Nikita Koloff appeared on an episode of “Busted Open Radio” last week and discussed the time he turned down an NWA Worlds Heavyweight Title reign in the 1980s following his wife’s passing.
Koloff took a hiatus from wrestling when his wife Mandy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease, which she passed away from in 1988.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On taking a hiatus starting in 1986 to take care of Mandy: “I don’t know that they were very fond of that decision while at the same time it what I felt was the right thing to do. And she eventually passed away at the age of 26.”
On being invited to Ric Flair’s house in 1988 and being offered a World Title reign: “I put some parameters on it that I knew they probably wouldn’t accept and so again, I’m kind of in a rare air in terms of how many guys legitimately turned down the world heavyweight title. Would it have been fun to have that world title? Yeah, it would’ve been, but no regrets. I live life with no regrets regarding that.”
