These quotes were originally made for Ivan's book, "Is That Wrestling Fake" but were inadvertently omitted by the publisher.

Looking back in my career some of the finest times I had, was with one of the all time greats in wrestling Ivan Koloff. The first time I entered a professional wrestling locker room I was 15 years old and scared to death!  I had never seen so many big, nasty, strong intimidating men in one room in my life!!

I can remember being too afraid to pick a spot in the dressing room to sit down, in case it belonged to one of these monsters. As I stood there not making a move obviously afraid, I meet eyes with The Russian Bear himself Ivan Koloff.  After what seemed like an eternity of eye contact, in which I knew I was going to die, Ivan in the quietest voice stood up and said to me, there is room for you here if you like.

I could not believe how kind this Bear was. As I went on in my career I found myself crossing paths with Ivan. Every time I saw him my respect for him grew. He was in the ring “b….s to the wall” at all times. I have seen him injured stretching in the dressing room and I wondered how Ivan was going to wrestle that night. Over and over night after night to my surprise Ivan would turn in a match second to no one on the card. He was truly amazing!! The night I got stabbed, (in Raleigh, NC) it was Ivan's match that I was watching, as I was going to be wrestling him and I wanted to be prepared. As Ivan and I went along the highways of North Carolinas he was always there as a pro to watch your back, which saved me on more than one occasion.  Ivan was there as a human being.

He always had time to listen to a friend. Simply put... Ivan Koloff is a man’s man!

--"Rowdy" Roddy Piper    

The Russian Bear…very few wrestlers obtain the success that Ivan Koloff

did!!  A lot of wrestlers made some quick money due to the promoter’s push and some are just in the right place at the right time, but very few get to really be successful and have what it takes to perform at a level such as the Bear did.

The matches between Ivan and Bruno are things that legends are made of...

I was privileged to be around when the Bear was at his peak and he had no peers.  He set the bar at a very high level that very few ever obtained.

It was a pleasure just to be around such greatness, much less be considered a good friend of the Russian Bear!   

 --"Black Jack"  Mulligan