The Russians were a professional wrestling stable who predominantly competed in the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and Jim Crockett Promotions (JCP), attempting to prove the Soviet Union's superiority over America. The group was originally formed by Ivan Koloff and Don Kernodle, who were joined by Nikita Koloff. However, Kernodle would be replaced by Krusher Khruschev after he and Ivan lost the NWA World Tag Team Championship.
History[]
Origins (1984)[]
The Russians were formed after Don Kernodle, portrayed as a Russian sympathizer, joined forces with Ivan Koloff. The pair won the NWA World Tag Team Championship from Mark Youngblood and Wahoo McDaniel on May 8, 1984. The Russians would expand to include another member, Ivan's kayfabe nephew, Nikita Koloff, who was being trained by Ivan and Kernodle. In August, Ivan, Nikita, and Kernodle would win the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship before Ivan and Kernodle lost the NWA World Tag Team Championship to Dusty Rhodes and Manny Fernandez on October 20, 1984. After the loss, The Koloffs would then turn on Kernodle and remove him from the stable.
Ivan, Nikita, and Khruschev (1984-1986)[]
Ivan and Nikita would go on to win back the NWA Tag Team Championship from Dusty Rhodes and Manny Fernandez on March 18, 1985. Don Kernodle was replaced by Krusher Khruschev, who was awarded Kernodle's third of the NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship, along with being able to partake in defences of the NWA World Tag Team Championship. Under the mentorship of Ivan, Nikita would challenge Ric Flair for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at The Great American Bash 1985. However, Nikita failed to win the championship. Three days later, on July 6, Ivan and Khruschev lost the NWA World Tag Team Championship to The Rock 'n' Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson). Ivan and Nikita won back the championship in October; however, at Starrcade 1985, the Koloffs would lose the title following a loss to The Rock 'n' Roll Express, who had Don Kernodle in their corner, in a Steel Cage match. Krusher Khruschev saw success at Starrcade, winning the vacant NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship after a victory over Sam Houston.
In January of 1986, The Russians made appearances for All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) before Khruschev lost the NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship to Sam Houston on the January 11, 1986 episode of World Championship Wrestling, suffering a knee injury during the match. As a result, he would be out of action for almost six months. In April, Ivan and Nikita competed in the Crockett Cup, receiving a bye to the second round where they defeated Jimmy Valiant and Manny Fernandez. However, they were eliminated in the quarter-final after a time-limit draw with Steve Williams and Terry Taylor. On May 17, Dusty Rhodes and The Road Warriors (Animal & Hawk) defeated Ivan, Nikita, and Baron Von Raschke, who stood in for the injured Khruschev, ending their reign as NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Champions.
Upon Khruschev's return, Nikita began a rivalry with the NWA United States Heavyweight Champion Magnum TA. During their feud, a contract signing between Magnum and Nikita took place, with a brawl breaking out between the two after the Russians had insulted Magnum's mother. Magnum was stripped of the championship after he hit National Wrestling Alliance president Bob Geigel after Geigel requested an apology from the champion. Nikita and Magnum then partook in a best of seven series for the championship, with the final taking place on August 17, 1986. Nikita would win the deciding match and the title following interference from Khruschev and Ivan. On September 28, Ivan and Khruschev won a tournament after defeating The Kansas Jayhawks (Bobby Jaggers & Dutch Mantel), thanks to help from Nikita, to become the inaugural NWA United States Tag Team Champions. Also, on the same day, Nikita defeated Wahoo McDaniel to unify the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship and the NWA National Heavyweight Championship.
In October of 1986, following the accident that ended the career of Magnum TA, Nikita would join forces with Dusty Rhodes against JJ Dillon and Ole Anderson in a Steel Cage Match, turning face. Ivan and Khruschev would lose the NWA United States Tag Team Championship to Barry Windham and Ron Garvin in December, with Khruschev leaving the NWA for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) soon after.
Nikita turns and brief reunions (1986-1988)[]
Following Nikita's turn, Ivan would employ the help of Vladimir Petrov and Dick Murdoch, attempting to get revenge on Nikita. Ivan would also join Paul Jones' Army and hire Russian Assassin I and Russian Assassin II to feud with Nikita. However, Ivan would split up with Paul Jones and the Russian Assassins, which lead to Nikita briefly re-joining forces with Ivan to feud with the Russian Assassins.
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Jim Crockett Promotions
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) - Kernodle & Ivan (1) and Ivan, Nikita & Kruschev (2)
- NWA World Six-Man Tag Team Championship (2 times) - Ivan, Nikita & Kernodle (1) and Ivan, Nikita & Khruschev (1)
- NWA United States Tag Team Championship (1 times) - Ivan & Khruschev (1)
- NWA United States Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - Nikita
- NWA Mid-Atlantic Heavyweight Championship (1 time) - Khruschev
