Steve Austin Show: "The Russian Bear" Ivan Koloff – SAS CLASSIC

Release Date: May 1, 2025
Host: Steve Austin
Guest: Ivan Koloff
Location: Steve in Los Angeles, Ivan in North Carolina

Episode Overview

In this episode of The Steve Austin Show, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin sits down for a wide-ranging and nostalgic interview with legendary professional wrestler Ivan Koloff, famous as “The Russian Bear.” The conversation covers Koloff’s 50-year career in and out of the ring, notable wrestling feuds and partnerships, physical tolls of wrestling, the notorious match in which he defeated Bruno Sammartino for the WWWF World Title, struggles with addiction, his faith journey, transition to life as an ordained minister, and reflections on the evolution of wrestling. The interplay offers a masterclass in wrestling history and candid life lessons.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Physical Toll of Wrestling & Attitude Toward Injuries

Timestamp: 13:04–17:25

• Ivan details the physical demands of his five-decade career, including shoulder injuries, lumbar stenosis, multiple broken left ankles, and arthritic/degenerated joints.
  • "You appreciate you got to get hurt... Back in our time, we weren't able to take a lot of time off and heal up." (Ivan Koloff, 13:14)
• Unlike modern wrestlers with guaranteed contracts, taking a break usually meant risking your spot and income.
• Only had one major surgery (shoulder), but many untreated or chronic injuries sustained over the years.

2. Early Days, Wrestling Characters, and Tag Teams

Timestamp: 17:25–22:50

• Started in Canada and eventually took on the “Russian” persona—idea credited partly to the Rougeau family.
• Extensive tag team experience: Partnered with Superstar Billy Graham, Ray Stevens, Nikita Koloff, and Don Kernodle.
• On tag partner Superstar Billy Graham:
  • "We got along real good. I respect and love Billy... even today, Ivan was a workhorse, but that's what makes a good team." (19:09)
• Discussed the changing landscape of steroids in wrestling, with Superstar Graham introducing him to their potential after injury but Ivan generally avoided their use.
• Reflected on lifting routines, the evolving athleticism of wrestlers; adapted by running to keep weight down in the 1980s.

3. The Bruno Sammartino Match & Title Reign

Timestamp: 23:34–32:08

• Koloff’s career-defining moment: Defeating Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden to win the WWWF World Title.
• The angle was proposed to him via Vince McMahon Sr.
  • "I was surprised, really surprised... what a lucky guy to get picked to switch the belt from Bruno, because Bruno was my hero." (25:14)
• Ivan discusses the atmosphere: The crowd was stunned and eerily quiet—no classic “heat,” just shock.
• Match was only filmed by a fan, not officially by the office.
• Koloff never got the title presentation in the ring, at the instruction of officials for safety because of fan shock and possible unrest.

4. Wrestling Territories, Blackballing, and Business Changes

Timestamp: 32:08–38:42

• Compared working for Vince Sr. (WWWF) versus Jim Crockett Promotions (NWA), especially in how business was handled and accessibility to management.
• Touched on being “blackballed” after joining IWA in competition with NWA, and how moving between promotions could be risky.
• Emphasized the security of direct lines with Vince Sr., missing in the NWA structure.
• Expressed some regret for not reaching out to Vince Jr. after leaving Crockett Promotions.

5. Wrestling and Family Life

Timestamp: 37:29–38:42

• Ivan reflects on his 33-year marriage and impact of wrestling’s travel demands:
  • "It really made it hard as far as any type of family life... you might as well say, went years without being able to come home." (38:08)
• Steve and Ivan agree that long wrestling marriages are rare.

6. Addiction: The Dark Side of Life on the Road

Timestamp: 38:58–48:05

• Ivan provides a raw account of his descent into addiction:
  • Early exposure to alcohol, painkillers, sleeping pills, and eventually serious narcotics and cocaine.
  • “I ended up with a $1,600 a week cocaine habit.” (44:43)
• Shared stories of cattle rustling as a teen, and brief imprisonment:
  • "Jail is not for me. I really was scared, to say the very, very least…” (42:35)
• Described wrestling and excessive drug use as “the new normal.”
• Steve notes he never noticed Ivan “out of his mind” because Koloff remained professional and consistent in his ring work.

7. Wild Times: On the Road with Legends

Timestamp: 48:05–56:41

• Vivid anecdotes:
  • A wild brawl with The Iron Sheik on an airplane, resulting in police boarding with machine guns.
    • “I ended up drinking my vodka, the plane going crazy and fight with the Iron Sheik on the plane. And he bit me on the neck!” (51:16)
  • The unpredictable Mad Dog Buzz Sawyer, bar fights, run-ins with law enforcement, and street fights after matches.
• Andre the Giant stories: Ivan recounts Andre’s immense strength, mutual respect, and never getting seriously hurt by him.

8. Getting Color (Blading) and Wrestling Reality

Timestamp: 56:55–62:19

• Ivan details his approach to blading—sometimes vertical, sometimes horizontal cuts.
  • "Every night, every night, seven days a week... after I got staph infection in my head for one time there, I was a little leery, but for a long time, that's what I was doing, just opening up the same cut." (57:09)
• Old-school training: learning ring secrets like blading from veterans, not in wrestling school.
• Steve and Ivan lament the loss of traditional tag team wrestling and “the heat” that made those matches work:
  • "Back in those days, wrestling was educated more to the tag team... interviews kept up the build each week." (61:05)
  • “Can you imagine going around, playing around and getting dislocated shoulders, you know, busted neck?” (62:10)

9. Relationship with Nikita Koloff & Personal Redemption

Timestamp: 62:21–70:46

• Story of how Jim Crockett paired Ivan with Nikita (Road Warrior Animal suggested Nikita for the “nephew” role).
• Training and mentoring Nikita, who had no wrestling background.
• Nikita’s eventual role in Ivan’s Christian rebirth; Nikita invites Ivan to church, catalyzing a spiritual and personal turnaround:
  • “He said, 'I know what you need in your life: Jesus.' I ended up going to that church looking for help... and man, I realized it's got to be God, because no way I went down in front of those people unless it was the Lord.” (67:25)
• Successfully kicked addictions via faith and gradual process, without drug rehab.

10. Ivan’s Life After Wrestling & Legacy

Timestamp: 70:46–78:28

• Ivan is now an ordained minister, especially active with the Children’s Miracle Network.
• Emphasizes the importance of encouraging kids, paying forward the inspiration instilled by his mother.
• Discusses his website, book (“Is That Wrestling Fake? The Bare Facts”), gospel-singing daughter, and an upcoming documentary.
• Still hopes for a WWE Hall of Fame induction and pitches ideas for newer Russian-character wrestlers.
• On modern “sports entertainment,” Ivan sees both positive innovation and the need to honor the tough work and athleticism of current stars:
  • “Listen to me, whenever you got athletes like they've got out there doing the stuff they're doing today, man, got to be getting hurt.” (77:00)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Suffering for the Business:
  “Back in our time, we weren't able to take a lot of time off and heal up...if I took time off, I’d have to put someone in my place.” (Ivan Koloff, 13:14)
• On Beating Bruno Sammartino:
  “What a lucky guy to get picked for this...Bruno was my hero.” (25:14)
• On Substance Abuse:
  “I ended up with a $1,600 a week cocaine habit.” (44:43)
• On Life’s Turnaround through Faith:
  “He said, devil knows who Jesus is too, but that doesn't make him a Christian... That little Catholic boy found himself on his butt when the service was over, because the Lord touched me in such a way.” (67:25)
• On Family Encouragement:
  “My mom said to me...‘You can do it. Every time she seen me, she says: there’s my little champ, he’s going to be a wrestling champ one day.’” (73:13)
• Final Aspirations:
  “My big thing now is I want to see Vince use me in the Hall of Fame there. I want to get up there and say hello to all my friends before I hang it up here.” (76:21)

Segment Highlights with Timestamps

• Life and Physical Toll of the Ringer (13:04–17:25)
• Tag Teams, Superstar Graham, and Steroid Era (17:25–22:50)
• Bruno Sammartino Match and Championship Run (23:34–32:08)
• Changing Territories and Blackballing (32:08–38:42)
• Balancing Marriage and the Business (37:29–38:42)
• Addiction and Reckoning (38:58–48:05)
• Wild Road Stories: Iron Sheik, Andre, Buzz Sawyer, Bar Fights (48:05–56:41)
• Blading, Tag Team Wrestling, and Industry Changes (56:55–62:19)
• Nikita Koloff & Ivan’s Faith Journey/Recovery (62:21–70:46)
• Ministry Work and Onward: Book, Website, Aspirations (70:46–78:28)

Episode Tone

Candid, reflective, sprinkled with Austin’s signature good-natured, gruff humor, and Koloff’s warmth and humility. The episode moves between light-hearted wrestling tales and sobering life lessons, always maintaining respect for the business and those involved in it.

For More

• Ivan Koloff’s official website: ivankoloff.com
• Koloff’s autobiography, “Is That Wrestling Fake? The Bare Facts” (crowbarpress.com)
• Upcoming documentary by Michael Elliott (details on Ivan’s website and Elbow Press)
• Ivan on Twitter: @ikoloff

Highly recommended for old-school wrestling fans, anyone interested in the realities behind the ring, and those inspired by stories of personal redemption.