This is the Truth Network. Satan's Nightmare, Nakia Kolof. This is a war! This is one warning. Needs to be settled.
What a brawl! 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, any place, 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 to QA with Koloff, and this is the opportunity for you to get a personal phone call from yours truly, the Russian Nightmare.
And Sometimes I am privileged to have somebody in studio, and it's not a phone call that I'm making. And with me today, in studio, Mike Long, welcome to QA with Koloff. Man, thanks for having me. It was great to have you here, Mike. And let's just give our listeners a little backstory here.
We just. Really reunited just recently. You reached out to me just recently within the really last week or so. And uh so I I appreciate you on short notice jumping you know driving up driving up to the studio here with Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I appreciate you taking my call.
Yeah, man. And uh I was excited. You know What you said on your mat, like you were jogging my memory going back in the days from back to when you were a gym owner in Concord, North Carolina. When you wrestle, when I put you, I guess, in a match with Greg the Hammer Valentine against Road Warrior Hawk. That's right.
And George South. That's a. For those who don't know, if you're not wrestling aficionados, George South has been in the wrestling industry for like 50 years. And he looks better now than I ever remember. It's crazy, right?
Like, he doesn't age. He doesn't age. And he can still move around the ring. I joke with George. I'll say, George, you're the only guy I know that can get 15 minutes out of a match without even touching a guy by just taking your jacket off.
That's right. That's exactly right. And so I know you wrestled a number of years, about seven-ish years. That's right. And you had opportunities over with Jerry Lawler over the mid-South.
I know you said NWO and WCW, a little bit there, right? Right.
Well, Not on the not with the NWA, but I got jobbed out. I was in the ring with them. You came in and made the guys look good. Is that what you're saying?
Well, Mike, you're a big guy, so I can see why they would have you come in.
So back in the day, I'm going to help you out. Again, if you're not a wrestling aficionado, the term he just used, jobbed out. Back in the day, these guys were known as jobbers.
Now, they have modernized that. I'll say it that way. They are now wrestling enhancement. Enhancement. Enhancement.
Yeah. I was enhancing the heck out of them. You were an enhancement, a talent, aficionado. That's exactly right. But nobody could get to their back quicker than me.
And the Border Patrol, right? People help you wonder: well, who which was Mike?
So the Border Patrol later, Money Mike? Is that what you said? Right, I was Money Mike after that. If you if you search uh do an internet search and It might take you five or six hours. You have to do a deep dive to find me.
You'll find me. You'll find me. You'll be found. I'll find everything on YouTube. That's exactly right.
So, and then we had you, we were doing an outreach. In State Children, North Carolina, and teamed you up with Great the Hammer Valentine, World War I and George South. And you were surprised that you won the match that night. I was surprised that you put us. I mean, I didn't deserve to be in the ring with those guys, really.
I mean, physically, I was there. And matter of fact, that night, Hawk said, he said, man, what's going on? I said, what do you mean? He said Has Vince not tried to snatch you up? And so the, you know, and I was like, ah, you know, not, but in my head, I was like, well, I'm kind of a head case.
You know, so I'm not going to tell you that though.
Well, and just for those who don't know. At the time, we were doing a handful of those matches, those outreaches. As a form of ministry. Absolutely. And so the reason.
Mike and Hammerman, Hammer Time, Greg Valentine went over and was for the setup Hawk's story. Testimony, that's right. And I didn't know that at the time. Did you not? I just thought you were like, oh, I just really like this guy.
You didn't know that about Hawaii. I didn't know that our match was going to go. The setup. Right.
I was just really blown away that I was in the main event with Greg Valentine and Hawk. Yeah. Well, hey, you were meant to be there because what happened next was pivotal as you shared. We tell more of this part of the story on It's Time to Man Up with Mike.
So I want to. direct you over to that show and hear his Full story. We're just kind of giving you a thumbnail of his story today. But yeah, because so people don't know, like Hawk had just. recently prior to that had given his life to Christ.
That's right. I was there in Phoenix, Arizona, witnessed him give his life to Christ and and water baptizing him.
So it was as a part of that as well. And then brought him on the road with me, Mike. for that last year and a half of his life. Right.
was mentoring him and discipling him on the road. He called me one time. I'll tell you, you'll appreciate this. He called me one time. He said, Nakeda, you really did talk like that, right?
Nakeda, I'm like, yeah, what's up, Hawk? He goes, well, I just went to a Christian bookstore. I bought this version of the Bible and this version of this version. He said, I spent about $200 at their Christian bookstore. Praise God.
Praise God. And for anyone who knew Hawk. Prior to his salvation, they would not have said, Wow, that's a change, man. That's a change life. Of course, that was pivotal for you.
Just to condense the story down, we called all of you guys out from the back when it came time for an altar call. Right.
And you came, you're like, God, don't have me pray for anybody. I was struggling hard at the time. I was struggling at the pivotal time in your life. Yeah, yeah. And honestly, that's why I came.
I respected you. I'd always looked up to you.
So to be able to come and. Work on your show, and especially because it was glorifying the Lord. I was like, Well, you know, I'm trying to get there. Maybe, maybe something will happen. And God showed up, not just for me, but for.
I mean, I don't know how many kids got saved that night. It was crazy. It was a lot. I'll tease you in the listening land that this. He feels a tugging on his pants and he looks down and it's a little boy.
saying, Will you pray for me? Will you pray for me? And And so that was pivotal for you in your faith. Especially because I was standing there praying to God. Lord.
I'm not, I'm in no position to help anyone. Right.
I wasn't. I was worthy to pray for somebody else. But you know, after that, since then, I've had, you know, I've had. I've got strong men around me in my life and you know I told them that story and they were they were like you know what said you're you thinking about this wrong when you're the lowest and the dirtiest and and you know just sorriest you can be that's the that's the time that God wants to hear you the most And it took me a long time to understand that. I get emotional.
Talking, you know, 'cause I'm so thankful. For the the the change that God's made in my life, you know, but But that was a that was a definitely a Pivotal moment. Pivotal moment for me. And when I left there, I was like...
Okay, Lord. You know how I'm I'm I'm listening more. I'm trying to remember. I had hope.
Okay, and so yeah, again, I encourage you to go over to and listen to the full story and it's time to man up. You'll be blown away by Mike.
So we talk about much more wrestling stories and everything. You're married to your high school sweetheart, Amy, 37 years now. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. And four kids, and how many six grandkids?
Six and one on the way. Boys, girls, the grandkids? We've got four girls and two boys right now.
So we're evening the numbers up a little bit. We got another little boy on the way.
Okay, so before and three. Yes, sir. So at the time of this recording, we've got seven. Girls and seven boys, grandbabies, but the next one is a boy, so he's going to break the ties. Right.
Eight boys and seven girls. And I I remember having raised four girls. The first grandchild was a girl and I was like, Lord, uh, there were gonna be any boys in the mix here? That's true. Besides the son-in-laws, I love my son-in-laws, Lord, but it sure would be nice to have a little boy for a grandbaby.
That's right. Well, let's uh so let's It's QA with Koloff. I want to get to your questions for me here in a moment, but before I do, Uh more recently you launched your own podcast called Born southern, born southern, yes, sir, because you were born southern. That's right, that's right. Union County, North Carolina, Union County, boy.
Come on. And so, what is uh, what's the podcast center around? Like, what's the theme of the podcast? Just anything southern, you're not, you know, it's about the lifestyle, not necessarily because you were born and raised in the south, but you know, the you know, NWA, what's bigger, what's more southern than NWA, you know.
So, we've got Jim Crockett promotion. There you go, man. Um, so anything southern, and you know, it's a lot of it's about People I've met throughout my life that you know it, and we just get together and tell stories. Yeah, yeah. So, so I was born in northern Siberia.
Do I qualify to be on your show? You were in the NWA. Hey, there you go. You're a redneck as far as I'm concerned. In fact, it was the NWA that brought me to Charlotte, North Carolina, Jim Crockett.
And now, Mike, I've been here longer than anywhere else.
So, I think I've been claimed as a Carolina. Oh, absolutely.
So So that's amazing.
So where can our listeners find Born Southern, Mike Long? If you go to YouTube, just search Born Southern podcast or it's on Spotify. I don't know. I think we've we've been focusing more on YouTube and it's just we're only three or four episodes in, but it's really taken off and people are If they'll see what it's about. We laugh, you know, and we encourage others.
Um it's a light you know Just a hap, feel good storytelling session, and we glorify the Lord when we get a chance, and it's just fun. But that's awesome.
So be sure and check that out. Go on YouTube and look for Born Southern with Mike Long, Born Southern Podcast.
Alright, so it is QA with Kool-Av, so let's flip the table here and. I have no idea what you're going to ask, Mike.
So let's. What you got for me today?
Well, I think, you know, a lot of stuff that. That we did. Try to mock my career, or you know, like the physical physically emulate, yeah. As your size and athletic ability and stuff, you know, so in that we were. I was no I was not the Russian nightmare, but I was 275, 280 with abs, you know, and so I got a lot of opportunities that.
people with that my level should not have gotten.
So that's kind of where that's my biggest question because I think, you know, people ask me all the time, and I'm like, dude, it's not. There's no easy way. Everybody has a different path to get in there. And, you know, and. They ask you how to get into pro wrestling.
Right, and stuff. And so that's kind of my question, just because I get asked so many times. From a real superstar, because I was nobody.
So, from a real superstar, like what? What made you turn down that road and how did that work?
Well, it's a great. Question. And it's a very unique story that, in terms of our research, we hadn't. found anyone that really has a similar story. But you're right, like 'cause like so for me, like you and we have you and I have a lot of relatability from not only the the the pro wrestling, but but football, high school, You know, college football and that sort of weightlifting, by the way, gym owners, you're a gym owner.
So, a lot of relatability there, right? My heart, my passion, my vision for myself was pro football. Like, I have my sights set out in the NFL, playing in the NFL. That was why I was determined. to do.
And so I was actually training for a pro football trial after graduating from college. When someone who I recruited out of high school to play college football with me had gotten into pro wrestling. in turn recruited me, you might say, into pro wrestling. For our listeners out there, you might know him as Rode Warrior Animal. Joe Laurenitis.
There you go. We played college football together and then and then he went on to wrestle and he he eventually made a phone call and shared with me that in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the Mid Atlantic, Championship wrestling, they were looking for a big guy who wouldn't mind shaving their head and becoming a Russian. And they approached him and said, Do you know any? He goes, I think I know the guy right now. I got the guy.
I think nobody could have done that job better.
Well, what was crazy, Mike, is so. The craziest part of the story.
So, so I said, Well, Joe, do they know I got no amateur wrestling? Like, you had amateur wrestling back, right? At least I had none. Zero. Right.
Like I was a weightlifter and a football player. And I said, Do they know that? And I'd never been in a pro-Russian ring. He said, Yeah, I told him that. I said, and they're okay with that?
He goes, Call his promoter, Jim Crockett. I'm like, Okay, so I. I call the number, Jim Crockett gets on the phone. I have a five-minute conversation with him. No selfies back in those days.
Right.
No 8x10 glossies. I just say to Mr. Crockett, Joe Lornettis told me to call. You understand? He just said the story.
I go, and you're okay with that? He goes, yep. I go.
Okay, I go, well, like, what's next? He said, be in my office on such and such a day with your head St. Paul. I go, that's it? He goes, Yep, that's it.
So he gave me an address and a day to be there. I hung up the phone, called Joe back. He's like, awesome, I'll help you get some boots and tights and stuff. Fast forward my several months. Not another conversation with Jim Crockett.
Just a day to be there. and an address.
So I load up my car with everything I owned by name. Drove from Minnesota, from Minneapolis, Minnesota down to Charlotte, North Carolina, took a risk. walked into his office, introduced myself, And the key to call us born in the hallways of Charlotte. and and introduced me to Ivan Koloff and Don Carnotto. And then stuck around the interview set.
Like literally, it's just stuck, take your shit off, boom, on the interview set. And then we finished all that up. He goes, be in Raleigh, North Carolina tomorrow night, you're going to wrestle on television. I've never been to Ring. That's crazy.
I'd heard the story. I just wanted to see if I was hearing the truth. Yeah, so well, you you got straight from the horse's mouth, right? Wow. And so debuted the next night in Raleigh.
Fortunately for my opponent, it was only 11 seconds long. To his benefit. But that was it. And then it was just a meteoric rise from there, you know. If you fast forward 13 months later, I'd become the world tag champion.
Yeah, mediocre. Yeah. Yeah. And and did wrestling Ric Flair for the World Heavyweight Title of the First Ever Great American Match. Oh man, all in 13 months.
Greatest. That was a great era right there. Yeah, most. Most people, most of the fans, yeah, still do a lot of autograph signings and whatnot, and In fact, 2026, we're doing this Koloff family tour to honor Ivan with me and a couple of the guys that wrestled as Koloffs. Right.
Uh and then Magnum T A and I are gonna do a couple We're going to do the gathering in Charlotte, and we're going to do Russell K right here in Winston-Salem, and then a virtual signing. commemorating The 40th anniversary of the best of seven series for the U.S. title. Wow. So we're doing a book?
and a t shirt and a poster and I think a commemorative coin to to uh to for the 40th anniversary.
Well, let me know when it's ready. I want to be the first customer to get the coin. We got all that all that is in the works. But Yeah, so it was a it was uh looking back on the career, it was it was pretty pretty wild how it all happened.
So And fortunately, uh I would uh you know uh 'cause I'm athletical like yourself. I was able to adapt pretty quick, obviously. I'd say. And and and make the most of the opportunity. Right.
And and then never never looked back. You said how'd I get on that path? And then I just never looked back. I never gave another thought of of pro football. Good point.
To me and a lot of people back in like in that era, I mean, you were the Andre the Giant, the Hulk Hogan and everything, you know, like for us for the NWA. Like, you were you were the top of the top. And uh fortunate. Mo most fans, when I go through these signs, call it the golden era of wrestling. I agree.
So that was the golden era, man. And it just blows me away, Mike. I was in Long Island, New York just just recently and Baltimore, Maryland right before then and This summer I'll be in in New Jersey and up in New England, it's out in St. Louis and Vegas and yeah, it's it's it amazes me that the fans who come from everywhere To take a picture of getting Roger. I'm so grateful.
I see it a lot because you know, our partner, we are on the roughest and toughest brawls, so we travel the Carolinas and all the way to the other side of Alabama doing the tough man shows. Oh, yeah, that's what that is. Yeah. So, so Butterbean is our business partner. He's our partner.
Oh, he is. Yeah, so he. Yeah. Oh, dude. Yeah, man.
We've been buddies for years, but he came on with us about three or four years ago.
Okay. And so. Uh I feel like And I've seen it just in the past three or four years. It's like he went from, oh, you know, it's just, he's. He's done.
But I was a fan. And I was, and so now I see it. It's like he's an icon now. We were at Jake Paul in a Tyson fight down in Texas. We're like, fuck.
Five rows back, and they had to come down and disperse people like five or six times. They were lining up. To get their picture made with butterbean. Wow. It was crazy.
That is crazy. And so I feel like this new generation is just learning. About the golden golden era, but you guys and appreciate the. What we did. And they do.
They're starting to more, and I'm seeing that. And it's like. It's like it's new life for For a lot of guys that Yeah, 'cause it it gets it's easy to get depressed when you've been there and then things kind of fun. Like when I see an 11, 12, 13 year old come up to my ta table all excited, I'm like. You're not old enough to know me.
He goes, Oh no, Mr. Koloff. He goes, I've rested, I've watched all the old Netflix or whatever, right? Watched all of your old matches, and you're amazing. You know, so it's just.
You're an icon. I mean, I promise you. Listen, I'm a straight. I tell people all the time, look, I might hurt your feelings because I'm bluntly honest. I was a BSer for so long, and I've.
That's the last thing I want to be now. And now I'm maybe a little bit too abrupt.
So if I can give you a compliment, I mean it with all my heart.
Well, so on that note, you know, we are to speak truth, but we do need to coat it with some love. That's true. That's right. Speak truth in love, you know. I mean, it's one thing to speak truth, but then we got to coat it.
With the love of Jesus. That's exactly right. We've got time for at least one more question. If you have another one for me, I've got one that's close to me. Um One of my struggles growing up or, you know, once I got older and started filling out and everything.
You get the wrong people in your life sometimes as men. And and Not that any of the people that were around me were bad people. It was just, you know, they might have been, you know, working me too.
So that whole, I bought into the whole fake it till you make it thing. I and And now I'm like, I tell everybody I get a child, I said, man, don't forget you ever heard that. Don't ever do that. Grind it until you find it. I said, that's truth right there.
And so all these young men, I try to tell them that. I'm like, no, when you're dealing with real men and real grown men, people that. Have been there, done that, or making things happen. They don't want to hear any bullet bull crap. They want to hear it.
Just speak the truth. Do what you say you're going to do and be there early. You know, just simple things.
So, I guess my question is. How did you combat that? Because when I started wrestling, you know, the whole, you know, everybody's working everybody all the time. You didn't get so much of it because you were a superstar. I was nobody.
So I'm in there and I'm, you know, everybody, and even in the locker room, it seemed like everybody was working everybody all the time. And that just, it just. I just couldn't do it. Like it just. I think that's one reason I didn't commit.
All the way.
So your question is. My question is: How did you deal with that and stay, you know, keep your relationship with the Lord and do the right things, say the right things?
Okay. So so First, relationship with the Lord didn't happen until after wrestling.
Okay. But I guess I would say part of my character, part of my nature, you might say, is You mentioned beat them out of your order. Um and I've I've always believed in in you know that there's there is a handshake agreement there and And my word is my bond. I don't need to promise you anything, because if I give you my word, that should be good enough. Should be.
That's right. Go the extra step and say, I promise you. I promise I'll be there. I promise I'll do that. Or whatever.
I should go without saying. No, no narcissistic traits. That I'm aware of, anyway. The Lord can reveal some things to me. Uh and and so I just tried to be r real with people.
Sure. Right? Um even though I was in a business that was, as we call it, a work uh outside of the business, um and and even in the dress rooms, locker rooms. I I was trying to be real. And and now sometimes uh maybe I didn't put a l enough coating of love on some of the things I said either.
Um but at the same time people knew where I stood. Right.
And you know, I didn't try to you know uh pull the wool over people's eyes, so to speak. Um If I didn't like something, I was going to tell you I didn't like it and just be honest with you. And so I think that's a character trait I've had for a long, long time, even before serving God, coming to faith in Christ. was just that, right? And so, um You know, even though you mentioned being there early, and like I'm a stickler on, you know, I take the Vince Lombardi approach.
If you're five minutes early, you're ten minutes late. Right.
You know, I just, out of respect for others, you know, I feel I should be there early, if at all possible. Obviously, things happen or whatever. But I would challenge, in saying that, I would challenge all of our listeners out there to be a person of your word. Just be a person of your word. Let your yes be let yes.
And you know be no. I mean if you If if somebody invites you to something, don't say yes just to please them. Knowing you're not going to be there. Right.
The person says, I'll try. A quick story, quick, quick, quick story here. I was doing some ministry, actually, some school assemblies tied in with ministry out in Louisiana one time. At a junior high school. Right.
And this young guy comes up, huge, like we're talking about, huge wrestling. I'm like, dude, you're not old enough, know me. It's the same dog, right? Right.
Oh, no, I'm just going to watch all your mama. Big time fan, right? It's like my producer Grayson, right? Big time fan. Right.
So I said, uh.
Okay, so we got to talking, whatever, and I said, Hey, You should come Friday night to or Saturday night to this little youth thing we're doing. He's like, Well, where is it? And I told him, He goes, Alright, well I I'll try to be there. And I look down and just squarely in the eyes I go, Let me tell you something about that word try. I now had his attention, right?
I go, see that chair over there? And he looks at the chair, I go, Go try to pick it up. I go, you're either going to or you're not. Right.
I go, that word try is as non-committal as you can get. Amen. I sense you're saying I'll try so that if you don't come, I could never hold you accountable. Right.
Because you're going to say, well, I didn't say I'd be there. I said I tried to be there. That's right. I said, so you're not going to hurt my feelings if you say, You're not coming. It's not going to hurt my feelings.
But you gotta give me a yes or no answer here. I wanna know if you'll come Saturday night to do a thing. Man, he got all serious. He looked at me, he goes. All right, Mr.
Golem. I'll be there Saturday night. There you go. Mike, so then I said, so then I said, okay.
So, next question. Are you a man of your word? Oh, you dug it in deep. I did, Mike. I did.
And he looked at you just looked at me anyway. Yes, sir. Now I'm really committed. Yes, sir, exactly. I said, okay.
Whatever is now, I don't remember his name, it was years ago. I go, all right, I'll see you sorry tonight.
Well, check this out. Here's the Paul Harvey rest of this story.
So he comes. He came that shared in me. He was a man of his word. Oh, that's a good thing. And you know what, Mike?
He was at the altar at the end, giving his life to Jesus. That's how it works. What if I had just blown it off and go, okay, well, I hope to see you Saturday night. Right.
That's not in my makeup, right? I know how I am, so I'm going to hold somebody else accountable to the. To that standard. And you know that you taught him right then that, hey, I'm listening to you. Right.
You've got my attention. Yep. Don't. Just tell me to shoot straight with me. I'm you have my attention.
And that's the way to say it: shoot straight. And then the icing on the cake, right for the icing on the cake? If that's not enough. that the young man gave his life to Jesus. If that's not enough, Eight o'clock.
Sunday morning. That was Saturday night. Eight o'clock Sunday morning. He now comes to the eight AM service. brings his mum brings his sister And he's sitting in the front row, front pews.
Amen. That's awesome. Front pews. Is that not a great story? That's one you need to tell a lot.
So, I want to challenge everybody out there in listening land. Man, be a person of your word. You're listening to this conversation Mike and I are having today. you know just shoot straight be a person of your word yes you probably if you're going to speak to put some love on it put coat it with a little bit of love there okay you know we don't i know sometimes we hurt people's feelings with the truth but that's going to happen anyway so it just is right mike and just so you know the reason i'm such a stickler on and i'm and that's really so important to me about these things now is because i was the total opposite of that for so long yeah Sure. narcissist just a sorry person.
And so God brought me out of that. And I'm still struggling, trying every day. You know, I'm doing better every day with a lot of things, but. He took so many things away that were bogging me down. And I guess that's just really important to me to just.
Be straight and honest. But that's all part of the journey. Part of the journey. Look, we're all a work in progress. Sure.
Nobody's perfect other than Jesus. Nobody's arrived, but we are all a work in progress.
Well, Michael, one more time, real quick.
So tell people where they can catch your podcast. Just search Born Southern Podcast on YouTube and you'll find us. Born Southern. Michael, thank you for being on the show. Man, thank you.
Appreciate you so much. I love you. I appreciate what you're doing. I appreciate you. I love you as well.
Appreciate having you in the studio.
So until until next time, I want to challenge you today. Hope you're doing social support.com. 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. 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.
What do you do with your spare change? Go to your app store, download the app YourChange to help support Kolof for Christ Ministries. Every penny, nickel, dime, and quarter helps us fund Man Camp and so much more. When you come upon one who's down and down, Again, download your change, register as a giver, and start making a kingdom difference today. Yeah.
