Talk about Heels: Ivan “The Russian Bear” Koloff

Robert Segedy

Growing up in the 1960’s, the Cold War was on everyone’s minds and there was one man that was essentially universally despised: Ivan “The Russian Bear” Koloff. 

Real name was Oreal Donald Perras, born August 25, 1942-February 18, 2017. He was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and he wanted to be a pro wrestler ever since he saw it on television as a boy. Perras left school at 18 and he joined Jack Wentworth’s wrestling school in Hamilton, Ontario. 

Early Career: 1963-1967.

Perras debuted as an Irish heel character named Red McNulty. He was billed as being from Dublin, Ireland and wrestled while wearing an eyepatch. He made his first trip to Japan in the 1960’s. In 1967, Perras became “The Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff, being billed as coming from Ukraine. Koloff debuted with the International Wrestling Association in Montreal, Quebec. He defeated Johnny Rougeau for the IWA Heavyweight Championship in 1968.

WWWF Debut 

In 1969, Koloff debuted in the WWWF, managed by “Captain” Lou Albano. Rising through the ranks, he quickly established himself as a tough customer and he soon found himself in line for a title shot. On January 18, 1971, in front of 21,666 fans Koloff defeated the Heavyweight Champion, Bruno Sammartino, at Madison Square Garden, with a knee drop from the top rope and thus ending Bruno’s 7- and 2/3-years reign. Koloff was defeated 21 days later by Pedro Morales. Koloff was essentially a transitional champion designed to move the title from Bruno to Babyface Morales without having the top two babyface fan favorites face off against each other. Koloff remained a contender for the title but never reclaimed it. During this time, Koloff was only one of two wrestlers to take on former title holders including Sammartino, Morales, Superstar Billy Graham, and Bob Backland; the other man was Stan “The Man” Stasiak. Koloff would also be the first opponent to ever challenge for the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship in a steel re-match against Sammartino. He participated in the WWWF from 1975 to 1976, 1978-1979, and 1983.

Time in the NWA

During the 70’s and 80’s, Koloff found success in the National Wrestling Alliance winning numerous single and regional tag team titles in the Georgia, Florida, and the Mid-Atlantic territories. In February 1981, he teamed with Ray “the Crippler” Stevens to defeat Paul Jones and Masked Superstar to capture the NWA World Tag Team Championship. This would be the first of four title reigns as the NWA Tag Team Champion, later winning the belt with Don Kernodle and twice with his kayfabe nephew, Nikita Koloff as the Russian Team. He later formed a villainous heel group which included Krusher Kruschev from 1984 to 1986. During this time, Koloff competed with the best of the best including The Road Warriors, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, and the Fabulous Freebirds. He was recognized as the master of the Russian Chain Match, a brutal type of bout that left many a wrestler bruised and bloody.

In the 1990’s Koloff’s reputation as a ring legend was finally honored. He eventually became a fan favorite and he helped establish credibility to other organizations such as Jim Cornette’s Smoky Mountain Wrestling and he also appeared on early cards of Eastern Championship Wrestling where he battled opponents such as The Sandman.

Koloff’s final match was against Bob “The Bullet” Armstrong on November 16, 2013, at Superstars of Wrestling in Rome, Georgia. Koloff stood around 5 feet, 9 inches, and at the height of his career he weighed approximately three hundred pounds, but towards the end of his career, he had shed much of that weight, and was only weighing 205 pounds. 

Perras wrote a book titled Is that Wrestling Fake? The Bear Facts on January 1, 2007. He had become a born-again Christian in 1995 and later on became an ordained minister.

Perras died at his home in Winterville, North Carolina on February 10, 2017, from liver cancer.

Koloff was a true professional. He could certainly carry his weight both as a singles wrestler and later as a tag team partner. His victory over Bruno Sammartino was a stunner and left many an audience member speechless.

It certainly is a shame that Koloff was never named a member of the WWE Hall of Fame because he did defeat Sammartino which at the time was an unthinkable achievement.