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| IS THAT WRESTLING FAKE?: the Bear Facts Release Date: January 2007 / Authors: Ivan Koloff and Scott Teal / Publisher: Crowbar Press DESCRIPTION For decades, professional wrestling fans have asked the question Is that wrestling fake? However, they wouldn't have dared ask that question directly to Ivan Koloff, whose work in the ring made believers out of the most cynical viewers. Growing up on a farm in Ontario, Ivan learned the meaning of hard work and discipline. Unfortunately, he made wrong choices and wound up in prison for cattle rustling. Upon his release, he enrolled in a wrestling school and began a career in pro wrestling as Red McNulty, the Irish Rogue. Five years later, on January 18, 1971, he appeared in Madison Square Garden under the name Ivan Koloff and did what had never been done before. He pinned Bruno Sammartino's shoulders to the mat and won the WWWF heavyweight title. When the referee called for the bell, you could have heard a pin drop as the more than 21,000 screaming fans were instantly moved to a stunned, disbelieving silence. That accomplishment made Ivan Koloff one of wrestling's biggest superstars until his retirement from the ring in the mid-1990s. Competing in virtually every major promotion throughout the world, he feuded with every top name in the wrestling business, including Andre the Giant, Ric Flair, Dick the Bruiser, Bob Backlund, Billy Robinson, Dusty Rhodes, and Ivan Putski. Here for the first time, Ivan tells the story of his life: the highs and the lows; his admission of alcohol and drug abuse; reflections of a life spent on the road, and the toll it took on his body and soul; the event in Kannapolis, North Carolina, that changed his life forever. This is a revealing memoir that will take you into the mind of the Russian Bear, both in and out of the ring. REVIEWS Rich Tate: Though not as in depth as previous efforts from Crowbar Press, it is still better than most books on the market. Koloff sticks to stories rather than go into the business end of things, which is understandable considering he never really played a pivotal role behind the scenes. The tales from the road aids the reader in understanding the theme of the closing chapters, as he discusses how his wild life became one focused on his faith. A nice touch is the chapter written by his wife, Renae. There are also many rare photographs I had never seen before that provide nice visuals. Blackjack Mulligan, a dear friend of the Koloffs, wrote the final chapter. Strongly recommended. Order from Crowbar |
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