Kevin Nash
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226111822
2008-07-16T21:36:55Z
67.184.124.255
/* Personal life */
{{Refimprove|date=August 2007}}
{{Infobox Wrestler
|name=Kevin Nash
|image=Diesel in 1994.jpg
|names=Diesel<br />'''Kevin Nash'''<!-- Don't add <br/>Dr. Nash. That name is only a nickname, not an official ringname--><br />Oz<br />Steel<br />Vinnie Vegas
|height={{height|ft=7|in=0}}<!-- 7 FOOT is Nash's official height. This is demonstrated by the reference on his official website. DO NOT CHANGE.-->
|weight={{convert|350|lb|kg st|abbr=on|lk=on}}<ref name="kevinbigsexynash1">[http://www.kevinbigsexynash.com/biography.html The Official Website of Kevin Nash; Kevin Nash Biography<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|birth_date={{birth date and age|1959|7|9}}
|birth_place =[[Detroit, Michigan]], USA
|resides=[[Bloomfield Hills, Michigan]]
|billed='''[[Detroit, Michigan]]'''<br/>[[Las Vegas, Nevada]] (as Vinnie Vegas)<br/>[[Emerald City]] (as Oz)<br/>Steel Mines (as Steel)
|trainer=[[Jody Hamilton]]
|debut=[[September 14]] [[1990]]
|retired=
|}}
'''Kevin Scott Nash''' (born [[July 9]], [[1959]]<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0621760/ Kevin Nash (I)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> in [[Detroit, Michigan]], USA) is an [[United States|American]] [[professional wrestling|professional wrestler]] and [[actor]]. Nash has wrestled under various [[ring name]]s for [[World Championship Wrestling]] (WCW), [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation/ World Wrestling Entertainment]] (WWF/WWE) where he wrestled famously as '''Diesel''', and currently, [[Total Nonstop Action Wrestling]] (TNA). Kevin Nash is a 6-time [[Championship (professional wrestling)|World Heavyweight Champion]] and an 11-time [[Championship (professional wrestling)|World Tag Team Champion]].
==Biography==
===Early life===
Nash was born in [[Trenton, Michigan]]. Nash attended the [[University of Tennessee]]<ref name="kevinbigsexynash1"/>, [[Academic major|majoring]] in [[psychology]] and minoring in [[philosophy of education|educational philosophy]]. At the University of Tennessee, Nash was a [[center (basketball)|center]] for the [[University of Tennessee#Basketball|Tennessee Volunteers]] basketball team. He remained on the team from 1979 to 1980, during which time the team made it to the [[National Collegiate Athletic Association|NCAA]] [[NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship|Sweet 16]]. However, Nash frequently clashed with coach [[Don DeVoe]], who was unhappy with his [[work ethic]]; on one occasion in [[Kentucky]], the two became embroiled in a shoving match. In 1980, the University of Tennessee announced that Nash would 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<ref name="kevinbigsexynash1"/>. His career ended in 1981 in [[Germany]] when he tore his [[anterior cruciate ligament]]. With his basketball career over, Nash enlisted in the 202nd [[United States Army Military Police Corps|Military Police]] [[Company (military unit)|Company]] in [[Gießen]], and served in a secure [[NATO]] facility for two years, during which time he was promoted to the [[Military rank|rank]] of [[Specialist (rank)|specialist]].
===World Championship Wrestling (1990–1993)===
Nash debuted in WCW as the orange-[[Mohawk hairstyle|mohawked]] "'''Steel'''", one half of the [[tag team]] known as the "[[Master Blasters]]". He was initially partnered with "Iron", who was later replaced by "[[Al Green (wrestler)|Blade]]". The Master Blasters disbanded within a year. In May 1991, Nash was repackaged as the silver-haired "'''Oz'''", a character based on the [[Wizard (Oz)|Wizard of Oz]] from the 1900 [[Children's literature|children's book]] ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]''. Oz, [[Manager (professional wrestling)|managed]] by [[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Merlin the Wizard]], was [[Push (professional wrestling)|pushed]] strongly throughout early 1991; he [[Squash (professional wrestling)|squashed]] several wrestlers before losing to [[Ron Simmons]] at the [[The Great American Bash#1991|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 [[Confidence trick|con man]], [[card shark]], and [[gambling|gambler]]. Vegas was quickly recruited into "A Half-Ton of Holy Hell", a [[List of professional wrestling slang#S|stable]] of large wrestlers created by [[Harley Race]] which included [[Big Van Vader]] and [[Curtis Hughes|Mr. Hughes]]. The stable separated in February 1992, and Vegas joined "The Diamond Mine"; this stable was led by [[Diamond Dallas Page]] and included [[Scott Hall|The Diamond Studd]] and [[Scott Levy|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.
===World Wrestling Federation (1993–1996)===
In 1993, Nash left WCW, signing a contract with the [[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]] at the request of [[Shawn Michaels]].<ref>Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story- p. 176</ref>. Nash made his WWF debut at a [[house show]] on [[June 6]], [[1993]], assisting Michaels in defeating [[Marty Jannetty]] for the [[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]]. Nash was given the character of '''Diesel''', the [[Heel (professional wrestling)|heel]] [[bodyguard]] of Shawn Michaels, dyeing his hair and beard black in the process. In January, Diesel appeared at the [[Royal Rumble (1994)|1994 Royal Rumble]], eliminating seven men in under 18 minutes of in-ring time.
Diesel won the Intercontinental Championship from [[Scott Hall|Razor Ramon]], on [[April 13]], [[1994]] in [[Rochester, New York]] following interference from Michaels.<ref name=IC>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/intercontinental/322476|accessdate=2008-06-30|title=Diesel's IC title reign|publisher=WWE}}</ref> The duo defeated [[The Headshrinkers]] to win the [[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] on [[August 28]], [[1994]] in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].<ref name=Worldtag>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/worldtagteam/|accessdate=2008-06-30|title=World Tag Championship official title history|publisher=WWE}}</ref> On [[August 29]], [[1994]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], Ramon defeated Diesel to regain the WWF Intercontinental Championship. The alliance between Diesel and Michaels became strained after Michaels accidentally [[superkick]]ed Diesel on several occasions, and the duo finally split after another miscued superkick at [[Survivor Series (1994)|Survivor Series 1994]]. On [[November 23]], [[1994]], Diesel and Michaels vacated the WWF World Tag Team Championship, and Diesel went on to [[List of professional wrestling slang#T|turn]] [[Face (professional wrestling)|face]].
[[Image:Hug MSG Incident.jpg|thumb|left|The MSG Incident.]]
On [[November 26]], [[1994]], Diesel defeated [[Bob Backlund]] for the [[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] at [[Madison Square Garden]] in [[New York City]], [[New York]] in an eight-second [[Squash (professional wrestling)|squash match]].<ref name=WWEtitle>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wwechampionship/304454123|accessdate=2008-06-30|title=Diesel's WWF Championship reign|publisher=WWE}}</ref> Michaels was irate about his former bodyguard having beaten him to the WWF Championship, and was sufficiently motivated to go on to win the [[Royal Rumble (1995)|1995 Royal Rumble]], earning himself a title shot at [[WrestleMania XI]]. At WrestleMania XI on [[April 2]], [[1995]], Nash, accompanied to ringside by [[Actor|actress]] [[Pamela Anderson]], defeated Michaels to retain the title. The next night on [[WWE Raw|Monday Night Raw]], Michaels was betrayed by his new bodyguard, [[Sid Eudy|Sid]], prompting Diesel to come to his rescue. This led to the tag team being reunited, now known as "[[Shawn Michaels and Kevin Nash #1995|Two Dudes with Attitude]]". On [[September 24]], [[1995]] in [[Saginaw, Michigan]] at [[In Your House#In Your House 3: Triple Header|In Your House 3: Triple Header]], Diesel and Michaels challenged [[Owen Hart]] and [[Rodney Anoa'i|Yokozuna]] for the WWF World Tag Team Championship, in return placing Diesel's WWF Championship and Michael's WWF Intercontinental Championship on the line. After Hart "no-showed" the event ([[kayfabe]]), 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 titles.<ref name=Worldtag/> However, the victory was declared invalid on [[September 25]], [[1995]], and the titles were returned to Hart and Yokozuna. Diesel's WWF Championship reign continued until [[November 19]], [[1995]], when he was defeated by [[Bret Hart]] at the [[Survivor Series (1995)|1995 Survivor Series]] in [[Landover, Maryland]]. As the eighteenth WWE Champion, Diesel had the longest reign as WWE Champion since Randy Savage's first reign, and this was the longest until [[John Cena]]'s third reign. Following the loss, Diesel attacked Hart, proclaiming "I'm back!" This marked the end of the face Diesel. For a time he became a [[Tweener (professional wrestling)|tweener]], facing both faces and heels alike, but after the [[Royal Rumble (1996)|1996 Royal Rumble]], in which he was runner-up to Michaels, Diesel began targeting faces exclusively.
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]], [[1996]], 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#In Your House 7: Good Friends, Better Enemies|In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies]] on [[April 28]], [[1996]]. He wrestled Michaels for the title once again in a [[Professional wrestling match types#Cages|steel cage match]] at a [[house show]] on [[May 19]], [[1996]], but was again defeated. After the match, Diesel, Michaels, Razor Ramon, and [[Triple H|Hunter Hearst Helmsley]] - a group of off-screen friends known collectively as "[[Clique (professional wrestling)|The Kliq]]" hugged one another in the ring and wished each other farewell. This incident, later referred to as the "[[Clique (professional wrestling)#Curtain Call: The MSG Incident|Curtain Call]]" or "MSG Incident," was a serious breach of [[kayfabe]] (though Nash claims it was approved by Vince McMahon), as it showed heels and faces consorting with one another. Shortly thereafter, Diesel and Ramon left the WWF and joined WCW.
===Return to World Championship Wrestling (1996–2001)===
====1996–1999====
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 (WCW)|The Outsiders]], and the storyline pushed them as "invaders" from the WWF (the WWF legal team eventually filed suit against WCW because of this{{Fact|date=November 2007}}). At ''[[Bash at the Beach (1996)|Bash at the Beach 1996]]'', 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 (professional wrestling)|New World Order (nWo)]]. This [[list of professional wrestling slang#A|angle]] helped ''[[WCW Monday Nitro]]'' to win in the ratings against ''[[WWE Raw|WWF Monday Night RAW]]'' for 84 consecutive weeks and arguably helped WCW reach its prime in the mid to late 1990s.
Through late 1996, and into 1997, Nash normally teamed with close friend [[Scott Hall]] as the Outsiders, and they held the WCW tag-team titles off and on for the better part of a year. Kevin Nash also began to show his leadership qualities in the nWo, and became a sort of "second in command" alongside Hulk Hogan. Kevin, Scott 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 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 [[New World Order (professional wrestling)#nWo Wolfpac|nWo Wolfpac]], alongside Savage, Curt Hennig, and Konnan. However, Hennig shortly thereafter defected over to Hogan's [[New World Order (professional wrestling)#nWo Hollywood|nWo Hollywood]] faction. Then, during a match between Hall and Nash and Sting and [[Paul Wight|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. However, the Wolfpac wasn't down for long as Lex Luger joined with 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 titles at the [[The Great American Bash#1998|Great American Bash]] that June, Nash became Sting's partner. They would defend the championships until [[July 20]], [[1998]] 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#1998|Halloween Havoc]] on [[October 25]], [[1998]]. During the course of the match, Nash jackknifed Hall twice but, instead of pinning him, disappointedly left the ring and lost via count-out.
The next month at [[WCW World War 3#1998|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 was racking Scott Hall, over the top rope, and earned his shot at the title.
At [[Starrcade (1998)|Starrcade 1998]], Nash would capitalize on his opportunity, and won the [[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] from [[Bill Goldberg|Goldberg]].<ref name=WCWtitle>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/wcwchampionship/|accessdate=2008-06-30|title=WCW World Heavyweight Championship official title history|publisher=WWE}}</ref> In doing so, Nash managed to controversially break Goldberg's long running undefeated streak; as Goldberg was setting up for a spear late in the match, Hall, who was still a member of [[New World Order (professional wrestling)#nWo Hollywood|nWo Hollywood]] at the time, shocked Goldberg with a [[electroshock weapon|taser]] while he was in the corner. Hall had been dressed as a [[security guard]] waiting outside the ring for his opportunity. Nash pinned the incapacitated Goldberg to win his second World Championship and his first since 1994, turning heel in the process.
====1999–2001====
On [[January 4]], [[1999]], Nash was to face Goldberg in a Starrcade rematch, but the match didn't 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 controversial "[[The Fingerpoke of Doom|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. This event would reunite the nWo for another run, but the entire circumstance actually served as the beginning for WCW's declining ratings.
Backstage, Nash wrote some of the later [[List of professional wrestling slang#A|angles]] for WCW. Nash's [[List of professional wrestling slang#B|booking]] abilities are widely considered as one of the many reasons the quality of wrestling in WCW suffered while he was lead booker. In his 2006 autobiography, ''[[Controversy Creates Cash|Controversy Creates Ca$h]]'', 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.
Nash would eventually win the WCW Championship again in 1999<ref name=WCWtitle/> from [[Diamond Dallas Page]], and the nWo would disintegrate. He then appeared on ''[[The Tonight Show]]'' and put up a $250,000 challenge to [[Bret Hart]] for its [[May 24]] program. However, Bret's brother, [[Owen Hart|Owen]], died in a [[WWF Over the Edge|wrestling stunt]] just as Bret was flying to [[Los Angeles]]. This immediately canceling their match and feud.
Nash then battled the returning Randy Savage, who was now heel with a new attitude and look, and his partner, [[Sid Eudy|Sid Vicious]]. This rivalry culminated in a tag team match featuring Nash and Sting vs. Savage and Sid, in which Nash lost the championship via pinfall by Savage. Nash would get his revenge the next night in a title match between Savage and the returning Hulk Hogan, and in an eerily similar situation to Savage's first title defense from the previous year, he used a [[Powerbomb#Release powerbomb|Jackknife]] on Savage, preserving the victory for Hogan.
[[Image:DDP Nash.jpg|thumb|right|DDP & Nash]]
The following week, however, Nash turned heel and attacked Hogan during a match, aligning himself with Sid and [[Rick Steiner]] against Hogan, Sting, and a returning Goldberg. This ran until [[Road Wild#1999|Road Wild]], where Hogan defeated Nash in a "retirement" match (this would allow Nash a [[sabbatical]]). On October 4, 1999, Nash returned to WCW along with Scott Hall and announced that he was "getting the band back together." This was 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 Huffman|Booker T]].
Nash won the WCW Championship again from Booker T on [[August 28]], [[2000]] in [[Las Cruces]], [[New Mexico]]<ref name=WCWtitle/> in what remains to date the last major title change to occur in the state of New Mexico. However, he would eventually lose it back to Booker T later on at [[Fall Brawl#2000|Fall Brawl]]. He even had a stint as WCW Commissioner (where he demanded wrestlers call him "Lord Master") and 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 (professional wrestling)|The Insiders]]." The Insiders managed to win the WCW Tag Team Championship at [[Starrcade (2000)|Starrcade]] that year.
In 2001 (WCW's final months), the Insiders continued their feud with the Natural Born Thrillers. Nash would lose another "retirement" match to Scott Steiner at [[SuperBrawl#SuperBrawl Revenge|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 [[Time Warner|AOL-Time Warner]], Nash chose to wait out the remainder of his contract, which expired on [[December 31]], [[2001]].
===Return to World Wrestling Federation/Entertainment (2002–2004)===
Following the expiration of his [[Time Warner|AOL-Time Warner]] contract, Nash, along with Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan, was re-hired by the WWF. Their re-hiring 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 [[WWE No Way Out#2002|No Way Out]] on [[February 17]], [[2002]]. In the course of the evening, the nWo delivered an [[Promo (professional wrestling)|interview]] in which they claimed to have reformed, gave a [[beverage can|six pack]] of [[beer]] to [[Stone Cold Steve Austin]] (which he refused), and traded insults with [[The Rock (entertainer)|The Rock]]. They interfered in the main event of the evening, helping [[Chris Jericho]] defeat Austin and thus retain the [[WWE Championship|WWF Undisputed Championship]].
In March 2002 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]], [[2002]] episode of ''[[WWE Raw|Raw]]''. Vince McMahon disbanded the nWo following those events. Nash returned on the [[April 7]], [[2003]] episode of ''Raw'', much to the delight of Shawn Michaels and Triple H. Nash was given an ultimatum at the time due to Shawn Michaels and Triple H feuding. Nash was to choose to remain friends with either Michaels or Triple H ([[kayfabe]]). 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 [[WWE Bad Blood#2003|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 [[Professional wrestling match types#Luchas de Apuestas|hair vs. hair match]] against Chris Jericho (it was said that he agreed to cut his hair short due to his upcoming acting role in ''[[The Punisher (2004 film)|The Punisher]]''). After the movie was filmed, he retained the short haircut; however, by 2007 he had grown it back out, keeping it gray. His last WWE Match was at [[SummerSlam (2003)|SummerSlam 2003]] in an [[Elimination Chamber]] match against Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, Chris Jericho, and [[Randy Orton]]. He was the first one eliminated after being pinned by Jericho following a Sweet Chin Music from Michaels.After he was pinned he jackknife powerbombed everyone in the chamber.Nash then stepped away from in-ring action shortly afterwards due to aggravating a previously existing shoulder injury, forcing him to undergo reconstructive surgery. On [[October 27]], [[2003]], Nash underwent neck surgery under Dr. Jho in Pittsburgh, the same procedure as [[Kurt Angle]]. WWE chose not to renew Nash's contract after it expired on [[January 3]], [[2004]].
===Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (2004–Present)===
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 (2004)|Victory Road]], with the duo helping [[NWA World Heavyweight Championship|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 (TNA)|Kings of Wrestling]], and began [[Feud (professional wrestling)|feuding]] with Jeff Hardy and [[A.J. Styles]]. At [[Turning Point (2004)|Turning Point]] on [[December 5]], [[2004]], 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 [[TNA Against All Odds#2005|Against All Odds]], but lost following interference from the debuting [[Monty Sopp|Outlaw]]. Following the defeat, Nash joined forces with [[Sean Waltman]] and began feuding with the newly formed [[Planet Jarrett]]. At [[TNA Destination X#2005|Destination X]] on [[March 13]], [[2005]], Nash lost to The Outlaw in a [[Professional wrestling match types#First Blood match|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 [[Professional wrestling match types#Lethal Lockdown|Lethal Lockdown]] match at [[Lockdown (2005)|Lockdown]] on [[April 24]] [[2005]] pitting Nash, Waltman, and [[Diamond Dallas Page]] against Jarrett, The Outlaw, and "The Alpha Male" [[Monty Brown]]. However, Nash was removed from the card and replaced with [[Brian Gerard James|B.G. James]] after contracting a [[Staphylococcus aureus|staph infection]], which left him sidelined for much of 2005. During his time out, Nash did an interview with WWE.com. He discussed the Shawn Michaels vs. Hulk Hogan match which was scheduled for [[SummerSlam (2005)|Summerslam 2005]].
Nash returned to TNA on [[October 1]] [[2005]] on the first episode of ''[[TNA Impact!]]'' to be aired on [[Spike (TV channel)|Spike TV]], attacking and [[powerbomb]]ing Jarrett. Nash went on to challenge Jarrett to a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at [[Bound for Glory (2005)|Bound for Glory]] on [[October 23]] [[2005]]. 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]], [[2005]], one day before Bound For Glory, Nash was hospitalized with [[chest pain]]s. At Bound For Glory, a battle royal was held to determine the number one contender; [[Terry Gerin|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]].
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 [[profit]]able 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 re-assert his position within TNA. He began his campaign at [[TNA Sacrifice#2006|Sacrifice]] on [[May 14]], [[2006]], powerbombing [[T. J. Perkins|Puma]], and continued his campaign on the [[May 19]] [[2006]] episode of ''Impact!'' y attacking [[Chris Sabin]] shortly after he had defeated [[Petey Williams]] to win the [[TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament]] for [[Team USA]]. After destroying the World X Cup trophy and powerbombing Sabin, Nash informed the supine Sabin that "size matters!" Nash continued to attack X Division wrestlers over subsequent weeks, leading to Sabin challenging him to a match at [[Slammiversary (2006)|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]], [[2006]] 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 Alex 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 Chris Sabin at [[TNA Hard Justice#2006|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 to replace him in the match. Confined to a wheelchair, Nash was helpless as he watched Shelley lose the match to Chris Sabin.
Nash remained out of action due to the injury (Nash was actually re-negotiating his contract with TNA), but returned prior to [[Bound for Glory (2006)|Bound for Glory]], and announced ''[[Gauntlet for the Gold|The Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal]]''. [[Austin Aries|Austin Starr]] won the match. Nash took an interest in Starr, which seemed to be at the behest of Alex Shelley.
Kevin 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"). Despite being portrayed as a heel, Nash's amusing appearances in the PCS and occasional guest commentary turned him into a face. He also began continuing these skits along with Dutt and Lethal, in a segment called "Paparazzi Idol". Nash became a manager of sorts for Jay Lethal, helping him adopt a gimmick where he impersonates [[Randy Savage|"Macho Man" Randy Savage]]. At [[TNA Sacrifice#2007|Sacrifice 2007]], Jay Lethal and Sonjay 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. Since then, he announced his intentions to begin managing the [[Motor City Machine Guns]], but would actually next appear in the role of '''Dr. Nash''', "psychiatrist" and adviser to [[Kurt Angle|Kurt]] and [[Karen Angle]].
{{Cleanup-section|date=November 2007}}
Nash then engaged in a small program with TNA World 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 [[World Championship Wrestling|WCW]] and claimed that "the man's a demon". At [[Bound for Glory (2007)|Bound for Glory]], Nash interfered on Kurt Angle's behalf during his World Title defense against Sting. However, it was for naught, as Sting captured the title from Angle via [[DDT (professional wrestling)#Inverted DDT|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 would eventually attack Nash but Nash would have the last laugh, [[Powerbomb#release powerbomb|jackknife powerbomb]]ing Angle in the middle of the ring.
The following week, Sting would defend the TNA World Title against Angle in a rematch from Bound For Glory, and Nash would have a ringside seat. Near the conclusion, Angle pushed Sting into Nash, and Sting punched Nash after landing in his lap. Nash would eventually recover, and jump onto the apron, only to be met by Sting. The referee attempted to break up the fight, but Angle caused the ref to be knocked out, and at the same time, was able to hit the [[Professional wrestling throws#Olympic slam|Olympic Slam]] to gain the victory, and the World Title. Following the match, Nash offered a hand shake to Angle only to be "[[Finger (gesture)|flipped off]]" by the new champ. An enraged Nash demanded a match with Angle, but [[List of authority figures in professional wrestling#Total Nonstop Action Wrestling authority figures|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 that gains the pinfall or submission would be crowned the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After a [[Red herring (plot device)|red herring]] that [[Scott Hall]] was the mystery partner, it was revealed to be [[Booker Huffman|Booker T]].
At [[TNA Final Resolution#2008|Final Resolution]] Nash and his partner [[Samoa Joe]] lost in a title match to [[TNA World Tag Team Championship|TNA World Tag Team Champions]] [[A.J. Styles and Tomko|Tomko and A.J. Styles ]] after Nash abandoned and seemingly betrayed Joe. But 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. Kevin Nash lost to Kurt Angle in a one on one match on TNA Impact! on the 28th February.
==In wrestling==
*'''Finishing and signature moves'''
<!--Do NOT change the order of the moves, as they comply with Wikipedia's Manual of Style-->
*'''As Kevin Nash'''
:*'''[[Chokeslam]]'''
:*'''''[[Jackknifing|Jackknife]] Powerbomb''''' ([[Powerbomb#Release powerbomb|Sheer drop release powerbomb]])
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Big boot|Big boot]]
:*[[Professional wrestling holds#Corner foot choke|Corner foot choke]]
:*[[Backbreaker#Pendulum backbreaker|One-armed backbreaker]]
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Knee lift|Repeated knee strikes]] or [[Professional wrestling attacks#Back elbow|repeated back elbow strikes to a cornered opponent]]
:*[[Professional wrestling throws#Snake Eyes|Snake eyes]]
:*[[Powerslam#Sidewalk slam|Walking sidewalk slam]]
*'''As Diesel'''
:*'''''Jackknife Powerbomb''''' ([[Powerbomb#Release powerbomb|Sheer drop release powerbomb]])
:*'''[[Professional wrestling attacks#Punch|Right-handed knockout punch]]''' -1993<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.otherarena.com/nCo/finish/finish.html |title = Finishing Moves List |accessdate = 2008-07-01}}</ref>
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Big boot|Big boot]]
:*[[Chokeslam]]
:*[[Professional wrestling holds#Corner foot choke|Corner foot choke]]
:*[[Backbreaker#Backbreaker|Pendulum backbreaker submission]]
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Knee lift|Repeated knee strikes]] or [[Professional wrestling attacks#Back elbow|repeated back elbow strikes to a cornered opponent]]
:*[[Powerslam#Sidewalk slam|Walking sidewalk slam]]
*'''As Vinnie Vegas'''
:*'''''Snake Eyes''''' ([[Professional wrestling throws#Snake Eyes|Over the shoulder hold thrown into a facebuster onto the top turnbuckle]])
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Big boot|Big boot]]
:*[[Professional wrestling holds#Corner foot choke|Corner foot choke]]
*'''As Oz'''
:*'''''[[Emerald City]] Slam''''' ([[Powerslam#Sidewalk slam|Walking sidewalk slam]])
:*'''[[Powerbomb#Crucifix powerbomb|Spinning standing crucifix toss]]'''
:*[[Professional wrestling attacks#Big boot|Big boot]]
:*[[Backbreaker#Pendulum backbreaker|One-armed backcracker]]
*'''[[Manager (professional wrestling)|Managers]]'''
:*[[Kevin Sullivan (wrestler)|Merlin the Wizard]]
:*[[Shawn Michaels]]
:*[[Diamond Dallas Page]]
:*[[Ted DiBiase]]
:*[[Harley Race]]
:*[[Dusty Rhodes (wrestler)|Dusty Rhodes]]
:*[[Torrie Wilson]]
:*[[April Hunter]]
*'''Wrestlers managed'''
:*Shawn Michaels
:*[[Kurt Angle]]
:*[[Samoa Joe]]
*'''[[Nickname]]s'''
:*Big Daddy Cool
:*'''Big Kev'''
:*Big "D"
:*'''Big Sexy'''
:*'''Big Lazy''' - as referred to by Eric Bischoff in his book '[[Controversy Creates Ca$h]]'
:*Dr. Nash
:*Sexy Giant
:*The Killer
:*The Giant Killer
:*The Giant Slayer
:*"The Great and Powerful"
:*Lord Master
:*[[The Outsiders (professional wrestling)|The Outsider]]
:*The Leader of the [[New World Order (professional wrestling)#1998|'Pac]]
:*The Silver Fox
:*The Sexecutioner
:*The Seven Foot Juggernaut
:*The Streak Ender - ''In reference to ending Goldberg's winning streak at [[Starrcade (1998)|Starrcade 1998]]''
==Championships and accomplishments==
*'''[[Pro Wrestling Illustrated]]'''
:*[[PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year]] (1994)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwiimp.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Most Improved Wrestler of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
:*[[PWI Match of the Year]] (1995)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwimoty.htm|accessdate=2008-07-01|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Match of the Year |publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> - <small>vs. [[Shawn Michaels]] at [[WrestleMania XI]]</small>
:*[[PWI Tag Team of the Year]] (1997)<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwittoty.htm|accessdate=2008-06-23|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award Winners Tag Team of the Year|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref> <small>with [[Scott Hall]]</small>
:*PWI ranked him '''#1''' of the 500 best singles wrestlers of the year in the [[Pro Wrestling Illustrated#PWI 500|PWI 500]] in 1995<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi50095.htm}|accessdate=2008-06-30|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated Top 500 - 1995|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
:*PWI ranked him # '''40''' of the 100 best tag teams of the PWI Years with Scott Hall in 2003.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.100megsfree4.com/wiawrestling/pages/pwi/pwi100tg.htm|accessdate=2008-06-23|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Top 100 Tag Teams of the PWI Years|publisher=Wrestling Information Archive}}</ref>
*'''[[World Championship Wrestling]]'''
:*[[WCW World Heavyweight Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Heavyweight Champions|5 times]])<ref name=WCWtitle/><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-h.html|title=WCW World Heavyweight Title history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
:*[[WCW World Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of WCW World Tag Team Champions|9 times]])<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wcw/wcw-t.html|title=WCW World Tag Team Title history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref> - with Scott Hall (6), [[Diamond Dallas Page]] (2), and [[Sting (wrestler)|Sting]] (1)
:*[[WCW World War 3]] ([[WCW World War 3#1998|1998]])
*'''[[World Wrestling Entertainment|World Wrestling Federation]]'''
:*[[WWE Championship|WWF Championship]] ([[List of WWE Champions|1 time]])<ref name=WWEtitle/><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-h.html|title=WWWF/WWF/WWE World Heavyweight Title history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
:*[[WWE Intercontinental Championship|WWF Intercontinental Championship]] ([[List of WWE Intercontinental Champions|1 time]])<ref name=IC/><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/ic.html|title=WWF/WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Title history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref>
:*[[World Tag Team Championship (WWE)|WWF Tag Team Championship]] ([[List of World Tag Team Champions|2 times]])<ref name=Worldtag/><ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/wwe/wwf-t.html|title=WWWF/WWF/WWE World Tag Team Title history|publisher=Wrestling-titles.com}}</ref> - with Shawn Michaels
:*[[Triple Crown Championship#WWF/E Triple Crown|Third Triple Crown Champion]]
==Acting career==
In 1991, Nash made his acting debut in ''[[Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze]]''<ref name="kevinbigsexynash2">[http://www.kevinbigsexynash.com/a_credits.html Kevin Nash; Acting Videos<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> as the villain, [[Shredder (TMNT)|Super Shredder]]. He also had a very minor role as a jackhammer worker in the 1998 movie ''Family Plan''.
He was the first choice for the role of [[Sabretooth (comics)|Sabretooth]] in ''[[X-Men (film)|X-Men]]'', yet was unable to star due to scheduling conflicts. He was replaced by his stunt man (and, coincidentally, former brief tag team partner in WCW), [[Tyler Mane]].
Nash appeared as [[Russian (comics)|The Russian]] in the [[The Punisher (2004 film)|2004 movie adaptation]] of the ''[[Punisher]]''<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0330793/ The Punisher (2004)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> comic books.
He played Guard Englehart in the film ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (2005)
He also has appeared in two movies in [[2006 in film|2006]], ''[[DOA: Dead or Alive]]'' as [[Bass Armstrong]]<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0398913/ DOA: Dead or Alive (2006)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and in ''[[Grandma's Boy]]''<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0456554/ |title = Grandma's Boy (2006) |accessdate = 2008-07-01}}</ref> as a [[repoman]].
He made guest appearances in three different TV shows as well. He appeared on one episode each of ''[[The Love Boat: The Next Wave]]''<ref name="kevinbigsexynash2"/> (episode "Captains Courageous"<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0636827/ "The Love Boat: The Next Wave" Captains Courageous (1998)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) and ''[[Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (TV series)|Sabrina, the Teenage Witch]]''<ref name="kevinbigsexynash2"/> (episode "The Crucible") and in two episodes of ''[[Nikki (TV series)|Nikki]]''<ref name="kevinbigsexynash2"/> as The Big Easy (episodes "Gimme Shelter"<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0661076/ "Nikki" Gimme Shelter (2001)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> and "Stealing Nikki"<ref>[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0661090/ "Nikki" Stealing Nikki (2000)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>).
==Personal life==
Nash has a son, Tristen, who was born on [[June 12]], [[1996]] with his wife, Tamara. The couple wed in 1989 and separated in 2000 but have since reconciled.<ref>Stated in the August 2000 issue of WOW Magazine</ref>
He is 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 [[Clique (professional wrestling)|Kliq]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
{{Portal|Professional wrestling|break=yes}}
{{wikiquote}}
* [http://www.kevinbigsexynash.com Official Website]
*[http://www.tnawrestling.com/roster/kevinnash/index.html TNA Profile]
*{{imdb name|id=0621760|name=Kevin Nash}}
{{TNA roster}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nash, Kevin}}
[[Category:1959 births]]
[[Category:American basketball players]]
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[[Category:American professional wrestlers]]
[[Category:American television actors]]
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