9: Ivan Koloff
The raspy voice. The squatty, burly wrestler. The fact he wore a singlet supporting Russia and also carried a chain around his neck. Koloff was one of the best foreign heels in professional wrestling, period. In 1971, Koloff ending Bruno Sammartino’s reign as champion by beating him, which led to the Russian Bear becoming a go-between champion for Pedro Morales.
After his time in the WWWF, he moved on the NWA and was a successful regional and national champion in both singles and tag team wrestling. He “brought” his nephew Nikita Koloff to the states to cause all kinds of havoc before the Russian Nightmare became a babyface.
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