Kevin Nash

Kevin Nash
Born	(1959-07-09) July 9, 1959 Detroit, Michigan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Diesel Fake Sting (once, at WCW World War 3 1997) Kevin Nash Oz (Master Blaster) Steel Vinnie Vegas
Billed height	6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Billed weight	317 lb (144 kg)
Billed from	Detroit, Michigan Scottsdale, Arizona Las Vegas, Nevada (as Vinnie Vegas and Diesel) Emerald City (as Oz) The Steel Mines (as Steel)
Trained by	Jody Hamilton
Debut	September 14, 1990

Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American professional wrestler and actor. Nash has wrestled under various ring names, but most notably by his own name for World Championship Wrestling (WCW), and by his own name and the ring name Diesel in World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment (WWF/E). He currently works for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where he is a two time TNA Legends Champion. Overall, Nash is a six-time world champion (five times in WCW and one time in the WWF), an eleven-time world tag team champion (nine times in WCW and two times in the WWF) and a one-time Intercontinental Champion. He also won the WCW World War 3 1998 Battle Royal. He is also one of the three founding members of the New World Order (nWo), along with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall.

Early life

Nash was born in Detroit, Michigan, and he attended the University of Tennessee where he majored in psychology and minored in educational philosophy. At the University of Tennessee, Nash was a center for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team. He remained on the team from 1979 to 1980, during which time the team made it to the NCAA Sweet 16. He did not play a fourth year for the Volunteers, and he attempted to transfer to Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. He later reconsidered and instead relocated to Europe, where he played basketball professionally for various teams. His career ended in 1981 in Germany at the age of 22, due to a knee injury when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. With his basketball career over, Nash enlisted in the 202nd Military Police Company in Gießen, and served in a secure NATO facility for two years, during which time he was promoted to the rank of specialist. After working on an assembly line at Ford Motor Company, he decided to try professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

World Championship Wrestling (1990–1993)

Nash debuted in WCW as the orange-mohawked "Steel", one half of the tag team known as the "Master Blasters". He was initially partnered with "Iron", who was later replaced by "Blade". The Master Blasters, however, disbanded within a year. In May 1991, Nash was repackaged as the silver-haired "Oz", a character based on the Wizard of Oz from the 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Oz, managed by Merlin the Wizard, was pushed strongly throughout early 1991; he squashed several wrestlers before losing to Ron Simmons at the Great American Bash on July 14.

Nash wrestled as Oz throughout the remainder of 1991. In January 1992, he was repackaged as "Vinnie Vegas", a wisecracking pseudo-mobster based on Steve Martin's character in the 1990 film My Blue Heaven. Vegas was quickly recruited into "A Half-Ton of Holy Hell", a stable of large wrestlers created by Harley Race which included Big Van Vader and Mr. Hughes. The stable separated in February 1992, and Vegas joined The Diamond Mine, a stable led by Diamond Dallas Page that also included The Diamond Studd and Scotty Flamingo. After Studd and Flamingo left the stable, Page and Vegas began teaming together as The Vegas Connection. The tag team split in late 1992, and Nash left the promotion in early 1993 to work for the World Wrestling Federation.

World Wrestling Federation (1993–1996)

Diesel at a WWF event in 1994

In 1993, Nash left WCW, signing a contract with the World Wrestling Federation at the request of Shawn Michaels. Nash made his WWF debut at a house show on June 6, 1993, assisting Michaels in defeating Marty Jannetty for the Intercontinental Championship. Nash was given the character of "Diesel", the heel bodyguard of Michaels, dyeing his hair and beard black in the process. In January 1994, Diesel appeared at the Royal Rumble, eliminating seven men in under 18 minutes of in-ring time. Diesel won the Intercontinental Championship from Razor Ramon, following interference from Michaels on the April 13, 1994 edition of Superstars. The duo of Diesel and Michaels defeated The Headshrinkers to win the WWF Tag Team Championship on August 28. The next night, Ramon defeated Diesel at SummerSlam to regain the Intercontinental Championship. The alliance between Diesel and Michaels dissolved after Survivor Series, and Diesel became a babyface.

File:Hug MSG Incident.jpg

the MSG incident.

On November 26, Diesel defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship at Madison Square Garden in an eight-second squash match. Michaels was irate about his former bodyguard having beaten him to the WWF Championship and was sufficiently motivated to win the 1995 Royal Rumble, earning himself a title shot at WrestleMania XI. At WrestleMania XI on April 2, Nash, accompanied to ringside by actress Pamela Anderson and Jenny McCarthy, defeated Michaels to retain the title. The next night on Monday Night Raw, Michaels was betrayed by his new bodyguard, "Sycho" Sid, prompting Diesel to come to his rescue. This occurrence led to the tag team being reunited, now known as "Two Dudes with Attitude". Diesel successfully defended the WWF title against Sycho Sid at the inaugural In Your House pay-per-view in Syracuse, New York and at the In Your House: The Lumberjacks in Denver, Colorado. At SummerSlam 1995, Diesel retained the WWF title by defeating Mabel, who had won the 1995 King Of The Ring tournament. On September 24 at In Your House 3: Triple Header in Saginaw, Michigan, Diesel and Michaels challenged Owen Hart and Yokozuna for the WWF World Tag Team Championship, in return placing Diesel's WWF Championship and Michael's WWF Intercontinental Championship on the line. When Hart did not show up at the event, he was replaced by Davey Boy Smith. In the course of the match, Hart arrived at ringside, entered the ring, and was pinned by Diesel for the win and the title. Because Hart was pinned despite being replaced, the victory was declared invalid the next day and the title was returned to Hart and Yokozuna. Diesel's WWF Championship reign continued until November 19, when he was defeated by Bret Hart at the Survivor Series. Following the loss, Diesel began a heel turn by developing a rivalry against fan favorite the Undertaker by costing him a potential victory in his match against the WWF Champion Bret Hart at the Royal Rumble 1995. Diesel was the last wrestler eliminated in the Royal Rumble 1995 by Shawn Michaels, which eventually led to a rift between the two men. At In Your House 4: Rage In A Cage in Louisville, Kentucky Diesel lost his steel cage match against WWF Champion Bret Hart when he was attacked by the Undertaker.

Shortly before WrestleMania XII, both Diesel and Razor Ramon agreed to return to World Championship Wrestling as part of WCW President Eric Bischoff's drive to lure employees from the WWF to WCW with the offer of lucrative contracts. Diesel lost to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XII on March 31, then went on to feud with Shawn Michaels once again. In his last televised WWF appearance until 2002, Diesel challenged Michaels for the WWF Championship (which he had won from Hart at WrestleMania XII) at In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies on April 28. He wrestled Michaels for the title once again in a steel cage match at a house show on May 19, but was again defeated. After the match, Diesel, Michaels, Razor Ramon, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, a group of off-screen friends known collectively as "The Kliq", hugged one another in the ring and wished each other farewell. This incident, later referred to as the "Curtain Call" or "MSG Incident", was a serious breach of character, as it showed heels and babyfaces consorting with one another. Shortly thereafter, Diesel and Ramon left the WWF and joined WCW.

Return to WCW (1996–2001)

The Outsiders; New World Order (1996–1998)

Main articles: The Outsiders and New World Order

After two weeks of Scott Hall appearing on WCW programming and taunting announcers, wrestlers, and the company, Nash finally debuted alongside his friend on June 10, 1996. The duo were known as The Outsiders, and the storyline pushed them as "invaders" from the WWF. At Bash at the Beach, Hall and Nash fought the team of Lex Luger, Sting, and Randy Savage and promised to add one more man to their entourage. With Hulk Hogan, they formed the New World Order (nWo).

Through late 1996 and into 1997, Nash normally teamed with Hall as the Outsiders, and they held the WCW Tag Team Championship. Nash also began to show his leadership qualities in the nWo, and became a sort of "second in command" alongside Hogan. Nash, Hall, and Sean Waltman distinguished themselves from the rest of the nWo, calling themselves the "Wolf Pac" in 1997. After a while, however, the nWo began to fight within its ranks, with Hogan and Nash battling for control. The situation came to a head on April 20, 1998, during a match between Hogan and recent nWo inductee (and rival) Randy Savage for Savage's recently won WCW World Heavyweight Championship. During the match, Nash interfered on Savage's behalf and jackknifed Hogan to the mat, signaling the breakup of the nWo into two separate factions (Nash's interference was not enough to prevent Hogan from regaining his championship, thanks to Bret Hart's interference shortly thereafter). Nash became the leader of nWo Wolfpac, alongside Savage, Curt Hennig, and Konnan. Hennig, however, shortly thereafter defected over to Hogan's nWo Hollywood faction. Then, during a match between Hall, Nash, Sting and The Giant (who had recently rejoined the nWo after being kicked out two years prior), Hall turned on Nash by hitting him with his tag team title belt and leaving the ring. The Wolfpac, however, was not down for long as Lex Luger joined Nash's team. Sting would eventually become a member as well, after being recruited heavily by both sides towards the middle of 1998. After Sting won Giant's half of the tag team title at the Great American Bash that June, Nash became Sting's partner. They defended the championship until July 20, when they were defeated by Hall and The Giant. Nash then set his sights on his former partner, and the rivalry came to a head at Halloween Havoc on October 25. During the course of the match, Nash jackknifed Hall twice but, instead of pinning him, left the ring and lost via count-out.

World Heavyweight Championship (1998–2001)

The following month at World War 3, Nash entered the 60-man, three ring battle royal that was a staple of the pay-per-view, with the winner getting a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade the following month. Nash survived to the end after literally clearing his ring out and big booting Lex Luger, who had Scott Hall in the Torture Rack, over the top rope, and earned his shot at the title. At Starrcade, Nash capitalized on his opportunity and won the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg. In doing so, Nash broke Goldberg's long running undefeated streak. On January 4, 1999, Nash and Goldberg were set to meet in a rematch, but the match did not happen because of Goldberg being arrested for (kayfabe) stalking Miss Elizabeth. That night also marked the return of Hulk Hogan after his "retirement" two months prior. With Goldberg unable to wrestle, Nash challenged Hogan instead. In "The Fingerpoke of Doom," Hogan simply poked Nash in the chest, who proceeded to fall down and willingly allow Hogan to pin him for the title. The gesture, in addition to turning Nash heel again, marked the reunion of the feuding nWo factions into one. The return, however, was short-lived, and by the mid-point of 1999, the nWo reunion was over. Meanwhile, backstage, Nash wrote some of the later angles for WCW. In his 2006 autobiography, Controversy Creates Cash, former WCW President Eric Bischoff criticized Nash's work ethic, dubbing him "Big Lazy" (a reference to Nash's nickname, "Big Sexy"). The name had previously been coined by The Honky Tonk Man on several radio interviews.

In May 1999, Nash won the WCW World Championship for the second time by defeating Diamond Dallas Page at Slamboree. He then appeared on The Tonight Show and put up a $250,000 challenge to Bret Hart for its May 24 program. Bret's brother, Owen, died in a wrestling stunt, however, just as Bret was flying to Los Angeles; this immediately canceled their match and feud. Nash then entered a feud with the returning Randy Savage, who was turned heel and was later joined by a returning Sid Vicious at The Great American Bash in June. This rivalry culminated in a tag team match at Bash at the Beach in July 1999 which pitted Nash and Sting against Savage and Sid. A stipulation was added that whoever got the pin in the match would become WCW World Champion. Nash was pinned by Savage and lost his championship, but would get his revenge the next night on Nitro in a title match between Savage and a returning Hulk Hogan, and in a similar situation to Savage's first title defense from the previous year, he used a Jackknife Powerbomb on Savage, preserving the victory for Hogan. The following week, however, Nash attacked Hogan and turned heel during a match pitting Hogan against Vicious. Nash, Sid, and Rick Steiner then feuded with Hogan, Sting, and a returning Goldberg until Road Wild, where Hogan defeated Nash in a "retirement" match. On October 4, 1999, Nash returned to WCW along with Scott Hall, which was later revealed to be new version of the nWo involving Nash, Hall, Bret Hart, and Jeff Jarrett. This would not last long either due to the injury of Hart, the group's leader, and Nash spent most of 2000 feuding with the likes of Terry Funk, Mike Awesome, Scott Steiner, and Booker T.

Nash won the WCW Championship again from Booker T on August 28, 2000 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He eventually lost it back to Booker T later on at Fall Brawl. He even had a stint as WCW Commissioner, and he served as a coach/mentor to the Natural Born Thrillers, who would eventually turn on Nash. Nash aligned himself with Dallas Page, forming a team called The Insiders. They feuded with the Perfect Event (Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo) and won the WCW World Tag Team Championship at Mayhem on November 26, 2000. Shortly after, they were stripped of the title by Commissioner Mike Sanders in mid-December. Weeks later, they won the title back at Starrcade. In 2001 (WCW's final months), the Insiders continued their feud with the Natural Born Thrillers. Nash lost another "retirement" match to Scott Steiner at SuperBrawl, but it would not be long before WCW announced the sale of the company to the World Wrestling Federation. As he had a guaranteed contract with AOL-Time Warner, Nash chose to wait out the remainder of his contract, which expired on December 31, 2001.

Return to the WWF/E (2002–2003)

Following the expiration of his AOL-Time Warner contract, Nash, along with Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan, were rehired by the WWF. Their rehiring was announced several weeks before their debut, with Vince McMahon claiming to have hired the nWo in order to destroy the WWF. Billed as the original nWo, Nash, Hall, and Hogan returned to the WWF at No Way Out on February 17, 2002. In the course of the evening, the nWo delivered an interview in which they claimed to have reformed, gave a six pack of beer to Stone Cold Steve Austin (which he refused), and traded insults with The Rock. They interfered in the main event of the evening, helping Chris Jericho retain his Undisputed Championship against Austin. At WrestleMania X8, Nash attempted to help Hall defeat Austin but failed as Austin won the match. In March, Nash suffered a biceps injury that put him out of action for several weeks and almost immediately upon returning, suffered a quadriceps tear in a tag match on the July 8 episode of Raw. McMahon disbanded the nWo following those events. Nash returned as a face on the April 7, 2003 episode of Raw, much to the delight of Shawn Michaels and Triple H, who were feuding with each other. As part of the storyline, Nash was to choose to remain friends with either Michaels or Triple H. After Nash would not make the decision, Triple H made the decision for him and turned on him with a low blow. This led to Nash feuding with Triple H for the next few months which would eventually lead to a Hell in a Cell match at Bad Blood with Mick Foley as the special guest referee.

In August 2003, Nash feuded with Chris Jericho and was forced to cut his hair after losing a hair vs. hair match against Jericho. His last WWE wrestling match was at SummerSlam in an Elimination Chamber match against Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, Jericho, and Randy Orton. He was the first one eliminated after being pinned by Jericho following Sweet Chin Music from Michaels. After he was pinned, he Jackknife Powerbombed everyone in the chamber. Nash then stepped away from in-ring action and underwent neck surgery. WWE chose not to renew Nash's contract as it expired on January 3, 2004.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–present)

Kings of Wrestling and feuding with Jeff Jarrett (2004–2005)

Main article: Kings of Wrestling

Kevin Nash in TNA

Nash debuted in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling alongside the returning Scott Hall on November 7, 2004 at the inaugural monthly TNA pay-per-view, Victory Road, with the duo helping NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett retain his title in a ladder match with Jeff Hardy. In subsequent weeks, the trio identified themselves as the Kings of Wrestling and began feuding with Hardy and A.J. Styles. At Turning Point on December 5, the Kings of Wrestling were defeated by Hardy, Styles, and Randy Savage. Hall left TNA in early 2005, and Nash and Jarrett separated after Nash made clear his desire to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Nash received a title shot against Jarrett on February 13, 2005 at Against All Odds, but lost following interference from the debuting Outlaw. Following the defeat, Nash joined forces with Sean Waltman and began feuding with the newly formed Planet Jarrett. At Destination X on March 13, Nash lost to The Outlaw in a First Blood match following interference from Jarrett, who struck Nash with his title belt. The rivalry between Planet Jarrett and Nash and his allies culminated in a scheduled Lethal Lockdown match at Lockdown on April 24 pitting Nash, Waltman, and Diamond Dallas Page against Jarrett, The Outlaw, and "The Alpha Male" Monty Brown. Nash, however, was removed from the card and replaced with B.G. James after contracting a staph infection, which left him sidelined for much of 2005.

Nash returned to TNA on October 1, 2005 on the first episode of TNA Impact! to be aired on Spike TV, attacking and powerbombing Jarrett. Nash went on to challenge Jarrett to a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory on October 23. In the weeks preceding the event, Nash and Jarrett had several heated confrontations, on one occasion brawling with one another and with guest referee Tito Ortiz. On October 22, one day before Bound for Glory, Nash was hospitalized with chest pains. At Bound for Glory, a battle royal was held to determine the number one contender; Rhino won and then defeated Jarrett for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Nash was later discharged from the hospital, having suffered a mild cardiac episode. He made a partial return to the ring in December 2005, wrestling several matches on a tour of South Africa.

X Division and Paparazzi Productions (2006–2007)

See also: Paparazzi Productions

Nash returned to TNA once more on the April 27, 2006 episode of Impact!, announcing in a pre-taped segment that he would give a private interview to Alex Shelley one week later. The interview saw Nash claim to be the most profitable WWF World Heavyweight Champion of all time and describe the X Division as "basically filler". Nash went on to announce that he intended to destroy the X Division in order to reassert his position within TNA. He began his campaign at Sacrifice on May 14, powerbombing Puma and continued his campaign on the May 19 episode of Impact! by attacking Chris Sabin shortly after he had defeated Petey Williams to win the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament for Team USA. Nash continued to attack X Division wrestlers over subsequent weeks, leading to Sabin challenging him to a match at Slammiversary. Nash's attacks were also coupled with pre-taped segments with Shelley (some appearing only on the internet website YouTube) and his "X Division debut" on the June 15 episode of Impact!, where Nash wrestled a comedy match against a midget Shelley dubbed a "Sabin-type wrestler". Nash defeated Sabin at Slammiversary in his second televised match in almost a year, albeit with the assistance of Shelley. Around this time, Nash and Shelley formed a stable known as Paparazzi Productions, with Johnny Devine as a cameraman. Nash then decided to go for the X Division championship. He got penciled into a Number One Contendership match for the title against Sabin at Hard Justice. He claimed that he had developed an 840° somersault splash that he would unveil in the match. However, over the weekend, he suffered a mysterious neck injury, supposedly while practicing it with Tito Ortiz, and named Alex Shelley as his replacement in the match. From a wheelchair, Nash was helpless as he watched Shelley lose the match to Sabin. Nash remained out of action due to the injury, but returned prior to Bound for Glory, and announced The Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal. Austin Starr won the match. Nash took an interest in Starr, which seemed to be at the behest of Shelley. Nash then worked with the X Division stars in a weekly segment known as the Paparazzi Championship Series (a play on the "Bowl Championship Series"). He also began continuing these skits along with Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal, in a segment called "Paparazzi Idol". Nash became a manager of sorts for Lethal, helping him adopt a gimmick where he impersonated "Macho Man" Randy Savage. At Sacrifice, Lethal and Dutt had an altercation. Nash broke it up, but Sonjay kicked him. Sonjay apologized, and Nash forgave him. Dutt then became the "Guru" with Nash humming mantras backstage.

He then announced his intentions to begin managing The Motor City Machineguns, but would actually next appear in the role of Dr. Nash, "psychiatrist" and adviser to Kurt and Karen Angle. Nash then engaged in a small program with TNA Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, which eventually culminated in Nash aiding Angle. Nash warned the Angles about how dangerous Sting can be based on Nash's experience feuding with Sting in WCW. At Bound for Glory, Nash interfered on Angle's behalf during his World Title defense against Sting. However, it was for naught, as Sting captured the title from Angle via Scorpion Death Drop after fending off Nash and Angle's wife, Karen. The following Thursday on Impact!, Nash and Angle had an altercation because Angle blamed Nash for him losing the World Title. Angle eventually attacked Nash, who retaliated by Jackknife Powerbombing Angle in the middle of the ring. The following week, Sting defended the TNA World Title against Angle in a rematch from Bound for Glory, and Nash had a ringside seat. Following the match, which Angle won, Nash offered a hand shake to Angle only to be "flipped off" by the new champ. An enraged Nash demanded a match with Angle, but TNA Management's public face, Jim Cornette, instead booked Nash into a tag team match as Angle's partner against Sting and a partner of his choosing, with the stipulation being that the person gaining the pinfall or submission would be crowned the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After a red herring that Scott Hall was the mystery partner, it was revealed to be Booker T.

Kevin Nash with The Main Event Mafia

The Main Event Mafia and Legends Champion (2008–2009)

Main article: The Main Event Mafia

Kevin Nash came from Pakistan At Final Resolution, Nash and his partner Samoa Joe lost in a title match to TNA World Tag Team Champions A.J. Styles and Tomko after Nash abandoned and seemingly betrayed Joe. Yet on the following Impact, when Joe stormed into Nash's locker room looking for a fight, Nash was actually able to persuade Joe into accepting his Machiavellian mentorship. Nash lost to Kurt Angle in a one-on-one match on Impact! with the winner qualifying for the Three Ways to Glory match at No Surrender. On the September 11 edition of Impact, prior to No Surrender, he seemingly parted ways with Joe on good terms. One month later, Nash returned at Bound for Glory IV and in a swerve, turned heel on Joe by striking him in the back with Sting's bat and helping Sting win the TNA World Heavyweight Championship. On October 23, he formally joined Sting, Booker T, and Kurt Angle to create a villainous stable called The Main Event Mafia. He explained that he never forgave Joe for his scathing comments directed at his best friend Scott Hall's no-show almost a year prior, and befriending him was all part of a long term plan to screw him out of the title. He then went on to defeat Joe at Turning Point. Nash, however, was removed from the card for Genesis due to a staph infection, and was replaced by Cute Kip. Nash returned on the January 29 edition of Impact! when the Main Event Mafia took over the show. On Impact! on April 23, he began an on-screen relationship with Jenna Morasca, who subsequently began acting as his valet. At Slammiversary, he was reunited with Joe, who became a villain and helped Angle win the World Heavyweight Championship.

At Victory Road, Nash defeated A.J. Styles for the Legends Championship, his first title in TNA. However, Nash lost the title only three days later to Mick Foley. Under a month later at Hard Justice, Nash defeated Foley to reclaim the Legends Title. At Bound for Glory Nash lost the Legends Title to Eric Young in a 3-way match, which also included Hernandez.

Alliance with the World Elite (2009-present)

On the following edition of Impact!, after Angle announced the death of the Main Event Mafia and turned face, Nash also became a face as he began feuding with Eric Young and the World Elite. However, the following month at Turning Point Nash helped World Elite members Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus retain their TNA World Tag Team Championship, thus once again becoming a heel. On the following edition of Impact! Nash congratulated Young on outsmarting him at Bound for Glory and aligned himself with the World Elite, while also hinting at the return of the nWo once Hulk Hogan arrived in TNA, mentioning Syxx-Pac Scott Steiner buff bagwell and Scott Hall. Further suspicion was aroused to Hall’s return when Nash said that he was getting the band back together, hinting at an nWo return. At Final Resolution Nash took part in the "Feast or Fired" match and won the briefcase containing a shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championship.

Other media

In 1991, Nash made his acting debut in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze as the villain, Super Shredder. He also had a very minor role as a jackhammer worker in the 1998 movie Family Plan. In 2009, he appeared on Fox's new show Brothers, in which he came to get his stolen championship belt back.

In 1999, Kevin Nash created and co-wrote a comic book titled NASH, set in a dystopian future and featuring himself as the primary character. Image Comics published an ashcan preview edition and two regular issues.

He was the first choice for the role of Sabretooth in X-Men, but the role ultimately went to his former tag team partner Tyler Mane. Nash appeared in a fight scene as The Russian in the 2004 movie adaptation of the Punisher comic books. While filming the scene, Nash was accidentally stabbed with a real knife by actor Thomas Jane. He also played Guard Englehart in the 2005 remake The Longest Yard. He also has appeared in two movies in 2006, DOA: Dead or Alive as Bass Armstrong, in Grandma's Boy as a repoman and in River of Darkness, alongside Kurt Angle.

He made guest appearances in three different TV shows as well. He appeared on one episode each of The Love Boat: The Next Wave (episode "Captains Courageous") and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (episode "The Crucible") and in two episodes of Nikki as The Big Easy (episodes "Gimme Shelter" and "Stealing Nikki").

Filmography

• 2010:Rachel's Return as the Abductor (Filming)
• 2010:Kevin can't Wait as Body builder (in pre-production)
• 2010:River of Darkness as Jaydon Jocobs (Filming)
• 2009:Pure Shooter as Coach Tim Russell (in pre-Production)
• 2006:DOA: Dead or Alive as Bass Armstrong
• 2006:Grandma's Boy as Mover #2
• 2005:The Longest Yard as Guard Engleheart
• 2004:The Punisher as The Russian
• 1998:The Family Plan as The Jackhammer worker
• 1991:Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze as Super Shredder

Television

• 2009:Brothers as himself (1 Episode, Snoop/Fat Kid)
• 2007:Hannity & Colmes as Himself (1 episode)
• 2004:Jimmy Kimmel Live! as Himself (1 Episode)
• 2004:The Wayne Brady Show as Himself (1 Episode)
• 2000-2001:Nikki (TV series) as The big Easy (2 Episodes)
• 1998:Love Boat: The Next Wave as Rocky Williams (1 Episode, Captains Courageous)
• 1997:Sabrina, the Teenage Witch as Giant (1 Episode, "Sabrina Goes to College")

Personal life

Nash's father, Robert, died in 1968 when Nash was about nine years old. On December 27, 1994, Nash's mother, Wanda, died after a four year struggle against cancer. Nash has a son, Tristen, who was born on June 12, 1996. Nash and his wife Tamara wed in 1989 and separated in 2000 but have since reconciled.

He is real-life friends with Shawn Michaels, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and Triple H the former of whom was instrumental in Nash's WWF signing in 1993. They formed the backstage faction known as The Kliq. He has also been outspoken about supporting gay wrestlers in the business.

On January 11, 2009, Nash was admitted to a Charlotte, North Carolina hospital because of a staph infection that developed in his elbow following a tour of Japan. The staph infection was diagnosed as MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • As Kevin Nash
    • Jackknife Powerbomb (Sheer drop release powerbomb)
  • As Diesel
    • Jackknife (Sheer drop release powerbomb)
    • Right-handed knockout punch – 1993
  • As Vinnie Vegas
    • Snake Eyes
  • As Oz
    • Emerald City Slam (Walking sidewalk slam)
    • Emerald City Twister (Spinning crucifix toss)

• Signature moves
  • Big boot
  • Chokeslam
  • Corner foot choke
  • Leapfrog body guillotine to an opponent draped over the second rope
  • One-armed pendulum backbreaker, sometimes into a submission
  • Repeated knee strikes or repeated back elbow strikes to a cornered opponent
  • Slingshot crossbody – 1990s; used rarely thereafter
  • Snake eyes
  • Walking sidewalk slam

• Managers
  • Harley Race
  • Merlin the Wizard
  • Diamond Dallas Page
  • Shawn Michaels
  • Ted DiBiase
  • Dusty Rhodes
  • Torrie Wilson
  • April Hunter
  • Jenna Morasca

• Wrestlers managed
  • Shawn Michaels
  • Natural Born Thrillers (Mike Sanders, Sean O'Haire, Mark Jindrak, Shawn Stasiak, Chuck Palumbo, and Reno)
  • Kurt Angle
  • Samoa Joe
  • The Motor City Machineguns (Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley)
  • Jay Lethal
  • Sonjay Dutt

• Nicknames
  • "Big Daddy Cool" (WWF)
  • "Big Sexy" (WCW / WWE / TNA)
  • "The Silver Fox" (TNA)
  • "Big Lazy" as referred to by Eric Bischoff in his book Controversy Creates Ca$h
• Entrance themes
  • "Ride the Bus" from AirCraft Music Library (as Oz)
  • "Diesel Blues" by Jim Johnston (1994–1996, 2002)
  • "Rockhouse" by J.Hart and J.Helm (used while a part of the New World Order) – 1996–1998, 2002
  • "Kevin Nash / Wolfpac Theme" (1998–2001)
  • "Dre" by Dale Oliver (TNA)
  • "Strut" by Dale Oliver (currently used in TNA)

Championships and accomplishments

Kevin Nash (left) with his former tag team partner Diamond Dallas Page

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1994)
  • PWI Match of the Year (1995) vs. Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania XI
  • PWI Tag Team of the Year (1997) with Scott Hall
  • PWI Wrestler of the Year (1995)
  • PWI ranked him #1 of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1995
  • PWI ranked him #40 of the 100 best tag teams of the PWI Years with Scott Hall in 2003

• Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
  • TNA Legends Championship (2 times)

• World Championship Wrestling
  • WCW World Heavyweight Championship (5 times)
  • WCW World Tag Team Championship (9 times) – with Scott Hall (6), Diamond Dallas Page (2), and Sting (1)
  • WCW World War 3 (1998)

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Championship (1 time)
  • WWF Intercontinental Championship (1 time)
  • WWF Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Shawn Michaels
  • Third Triple Crown Champion

• Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
  • Most Improved (1994)
  • Most Overrated (1999, 2000)
  • Readers' Least Favorite Wrestler (2000)
  • Worst Gimmick (1991)
  • Worst Wrestler (1999, 2000)

References

• Davies, Ross (2001), Kevin Nash, The Rosen Publishing Group, ISBN 0823934926
• Michaels, Shawn; Feigenbaum, Aaron (2005), Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story, WWE Books, ISBN 9780743493802

External links

• Official Website
• Kevin Nash at IMDb
• Sep 25 2008 Audio Interview with In Your Head
• Kevin Nash on X