Episode 66: Magnum TA & Nikita Koloff 40th Anniversary of the Best of 7 Series

In a special celebration episode marking the exact 40th anniversary of one of pro wrestling’s most intense and unforgettable rivalries, host Tony is joined by the two men who lived it: Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff themselves! This landmark episode dives deep into the legendary 1986 Best-of-7 Series for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that electrified arenas across the Jim Crockett Promotions territory and forever changed the landscape of Mid-Atlantic wrestling. For the first time on the show, Magnum and Nikita sit down together to relive the entire program — from the explosive buildup on television, the sold-out crowds that packed the Omni, the Greensboro Coliseum, and the Scope, all the way through the dramatic conclusion of the seventh and final match. Tony guides the conversation as the two former rivals recount the major story arcs, the real-life heat that blurred the lines between kayfabe and reality, the physical toll of wrestling seven straight high-stakes matches in a single month, and the personal respect that grew between them once the series was over. Listeners will hear never-before-shared details about the planning of the series, the psychology behind each contest, the emotional weight of the “Russian” vs. “All-American” storyline at the height of the Cold War era, and what it meant to compete for what many still call the most prestigious championship in the United States at that time. The episode also spotlights the brand-new book “Magnum & Nikita: The Untold Story of the 1986 Best-of-7” (as told to acclaimed wrestling author Bill Murdock). Both guests discuss how the book came together, the stories they chose to reveal for the first time, and the moments that even hardcore fans have never heard until now. Magnum and Nikita read select excerpts live and answer listener-submitted questions about the series that defined both of their careers. Whether you watched the matches live in 1986, discovered them on the Network years later, or are just now learning about this classic feud, Episode 66 is the definitive oral history of one of wrestling’s greatest seven-match wars. Available now on all major podcast platforms and the Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel Substack and YouTube channel. And don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share the show. In a special celebration episode marking the exact 40th anniversary of one of pro wrestling’s most intense and unforgettable rivalries, host Tony is joined by the two men who lived it: Magnum T.A. and Nikita Koloff themselves! This landmark episode dives deep into the legendary 1986 Best-of-7 Series for the NWA United States Heavyweight Championship that electrified arenas across the Jim Crockett Promotions territory and forever changed the landscape of Mid-Atlantic wrestling. For the first time on the show, Magnum and Nikita sit down together to relive the entire program — from the explosive buildup on television, the sold-out crowds that packed the Omni, the Greensboro Coliseum, and the Scope, all the way through the dramatic conclusion of the seventh and final match. Tony guides the conversation as the two former rivals recount the major story arcs, the real-life heat that blurred the lines between kayfabe and reality, the physical toll of wrestling seven straight high-stakes matches in a single month, and the personal respect that grew between them once the series was over. Listeners will hear never-before-shared details about the planning of the series, the psychology behind each contest, the emotional weight of the “Russian” vs. “All-American” storyline at the height of the Cold War era, and what it meant to compete for what many still call the most prestigious championship in the United States at that time. The episode also spotlights the brand-new book “Magnum & Nikita: The Untold Story of the 1986 Best-of-7” (as told to acclaimed wrestling author Bill Murdock). Both guests discuss h... Chapters (00:00:02) - Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History: Nikita and Magnum(00:06:20) - Magnum TA vs Wahoo McDaniel(00:10:26) - Nikita Koloff on His Career(00:14:27) - Billy Gunn on Working With Kamala(00:16:38) - Working With Dusty Joe and Booker Hawkins(00:25:41) - Magna on Dusty's Creativity(00:31:23) - Dusty and Magnum on Working For The WWF(00:38:22) - Magnum on The Dusty McMahon Best of 7 Match(00:45:09) - Nikita vs Magnum at the Great American Bash(00:52:58) - Nikita vs Dusty Rhods(01:02:15) - Jimmy Garvin on Had He Been the NWA World Champion(01:05:32) - Dusty Briscoe on His Best of 7 Match(01:13:25) - The Pro Wrestling Time Tunnel History Show