People listen when Kevin Nash speaks. This may be because Nash- one of the most popular wrestlers of the 1990s- is one of the few workers who has held both World Championship Wrestling and the World Wrestling Federation world heavyweight titles.
In 1999, Nash may have been the most powerful wrestler of any federation. While wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Goldberg, Steve Austin, and The Rock were mere performers in their respective federations. Nash served as a booker and member of WCW's creative team.
In October, the WCW superstar sat down with WOW Magazine and spoke candidly about his pending divorce, WCW's future, a potential reunion of The Clique and his new Atlanta bachelor pad, among other subjects.
Q: Your wife Tamara filed for divorce in August. How has that affected you?
Q: Do you have children?
Q: Is there any truth to the rumor that you're going to pose for Playgirl magazine?
Q: What's your new "bachelor pad" in Atlanta like?
Q: What do you see as WCW's strength (as of October 1999)?
Q: You think Goldberg is "the best piece of talent" over Steve Austin or The Rock?
Q: What are your thoughts on WCW's October hiring of WWF writers Vince Russo and Ed Ferrara?
Q: Did the arrival of Russo and Ferrara push you out as WCW's booker?
Q: What you do think about how some wrestling newsletter writers have called you the "Worst Booker Ever"?
Q: What is your opinion of Eric Bischoff (former vice president of WCW)?
Q: What are your impressions of Bill Busch (vice-president of WCW)?
Q: Any chance you'd return to the WWF when your current contract expires?
Q: What's your opinion of Extreme Championship Wrestling?
Q: What's the key to booking?
Q: Where do you see WCW in five years?
Q: Where will pro wrestling be in 10 years?
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Kevin Nash speaks out about his wrestling colleagues
On Lex Luger
On Sting
On Bret Hart
On Sid Vicious
On Bill Goldberg
On Dean Malenko
On Scott Hall
On Konnan
On Perry Saturn
On Buff Bagwell
A: In the 11 years we were married, my wife has always gotten what she's wanted. So, I don't see this as anything different. It's just a casualty of a war called professional wrestling. Wrestling's a hard life. People see the glamour, the money, the TV spotlight and packed arenas. But, when it comes down to it, it's 300 days on the road with your wife not there.... I'm in a transition point in my life. I'm 40 years old and I'm kind of starting over.
A: The thing that kept us together for the longest time was our son, Tristen, and that's the hardest part of the whole deal. If there's one thing that basically defines my life, it's him. I now don't get to see him as much as I used to. That's really affected me, and it sucks. Everything is water under the bridge. But he's still my boy.
A: For the right price, I'd show my Johnson for cash.
A: The difference between the bachelor pad of today versus 11 years ago is a $500 apartment versus a $5,000 loft. With money comes goods. I don't need a lot of space. All I really need is a bed and a TV.
A: We've got Goldberg, who I believe is the best piece of talent in the business. To me, he's raw, but he's real. He's the real f---ing deal. We have the nucleus to make things work. All we've got to do is build the proper guys around him, which includes: Scott (Hall) and myself, Lex (Luger), Sting, Hogan, (Randy) Savage and Bret (Hart). If we build a heel factory to feed to Goldberg, I think we've got 18 months of TV right there.
A: The only reason I'd pick Goldberg over Steve Austin is Steve's beat up. Steve's been pounding these roads for 12 years. Bill's been pounding these roads for two. Is he more over than Austin? That's probably a toss-up. As for The Rock, I dig him. He's my hero of the millenium. I would like to have a run against both of those guys before I retire.
A: I don't know Ed. Vince is a friend of mine. We were friends when I was at Titan (WWE's parent company). It was before he booked, but we still talked at length about the business. I know he's responsible for what Titan has done over the past couple of years. He does entertaining TV. I'm looking forward to working with him.
A: The only time I've been head booker was the first four weeks Bill Busch was in charge. Before that, Eric Bischoff had final say in anything I did. I'm more of a creative consultant. We've been criticized for not developing storylines. But, over a 12-month period, we lost eight of our top 12 guys, most for at least six months. It's hard to follow a storyline when someone falls off the planet.
A: The dirt-sheet guys are pure scumbags. They've never taken a bump, they've never worked a match. Second-guessing is easy. Their use of the English language is at a seventh-grade level, if that. They have no journalistic skills. They're jealous because I'm a rich S.O.B getting laid all the time, whereas all they're doing is jacking off. All the internet geeks, dweebs, and jack-offs who think they know everything about this business- they can hate me and say I'm the sh--s. The bottom line is when I die, I'm going to have so much more money and have had so much more fun than they'll ever have. So, continue to put out your mimeographed bulls--- with your grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, and I'll go to the bank.
A: I consider Eric a friend. Eric got burned out and, after basically being his right-hand man for eight months, I don't see how anyone could do it for five years with the corporate bulls--- he had to put up with. To me, Vince McMahon is "The Man", but Bischoff was able to slay the dragon for two years. Eric should be able to walk around with his head up high. The WWF is like the New York Yankees. WCW is more like the '69 Mets. You'll never out-produce Vince because the man doesn't sleep. If Vince works 20-hour days, he expects everyone else to do that. He's an android.
A: He's got balls. Bill is in a tough spot. He's more of a corporate guy than a creative guy. At the same token, he probably has worked in every aspect of the business over the past 10 years. Plus, he's a fan, a very good manager, and he has better people skills than Eric (Bischoff). He's going to do what's right for this company. I want to win for this guy, and a lot of other people feel that same way.
A: I'm a professional athlete, and the climate of professional athletes in this century has been to go to the highest bidder. At the same time, I think I created a niche to go into the office at WCW when I'm done wrestling. My relationship with Vince (McMahon) is good. I consider Vince a friend. The five of us- Scott (Hall), Hunter (Hearst Helmsley), Kid (X-Pac), Shawn (Michaels) and myself- our contracts expire with 60 days. No one is going to make a decision or do anything without consulting the others. "The Clique" will land at the same place for my last run.
A: It's niche wrestling. I think Paul E. (Heyman, owner of ECW) does a great job. He's got a good mind. Basically, it's "The Jerry Springer Show" with finishes. I always have enjoyed ECW. But when they guys from there- and most of their guys are 5-feet-7- go to one of the two big federations they don't get over because the other two federations are dominated by bigger guys.
A: Talent that is able to execute what you've written. You can have the greatest talent in the world, but if they can't execute what you've written, you're doomed.
A: It still will be one of hte two major wrestling companies in North America. If I was Ted Turner, I would try to get wrestling on HBO with more backstage scenes, more storylines, more R-rated material. I'd make it as close to a real depiction of what happens in the real world.
A: That's so far away. I pray to God that anyone on top now is saving their money.
"He's one of the best bodies in the business. I think 2000 will be his best year ever."
"He's still one of the most gifted guys I have ever been in the ring with. When his head is right, he's one of the best. When he's in a funk, he can be difficult. His life is balanced outside of wrestling. For that, I tip my hat to him."
"Bret gets better as the day goes on. If someone asks me to name my best matches ever, two of them would be against Bret. He excels when he wrestles longer than 20 minutes."
"As far as physical attributes, he's great. His work has never been great, but it's never had to be. The guy probably has made more money on potential than anybody. He's a nice guy."
"He's a sweetheart of a guy. Along with The Giant (Paul Wight), I think he's the future of the business."
"He's a great technical wrestler, but size limits where Dean's going to go. I know everyone wants to be world heavyweight champion, but I don't think Dean will be. But, as a booker, I want Dean on my team. If I need 14 minutes of good action, good TV, I can get it from Dean Malenko."
"He's probably the greatest worker who's never been the world champion in WWF or WCW. He's got charisma. He's handsome. He's my partner. I hope he gets a big raise soon because anything either one of us gets a raise, the other has gotten an identical raise!"
"Konnan is like my little brother. We argue all the time. Konnan needs to realize that, when push comes to shove, 'Big Brother' isn't ever going to let 'Little Brother' get his ass kicked."
"When Perry tells me something, it's the truth. That alone makes him a 90 on a 1-to-100 scale. He is starting to come into his own in the ring."
"He's been in the business about as long as I have. Bagwell doesn't take direction very well. He has some preconceived ideas of what gets over, including 1985 airbrushing. He needs to realize that he's so close to being there, but he's not there yet. You only get there by letting the people who are there give you a hand to pull you to that next level."