Welcome to Last Word on Mania month at Last Word on Sports! All month long we will be doing articles to build up for Wrestlemania 31 on March 29, 2015. Be sure to read everything this month by clicking this link. Enjoy!
In what was the least surprising but oddly delayed of Hall of Fame inductions, Kevin Nash was finally announced. It seems like the delay was whether he’d be inducted through his WWF name of “Diesel” or as his real name. Despite being listed on the WrestleMania 31 official program as Diesel, Nash will enter as the name he was known in World Championship Wrestling: Kevin Nash.
Born in 1959, Nash really didn’t seem to be going down the road of becoming a pro wrestler. Growing to close to seven feet tall, Nash seemed fit to become a pro basketball player. A center for the University of Tennessee, a young Kevin Nash got into an argument with his coach and never played a fourth year in the NCAA. That temper should have been a sign. Trying to play in Europe, Nash then headed to a military police academy, worked the assembly line at a Ford plant and eventually worked as a strip club bouncer.
Trying to find his place, Nash next tried his hand at professional wrestling. His size and agility got him soon recognized by World Championship Wrestling. While he couldn’t stick to a gimmick, working as Steel of the Master Blasters, a Wizard of Oz inspired gimmick named Oz and finally the slick mobster Vinnie Vegas, Nash was able to catch the attention of one specific person. That person was Shawn Michaels, who told Vince McMahon to give Nash a call when his contract was up. Nash also caught the attention of Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer, who stated that Nash would be a champion someday, just not WCW.
Nash went to the World Wrestling Federation dubbed “Diesel”, a name given to him by a young Shane McMahon when considering that Nash was from “The Motor City” Detroit, Michigan. Given limited promised dates, Diesel worked as Shawn Michaels bodyguard. In the role, fans got to see this leather sporting giant be a powerhouse to fans. Vince McMahon saw those reactions and salivated the idea of Nash going straight to the top. In 1994, Diesel had one of the most dominant Royal Rumble appearances to that point, followed by winning the WWF Intercontinental and WWF Tag Team titles. “Big Daddy Cool” topped the year off by beating Bob Backlund at a Madison Square Garden house show to become WWF World champion. It’s to this date one of the most dominant years of any superstar ever.
Unfortunately, the “Year of Diesel” might have been strong on camera but it was weak behind the scenes. Kevin Nash has to carry the title of being one of the worst drawing WWF World champions of all time during one of the worst downturns of the WWF in its history. One could argue his opponents weren’t strong enough or maybe it the downturn wasn’t entirely his fault, but it’s still a truth that taints what was the longest WWF World title run in the 90s. When Diesel dropped the title to Bret Hart at Survivor Series 95, he wasn’t the same babyface anymore. By 1996, he was soon on his way to becoming a heel and facing The Undertaker at WrestleMania XI. What fans didn’t know is he was also on his way out of the WWF.
Lured by millions from WCW, Kevin Nash made the jump with friend Scott Hall to World Championship Wrestling. Both men entered in such a unique way, helping launch the New World Order storyline and turning the tide in the Monday Night War. No longer was it a back and forth each week. Now aligned with Hulk Hogan, the trio captured the imaginations of wrestling fans and took over WCW and North American wrestling entirely. The nWo was revolutionary and Nash was right there in it. Along with Scott Hall, The Outsiders dominated the WCW World Tag Team division. Nash also fought The Giant (The Big Show) for “Big Man” supremacy before deciding to make a name for himself in WCW instead of standing behind Hogan. After an issue between Hogan and fellow 2015 HOF inductee Macho Man Randy Savage, Nash took it upon himself to start the nWo Wolfpac, the Red and Black division of the New World Order. This separation allowed fans to cheer for the New World Order without guilt and in 1998, Nash won World War 3 to get a WCW Worlds Heavyweight championship shot against Bill Goldberg. Nash won the match, breaking the unbelievable streak of Goldberg. Unfortunately, it was followed by a finger poke of doom and reformation of the New World Order.
Through 1999 to 2001, Kevin Nash stayed around the top of World Championship Wrestling while booking behind the scenes. Much like his run as WWF World Champion, his run in WCW became tainted with the company’s downfall, as WCW was sold to the WWF in 2001. Despite being one of the most dominant names in wrestling, Nash never came smelling like roses for fans who knew better. Nash soon came back to the WWF in 2002 to reform the New World Order with Scott Hall and Hollywood Hogan, going in Scott Hall’s corner as he fought Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania X-8. Nash tried continuing the New World Order with Shawn Michaels before going solo and feuding with Triple H. After a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood, Nash slowly phased out of the WWE and moved into making appearances in Hollywood films and worked several years in TNA Wrestling.
In due time, Nash returned to the WWE, not as Kevin Nash but as Diesel. At the 2011 Royal Rumble, despite signing a new contract with TNA just weeks earlier, Diesel appeared to a huge ovation from the WWE Universe. He soon embarked on an aborted feud with CM Punk before going back to just working in movies. Be sure to check out his small roles in John Wick as a Russian bouncer and Magic Mike as Tarzan, the grizzled and old stripper.
If it sounds like I’m not too positive on the induction of Kevin Nash, it isn’t because I think he’s undeserving or a low quality pick. It’s just that with Triple H’s position as COO and the induction of Razor Ramon last year, this was a very obvious induction. The surprise of someone like Alundra Blayze or Larry Zbyszko just isn’t here. Nash spent most of his career at the top of the wrestling food chain in WCW, WWE and TNA. He doesn’t know anything other than being a top star. I find his film appearances in small roles to be far more satisfying, to see Nash relaxed and having to work his butt off for attention. While he has to carry the reputation of sinking prosperous companies or being a poor drawing champion, Kevin Nash is still a name impossible to forget for his contribution to the New World Order. He isn’t a surprise, but he’s certainly deserving.
