Q&A with Koloff - #4

This is Sam from the Masking Journey Podcast, and our goal with the podcast has helped you to try to find your way in this difficult world. Your chosen Truth Network Podcast is starting in just seconds. Enjoy it, share it, but most of all, thank you for listening and choosing the Truth Podcast Network.

This is the Truth Network. Enough key to Koloff here. Questions and answers. Q&A with Koloff, the devil's nightmare. Hilmi Ari, welcome to questions and answers with Koloff. Glad to be heard from you, sir. Hey, I really appreciate Hilmi. It's great to, honestly, great to have you on the show today, and let me just first just ask this question of you.

I know you've got some questions for me, but let me first ask this question of you for all of our listening audience out there. Hilmi Ari, that doesn't sound like a Cajun, Louisiana name. Give us a little background on that name there, Hilmi. It's a little east. A little east of Louisiana. How far east? Let's go mid-east, middle east.

Oh, middle east, not middle east, middle east, as in the middle east region of? Turkey. Turkey, yeah. I was born and raised in Turkey, moved to the U.S. when we were six years old.

Okay, okay. You and I have gotten to know each other a little bit here of recent in your lovely bride, Tina, and you've been very, very, it's been fun getting to know you guys, and so I know a little bit about that background, but I know, so your dad was like full-blooded Turkish? He was, he was, and my mother was from South Carolina. Okay, well, there's more to that story here.

There is, but she lived all over the world, and I guess they met on the cruise. Mom got tired of me telling everybody that she was a mail-order bride, and she quickly corrected me as for my lack of humor that she was not a mail-order bride. Well, I don't know why she didn't find you. I find you full of humor, but I don't know why she didn't find any humor.

Well, you know, mom would, her pet line would be, I am not amused, at which you knew at that point you crossed the line, so the best thing you could do is practice your Olympic backstroke and try to get out of it. It was good, you know. Thankfully, having parents who were from two different countries, they taught me Turkish and English at the same time, so I was fluent.

I've never known, you know, not knowing two languages. Well, here, so here's what, here's what's funny about what you did, that she was a a mail-order bride. Is that M-A-L-E or M-A-I-L, mail-order bride? Well, unfortunately, she is since passed.

I would ask her, but then you would get the, I am not amused, and then that look. You go ahead, Nikita. Just keep on, man. Now, you just mentioned, so do you, and I didn't know this about you. You speak two languages fluently? I do. Wow. English really is my second language. Yeah, mine too. You know, Russian was my first, right?

Yeah. Then I had to learn, I had to learn English like once I came to America. So I'm kind of like you, I'm a foreigner, kind of like you, Hillmy.

Well, in TV land anyway. Exactly. So, so English and the other languages? Turkish. Turkish. Say, it's nice to meet you, Nikita, in Turkish. It's nice to meet you in Turkish. Yeah, not English, Hillmy, Turkish. No, no, no. It's nice to meet you, Nikita. Well, whoa, whoa.

I know I put you on the spot there. But part, being, I was just starting kindergarten when we left, so I cannot read or write Turkish very well. But you can speak. It's one of the drawbacks of, you know, going to school there and leaving because they, in foreign countries, they teach you English literally in kindergarten. It's a second language to them. Then from there, you go on and learn German, French, Italian.

So education is very important in that part of the world. And it was important to my parents. You know what's fascinating about that story is you just verified, and I told the story on another show about, I was doing a missions trip in Moldova, over in, you know, near the former Soviet Union. And I met this little 11 year old little guy, Henry, little wire rim, round wire rim glasses. And to your point, I mean, I just befriended him. We got to, and I'm like, and I don't know why, just I'm like, I'm like, I'm like, Henry, how many, was he related to you?

Hilmi, Henry. No, anyway. And I'm like, how many languages do you speak? And he said, five.

And I went, get out of town. I'm like, get out of here. Like, five. Like, fluent? He's like, yes, sir. And I'm like, and just like you're saying, French, German, Russian, of course, English and Spanish. And I'm like, and he could speak in fluent. I was, just like I put you on the spot.

I put him on the spot. I'm going to say, all right, all right, Henry, say this in French and say that in German. And he just rattled it off like you just did Turkish. But if you teach these kids, these talents at such a young age, there is no preconceived wall of, I don't want to learn this, or you're embracing as a young person, knowledge.

So you're not hesitant to learn. You're just soaking it in. Yeah. Well, that's pretty amazing. And I know your dad was a pretty outstanding doctor as well. That's what kind of brought him to the U.S., right?

It was. He wanted to better our family and came to the U.S. He had practiced, or he had gone to medical school in the fifties in Washington, D.C., and moved back to Turkey, met mom. I think they got married in 63. I came along in 67, and we moved to the U.S. in 72-73. And we lived in a small town in Ohio called Massillon. And from there, dad was studying to take his boards. And once he passed, he could practice anywhere in the country and chose a small town west of Charlotte called Lincolnton. So been there ever since.

Yep. And I know he's had a tremendous practice there. I know from some stories you shared with me, people absolutely loved your dad. And speaking of which, you've got, part of the reason we met was you've got a printing business in, what's the name of your printing business there in Lincolnton?

It's Lincoln Printing Services. Okay, and I know you do some great work. I know you've made banners for me and 8x10 posters, pictures, and a number of, I know you do a whole host of things there at your print shop, and you do exemplary work, I think that's how you say that word. Anyway, you do great work, Hillman, you do great work.

Thank you. And being the entrepreneur you are, you're taking advantage, like even in this whole past lockdown, shutdown, whatever downer you want to call it, for some people, you've taken advantage of that. You launched an entire online eBay business that is just, you are just cranking me out of this, you are just cranking out. Here's what's crazy, Hillman, you've got some of the most unique products on your eBay website of anyone I've ever known.

Maybe that must be that Turkish background of yours. I'll take those as a compliment. It is a compliment, it is a compliment.

I love you and your bride, Tina. Hey, if people wanted to go on and see some of your unique products, how would they find you on eBay, Hillman? It's very simple. The name of our store is called Name Dash TBD. So it's Name Dash TBD. That's simple enough. In other words, hey, our official name is to be determined, but for now?

It is. It's Name Dash, is that an underscore or dash? Dash. Name Dash TBD. That's it. And that is Hillman Ari's store. I want to encourage you, listen, like for real, he has some of the most unique things I've ever seen, stuff that maybe you're looking for but don't know where to find it, I assure you, you will find it on Hillman's site. So go check that out.

Name Dash TBD. So, Hillman, you've got a question or two for me today on Q&A with Koloff. I do. You put me on the spot and I've stressed for three days over this, slept very little. All right, I know that you were involved in multiple tag teams and even seven three-man. Was there a difference in preparation versus the two versus the three in that you felt like you had to get everybody involved or were there constraints from the promoters and even maybe the other team like, hey, I'm injured, so-and-so's not going to take bumps this evening, we're going to do this. So can you explain the difference between the two and the three tags?

Yeah, great question. In fact, you got singles, tag, six-man. I was even involved in eight-man matches, right?

Okay. And each scenario brings about a different preparation. Obviously, if you're in a single match, the whole focus is on you and your opponent, right? And so you might even say there's even more pressure placed upon you in a single match. A tag match, especially for me early on in my career, learning with Ivan, Uncle Ivan, and Don Crenodle, and eventually the power of power too sweet to be sour, if you will, yeah.

Of course, Dusty Rhodes, the American Dream. The tag took some of that pressure off in that you could then rely on your opponent, especially if in those days, like if you got what I would phrase kind of lost in the match. One of the things they always told you, if you get lost, grab a hold. Well, you get lost in a tag match, tag out. Tag your opponent in and regroup mentally. And then a six-man brought a different dynamic to it because now you got, again, six guys or even the eight-man that you really want to showcase every guy. Now, to your point of maybe somebody's injured, you can cover that up a little bit more in a tag or six-man or an eight-man, certainly, by helping that guy out who's still going to perform but can't perform at high level because he's sustained some level of injury. But he's still expected to be there.

The fans still expect to see him. And so it is easier to cover that up. And so I hope that generally answers your question. Does it?

It does. Yeah. Yeah. So, great question.

Like, really great question for sure. Thank you. Have you got time for one more? I do. Come on. We got time for one more question. Yep.

Okay. If you were a heel versus a babyface, if you came out and you were expecting blues and rants and raving from the fans, was there ever an instance where they switched on you? Like, if you were the bad guy and you walked in and they're cheering for you, you're like, whoa, this is not right. Well, actually, the expression that comes to my mind would be, this is not good. Well, that one too. As a bad guy, you want them booing for you, obviously. As a good guy, you want them cheering for you.

There's a couple things that come to mind just quickly. When I made a return to wrestling in Phoenix in 1991, the angle with Magnum TA was so strong. The magazine cover, I cry a tear for Magnum TA and his wreck and teaming with Dusty and all that. Well, when I returned after leaving for a time, I had a late wife that passed of cancer at age 26, and I made a return to wrestling after a season away. They go, well, we want you to be a bad guy again.

It's not going to work. I go, no, we'll put you against Lex Luger. He's one of our top babyfaces.

I'm like, okay. So, for those who know, I present him with a belt, whack him over the noggin with a belt, kick him off the stage, and that began our angle. It was about 50-50. About 50% cheered me, about 50% cheered him.

And they're kind of getting wind of that. So, then we go, okay, well, they said, well, put you against our top babyface, Sting, because he's the number one babyface. And so, we did an angle in St. Petersburg, Florida. They're in a match against Sting and Luger against the Steiner brothers. I do a rundown, and I go for Luger, but he just happened to move, and Sting was in the way, unfortunately.

Oh, boy. And so, that catapulted an angle with Sting, and that was about 75-25. And eventually, they're like, well, yeah, maybe you're right. And then, so I took a little more time off, came back, and then made an appeal to Sting with my little Stinger, who was actually my oldest daughter, Taryn, at the time. Nobody really kind of knew that, but a few knew that. But I had her painted up like little Stinger and like, hey, here's one of your biggest fans. And I was like, honey, please don't, when I ask you who's your biggest fan, don't say daddy and point to me.

Say Sting, right? But so, yeah, so that was interesting. And then one other quick story, Kuwait. Speaking of the Middle East, you probably know where Kuwait is. Yeah, a little bit. Yeah, not far from Turkey, I think.

I'm not great on geography, but not far. The short version of that story is, I go there, I'm in the height of my healing here. I mean, I am the number one most hated guy in wrestling in America in the fan polls. I go there, and I walk out that first night, and I get cheered. And I'm like, I don't know what to do. Oh, yeah, for real.

And I'm like, I don't know what to do. Well, a fortunate guy named Sergeant Slaughter. He walks out. We've done work for Sarge. Okay, he walks out.

Yeah, you've done some print work and some other things for him, right? He walks out, and he gets booed. I'm like, all right, well, let's just step in the right direction.

He gets the ring. I'm like, Sarge, I don't know how to be a baby face. I don't know how to be a good... He goes, just follow my lead, kid. And I'm like, okay, I can do that. And I followed his lead. I got my hand raised in victory. The fans were happy. And oh, a little side note, by the way, the Russian ambassador to Kuwait and his wife were sitting in the audience that night just wanting to make sure that the Russian... The fake Russian was cheered, right? So anyway, so... That is awesome.

Well, there's a couple of stories. Hilmi, listen, man, it's so good to have you on Q&A with Koloff. And I just appreciate you, and please hug that lovely bride, Tina, of yours. And I look forward to seeing you again sometime soon, okay?

Sounds good, sir. Safe travels. All right. Thanks, Hilmi. Take care. God bless. You're welcome. Take care, Nikita.

All right, bye-bye. This is the Truth Network. One of our generous sponsors here at the Truth Network has come under fire.

Fire from the enemy. Fire for standing up for family values. Actually, one of the biggest supporters of the movie Unplanned that talked about the horrors of abortion. Yes, it's Mike Lindell. You've heard me talk about his pillows for a long, long time. And no doubt big business is responding to Mike Lindell and all this generosity for causes for the kingdom by trying to shut down his business. You can't buy his pillows at Kohl's anymore. You can't get them on Amazon, or you can't get them at Costco.

They're attempting to close his business because he stood up for kingdom values. What a chance to respond, especially if you need a pillow. Oh, I've had mine now for years and years and years and still fluffs up as wonderful as ever. Queen size pillows are just $29.98. Be sure and use the promo code Truth or call 1-800-944-5396. That's 1-800-944-5396. Use the promo code Truth for values on any MyPillow product to support truth.