This is the Truth Network. Satan's Nightmare, Nakia Kola. This is one war that Needs to be settled. What a brawl! What a The fight!
And it's out of control here. That's a bad man. No, that's a bad man. No, that's a bad man. Anytime, anyplace, night, day, I don't care.
I'm only a phone call away, my friend. Welcome to another episode of QA with Koloff, The Devil's Nightmare. Welcome back, QA with Koloff, Questions and Answers, where you get the opportunity to get a personal phone call from the Russian nightmare and get to ask me a question or two that's been burning in your mind that you wanted to know. If you're interested in doing that, go to koloff.net and just put in a request. But sometimes it's not a phone call.
Sometimes we get to do this show in studio. And with me today, I'm blessed to have Kevin and Caroline Johnston in studio with me.
So welcome to QA with Koloff. Thank you. Thank you. Great to have you guys here. And so, so, Kevin, I'll start with you because we, you know, we, you had reached out to me.
Through an email and we're sharing. I was just fascinated by your story. I was reading what you had said in your email and how. Just some of your story: how you'd come to Christ at a young age, and then through as many do or some do through a series of events, maybe kind of drifted away for a while. But if we fast forward, To present day, you picked up a copy of my audio book, Nikita: A Tale of the Ring of Redemption, and 'Cause you do Travel some travel time in the car.
And you said it's easier for you to listen to a book than. Actually, read a book, right? Right, correct. Yeah, and so you are, so you're listening to the book, and that book, my story, I guess, brought.
Some conviction of you where you pulled off to the side of the road and okay, what happened? Correct, and just overwhelmed with emotions of where my life is, what kind of regrets I have. And then the prayer that you do on the audio book. I mean, it's it it Reading your book would probably have been fine for me, but because the emotion that you give in the book. on the audio it was more touching.
To my heart and helped me to realize where I was at the time. It brought conviction in your heart and kind of re-engaged you in your faith and your relationship with Christ. Yeah. That's amazing. I think I told you.
On the other show, we did the It's Time to Man Up with Kevin and a full detail, full-scale detail of his life journey that you're going to want to go listen to as well. And I guess what really grabbed my attention was, and you're the first one that I've met actually that has listened to the audio version of it. I've got lots of people that get the paperback or the hard copy signed, but you're the first one.
So there's always a first for everything. You're the first, Kevin. All right. I've never been the first for anything.
Well, you can't say that anymore. You are now. You are now. Well, and sitting beside you is your lovely bride of nine years, right, Caroline. Nine years, yes.
Welcome to the show as well. You know, in between shows, I learned a little something about you, Caroline, that I didn't know that you've done some mission trips to Haiti. Yes. And so what what spurred that or what what initiated that? The initial I was reading a book called Seven Women.
Okay. Here it comes: these books. Yep, yep. Books can be a real catalyst for people. And I was reading about Joan of Arc, and I thought, wow.
At the age of 18, she can help turn things around in France, and I thought to myself, what have I done? And I'm a dental assistant, and the dentist I was working for at the time, she came in and said, Hey, Caroline, do you want to go to Haiti? I immediately said yes. I'd never been out of the country. I'd never had a passport.
Wow. And we were going to be leaving in six to eight weeks.
Okay. And I knew immediately I was supposed to go. But in your heart of hearts, you just knew. Yeah, I was not scared. Peace that passeth all understanding.
I gotta go. Come on. And then four years in a row, we went. Four years in a row. Did you work with orphanages or just provide dental?
Dental and medical, it was a medical dental trip. We pulled teeth, no x-rays. Wow. No suction. Chickens walking around.
People don't realize if they've, folks, if you've never been to what I would call a third world country. That's awesome. I came back so fired up, and I just said, Every Christian needs to go on a 10-day mission trip to a third world country. Not Europe, you know, but a third world country. And I felt 100% convinced if they did that, they'd come back with a whole different perspective on how good we have it here in America.
Totally. And even the poorest in America, what an advantage they have over the poorest of the poor in third world countries. Exactly. And so I've been to Haiti. My daughter, Tawny, Tawney Bear, as I call her, was a missionary to Haiti for 10 years, working with an orphanage down there.
So I went, and several of the family members went down there to support her.
So I got to see Haiti firsthand and the poverty that you're referring to and talking about. And those chickens walk in everywhere. It's crazy, right?
So you did that for four years. Yeah, four years in a row, and then COVID hit, and then the gangs have taken over Port-au-Prince. Unfortunately, we're not allowed to go right now. Yeah, not safe. It wasn't safe to begin with.
No, it wasn't safe to begin with. But much more dangerous now than then. But once it gets in your heart, you just gotta go. I'm going to go back. I just don't know when.
So would you ever, let me ask you this, would you ever go to another country or are you just at this point, Haiti's on your heart? I think it's just Haiti on my heart because I've been offered to go to Honduras and stuff with my nephew. It's like there's something about Haiti, yeah. It's just like a home that you long for. It's really, and it's beautiful.
Yep. It's just the it's just uh unfortunate uh at the who who has taken it over.
So so so Kevin, let me bounce back to you for just a moment.
So you guys been married together. You've been together.
So you you dated longer than you've been married at this point. Correct. If I did my math right. Yes. If I did because you met you met Caroline in 2007 and got married in 2017.
Okay, but for the record, nothing wrong with that. No, for real, like nothing wrong with that. Like, if you really, you know, some people just rush into marriage, right? And then it ends up in a disaster because they think they know the person. But after they get married, they really find out who that person is.
Like, I don't know that I like this person anymore, right? I like to say all the doves have stopped cooing. The butterflies have cooing. The butterflies have flown. They've left.
The doves have stopped cooing. And now reality sets in.
Okay, I got to live with this person for the rest of my life. Wow. So I say that to say I commend you guys, you know, for the 10 years of dating. And my guess is you really did get to know each other through those 10 years of dating and then made that decision to marry her. And part of what you told me before.
Well, she is a person Praying woman. Yes, she is. Yeah. She's a prayer warrior, huh? Yep, yep.
Just like my mom. Your mom was a prayer warrior. Prayer warrior, yeah. Yeah, so she kind of, in a way, kind of reminds you of your mom, who was a prayer warrior. Right.
That's amazing. And I can honestly say, we have never had any real fights, except for. Where do you want to go to supper?
Now, okay, I'm going to throw this out there because this, to me, it's like when you ask a woman, Caroline, no offense here, don't be fucking like this. When you ask a woman, where do you want to go eat? And they say, I don't care. And then you say, okay, we're going to go here. And they go, well, I don't want to go there.
I'm like, well, then that I don't care part wasn't true. Right. Like, for real. That part wasn't, right? But it blows my mind all the time, right?
I have, you know, experienced that. But anyway, so, so, but that's amazing as well.
So, so, okay, no real arguments, disagreements, other than restaurants? Yeah, we have, we have disagreements, but because you're human, right? Yeah, yeah. You're a man and a woman come together, two becoming one, right? With the help of the Lord, right, right.
And if it wasn't for God, honestly, we would, I mean, the arguments that we've had or the disagreements we've had are usually settled pretty quickly because. One or the other is willing to apologize. Even if they've not done the wrong, but they're still willing to apologize and see what's going on here. Which is for you listening out there, that's a real key, right? And because we can get so puffed up in pride, right, that we're just not willing to, in our case, Kevin, man up.
Right, right. Man up, hence the name of the other show. It's time to man up. That's right. You know, and take responsibility or swallow our pride and come to them, you know, very humble and say, Hey, will you forgive me?
And that question is not the easiest question to ask. To say, will you forgive me? It's easy for people to go, oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, sorry.
Sometimes it's just human sorrow, though. It's not a real godly sorrow. where you really are sorry and do want forgiveness. That's just more of a, the human sorrow I describe it is more of a, get that light off me. Right.
Right. Get that light off me. And what's easy to accept her apology or her to accept mine is when we do apologize, we don't put a but in there because once you put a butt in there, then you're not going to get to everything that you just asked, right, or said. Yeah, another great point. Note to self out there, don't put a butt after the forgiveness, asking for forgiveness.
Get your butt out of the way. Yeah, exactly. Just saying. Just ask for forgiveness and leave it right there. And be sincere.
Right. And then just receive it. And so I see the shirt. You know, pray, pray, pray on your shirt here too. Pray on it, pray over it, and pray through it.
So, Caroline, take a minute. Oh, you've got the same shirts. She dresses. She dresses you. I love it.
I love it. You got a good woman right there, Devin. You got a good woman. All right, Caroline, take a minute, though. And he says you're a prayer warrior.
What prompted you, would you say, to become a prayer warrior? What do you do with your spare change? Go to your app store, download the app YourChange to help support Koloff for Christ Ministries. Every penny, nickel, dime, and quarter helps us fund Man Camp and so much more. When you come upon one who is down and out, Red low.
Again, download your change, register as a giver, and start making a kingdom difference today. If you're looking for cutting-edge products, discover top-quality supplements designed to boost your health and wellness. Traynaut Nutrition. Find a variety of vitamins, proteins, and herbal extracts tailored to meet your needs. I will only recommend the best.
Go to Trenaut.com slash Koloff. Traynaut.com. That's T-R-A-N-O-M-T.com slash Koloff to learn more. Feel like I've been like that all my life.
Okay. Um, I don't know if it has anything to do with compulsive obsessive, okay? But it's like I'm constantly relying on God. I know it's all in His hands. I gotta keep telling myself it's all in His hands.
Put it there, He's got it. Yeah, and um. You should talk to him like he's your friend, your personal savior, and talk to him like he's in the room. And, um, he knows all about it. He knows what's going on.
And even things that you can't pray about, he already knows too.
Solid advice. I often will say prayer is just, to your point, an ongoing. open-ended Dialogue. Between you and your Savior, right? Yeah, because you can talk to him while you're driving the car, when you're laying in bed, when you're washing the dishes, when you're outside trimming your flowers, doing whatever.
He's right there to have a conversation. That's a great point.
So that's going to help somebody out there listening today. Thank you for that.
So, well, it is Q ⁇ A with Koloff.
So before we run out of time, we talked to you guys for a long time here. May have to have you back here sometime in the future.
So let's do this. And I don't want to do ladies first or however we want to do this, but I want to give each of you an opportunity to throw a question my way. And so whoever wants to go first, fire away with the question. I have to man up and let her go first. Come on.
All right. Good job, Kevin. Ladies first.
So Caroline, what would you like to ask me today?
So, um admit that I didn't grow up with I say wrestling instead of wrestling because I'm from the mountains.
Well, the good southern term is wrestling. Wrestling. And I used to have people go, you want them wrestlers, ain't you? And I literally would say it like that. Exactly.
No, so I get it.
Okay. Up north, wrestling. Yes. Down here, wrestling. Wrestling, exactly.
So, and by the way, I'm not offended that you, because some are like apologetic to me, like, I'm so sorry. I didn't watch wrestling growing up, or I'm not a fan of it. I'm like, that's okay. You don't need to apologize. No, because I realize not everybody's a wrestling fan.
Well, I'm a fan. I mean, he'll watch it, and I watch it, yeah, and he's told me all about you. Yeah, you're a big fan. I'm a big fan. All right, all right.
So, all right, well, we'll get to you in a minute.
So, I don't have a particular question. I just, we listened to your podcast when you said that God had told you to grow your hair out. And I was just interested in like. Wonder what he liked black with long hair.
So I had a bullet, man. Like, the shorter version of that story, it was like December 31st. I'm in the prayer room, just seeking guidance for the upcoming year. I do that at the end of every year. I review the past year.
What I accomplished, or the goals I made, or what I and what I didn't, the goals I didn't hit or make. And so, anyway, I do a review. Then I always spend time seeking the Lord for direction on the upcoming year. And so this particular year Um he said he said, grow your hair out starting tomorrow. I'm like Okay.
And uh and so You know, I just want to walk in obedience, right? I didn't have to really ask him why or anything at that point. I'm just like, okay. And so I made that decision. And of course, at first I looked like a chia pet, you know.
Yeah, you know, just springing everywhere. But eventually it started growing. And he said too, he said, and I'll let you know when I release you. to cut it again if you want to, or shave it again if you want to. I'm like, okay.
And it was kind of funny because I'd be at church and stuff, and some of the folks would get like. Like, what are you doing? And I'm like, I just grow my hair out. Like, why? I go, well, you know, God said.
You know, it's kind of like Abraham moved, but I'll tell you why later. Or where. I'll tell you where later, you know. They're like, are you doing like some kind of Nazarite vow or something? Or, you know, like this Nazarene?
I go, no, not that I know of. You know, just God said, grow your hair. And and and sh and and I shaved off my facial hair.
So I started growing the hair, shave off my facial hair. And over a period of months, in fact, fast forward was 16 months. Wow. Because the other, he was specific to say, and don't you don't trim it, you don't cut it. You just let it grow.
Wow. Right? And so I did that. And it was quite a different look for a lot of people.
Now there's some that would still recognize. They go, your eyes, dude, you can't change your eyes, you know. Those eyes, right? And then 16 months later, he released me and said I could cut it if I wanted to. My younger girls, Kendra and Colby, were itching to cut it.
So they got the clippers out. And just had a field day. Made all kinds of little patterns with my hair and my head. But we documented the mullet before they chopped it away. And then the rest of that story, for those who might be wondering, Did God ever tell me why?
He did. He did. And what he wanted to know, and in a sense it was a test. And what he wanted to know was, would I be comfortable and okay if people didn't recognize me as the the Russian nightmare Nikita Kolov? Or was I so wrapped up in that identity That it took away from my identity in Christ.
Right, wow. And and I I like to think I passed the test 'cause you know, 'cause he let me cut it and and shave it, you know, shave it again. Um but yeah, but so that was that was the reason for growing it out and then that he gave me and And um And yeah, so it was, you know, I look back and it certainly and again, I have pictures to prove it.
So we'll have to. Actually, in the back cover of my the book that you listened to, Ring of Redemption, I was doing a T V show recently and on the back cover are four different photos of me at different stages of life. One of which is with a couple of them with hair.
Okay. And the gal doing the interview for the TV show was like, Are these all you? I go, yeah, those are really me. Because, oh my gosh, you look so different with the hair, you know? It's always kind of funny.
But yeah, but that's the story behind growing the hair out. I think, I'll just say this, and we'll move on to your question, Kevin. I think I would imagine if you Googled and searched enough, because there's tons and tons of photos out there. You'll probably find one of me online with the mullet. With the mullet.
Yep. Yep. You would find a mole with a hair. Come on. Sorry, Kevin.
All right, let's get to your question here. Thank you for that question. That was a great question. I remember years ago, I think. You had just um started teaming up with Ivan.
I'm your uncle. Uncle Ivan. Come on. Yeah, and you were in the ring, and I can't remember who you were wrestling, but Ric Flair came out there and he was running his mouth like he normally does. And then, as soon as your match was over with, you came out and you just.
plowed through him. Uh that that must have been where I kinda like tore Try to tear up his sports coat and to tear his shirt off. Yes, yes, yes. And all of that.
Okay. Yeah, that was actually in the Atlanta, the little studio where we did our filming for Turner Broadcasting for the Saturday night show at 6.05 on Saturday night. Remember that? Yes, I do. 6.05, man.
And a two-hour show, 6.05 to 8.05. And then we do a one-hour show for Sunday night from 6.05 to 7.05.
So. That little studio there maybe held about 75 people. Wow. And they they would get there like Five in the morning just to get in line to be able to get in the studio to be there for the live players, right? And so, yeah, so we were Excuse me, we were setting up an, you know, I can't remember if we were setting up the angle, Rick and I, or we were already into the angle.
I can't fully remember all the specific timeline there, the details there, but. You know, but I vividly remember what you talked about because the fans are the greatest. They'll post stuff all day long on the internet and on social media. Right? And so Yeah, he was he was in his suit running his mouth.
Ivo was doing an interview. I I either want to say David Crockett or Tony Schiavone. I think it was Tony Schiavone. Tony Schiavone.
Okay, I think yep, I believe that's right. And so he had his back to the ring.
So You know, I just saw an opportunity there to, you know, just uh take him out, nail him from behind and then try to, you know, rip his suit, coat, and shirt and throw him in the ring. I remember throwing him in the ring. And kinda kinda we went at it in the ring, kind of back and forth, and and that just, I think, further set up The angle that we were, the storyline that we were building upon, you know. And the fans have told me too, I didn't realize this, but... Out of all the matches I've had, apparently I had the most matches with him.
Wow. Yeah, they said I had a uh a hu 160 matches against Craig Flair. Wow. Yeah, in my career. Yeah.
Did he ever say, man, you hit me way too hard? Did he ever say that? Like when you would do something like that.
Well, let's flip it around. What I would say to the guys is. You might as well lay it in on me because I assure you I will lay it in on you because I was all about believability. You know, the old adage, oh, that wrestling's fake. And I was determined for people to not think my match was fake.
Right, right. Right? So I would lay it in. You know, now I was. I would say I wasn't reckless when I did that.
So, like, when I took my forearm shots or gave him a kick or a punch or something. You know, I wasn't trying to intentionally hurt. hurt a guy. But it was, it was, I felt like it was going to look real. In fact, Magnum TA, you probably remember Magnum T.
I do. Best of seven, this year is the 40th anniversary of the Best of Seven against Magnum TA. And I'll put a little quick, shameless plug-in here. Keep your eyes open because Magnum and I have talked. And we're going to celebrate that.
We're going to we haven't determined where yet. We're going to do a couple of live signings together. Wow. And maybe a virtual signing. And then we're developing a fortieth anniversary commemorative T shirt.
Uh poster. A commemorative coin? And the same guy who did Ring of Redemption with me. We are going to have a commemorative 40th anniversary book. Highlighting that whole angle.
Wow. That whole story.
So keep your eyes open for that in the future.
Okay. But And I say that to say the reason magna popped in my head is I can't tell you how many fans. Have told me over the years when they would watch that, whether as a kid or even as an adult. walked out of the building going I don't know about any of those other matches, but that match against Magnum and Nikita was real. Right.
You know, but that was our goal. Wow. That was our goal. We wanted to present, I wanted to present realism with every match I was in.
Well, I can tell you, when we saw you in Thomasville, if we have a second, at the Armory. when I saw your match and also saw Ivan's match. It looked very real. I mean, I was sitting ringside and you couldn't see the misses at all, like I have seen before. In modern days, and sometimes in the old days, but more modern days.
More modern days. More modern days. So, well, Kevin and Caroline Johnston, thank you for being a part of QA. Thank you for allowing us to be here. Thank you.
Yeah, it's great to have you in the studio and thanks for making the drive up. And to all of you out there listening, Ann, I want you to make sure, whenever it's posted, go into the archives or listen when it airs. It's time to man up with Kevin Johnston. I think you're going to really enjoy our at-length conversation we've had over until next time. We go out today and just have a God-filling and have a God-blessed day.
Uh If you are a business owner and would like to advertise your company or product on the Man Up Show and or QA with Koloff. Contact me directly, Nakita Koloff at Koloff.net.
