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Legendary wrestler Ivan 'The Russian Bear' Koloff has died

    by Rob Tornoe
    Published 
Wrestling legend Ivan Koloff, born Oreal Perras and best known as the bearded villain “The Russian Bear,” has died at age 74.
“I'm sad to wake up and hear of the passing of my very close friend the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff,” fellow wrestler Ric Flair posted on Twitter.
Perras's most famous victory came on Jan. 18, 1971 when he defeated Bruno Sammartino in Madison Square Garden, shocking the crowd by ending Sammartino's nearly eight year run with the WWWF World Heavyweight championship belt.

Perras was one of wrestling top heels, employing moves like the “Bearhug” and “The Russian Sickle." But despite his raspy Russian voice, he was raised on a dairy farm in Ottawa, Canada. According to the Post and Courier, Perras was known to wrestling fans as “Uncle Ivan” and started a ministry in North Carolina with his wife, Renae.

“He was a man who had experienced great change in his life and he was proud to openly share his faith with all who crossed his path,” said Pastor Andy McDaniel, who grew up watching Perras wrestle and later ministered with him.

"While indeed he will always be known as the 'Russian Bear,' those who were blessed to truly know him knew that he was a gentle Lamb," McDaniel told the newspaper. "It was a blessing to have known him."

Perras captured many championships during his lengthy wrestling career, including a bevy of NWA tag team titles. Despite never being voted into the WWE Hall of Fame, Perras received the Frank Gotch Award from the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2015, he was selected as a member of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame.

Hall of Fame announcer Jim Ross hopes the lack of recognition from the WWE changes:

Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri, better known as "The Iron Sheik," was one of many wrestlers to weigh in on Perras' death:

As did legendary wrestler Hulk Hogan:

Perras is fifth wrestler to die in a span of just the past month. Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka's death in January was followed in recent days by the passing of Nicole Bass, Chavo Guerrero Sr., and George "The Animal" Steele, who died from kidney failure on Friday. 

    RT
    Rob Tornoe
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