5. Nikita Koloff
Nikita Koloff was a Soviet man-beast who took the NWA by storm in the mid-1980s, challenging top babyfaces such as Dusty Rhodes, Magnum T.A., and Ric Flair. Though Koloff never accomplished his ultimate mission of becoming the NWA World's Heavyweight Champion, he scored many big wins with his "uncle," former WWWF Champion Ivan Koloff (Canadian) and Krusher Khruschev (American, and the Repo Man) by his side including defeating Magnum to win the United States Championship in a best of seven series. With the Soviet threat waning later in the 80s and the NWA in need of a babyface after Magnum's career-ending injury, Koloff found himself on the side of the angels. Teaming with Rhodes as The Superpowers, Koloff continued to defend the U.S. Championship and even fought Flair to a double disqualification for the NWA Title at StarrCade '86. "The Russian Nightmare" would legally change his name to Nikita Koloff in 1988, but he was born Nelson Simpson in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After an injury derailed his football dreams, then-AWA competitor Road Warrior Animal introduced him to the sport of wrestling. NWA president and promoter Jim Crockett, Jr. handed him the Soviet sobriquet, and thus a career was made. Today, Koloff is a preacher and a reality TV star, appearing on Lifetime Network's
Preachers' Daughters. Either way and no matter which nation he represents Koloff is comfortable in front of the camera.