How did Nikita Koloff ever become a Face?

[I like Forums 0]

I've never been exposed to old school NWA/AWA whatever... I'm just wondering how Nikita Koloff ever became a face? I was watching Great American Bash 1987 and during WarGames Nikita was on the face team. What is up with that? He was still wearing tights that said CCCP on it. I couldn't imagine anybody cheering him during the Cold War. Could somebody explain this?

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

After Magnum TA's car crash they needed a new top babyface to team with Dusty, and Nikita was Dusty's choice. The storyline behind it, which was heavily pushed in the Apter Mags at the time, was that Magnum's brush with death touched Nikita, and he wanted to dedicate his career to his former bitter enemy, who he now deeply respected.

[Dangerous A 0]

IIRC, his face turn came shortly after Magnum T.A.'s very serious car accident. Magnum was scheduled to get a huge push (even so far as putting the NWA title on him and letting him run with it) but it was derailed by the car accident. Magnum had just finished a summer best of 7 series with Nikita for the U.S. title where Nikita won in 7. The series was designed to a) get the U.S. title off of Magnum so he could go on to the World title and b) help elevate Nikita. Since the car crash ended Magnum's career, they did an interview with Dusty and Nikita where Nikita was showing sympathy for Magnum as well as a new found respect because of their summer 7 match series. From that point, Dusty and Nikita formed a tag team called the Super Powers (named after what the U.S. and Russia are called) and they went on to battle the 4 horsemen. To put the Super Powers over, they won the Jim Crockett Sr Memorial Cup Tag Team Tournament a few months after forming. After that, Nikita went on to feud with Lex Luger over the U.S. title.

[Rendclaw 0]

God I loved the Wargames 87.... I need a good copy of it, too... I found it online but the sound is terrible...

[MDH257 0]

I'm sure Magnum would have gotten a run with the title eventually. Meltzer wrote in the '86 Observer Yearbook however, that had the car accident not happened Magnum was going to regain the U.S. Title from Nikita at Starrcade.

[The Decemberists 0]

But wasn't the US Champ in theory the number one contender to the World title? So he could've won the US back, then used that number one contendership that came with it to get a shot at Flair at one of the GAB shows and win the belt. And then have a US title tournament or whatever.

[cawthon777 0]

I'm sure Magnum would have gotten a run with the title eventually. Meltzer wrote in the '86 Observer Yearbook however, that had the car accident not happened Magnum was going to regain the U.S. Title from Nikita at Starrcade.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

My theory, and it may very well be wrong, is that Magnum would have faced Flair for the title at Starrcade 86.

 

Flair / Nikita - basically heel vs. heel - seems like it was booked at the last minute. I'm sure they had a face other than Dusty scheduled for that spot.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Plus the cold war really wasn't all that frigid by the time that Nikita went face ... it's not like he was a face in 1984.

[Guest Arnold_OldSchool]

Nikita/Magnum's Best of went to 8 matches - one had been a draw.