While it’s been close to three decades since he shed his Russian Nightmare persona, Nikita Koloff still draws wrestling fans and touches on those days when he speaks in churches.
“I do an ice-breaker video from the old days. It jogs the memory of some and introduces others to what I used to do,” said the former professional wrestler, who will speak at 10:30 a.m., June 6 at the CSRA Worship Center in North Augusta.
Koloff, who legally changed his name to his wrestling moniker in the 1980s, didn’t set out to be a professional wrestler.
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Growing up, he played football and was interested in bodybuilding. He graduated from college with a degree in physical education, health and coaching. While training for a professional football tryout, the door to professional wrestling opened.
Koloff said he knew nothing about wrestling. He started his career in 1984 and was the National Wrestling Alliance World Tag Team Champion twice with Ivan Koloff, NWA World 6-Man Tag Team Champion twice with Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle and once with Ivan Koloff and Krusher Krushev; NWA U.S. Heavyweight Champion and NWA 1987 Crockett Cup winner. He retired from wrestling in 1992, and his life took a radical change in October 1993 when he accepted Christ.
He founded Koloff for Christ Ministries in 2002, and since then, he’s preached in more than 1,200 churches in all 50 states and in 30 countries. And while he might touch on those former days, he said he will bring a message from the Bible.
Koloff said one word perfectly sums up his life: “surreal.”
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“He said His ways aren’t our ways, and His thoughts aren’t our thoughts,” he said.
April Babb, who co-pastors CSRA Worship Center with her husband, Paul, said they are excited to have Koloff speak.
Babb hosts a weekly radio show “Your Morning Manna” on Mondays on 99.9 WUCC. Several months ago, Koloff was a call-in guest. She said she enjoyed talking with him. He was genuine in his message.
Also, one of the members of their church attended one of Koloff’s man camps, which he hosts with another former professional wrestler, Lex Luger.
She said the church member was a different person after he returned.
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In addition to the man camps and preaching in churches, Koloff started the “It’s Time To Man Up” podcast in 2019.
CSRA Worship Center is located at 116 Wilde Ave. For more information, visit csraworshipcenter.com.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com.
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