You're listening to the Truth Network and TruthNetwork.com. Ladies and gentlemen. The following contest is set for one fall. Introducing first, Lithuania, he weighs 123 kilos, the Russian nightmare, Nikita Kola. Welcome to another episode, QA with Coloff, The Devil's Nightmare.
Welcome back to another episode, QA with Colov, Questions and Answers. And I have. Another special guest with us today who has spent quite a few years in and around the wrestling Business, so don't go anywhere. Robbie Marsh, welcome to Q and A. With Kolov.
Thank you, sir. Great to have you with us. You and I met um we I think at a at a a restaurant I think I was doing an autograph sign. Had had we met prior to that that night there where Lodi and I were there signing autographs? We have, but you were so it was at at a Rasselcade Many years ago.
Ah, WrestleCade being, yeah, after up in Winston-Salem, after every Thanksgiving, the guys there put a couple, three-day, a great event. Man, the guys do a great job. There's been as many as 15, 20,000 people that have come through downtown Winston-Salem for WrestleCade in some of these past years. These guys do a great job promoting that. I think it was like uh the first year first or second year they had it.
They had a battle royal in the Um Fan faced. Before the show. Yeah. Yeah. And I actually I actually took part in that.
I was in the in the b in the Battle Royal.
Now, what got your int just grew up watching wrestling? What got your interest in wrestling? Yeah, I'm, you know, uh like any normal American little boy, I grew up watching the the Saturday Night Wrestling and doing it with their Cousins and brothers in the living room or the backyard, right? Backyard or Making belts out of paper and for the championship, yeah. I've seen a few cardboard belts, by the way.
I've seen a few. I wish they had cardboard. We just had c uh construction paper. Uh those belts could mu might not have lasted. They must not have lasted too long.
It was just made out of construction paper.
Well, it it was hard it was hard to use a belt for a belt shot, you know. It did it didn't do it. Yeah, real tough selling that shot. Boom, right?
So, all right, so you see, you grew up watching so at what at what point did you get involved then? The long story, there's a guy uh local promoter here in Mount Area that, um, runs shows. And his wife worked with my wife. at a factory at the time. That's when we still had these fact factories here in Mount Erie and she was talking about how much I liked her askling and watching it stuff and we'd go watch the pay per views of my mother in law and all this stuff.
I was really It's right when the Stone Cold era was coming about and stuff, so She goes, Well, if he likes that much, he ought to go do it. what the lady told my wife and so that's how I got started. I went down had a try out and they started training me and Eighteen years later I I was Retired. 18 years in the business.
Now, and of course, we're referring to, for those who don't know, Mount Airy, North Carolina. And now, is that where the tryout was? Yeah, well, like I said, he's a local promoter. He runs the like the local armory and local high schools around here.
Okay. And he did some down in in down towards Winston Way and up up in Martinsville and up in some in West Virginia and Tennessee area. Wow. But he was run he was running a show down in, uh, Yeah. actually was the night that we I met you at the show was the same promoter.
At the promoter I worked for for all those years.
Okay, the same guy. That's crazy. And so, what would be. Uh like where out of 18 years of being involved in the business, what are Couple highlights that just kind of pop in your head like this match was fun or that or that, you know. What would you say?
Uh my my my my biggest highlight is my picture and story in Inside Wrestling magazine.
Okay. Is that B is that a Bill After magazine or or somebody else's? That's the w that was like there was the two big ones, Pro Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Inside Wrestling was like the big two magazines at the time.
Okay. And they're telling a story about our Group about how we were we were claiming we were more hardcore than ECW at the time. Yes. Yeah, for those who don't know, our letters were AIWS.
Okay. Give a shout out to them. That's my whole group. That was a group I worked for for years.
Okay. And I had done a max Somewhere in down towards Raleigh or south of Raleigh and It was a champion. title match, no disqualification, and I get set on fire.
Okay. And it w it went a little bit wrong. It went a little sideways? Yeah, we are here and when you go you don't have Somebody cause that fire was fake. You bought it at the fake fire store.
I think they were like, No, I got I had the burst to prove it. I got no eyebrows to prove it, right? Luckily, I already I was already I I had the same hair to style you got, so okay, okay.
So so your hair I didn't have no eyebrows, really.
So your hair didn't get singed, and you didn't have to worry about losing your eyebrows.
So uh so that was part of the match, though. That was like part of the finish, or what what was that?
Well, it was uh he w he was building up for his uh The he the heavyweight title he's looking up for another match with a grudge match with another guy and he was just So showing how hardcore he was.
So he just he he beat me by cheating. I have to put that in there because he cheated me. And then after the match here. He set me on fire. Cheating happens in pro wrestling?
No way. Come on.
Well, oh my gosh. Yeah. You still figure, right? Robbie, Robbie, you ever had any of the fans like that? Because back in the day, you know, fans were much more serious before it became, quote, sports entertainment, right?
And man, I can't tell you how many fans would go like, like, even, even almost like every weekend, I'm out. You know, they're like, man, my grandma or my grandpa, you know, right? You start hearing those stories and you know immediately where they're going. They're like, man, they wouldn't miss it. And you could not tell them it was not real.
Man, they would get mad at you, want to fight you, you know, kind of thing, right? And yeah. Even the early nin uh, mid nineties it was like that. I mean, still I mean, fans hadn't get got smart uh, what we call smartened up yet. Yeah.
It was still pretty entertaining for The the wrestlers to watch the fans. Yeah. As much as the fans to watch the wrestlers. Yes, a absolute one hundred percent. And uh, okay, so the lit on fire wi was kind of a highlight for you.
That yeah, that would that would kind of stick in your memory, wouldn't it?
So And and I was kind of a bigger guy back then. Yeah. So we had this my manager at the time was like working in the commissioner spot. And he raised the Weight limit for the cruiser weight.
So I could win it.
Okay. So the first two hundred and ninety pound cruiser weight. Oh my gosh, that is too funny. Had a few belts along the way, a few championships. And let me give you the opportunity to to maybe name drop here.
Was there any you know, any kind of big names that you had the opportunity to get in the ring with over the course of your career? The the biggest one was Ricky Morton. Because I've done a lot of tagging. I had a lot of tag matches because that's what I was mainly in. Rock and roll issue.
Super times. Yeah, so I got to work against him one time and Great guy. Eleven to day. I I tried my I was trying I was working heal this night. Yeah.
And I was trying my best not to laugh the whole time was in the Marines. Uh-huh. Because he was cutting up. Even harder to keep a straight face was his partner, Robert Gibson. Like, we called him Hoot because he was a Hoot, man.
Like, you could, he would do things. Quick, funny story. They were when Billy Corrigan was resurrecting the NWA and they were resurrecting the Crockett Cup and going to put the old tag belts that Ivan and I had on some guy resurrect those as well. And I'll never forget. I laughed so hard.
This is just a few years ago. I walked in, went to grab a sandwich or something, and Robert pulls me over. He used to call me Keita, right? He wouldn't say Nakita. He just goes, Hey, Keita, Keita, come here, Keita.
And he goes, He goes, Man, I hate this. I go, You hate what, Robert? He goes, We just spent an hour and 15 minutes talking about a 12-minute match. And I go. I go.
He goes, I hate it. What happened to See in the Ring? Call it in the Ring, See in the Ring, right? Whatever, right? And he goes.
From opening bell to closing bell, an hour and 15 minutes of a 12-minute match, he goes, I don't even think I can tell a joke in there. I'll mess all those other guys up if I say anything, you know? Too funny, right? Too funny.
So 18-year career is pretty amazing. And so, what prompted your last question, maybe what prompted your retirement? Age. Gotcha. Yeah.
Yeah, that'll do it. I you know, I'm not I'm not too far behind you.
Okay, gotcha. And and I I've I like I said, I spend some more time with him, and it's a lot of traveling and stuff 'cause I said that our promoter, he traveled a lot. And I got to where I was working more for different promoters too. Yep. You know, I miss it.
It's somebody I I like to refer to it as the the drug that don't Hurt you, but gives you that rush. Right. There's nothing like that. There's anything rush from being in a match and and it going like it's supposed to and the fans are hot and oh, it's just I miss it. I miss it a lot.
Yeah, to have an easy crowd, right? It's kind of like taking, I told somebody the other day, like taking candy from a baby, right? In a sense, the old expression, if you will. We did a recent outreach. I say we.
They wanted me to bring a 15-minute testimonial at this youth outreach near Atlanta, Georgia. And they had several matches, and the kids were just so responsive, right? I mean, it was like easy peasy night, right? And anyway, so I gave a 15-minute message, and then the youth pastor came up at the very end. They had 12 kids, 12 kids raise their hand, say they wanted to give their life to Jesus, right?
Yes. After being entertained by three or four wrestling matches and using wrestling as the catalyst to share the gospel with them, then come to Christ.
So pretty much.
Well, that's awesome. Congratulations on 18-year career and a 37-year marriage as wow, man. Even more impressive. You're listening to the Truth Network and truthnetwork.com. Nikita Koloff here, and I am excited.
Did you hear the huge announcement, the big announcement?
Well, maybe it's a minor announcement. Anyway, Facebook, go look up my new fan page, Nikita Koloff Fans, and like it and follow today. I'm a little bit. If you are a business owner and would like to advertise your company or product on the Man Up Show and or Q ⁇ A with Koloff, contact me directly, Nakita Koloff at Koloff.net. The Man-Up Show is honored to have Dr.
Johnny Gayton as one of our longest-running supportive sponsors. Dr. Gaton is regarded as one of the world's leading elite eye surgeons. He is motivated by his faith in doing all things heartily as unto the Lord. His desire to do his best has contributed to success in his eye care practice, performing over 70,000 eye surgeries.
In addition, he's a world-renowned speaker, writer, and author. Go to iAssociates.com for more information. All right, well, this QA with Koloff, I do want to give you an opportunity to ask me a couple questions if you'd like. And so, if you want to fire away with your first one, let's go for it. Boya You touched on one just just a little bit.
I I Just just now I said I was going to ask you You're wrestling. As a type of ministry, do you find it very effective? And then, like I said, you just Pretty much answered the question before I ever got to the answer. But Do you do you think it's helped you with your uh ministry having that kind of background? Yeah, I would say, Robin, there's so many things in my life, and probably anyone listening out there, and yourself included, that I've had the privilege of doing that never in a million years would I ever have thought I would be doing, right?
I mean, you know, this podcast, you know, a radio show, writing books, I mean, traveling all over the world. And gosh, there's so many things I could probably list out that, like, not, you know, ministry, being an evangelist, sharing, you know, sharing the love of Jesus with people, man camp, right? And, you know, just so many things, my goodness, that God has given me the opportunity. And then for wrestling to become a platform to be able to, like, many of the churches I've been in, many of the pastors grew up, guess what, watching me wrestle. Yep.
And then they hear that I'm an evangelist and like, oh my gosh. We gotta have you to our church. And so I'll come in, whether it's preaching on a Sunday morning or doing a man-up Breakfast, a man-up conference, a man-up dinner, you know, just a variety of things that I do. That, yeah, wrestling has been a real catalyst, or you might say, door opener for me to come to that town or that community and then be able to share the love of Jesus. And in doing that, I've seen, I couldn't even begin to tell you how many I could count over the years, how many people have made a decision.
You know, the. I'll say this too. The smallest audience was an audience of one. Actually, an underneath guy in Middle Georgia that came to an outreach we're doing, sat down with me and said, I've got lots of questions. I'm like, I don't have all the answers, but let me see if I can help you out.
And three hours later, literally, it was a three-hour conversation. I end up leading him to the foot of the cross. He surrenders his life to Jesus, and he goes on to become an ordained minister and pastors a little small Baptist church there in Middle Georgia for a long time. The largest one to date, actually, Lex Luger, the co-founder of Man Camp, was with me in the island of Jamaica, an outdoor crusade with over 73,000. People in attendance.
And of course, Luger and I doing the camp. Yeah, I know you're an alumni of Man Camp. And in fact, that's kind of a funny story, too, because you're like, yeah, yeah, I'll try to come. And I put you on the spot, right? Put the challenge out there with that whole try word, right?
That non-committal word of try. Yeah, I'll try to do that. I think what you said was I. People that will try never will. Because it's a way out.
It's an out, right? Like, like, I think most people, when they say, yeah, I'll try to be there or try to do that or this, that, or the other, fill in the blank. Um, that it's really in the back of their mind. They know they probably have no intention of doing it. And, or if they don't do it, you can't hold their feet to the fire, hold, you know, hold hold them accountable because they're like, Well, I didn't say I'd be there.
I said I'd try to be there, right? Exactly. And of course, kudos to you because when I put you on the spot, you made a commitment that night and said, No, I will be at the camp. You came, and we won't divulge what all the experience is. Because I'm going to direct people to the man-up show and get more of your story and just how fulfilling.
rewarding and how that camp enhanced All of your relationships, including that relationship with your lovely bride, Lisa, children, grandchildren, right?
So. Yeah, that's kind of a long-winded answer to your question, but But yeah, the wrestling as a platform, it's it just blows my mind how it has been utilized for God's glory. Yeah. And and reason I asked the question because that's kind of been on my heart for a while to use that. my past into wrestling To reach people because you know, I kind of, you know, a lot of people in my community knew that I was or still know me for that.
And they don't know that I've gone into ministry. Yeah. Even though I was probably the one. Yeah, the shows it was After the show was going home with his wife and not doing the other stuff, you know what rationally shows are like, especially independent circuit. Yes.
Well, in general, at least back in the day.
Now, I'm not part of the new stuff and so don't know what the nightlife is like or the party, any of that. But anyway. I never knew so I was, you know, like I said, I was saved at a ear early early age and and I go directly for the 'Cause I like being I found that, you know, as a basically a shy person, I found I like being in front of people performing. Yeah, you like the entertainment side of it. Yes, I did.
Yeah. I did. Yep. And and and believe it or not that's helped me in my ministry. Like I said, that's the reason I asked you about that that, because I think it's helped me in my ministry.
Because once you've razzled It sort of Thousands of people in Spandex, you have no shame about getting in front of people at all.
Well, and it yeah, and it is a yes and it it it can be a real uh you know, th that that experience, to your point, that experience can can be a foundation For then having the confidence, if you will, of going, you know, going whether it's going in front of 73,000 or 73 people, right? And whatever it is on a given Sunday or a given day. But no, that's a great question. You got another one for me? Got another question for me?
Uh y yeah.
So In your in your ministry. What is the hardest thing It would be up for you. whoever come. to get the level you are.
Now, and I guess that's kind of a personal question, but to me, I have, I still feel like I have obstacles in my way. that I need to deal with and I just you know, if your opinion on what or your Take of what you had to go through to get through, to get over, to get around, to get where you're at.
Well, let me let me pull a Jesus on you and ask a question before I answer the question.
Okay. That's fine. That that if that's what it takes, I'll read. Right? I loved how he did that.
They're like, Jesus, so how about this, this, this? He goes, Well, let me ask you a question. And or if you can't answer this question, then I won't be answering your question. You know, kind of, right? But but on a serious note, so so just briefly sh like or you know, just very briefly, ju like, give me an example.
Like we say, I've got some obstacles in my way. Can give me more clarity on that?
Well, it's not really obstacles like. The stuff I've been praying about wanting to know, you know, seeking God about if it's If it's just what I need to be doing, or if it's just where you need me to go, type things. You know, I said as soon as I said it's kind of personal. I d you don't have to I mean But being Who you are and the man of God you are, I figured who better ask for advice.
Okay, no, no, I just, yeah, I just wanted a point of clarity there because, yeah, sometimes you can, again, it can go back to just lacking confidence or, you know, or thinking, who am I, man? I'm not worthy. Or, you know, I don't have, I don't have the ability to talk in front of crowds or whatever. But, you know, I think clearly and part of it is just stepping out in faith, right? And you know what?
You know, we say God opens doors and closes doors. And so it may be you step out in faith. And, you know, even though you don't have the confidence to go here, there, or wherever, for me, Um you know, I I never I never went down the path of I guess what I would call like Call self-promotion. And what I mean by that is, you know, mailing out brochures or, you know, hey, I'm an evangelist now. I mean, you know, people, you know, even over the years, hey, who's your agent?
I'm like, I don't have an agent. And they're like, well, I go, well, no, I guess that's not true. And they look at me, I go, My agent's the Holy Spirit, like, like, yeah, he's my and he's the best agent you could hire. Uh, because I feel like the Lord and all these different doors that have opened for me, um, it's never been me uh essentially calling a church saying, Hey, uh, you know, I'm Nikita Kolov, a former pro-wrestler, now I'm an evangelist. Can I come in and preach at your church?
Usually, 99.9% of the time, uh, it's it's churches emailing me, or pastors contacting me, or another pastor referring me, um, and then those doors just opening. The handful of times I maybe have made a phone call. Would the exception to that would have been I had already been to that church, let's say, or had you know, knew that pastor, and I was able to say, Hey, I'm coming to Tampa. Florida to do an autograph signing. And oh, by the way, I've got that Sunday available, or that Sunday free if you're interested.
and having me back in.
Okay. Yeah. So that would have been kind of the only exception to that.
So so I guess as far as what what's been difficult or challenging, honestly, is you know, just put it all in God's hands. And letting him just lead the way, just open the doors and guide me along the. That that path. Corner. Like I said, the reason that I was asked that question is because I I feel like I won't I f feel like God's leading me to do Expand.
Okay. My preaching. Go to other places. Go. Go tell.
Okay. And I just don't feel like the doors are opening up for me to do that. And I just wonder if there's something that I was doing personally that was wrong or did I just need to b be patient and wait on him? I guess how I would address that is to say, you know, I immediately wouldn't say, I don't think it's got anything to do with doing, quote, wrong at all. A lot of times we try to get We feel the prompting of the Lord to go do something.
And I think I don't know what the percentages would be, but sometimes we get out ahead of God. Yeah. And we either try to force a door open, or so I would say. I will Excuse me, I would err on the on the side of caution there. By saying, yeah, be patient, don't try to get out ahead of God.
But that doesn't mean if you feel the prompting to. to make a phone call or knock on a door to not do that. Because the the flip side of that is you just don't want to sit by the wayside and go, well, I'm just not going to move or go anywhere until Till I know that I know that God wants me to go do this.
Sometimes you just have to, again, by faith, step out there, and you'll, I think, clearly know if you step out, make a call, or go here or there, whether or not God is or isn't opening the door. I think they'll be pretty clear.
So, yeah, that's one thing men can't hit me with also as a. Being still and hearing God's voice, and being sure that it's a clear voice that I'm hearing and not. modeled by my own Inner voice. Yeah, own inner voice or inner thoughts, right? And that brings up a valid point, you know, is to, for the listener out there, if you ever, you know, if you're a gal out there, you got a special man in your life, and just encourage him.
Don't, don't. Don't pressure him, but just encourage him. Maybe you're intrigued by Robbie's conversation today or what he says on the man up show about Man Camp. Just encourage him, give him your blessing. Um, you know, is to be able to to One of the things we emphasize there is, if you want to say the art of listening, listening to the voice of God and putting you in a place where you can clearly hear from him and get some clear direction.
We've had many a man come to camp and leave with either a godly purpose or a greater focus or more clarity on what their next step is or what they are supposed to do next when it comes to serving God. And so, in fact, if you want more information on that, just go to mancamp.info. That's mancamp.info. And our next camp is in October. We do one in the spring, one in the fall.
That's it. Two camps. We do limited, but we also have scholarships available. If you're in the military, you know, law enforcement, first responder, or you're none of those things. If you're a pastor, we're going to bless you with.
With a scholarship, and/or if you just have a financial need. Robbie told his church he wanted to go to this camp. Woman in church stepped up not only. Paid for his entire camp, even gave him some travel money to get there and back. And so, Robbie Marsh, thank you for being on QA with Koloff today.
Thank you, sir. We appreciate you. And for each and every one of you out there listening to the land, here's the challenge: go out today, live a God-filled, and have a God-blessed day. Until next time. This podcast is made possible by the grace of God.
And your faithful prayers, support, and generous gifts. May God bless you for your continual contributions. Go to kolof.net and donate. Could it? Hi, Nikita Koloff.
Be sure to check out the Man Up Show now available on television, broadcast, and podcast. Go to MorningstarTV.com or the Truth Radio Network. Check out your local listings, or better yet. Download the Truth Network app today. If you are enjoying Q ⁇ A with Kolov, would you help us spread the word?
Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your neighbors to download, subscribe, and leave a comment. Are you looking for the perfect gift for your pastor?
Well, look no further. Bless him with a trip to the Holy Land with yours truly, Nakita Kolov, the Russian Nightmare. I'll be hosting this once-in-a-lifetime trip, December 27, 2023 to January 5th, 2024. Your pastor will never be the same. Go to koloff.net to get registered today.
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Yeah.
