This is the Truth Network. Satan's Nightmare, Nakia Cola. This is a war! This is one. That needs to be settled.
What a brawl. What a fight. And it's out of control here. That's a bad. 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 Q ⁇ A with Koloff, the devil's nightmare. With me today.
Studio, always fun to have somebody in studio with me, and I'm excited to have this man with me today. Mike Long, welcome to the Man Up Show. Man, I could be more happy to be here. I appreciate you having me.
Well, you know, it's great to, and really on short notice, because you'd reached out to me just not that long ago, actually. Right. And I was To say the least, certainly intrigued by your message as you were jogging my memory about the gym and wrestling, your involvement, which we'll talk about, the Road Warriors and Greg the Hammer Valentine. We'll get into some of that. We'll just kind of tease the audience right there with that.
But before we get there, I'm curious, are you a native of North Carolina? Born and bred. Union County, boy. Union County. Hence the hat.
Born Southern. That's right. B-O-S-O, Born Southern. I love it. We'll talk more about that too because you more recently launched your own podcast, right?
That's right. It's taking off pretty good, and it's just lighthearted. stories with some you just People that I've met over my life, and it's we're having a good time with it, glorifying the Lord, joking around a little bit too. Yeah, and so we got lots to talk about here this morning for sure.
So, so.
So let's back up just a little bit.
So, Union County, boy.
So, so.
For those who don't know, you know, this will go out around the world.
So, Union County is in North Carolina, right? What part of we're about an hour outside of Charlotte?
So we're out in the country out there.
So it's yeah, we got we got the best of both worlds. Hence that slight accent of yours. Very slight. That's right. That's right.
So born and raised in Union County and sports? Yeah, manny.
So we um I wrestled, you know, the It wasn't as big, yeah. That's that was my thing, and and played football and so much of wrestling happy weight. No, I didn't. No, sir. I uh He's a big guy.
Yeah, but we had a big personality as our coach when we were there. Rusty Jester is a legend in North Carolina.
Okay.
So if he told you you need to drop down two weight glasses because you were a freshman and you couldn't beat the senior up here, you didn't need to. That's right. You did whatever you had to do. Yes, sir. Yes, sir.
Okay.
All right. And football, too, though. Yeah, and I was pretty, you know, I was. Pretty good football player and pretty good wrestler, and had a chance to. to go to college.
And do both? Um I had multiple chances and for some big-name schools and stuff, too. And what schools were Clemson was strong on me, North Carolina State, Tennessee. Tennessee State. Yeah.
Yeah. And it was going so good, man. They loved me. And then we sent my transcripts in. And next thing I know, I'm starting at Shawan Junior College.
So, all right, so hold on. Hold on, let's pause right there. First of all, what position did you play? I was a linebacker. A linebacker.
Yes, sir. So so I didn't like you guys, because I was a tight end. High school, college, and had a few run-ins with a few linebackers back in my day. Yeah, i in fact, I'll tell you a quick side story. In in a game My quarterback hung me out to drive.
Of course, I'm sure you know what that means. Oh, yeah. Hung me out to drive. And the linebacker with the top of his helmet. Nail me because you know, I'm stretched out as far as you can go to try to catch the pass.
Man, he laid the top of his helmet right on my chin. And man, I saw stars for about 10 seconds there. That was a gift. We consider that a gift. I'm sure you did.
I'm sure he did. I'm sure you did. And I went back to the huddle, and Mark Reed was our quarterback. He ended up backing up Phil Simps for the Giants for the first time. Oh, wow.
No kidding. And yeah, so he goes, man, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry. I just go, don't ever do that again. Exactly.
Oh, my gosh, it hurts so bad. Anyway, so.
So just to clarify, we weren't any kind of football powerhouse down here or anything. In Union College? Nothing. We weren't. There was other schools that were.
Sure, but so, you know, I was also. I got designated to be the running back, too.
So I was carrying the ball 30, 35 times a game and play linebacker.
So and. By the end of our sophomore year, they called us the mean 14. Oh, we had 14 players. Wow, there was a lot of two-way play going on. Oh, man, it was ugly.
I'm not going to.
Well, so we have this in common, I'm thinking. We have this in common. When you said you ended up at the junior college, yes, sir.
Okay.
For three days. For three days. Okay, that's a whole story. I got no more about that. Just maybe a reader's digest read.
That's right. But so hold on.
So I ended up at junior college as well. You may or may not know that. I didn't know that. Yeah, ironically, believe it or not, I ended up at a Bible college.
Now, I tell people I didn't go to learn about Jesus. I went because four of the five coaches were old high school coaches where I went to high school, Robinsdale High School. Wow. And the defensive coordinator was my very first coach in seventh grade and my first male mentor in my life. Right.
He's the one who kind of taught me. But the biggest reason was because. Transcript, grades, grades. Mike, I'm like, oh, you need grades to get into college? Dude, I'm the same.
I thought my athletic proudness would get me in. We're like, yeah, it'll get you in. Just gotta get into a major college. Preaching to the choir. Yeah, so that's what I'm saying.
When you just said that, I'm like, oh my gosh, we must have this in common. Yeah, so I ended up ended up, and I actually ended up graduating from an associate arts degree and started applying myself a little better in college. And then, believe it or not, I graduated my senior year, transferred up to Moorhead State University in Northern Minnesota. I was actually one of just a handful of academic All-Americans on our football team. There had only been like two or three prior to me.
I was first-team academic All-Americans. That's an impressive turnaround. Right? Right? Like, I graduated, like, I didn't even know what Coon Laudy meant, but I'm like, sounds good.
Hey, I'll take it. I'll take it. I've been caught a lot of things, but never that. Yeah, you me both.
Some of which we won't repeat on this show.
However, all right, that's it. Give me the reader's digest version of three days.
So I. I met my wife in high school, and she was my sweetheart, and I loved her. Amy, that's right.
Okay, that was going to be a question of mine: how you met Amy. And so. We um She was just everything I ever drew. I knew she was the one. And at the time, you know, I was thinking.
clearly most of the time. But so I was, you know I was doing good enough to where I was worthy of her attention a little bit. I hadn't fell off the deep end yet. But that was that was um We got I got up there and she wasn't ready to tell her parents yet that she was pregnant.
Okay.
And so I didn't tell my parents either. And so I just did high school? Yeah. Okay.
Okay.
So when I got to school, I'd, you know, about. You know, we're talking every night and do and so uh I didn't I didn't show up to practice the third morning. But I went to breakfast afterwards. As I was free. I got a long ride home.
But they, uh, so the head coach came over there and he said, uh, he said, Sonny, sir, you. You weren't there today? I said, no, sir. He said, I heard you were going home. I said, yes, sir.
He's and he said, um He said, What's the problem? I said, I'm going to be a dad, and I'm going to take responsibility, and I'm going to go home and try to be a good husband, too, because I love her. 18, 18, 19, right. Right. And I, you know, in hindsight, it would have probably been better for her and my kids if I would have stayed there.
You know, and because, but you didn't know, you know, when you're young like that. What you think is right. Oh, yeah, right. We used to think, you know, we just, when we were dating, we could live in a tent and it didn't matter. We just had love, you know.
Right, right, right, right. For all you listening out there, I'm sure there's some that could relate to that. Love will carry me through it all. That's right. To a degree.
Okay, so.
So I called my dad and I said, hey, I'm coming home. And he you know, he was sweet and kind and and, you know, like l you know, like nurturing like always. And he said, not this home. And I said.
Okay.
So but she he let me come in back anyway.
Now did he say that because of the situation that you I started something and he that He wasn't too happy with it. You didn't start and quit, you know.
So, oh. Yeah, so it was really, it was, that was the, they loved Amy more than me, probably. But that, that had nothing to do. It was all about, you know, you made a commitment and you're not following through.
So your dad, big, big on commitment. Big, and then that was a. I can relate. I'm a stickler. Me too.
If you say something. You've you're a man, be a man of your word, be a woman of your word. Amen.
Okay, so that's why. That was the one of the first um Times that I Disappointed him on being a man of my word and commitment because it kind of spiraled down, you know. From there.
So, so, okay, so you go home, do the right thing. Tell you, real quick, too, a quick little side story: who has a relatable story to that guy by the name of Roadwear Animal. Yep. Rotary animals. I recruited him out of high school.
I saw him in the newspaper. I was part of the recruiting team, recruited him to that junior college. We became the best of friends. Right. talked him into going up to the Moorhead with me.
He came for the fall, but then dropped out.
Well, he dropped out'cause he got his girlfriend pregnant. Right. And he went home to do the right thing. That's true. I'm going to marry her.
I'm going to be a dad, and I'm going to do the right thing.
So, similar story. Absolutely. And I got to work with him a few times, him and Hawk.
So it was. Yeah, we're going to talk about that. They were good men. Yeah. We're going to talk about that.
We have time to talk about that match, but okay, so you go home to be a dad, so let's.
So fast forward, so You and Eric uh you and Amy have been married how long now? Thirty uh 37 years. Listen, he did good, Amy. He did good. 37.
That's it.
Well, congratulations on 37 years.
So, how many kiddos? We got four children.
Okay.
Six grandchildren and one on the way.
Okay.
Four, six, and one on the way. We we're look relatable. I have four.
However, I have Soon to be fifteen. Grandchildren. You got a little merge little merging families or adding bonuses. No, just just got girls who are uh Just I guess I'd say pop it about, man. Oh, you're talking your extended grandkids and stuff.
Yeah, gotcha. Yeah, yeah, so so four I'm sorry, four children and soon to be 15 grandchildren.
Okay, there you go. That makes sense then. Just around the corner, so.
Well, the the grandchildren uh. They really change your life, don't they? I mean it it it was amazing to me. Yeah. And and it's funny, right, because you hear all the funny stories like, Man, if I know grandkids are gonna be so great, I would have just skipped the kids.
You know, ha ha ha, right? Yeah. Can't do that. But but, yeah, the grandkids are great because you can spoil them, spoil the heck out of them and then and then just send them home. And you know, even I think the biggest thing for me is that when, you know, I struggled when my kids were growing up and I wasn't there as much as I should have been.
I just wasn't. I was very immature. And I got and I and I Took heed to what some guys, people that were saying that I kind of looked up to and growing up and stuff that. led me down the wrong path and I thought things were cool that wasn't cool and I was you know trying to make it happen. But with the grandkids, you get you know, you it's a redo almost.
And every one of them, I just I just stare at'em and I see their mom or their dad Yeah, it's it's um Yeah.
So thankful that I have the opportunity to show my kids that I can do this the right way. Mm-hmm. That's powerful. I feel your heart on that. And yeah, because the decisions you make in raising children, for most, for myself, sounds like you think you're making the right decision.
But then you look back, you go, like my oldest would say, I was much harder on her than on the youngest one. Oh, yeah. Right? And I'm like, well, I was just learning with you. I just cut my teeth with you.
We grew up together. You know, so, yeah, I might have made a mistake or two along the way, but yeah, the great, because the goal of mine at this point is. When I'm around my grandkids, it's just to be, which I wasn't always around my kids, just to be Jesus with skin on. Whether they know grandpa is praying for them or grandpa prays with them. I'll do that sometimes.
I'll get the opportunity to pray with them, right? And just model that for them, you know. Yeah, so the family is certainly special.
Well, let's talk about something else we have in common, too. I was a gym owner. You were a gym owner. Same little small town. Same town.
Yeah, you were just kind of down the road. How long did you have the World Gym? We didn't.
So we started off at. Even a smaller town, you know, from Concord was the big gym. We had Harrisburg, a little pro fitness, a little just dive gym there at the time. You know, so then we we ended up They actually came to us. I don't know why, because we didn't have any money.
Okay.
And we worked a deal out to where we were able to. get the big world gym and and uh And I had known, you know, you had the gym up there forever and you had sold at this time because I probably would have, I'd have probably been like, you need to call Nikita because I was like, I'm not going to compete with him. He owns that town, you know?
So, but you were gone. And so I was like. Let's go for it. Yeah. That's cool.
Yeah, yeah, because I just felt for me, I was like, at one point I was like, man, I don't want to stuck these four walls the rest of my life. You know, like, it's tough. It's fun. Yeah, you I'm not telling anything you don't know, you know, but to be there all day. And I enjoyed, I enjoyed helping people, teach them how to work out and eat right and all that.
But, man, long days, long hours, and just that that grind. And you only see a An X amount of people, right? Right. And I just sensed that. And I at that point, I didn't really know, I didn't have a relationship with the Lord at that point back in those days.
And and but I sensed there was something bigger, like there was a a greater purpose, I'll say it that way, a greater purpose to my life than just entertaining people in a ring or teaching people how to eat and work out. Right. Right? Absolutely. Lo and behold, uh, it was not long after that that I found out what that purp what my greater purpose is.
That's right. That was, is, you know?
So, all right, well, let me ask this, because I know so we We had you in a match or two.
So where did wrestling come in? Where did wrestling come into the picture? Basically, I was, you know, I'd been training my whole life, you know, and so I'd, you know, I'd found out about the juice at a pretty early age, you know, so I was all gassed up and and. a buddy of mine was doing it and he was framing houses. He Had me come over to a house he was framing and wanted to show me how to take a bump.
And so that's how I learned how to. take a bump was in, you know Just a house he was framing, and we were just boom out there, you know.
So it didn't even it so I Wahoo McDaniels at school started up here, so he was involved.
So Wahoo and then Swede Hanson was there, you know, like so. Swede took a liking to me and actually Swede was, I was. You know, wholesaling cars at the time, and Swede would come work for me and move cars around, just whatever I could do to help him, and him help me. And we had a good. It w it it was it was a good good time.
It was you know, you have good times and bad times when you sure but that was a good time just Getting into it and getting excited about it and stuff. I know you mentioned before we went on air about Jerry Lawler, Mid-South.
So, how how many years then were you involved in seven years? And I'll be honest with you, some other guys that had, you know, there's family dynasties in wrestling. There's, you know, so and so one of them that were with You know, I told him, he said, when I first started, he said, well. He said, well, what's your plans? I said, well, I'm going to give it a year.
If I don't make it on TV in a year, I said, I'm not going to. I mean, I'm just. Yeah, because I'm ADD anyway.
So yeah.
So I didn't, you know, I I never like.
Okay.
I had never gotten into it like that much when I was younger. It never just, like, I liked watching the big guys, athletic guys come out because that was what I was into. You and all those guys. Yeah. You're a big guy.
Yeah. So that was, that was. I don't know, that was There was just a uh I guess a little bit of hope. You know like I had a little bit of hope for my family because I was broke and I didn't you know know how to make money and and it just it just kind of started tricking along and I started getting because of my physique you know I was I was pretty and I was athletic. and I knew enough that people could kinda work with me, But um I never gave it I never really Committed to not necessarily all in, but you had some experience.
Now, and I and I know. You refresh my memory That uh You had been in a match. I put you in a match because at the time we were doing some in churches and different places. We were doing matches. We're doing matches, but just sharing the gospel and sharing the good news.
I had been wrestling for a while for them.
So I'd had, you know, they'd put me on, I'd wrestled against the NWO and WCW and some, you know, a lot of other names and stuff. And so we, you know, we were basically jobbers, but they put us over just as much as we jobs, you know, right, back then. The Border Patrol. Border Patrol. Right.
I remember the Border Patrol. And then we were, then, you know, I just went out as Money Mike later on. And so it was. Had a big, pretty decent little. time in Memphis, you know, Lawler and them put me over.
I was You know, main event most of the time, you know, so it was. It was good times, and then by the time we came, you know, I was kind of like. Mm-hmm. Getting over it, you know, like I was realized that this was probably not going to be right. But, you know, you and I had.
Talked, you had come over to my gym. I was on this is later on. And so we, and you know, I was like, hmm. Everybody in this business is working somebody all the time. Is Nikita working me?
Or is he truly for real about God? Because I need this in my life. I'm struggling. You would have been about what age? I was probably about 30.
So it was toward the end of what I was.
So you're struggling and looking for some answers. Right. And you came by the gym and you said, hey, I'm doing a... Doing like an outreach. Right, an outreach, Matt.
And it was at Statesville High School. I'll never forget. And so I said, yeah, I'd like to do it. And it was a lot of big names. You had a lot of big names on there.
And I think. We came out. You had me and Craig Valentine, and we worked against Hawk. And was it George South? Yeah.
Yeah, George South, who's a great worker. Oh, yeah. Who's still working 50 years later? I know. Yeah, exactly.
So I teamed you up with the hammer. Yes, sir. And we're in the back, and it's like, you know, you got who's circled, who's going over. And I was like.
Well, I mean they must have messed that up. Like they they got me As part of the winning team, like I don't, I shouldn't even be in the ring with these guys, you know. But, but we, you know, we had a good match, and then, you know, and then I got it at the end.
So at the end, you know, I put Hawk through the table, and then he came back out. He never, no, he never left the ring. Yeah, he stood up. Told them what was really important. In life.
Because he had Hawk had given his life to come that had a major transformation a year and a half prior to his passing. And so, this place, this GM, you could have not got another. Kid or person in there. It was crazy. And so we were in the back, and he was giving his testimony.
And so you asked all of us to go back out and stand around the ring. Yep. Yep. And so at the time, I'm really struggling anyway. And I felt I was so.
I felt so bad about the person I was. I couldn't even hardly pray back then. I was ashamed to pray to God because I knew. Mike, you said, like, I'm looking at you, you had refreshed my memory. You said, you're staying at the ring, and I want to get this story in before we run out of time.
Sure. We just got a few minutes left, but. And you're standing at the ring with your head bowed, asking God, you said, don't have anyone ask me to pray with them. And then your head's down. You said you felt ashamed, but then.
You felt a tugging on your pants. You looked down. And a little boy. Yeah. I remember, I mean, it's clear as day, but I was standing there and I knew, I was like, I don't deserve to pray for myself, much less anybody else.
I just didn't get it. And I did, I prayed. I was like, God, just don't, please just let me make me invisible. Because you did altar call. Right.
And man, hundreds of kids came down and I was like, oh, Lord, no, there's too many.
Somebody's going to get me. And sure enough, a little boy tugged on my leg and said, Would you pray with me? And I just. Broke down and prayed as hard as I could for him. And is that a turning point, a catalyst for you?
It really was. I was one of them, yes, sir. Yeah, one of them was one of the turning points that. That helped put me uh It helped adjust my thinking a little bit. about what was important, you know.
Yeah. And and and so following that, uh So, that, in a sense, you might say, was one of, at least one of the catalysts for you to get in. Have a relationship with the Lord, to seek a relationship with the Lord, or a deeper relationship with the Lord. That's right. But you know, but you know, it's spiritual warfare, and that's what I tell my buddies that are going through it right now with the same ages and everything.
I'm like, look, man, it's literal spiritual warfare. I had so we got a Lexa and I have to tell you about more about this, but Lexa Luger and I have a camp that we call Ben Camp. Right. And in fact, our next one's next week, right? And one of my staff called me on the way here to the studio and they said, dude, The spiritual warfare is crazy, man.
He's one of the staff guys, man. He's like, man, my wife and I, and he starts to spout. I go, you know, let's just pray. Let's just pray, you know. And he goes, man, I anticipate camp's going to be amazing if the warfare I'm going through is any indicator.
Amen.
And for you listening out there, as you're listening to Mike's story, just understand, man, if you're going to live for the Lord, there is going to be warfare. There's an enemy of our soul who's not going to be happy that you're serving God and certainly or loving God and trying to raise your family right or do everything else you're doing out there to do the right things. And just realize the warfare, I always say it this way, Mike, the warfare is real. Absolutely. The warfare is real.
And you're only going to know that when you're fully committed to serving God. But don't be discouraged by that. If anything, be encouraged by that. Right. Because it's coming.
Yeah, then you know your relationship's real. That's right. So, well. We're uh we're we're we are just went out of time, and man, but you you've got a great story and I appreciate you coming into the studio today. spending this time with us.
We got like 30 seconds. Sure. You got a podcast? Yes, sir. On YouTube, it's Born Southern Podcast.
So it's me, people I've met during my life. We're just sitting around telling stories and talk about Jesus, telling old stories and laughing.
So love to have everybody come on this Born Southern podcast. And they can find it on YouTube. Yes, sir. Mike Long. Yes, sir.
He's sporting a hat here with Born Southern. Born Southern. Well, just what an honor to reconnect with you and reunite with you. What an honor to be here. You had a hand in helping me.
Get my life back to the Lord. I appreciate it.
Well, that's that's it's always encouraging to me and I just want to thank each of you. I hope you were inspired at some degree to Mike's story today and appreciate how loyal you are to spread the word on the show. And then um This is Nikita Kolov, The Russian Nightmare. Let me ask you something. Have you ever felt like your body is telling you you're just not the same anymore?
You're tired, even after a good night's sleep. Your weight is harder to manage. Your energy and motivation aren't what they used to be. Maybe your strength, stamina, mood, focus, or sexual wellness has changed.
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