more pressure now in New York Memories of your matches with Willie Farkas which were your first around the loop How did the Russian Bear come about You wrestled a series with Bruno rather quickly in Philadelphia, how did that come about Memories of your first few matches with Bruno What was Bruno like outside of the ring Memories of Ernie Ladd Memories of Vince JR Memories of Gorilla Monsoon Who did you travel with Memories of your Russian Death matches with Bruno Memories wrestling Batman in Pittsburgh How soon did you know you were going to get the belt Bruno and Billy Graham said that Vince SR knew his plans for a title change about a year in advance, how accurate is that What was your meeting like when you found out you were getting the belt What promises did they make you How tight was the locker room during this time Memories of matches with Chief Jay Strongbow Memories of the night you won the title How big of a deal in 1971 was it to be WWWF champion Bruno has said that he thought he went deaf after you won the title because the building was stunned in silence, is that true How did the rest of the locker room treat you as champion How did your life change You have documented your problems with alcohol, how bad were your problems when you became champion Did you feel a lot of pressure to sustain the houses Memories of your month long run as champion and favorite matches How much heat did you have on you at the time Did you know that you would be dropping the belt a month later Memories of your match with Pedro Bruno has also said that he was disappointed you didn’t get a longer run. Did he express that to you and the office. Was it hard to stay in the territory and keep your heat after such a quick reign Did you make a lot of money during your one month reign Why do you think you didn’t at least get one run of rematches with Bruno How much money do you think was left on the table there It looks like they immediately went to a series with Blackjack Mulligan and Pedro rather than a series of rematches with you. Why do you think that is How soon did you leave the WWWF after this Did you leave amicably with Vince and Toots Did you expect to return shortly You went to the AWA after that, how did that come about Memories of the territory Memories of matches with Verne Memories of Ray Stevens Memories of Nick Bockwinkel Did that 1-month run with the title make you a nationwide star for life Anything stick out about your run in the AWA Memories of Billy Robinson Good road stories How did you wind up going to Charlotte Memories of George Scott as a booker Memories of teaming with Johnnie Valentine Did he ever rib you How was the Russian Chain Match born How hot was the territory Was it hard to adjust to working a region as opposed to big territories like the AWA and WWWF Memories of a young Ric Flair You have said you saw something special in Ric early on. Can you talk about that You worked with Ric and helped him out when he got to Charlotte. Can you talk about that Memories of your feud with Paul Jones Memories of matches with Wahoo McDaniel You abruptly left for the IWA. How did that come about Initial thoughts on Eddie Einhorn Did you think of the move as disrespectful to Vince SR In hindsight do you wish you had stayed with Crockett Did you leave on good terms How much heat did you take from the boys and other promoters for jumping to an outlaw company Memories of matches with Mil Masacaras Why do you think it didn’t succeed When you wanted to leave, were you blackballed Why did you leave How did you wind up in California with Billy Graham Did you get any more heat for working with Billy Was it hard mentally to be in this position after so many successful years in the business How did you wind up working for Bruiser What was he like in and outside of the ring Memories of the Crusher How big was the Bruiser/Sheik promotional rivalry Did you ever work the Sheik How did you wind up in Florida Memories of Eddie Graham Did it take you awhile to earn back the trust of the promoters Memories of Dusty Is it true a fan jumped you in the ring after an angle in Florida Memories teaming with Ole Anderson in Georgia Was it tough to get back into the Carolinas How did you get back in Why do you think you wound up making more of a home in this territory as opposed to all of the areas you had worked How did the area change How did Ric Flair change Memories of matches with Rocky Johnson Did you have to do jobs for awhile when you came back in as some sort of payback for leaving for the IWA Memories of the “Battle of the Bullies” Can you talk about the incident with you and Iron Sheik on the plane Did you ever wind up getting into it with anyone else because of your drinking Memories of your feud with Flair Memories of your feud with Jimmy Valiant Memories of Ole as a booker How did you wind up back in the WWF How had Vince SR changed at this time Memories of being paired again Freddie Blassie How had Vince JR changed Memories of your series with Bob Backlund Billy Graham said he felt that Bob was always paranoid in his matches. Do you agree How different was the territory from the first time you were there Memories of matches with Ivan Putski Memories of Andre the Giant Can you talk about your knee injury You left pretty fast, what happened Do you think there were just too many heels at the time How did you wind up back in the Carolinas Who made the call to turn you more into a tag team wrestler Memories teaming with Don Kernoodle Memories meeting Nikita What were your thoughts when you were told about the gimmick Thoughts on Dusty as a booker When did you first try and change your style to adjust to you getting older Memories of first teaming with Barry Darsow How close were you and Nikita How was traveling with Nikita Memories of matches with the Road Warriors Memories of matches with Dusty and Manny Fernandez Did they give you a problem about selling for you Memories of six-man matches with the Warriors and Dusty Memories of matches with the Rock N Roll Express Were you surprised at how hot the territory got Memories of matches with Dusty and Magnum Were you disappointed when Nikita turned babyface Memories of matches with Nikita Memories of the sale to Turner Is it true that you were asked to relocate and you opted not to do so Memories of wrestling for Herb Abrams UWF Memories of the original ECW When did you know your days as a fulltime wrestler were over Was it a hard adjustment Can you talk about your personal demons Was it therapeutic to write your book What do you do today What do you miss most about the business Any regrets Do you think you should go into the WWE Hall of Fame Thoughts on Bruno not going in Thoughts on the lack of kayfabe today What was it like to be indoctrinated into the world of video games
