Ivan Koloff, Former WWE Champion, Passes Away

Ivan Koloff, birth name Oreal Perras, has died at the age of 74 due to liver cancer.

Nicknamed “The Russian Bear,” he wrestled in the WWWF (now WWE) throughout the 1970s, winning the WWWF World Heavyweight Championship (now WWE Championship) in 1971, ending Bruno Sammartino nearly 8 year reign as WWWF Champion. Koloff wrestled in NWA throughout the 80s, then in ECW in 1992.

WWE posted this:

WWE is saddened to learn that Ivan Koloff, best known to the WWE Universe as one of Bruno Sammartino’s most bitter rivals, has passed away at age 74.

Koloff, nicknamed “The Russian Bear,” quickly became a primary rival to one of the most beloved WWE Champions of all time, Bruno Sammartino. In an infamously memorable instance in WWE and Madison Square Garden history, Koloff crushed Sammartino’s throat with his knee by jumping off the top turnbuckle. This act on Jan. 18, 1971, allowed “The Russian Bear” to cover the WWE Hall of Famer and score an astonishing three-count to become WWE Champion, ending the Italian powerhouse’s record-setting seven-year title reign.

WWE extends its condolences to Ivan Koloff’s family, friends and fans.