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Meet every Superstar to hold the WWE Championship

Take a walk through WWE history and see all 50 Superstars who captured the WWE Championship, including John Cena, The Rock, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin and more!

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Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff & Krusher Khruschev vs. The Crusher, Dick the Bruiser & Baron Von Raschke: AWA SuperClash, Sept. 28, 1985 It's an all out brawl when the Russian trio of Ivan Koloff, Nikita Koloff & Krusher Khruschev battle The Crusher, Dick the Bruiser & the legendary Baron Von Raschke. 08/19/2014 - 00:52
Dusty Rhodes vs. Ivan Koloff: Championship Wrestling from Florida The American Dream takes on The Russian Bear. 08/19/2014 - 00:53
Ivan Koloff vs. Bobby Fulton: Smoky Mountain Wrestling, Feb. 1, 1992 Ivan Koloff goes one-on-one with Bobby Fulton. 08/19/2014 - 00:55
Ivan Koloff vs. Paul Jones: Clash of the Champions IV, Dec. 7, 1988 Paul Jones takes on Ivan Koloff with The Russian Bear's arm tied behind his back. 08/19/2014 - 00:56
Bruno Sammartino vs. Ivan Koloff: Madison Square Garden, March 26, 1979 Bruno Sammartino takes on Ivan Koloff in Madison Square Garden. 08/19/2014 - 00:36
Ivan Koloff vs. Curt Hennig: All-Star Wrestling, March 5, 1983 A young Curt Hennig takes on Ivan Koloff. 08/19/2014 - 00:39
Ivan Koloff & Krusher Khruschev vs. The Kansas Jayhawks - No Disqualification NWA United States Tag Team Championship Match: Starrcade 1986 Ivan Koloff tags with Krusher Khruschev to take on The Kansas Jayhawks. 08/19/2014 - 00:42
Ivan Koloff & Nikita Koloff vs. Ole Anderson & Keith Larson: Starrcade 1984 Ivan and his nephew Nikita take on Ole Anderson & Keith Larson. 08/19/2014 - 00:47
Ivan Koloff vs. Buzz Sawyer: World Championship Wrestling, April 13, 1985 Ivan Koloff takes on Buzz Sawyer. 08/19/2014 - 00:50
Bob Backlund vs. Ivan Koloff - WWE Championship Match: Madison Square Garden, August 28, 1978 Ivan Koloff takes on Bob Backlund for the WWE Title inside Madison Square Garden. 08/19/2014 - 00:29
Pedro Morales vs. Ivan Koloff - WWE Championship Match: Madison Square Garden, February 8, 1971 Pedro Morales attempts to end the WWE Championship reign of Ivan Koloff. 08/19/2014 - 00:23
The Russians vs. Pat Tanaka, Rickey Reeves, & Stoney Burke: Six-Man Tag Team Match - NWA Worldwide, May 25, 1985 Krusher Kruschev, Ivan & Nikita Koloff represent The Russians when they face Pat Tanaka, Rickey Reeves, & Stoney Burke in a Six-Man Tag Team Match. 08/05/2013 - 16:02
Special look back at the first WWE Champions Take a special look back at the history of the first-ever WWE Champions. 04/24/2013 - 16:53
Bruno Sammartino vs. Ivan Koloff - WWE Championship Cage Match: Madison Square Garden, December 15, 1975 Bruno Sammartino takes on Ivan Koloff in the first-ever Cage Match in Madison Square Garden history! 02/04/2013 - 11:37
Bruno Sammartino vs. Ivan Koloff - WWE Championship Match: Madison Square Garden November 17, 1975 Anything can happen when WWE Hall of Famer Gorilla Monsoon is the special guest referee for this championship match! 02/04/2013 - 11:35
Thunderbolt Patterson & Brad Armstrong vs. Ivan Koloff & Baron Von Raschke: Slamboree 1993 Slamboree 1993 hosts a Legends Tag Team Match. 09/04/2012 - 20:09
Bob Backlund vs. Ivan Koloff - WWE Championship Match: MSG April 25, 1983 The dangerous Ivan Koloff tries to take the WWE Championship away from Bob Backlund. 06/27/2012 - 19:13

 

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Ivan Koloff passes away

February 18, 2017
Ivan Koloff

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.

Published on February 18, 2017

WWE.com Staff

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