According to multiple reports on social media, former WWWF champion Ivan Koloff has passed away at 74.
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Reports are that the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff has passed away. One of the greatest heels ever. A true legend. pic.twitter.com/DULP9DAMue
— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) February 18, 2017
I'm Sad To Wake Up And Hear of the passing of my very close friend the Russian Bear Ivan Koloff. You will be missed My Friend. Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/nziKZ2Zqy4
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) February 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/ScottDawsonWWE/status/832946877414924289
One day after George Steele, now Ivan Koloff has passed away. Rest in Peace Uncle Ivan, a great wrestler and person. #RIP
— Jim Cornette (@TheJimCornette) February 18, 2017
Koloff has been battling liver disease recently, and it has been reported that his healthy was quickly deteriorating in recent days. Koloff's death comes just a day after the loss of another pro-wrestling legend, George "The Animal" Steele, who passed on Friday after suffering from kidney failure.
"The Russian Bear" as he became known, Koloff is one of the most important champions in the history of the WWE. Back when the promotion was still called the WWWF, Koloff was the man that finally beat Bruno Sammartino for the championship after an impressive eight-year reign. The title change was stunning at the time, and Sammartino often recalls that he thought he lost his hearing because of how deathly quiet the crowd became immediately after the loss.
Koloff later dropped the championship to Pedro Morales, and he continued to wrestle for the WWWF and the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) through the 1970s and 1980s. Koloff eventually retired after stints with WCW and ECW in the early 1990s.
