Scariest Wrestlers of All-Time Part 24: Nailz

 

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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Before Nailz was a hardened ex-con, he was a clean-cut pro wrestler named Kevin Kelly. But somewhere along the way, he committed a crime and went to the prison in Cobb County, Georgia. While there, he was allegedly tortured by one of the prison guards, the Big Bossman. In 1992, Nailz was released and sought revenge on the Bossman.

He jumped the former corrections officer during a Superstars of Wrestling taping. Nailz beat the crap out of Bossman, using a nightstick in the assault. As Bossman recouped from the attack, Nailz went on a path of destruction, destroying enhancement talent along the way. The two eventually met in a Nightstick on a Pole match at Survivor Series 92. Bossman got his revenge and Nailz ended up leaving shortly thereafter, for famously (again allegedly) attacking Vince McMahon. 

Even though the prisoner gimmick was sorta hokey, Nailz did add a fear factor with it. The distorted voice and his disregard for human life made him a dangerous competitor while he was in the WWF. 

One Man Gang vs. Akeem

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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I've found a new pro wrestling podcast and became an instant fan. It's called Our Vantage Point. The first episode I listened to is number 95. They recap that year (1995) as they also talk about successful and not so successful gimmicks. The One Man Gang was brought up as well as his alter-ego Akeem, the African Dream. There was a debate on which character enjoyed the most success. So I brought the conversation over to the My 1-2-3 Cents Facebook page and created a poll.

As you can see OMG easily beat Akeem. But there were some who were passionate in the reasoning for picking the African based character. Sam Banks had this to say: 

"One Man Gang was very popular in the regional territories in the 70’s and 80’s, but really rose to prominence when he took on the African Dream gimmick in the WWF. 

The WWF is where he did the most memorable things in his career in front of the most eyes, and with the WWE Network available to everyone, his Akeem stuff will be what most people see for as long as the Network exists.

Akeem is the clear answer here. The majority of young wrestling fans since the year 2000 have probably never even heard of One Man Gang, but I would bet they’d know who Akeem and the Twin Towers were."

Jerry Travelstead commented too:

"Personally, don't think this one is close. OMG gimmick wasn't just WWF. Believe he did Mid South, Texas, The Carolinas, and other regional organizations well before WWF. He has popped up as OMG several times when I've been watching some of the older stuff on the network."

I'm still on the fence on the issue. I remember Gang when I watched World Class Championship Wrestling and Midsouth (UWF). Even in his first year or so in WWE he competed as the big man from Halstead Street in Chicago. Then the transformation happened and Akeem was born.

Some fast facts about the WWE tenure of George Gray (the man behind the gimmicks):

One Man Gang debuted in the spring of 1987. He feuded with Hulk Hogan, Don Muraco and Bam Bam Bigelow in that first year. He was in the main event of the first Survivor Series (his team won) and he made it to the semi-finals of the WWE Championship tournament at WrestleMania IV before losing (by DQ) to the eventual winner Randy Savage. 

As Akeem, Gray was back in the main event picture. He and the Big Bossman feuded with Savage and Hogan as the MegaPowers. Again he was part of the Survivor Series main event as well as The Main Event on NBC when the Megapowers finally exploded in 1989. He and Bossman pursued the tag team titles that summer against Demolition. I really thought they were going to win but the Brain Busters did instead.

Akeem vs. Bossman

After that, it seems both men floundered a bit. The Twin Towers split in early 1990 and Bossman made quick work of his former partner at WrestleMania VI. He faded away and resurfaced in WCW as the OMG once again. During the second run in 1995, he picked up the company's U.S. Championship. 

Gimmick Battle Royal

When he returned to WWE in 2001 for the Gimmick Battle Royal at WrestleMania 17 he did so as the Gang. He also competed as that character at the King of Trios tournament with Chikara a decade ago. 

Both characters had an impact and were successful. But what are your thoughts? Who had more success in pro wrestling, the One Man Gang or Akeem? Weigh in here or on the Facebook page.

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Foreign Object Friday: Big Bossman's nightstick

Get ready for hard times
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

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It was nearly 30 years ago this summer that the Big Bossman made his presence known in the WWF. The former body guard known as Big Bubba Rogers had jumped from the UWF/NWA/WCW and assumed a new personality. As the Bossman, Bubba traded his suit, hat and sunglasses for a correctional uniform, handcuffs and a nightstick. 

More hard times
Courtesy: WWE

Those handcuffs and nightstick became a signature of the Bossman's character. After beating an opponent (usually an enhancement talent) manager Slick would distract the referee long enough for Bossman to cuff his victim to the ropes. Then he'd assault the fallen foe with the nightstick. This was similar to the post match rituals of Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake and his haircuts and later the Undertaker loading a victim into a body bag. 

Foam nightstick

Even the big name opponents fell victim to the nightstick, including the assault on Hulk Hogan on the Brother Love Show, "Macho Man" Randy Savage and Dusty Rhodes. Sometimes the good guys would steal the stick and fight fire with fire. When Bossman turned face in 1990, he still carried the stick and used it when necessary. Of course as good guy, it was a good way to market a foam nightstick to young fans too.

Bossman vs. Nailz
Courtesy: WWE

The ex-con Nailz gave Bossman a taste of his own medicine and battered him with the nightstick after a match. Bossman spent weeks (maybe months) "convalescing" at home in Cobb County, Georgia. Vince McMahon used the phrase on TV and it was the first time I'd ever heard the word (at least that I recall). The feud culminated with a night stick on a pole match at the 1992 Survivor Series. Bossman used the weapon on Nailz and put an end to the feud.

1998 Bossman
Courtesy: WWE

Years later when an updated version of the character returned to the company. Bossman used the nightstick in beating Al Snow, Mick Foley and even "Stone Cold" Steve Austin. It was a great accessory to a legendary character who is missed to this day.

MVPs of WrestleMania #2

By Kevin Hunsperger & Chad Smart

@kevinhunsperger, @chadsmart, @my123cents

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Last year I had the idea to do an MVPs of WrestleMania blog, but came up with it a day or two before the big event.  So I held my list waiting for WrestleMania 32 to roll around.  Admittedly I've made a couple of minor tweaks to the original list and debated internally over the quality of my list.  I invited Chad to play along too.  While the lists aren't perfect (he's not in our top ten), I hope you enjoy.  A new blog will be posted daily until March 31, the day I leave for Dallas.

Rockin' at WrestleMania 5
Courtesy: WWE

Kevin's pick:

2)  Shawn Michaels:  The Heartbreak Kid is of the most decorated Superstars in the history of WWE.  He has been a HUGE part of WrestleMania, dating back to 1989 when he and Marty Jannetty made their Mania debut against the Twin Towers.  Big Bossman and Akeem took out the Rockers that night and watching the team back then I knew Shawn was special, but I had no idea the icon he'd become.  After splitting with Jannetty and going on his own, HBK had some of the best singles matches the big event has ever seen.

Retiring Ric Flair
Courtesy: WWE

His classic ladder match against Razor Ramon set a new standard in wrestling more than 20 years ago.  He beat Bret Hart for his first WWF World Championship in WrestleMania's first and only Iron Man Match.  That zipline entrance inspired me to do the same thing as my wedding, or at least ask if it was possible.  My wife said "hell no!", but I digress.  His final match during the first part of his WWE career was a torch passing moment to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14.  Years later, he'd return to the company and the big show to face Chris Jericho.  Kurt Angle, Chris Benoit, Triple H and Vince McMahon were all rivals of HBK in that period.  He also took on and lost to John Cena and retired legend Ric Flair in what has become my favorite "in person" WrestleMania match.

End of an era
Courtesy: WWE

Shawn himself would soon wrap up his own career.  A year after the Flair match he wrestled the Undertaker in what many call one of the best Mania matches of all time.  Then at WM 26, HBK put his career on the line and vowed to retire if he couldn't beat the Undertaker and his streak.  The match closed out the show and just like the year prior, Undertaker scooped up and tombstoned Shawn for the win.  He's been back as a referee and to give Sting some Sweet Chin Music.  I'm sure there's plenty more guest spots in his future, assuming he wants to keep being a part of WrestleMania.

Icon vs. icon
Courtesy: WWE

Chad's pick:

2) Vince McMahon: If it weren’t for Vince McMahon, there would be no WrestleMania. Given the events of the past 35 years, if there were no Vince, who knows if wrestling would have any mainstream exposure today. It was a risky move to place all the chips on the table with the first WrestleMania. Looking back at how barebones the first event was, it’s amazing to think how big WrestleMania has grown. From a mid-afternoon, darkly lit wrestling show to a weekend extravaganza with an average of 70,000 fans and larger than life staging, WrestleMania has definitely earned the nickname “Super Bowl of Wrestling.” That is quite the accomplishment for the 70-year old WWE visionary.   Not to mention the handful of times he's competed in the ring at Mania against his own son, Shane, as well as Hulk Hogan and Shawn Michaels.

Catch up...

10. Brock Lesnar, Edge and MVP

9.   "Stone Cold" Steve Austin & "Rowdy" Roddy Piper 

8.   The Rock & "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

7.   "Macho Man" Randy Savage

6.  Bret Hart

5.  Triple H & The Fink

4.  John Cena & Shawn Michaels 

3. Hulk Hogan 

Hall of Fame to serve hard time

By Kevin Hunsperger

@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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I was happy to see earlier today that the WWE is inducting the Big Bossman into the Hall of Fame this year.  He was one of the best big men in the business.  He captured everyone's attention as Big Bubba Rogers, defending the honor of Jim Cornette and the Midnight Express.  

Bossman vs. Hogan
Courtesy: WWE

Bubba quickly stepped out of that role and became an established star when he pinned the One Man Gang for the UWF Heavyweight title.  Eventually he'd make to the land of big men, the WWF, and take on a new persona as the Big Bossman.  He prison guard from Cobb County, Georgia almost immediately took aim at Hulk Hogan.  The cage match between the two on Saturday Night's Main Event in 1989 proved to me that Bossman had truly earned his stripes.

Bossman vs. Mr. Perfect
Courtesy: WWE

A face turn a year later and a significant amount of weight loss made Bossman even better in the ring.  He was quicker and more agile and still as aggressive as ever.  Feuds with Ted DiBiase, Mr. Perfect and The Mountie are a few of my favorite from that era.  He very nearly walked out of WrestleMania VII with the Intercontinental Championship.

Hardcore Champion
Courtesy: WWE

But all good things must come to an end and Bossman went back to WCW, under several different gimmicks.  I was happy to see him return to WWF a few years later as an updated version of the Big Bossman.  He and Ken Shamrock won the tag team titles and Bossman held the Hardcore Championship too. But let's not speak of the Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XIV or the Kennel from Hell match.  

In 1998 I had a chance to interview Ray Traylor (along with Bobby Heenan) who had just left the nWo in WCW.  He's in character for it and it's very brief, but I appreciate the chance to have met him.  May he rest in peace.

SummerSlam A to Z: Sewer Rats & Snakes

Box o' rats
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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Admittedly, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Shawn Michaels or Sheamus would have been more popular S's for this entry, but I decided to go with something a bit more obscure today.  Rewind to the summer of 1990 and Jake "The Snake" Roberts and Bad News Brown were engaged in a feud fueled by animal rage.

Jake had been DDTing and knocking out opponents for more than four years in the WWF by this time.  After each victory he'd allow his python Damien a chance to slither around the fallen victim.  For anyone with ophidiophobia this could be particularly unsettling.  

Happy birthday
Courtesy: WWE

Bad News Brown had that fear after opening a gift of a rubber snake from Jake on an episode of Wrestling Challenge. Brown headed back to Harlem to find his revenge.  It was then that he promised to unleash his collection of New York City sewer rats on Jake and Damien when he beat him at SummerSlam.  To me they looked more like possoums, but I hate both so the gimmick worked on me.

Rats!

The match, which was refereed by Big Bossman, was bad news for Brown and anyone hoping to see that box of sewer rats get opened.  The Snake won the contest by disqualification.  Brown and his critters left the company a short time later.  The rats no doubt hungry and angry for not getting to snack on Damien.

SummerSlam: A to Z: Jailhouse Match

Jailhouse Match
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter
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In the summer of 1991 there was a border war like no other brewing.  It wasn't the United States versus Mexico. No, this battle was happening with our friends in the Great White North.  Former corrections officer Big Bossman from Cobb County, Georgia was engaged in a feud with Canada's own The Mountie.  Jacques Rougeau played the Doodle-Do-Right gone wrong character.

The Mountie had been beating opponents left and right and zapping them with a cattle prod along the way.  It wasn't a stretch from what Bossman did as a heel years earlier when he'd handcuff and assault his beaten opponents with a nightstick.  But now Bossman was enforcing the law of the land and was sick of The Mountie and his manager Jimmy Hart's actions.

Busted
Courtesy: WWE

The feud was to be settled at SummerSlam 91 in a Jailhouse Match.  The loser would be forced to spend 24 hours in a jail cell in New York City (SummerSlam was held at Madison Square Garden that year). It should come as no surprise Bossman won and The Mountie was carted off in handcuffs to "serve hard time."  I recall a few cut aways to the jail that evening and Mountie bellowing for his release, which never happened (at least not on camera).

Locked up
Courtesy: WWE

I'm pretty sure this feud ended with this one and only Jailhouse Match.  Bossman moved on to IRS who accused the lawman of being a tax cheat and The Mountie briefly held the Intercontinental championship after being Bret Hart.  While the match was lackluster, it was the kind of cheesy gimmicky stuff that I loved when watching the WWF back in the day.

Boo: The Gang's All Here

The One Man Gang
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents

When I was young and watching World Class Championship Wrestling, I remember very vividly a mountain of a man hailing from Halsted Street in Chicago.  He had a mohawk with skull tattoos on either side of his head.  He wore black ring attire with skulls on the shoulders, a denim vest, and a long chain.  He was the One Man Gang.

Gang was a member of Skandar Akbar's Devastation Incorporated as well as Gary Hart's dynasty.  At more than 400 pounds, he squashed many of his competitors.  But it wasn't always a walk in the park for him.  I remember his struggles against my favorites, like Kerry Von Erich (who slammed the big man and pinned him in order to shave Gary Hart's head) and King Kong Bruiser Brody.  As you might imagine, a huge brawl ensued between the two beasts.

Gang eventually moved on to the UWF and picked up that company's heavyweight title.  He had classic matches with the likes of Terry Gordy and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.  Once he prepared to jump ship and head north to the WWF, Gang dropped the title to Big Bubba Rogers (his future tag team partner in the Twin Towers).

The Gang in the WWF
Photo Courtesy: WWE

Gang fit in immediately in the WWF.  He was a mammoth among men.  It didn't take long for him to get a shot at Hulk Hogan's WWF title.  Although he came up short, I was impressed that someone from little ol' WCCW was hanging with the best the WWF had to offer.  He squashed "Superstar" Billy Graham, forcing him to retire.  Gang also feuded with Don Muraco and earned a spot in the WWF Title Tournament at Wrestlemania IV.  He was disqualified in his match against the eventual winner "Macho Man" Randy Savage.

With Slick by his side, One Man Gang seemed nearly unstoppable.  But in the fall of 1988, he underwent an awkward transformation and became known as Akeem the African Dream.  I'll share about my thoughts on that in a future post.

Gang & Sullivan 1991
Photo courtesy: WWE

Today, I wanted to focus on the beast known as the OMG, who eventually resurfaced again after his WWF tenure ended.  In WCW he and Kevin Sullivan ran rough shot over the competition.  This was a throwback to the Gang of old, the joke of Akeem was long in the past.  Even though that tenure didn't last long, OMG did return again in 1995 and won the U.S. Title.  He held it for a short time before dropping it to Konnan.

Gang has made sporadic appearances since then, including a mark out moment for me when he teamed with Demolition at Chikara's King of Trios tournament in 2008.  Even though they didn't make it out of the first round, it was great to see some blasts from the past join forces in the wacky world of Chikara.

Boo: Kennel from Hell

Al Snow has some "pepper" steak courtesy Big Bossman

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

In 1999, the WWF had a secure hold on the ratings in the Monday Night Wars.  But that doesn't mean bad ideas were not a part of the battle.  I give you Exhibit A: the Kennel from Hell Match from Unforgiven.  The match featured Al Snow and the Big Bossman.

The match came about after the Bossman cooked up Snow's chihuahua "Pepper" and served the dog for dinner.  Snow thought he was eating pepper steak, not Pepper steak.  The two decided to settle their differences in the Kennel from Hell, which saw the old school blue cage.  Then around that was the traditional Hell in a Cell structure, and in between the cell and the cage were rottweilers, and their handlers.

The dogs' bark was definitely worse than their bite as they never really played a factor in the match.  Besides hearing them snarl and growl and snap a bit at the competitors, the dogs seemed to serve no purpose here.  However, there was one shot of a couple dogs getting it on.  Sadly that may be the highlight of this match.

Battling it out in a kennel from hell

The video I've posted is not from the original pay per view.  Mick Foley and Kevin Kelly provided the commentary for another project.  Foley's overselling and hyping of things make this more fun to watch. Kevin Kelly even comments on the mating dogs, expressing concern that if more puppies are born there would be dozens of rotweilers ringside.

Unlike Hell in a Cell, the Kennel from Hell concept never went beyond this original match in 1999.  I think we can agree, that's probably a good thing.  Despite many critics calling it one of the worst matches ever, it served its purpose of being fun and allowing Snow to get some revenge on behalf of Pepper.  It made wrestling fun, and sometimes I think that's forgotten in today's current environment.

Boo: Nailed It

Nailz
Photo by WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I remember watching Kevin Kelly in the AWA in the late 1980's.  He was a tall, muscular wrestler with long, golden locks.  He seemed like the exact fit for Vince McMahon and the WWF.  When Kelly did sign with the company though, he had a much different look.

His long hair was cut short and was much thinner than it was during his AWA run.  He no longer  wore his typical wrestling gear.  Instead, he was Nailz, wearing an orange prison jumpsuit with the number 902714 on the back.  Kelly's gimmick was that of a bitter inmate from Cobb County, Georgia.  He was in the WWF to get revenge on the prison guard who beat him while he was incarcerated.  That guard was the Big Bossman.

Nailz attacked Bossman at a Superstars taping in 1992.  After handcuffing the baby face law enforcer to the rope, Nailz preceded to beat Bossman with the very nightstick he brought to the ring.  It was more like a mugging.  The attack was brutal and left the Bossman on the shelf for quite some time mending.

Big Bossman vs. Nailz
Photo by WWE

As Bossman recovered at home, Nailz went on a bender, beating the tar out of jobbers each week.  Finally, at Survivor Series 92 Bossman would get a chance at redemption.  He and Nailz met in a "nightstick on a pole" match.  I think that may have been the one and only time such a match happened in the WWE.  Of course good prevailed over evil and the Bossman won, giving Nailz his much deserved comeuppance.

After that, Nailz sort of fell into an oblivion.  I think he had a brief feud with the Undertaker, which the deadman prevailed as well.  Then I've read reports that he actually roughed up Vince McMahon over a contract dispute and was fired as a result.  Not a wise decision.  Nailz reemerged as "the Prisoner" in WCW for a brief stint (another creative round of thinking by the folks at Turner).

Mania Memories: Attitude!

Austin wins (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

I think Wrestlemania 15 may have very well been the peak of the Attitude Era for the WWF.  Wrestling was incredibly hot at the time, but because of the competition with WCW I feel like the product may have been damaged in the long term.  What?  How can I say such a thing, let me explain...

Obviously the big story out of 15 was Stone Cold Steve Austin regaining the WWF title from the Rock.  Rock and Mankind has ping pongee the title back and forth in the months leading up to Mania.  Rock won the belt at Survivor Series.  The title changed hands four times before his defense against Austin.  That in my opinion hurt the value of the title and showed fans that it was more of  a prop than a prestigious award for being the best in the business.  The title would change hands 7 more times that year after Austin won it at Mania, including a run with Mr. McMahon as champion and a one day title reign for Mick Foley.

Road Dogg vs. Val Venis

Need more proof about the chaos in the title situation?  Consider this then.  The Road Dogg defended the Intercontinental title in a fatal four way, beating Goldust, Ken Shamrock, and Val Venis.  That title ended up changing hands 11 times in 1999.  For some perspective, the IC title was won and lost 11 times over the first 8 years of its existence.  So you get the picture.  And let's look at the tag team title defense at Wrestlemania 15.  Champions Owen Hart and Jeff Jarrett didn't defend against an established team, no way, not at the biggest show of the year.  Instead, they faced D'Lo Brown and Test.  Why?  Because the two were the last men standing after a battle royal on Sunday Night Heat to determine the new number one contenders for the belts.  Ugh.  Shane McMahon (nothing against him, but he wasn't really a full-time wrestler) was the company's European champion and beat X Pac to retain.

Undertaker vs. Bossman

The Big Show made his Wrestlemania appearance at 15, losing to Mankind by disqualification.  I think a lot of people had high hopes for the giant, especially after he made such an a strong first impression a month earlier at the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.  Two big "better to forget them moments" from Wrestlemania 15 came when Butterbean knocked out Bart Gunn in about 30 seconds in their Brawl for All Match.  I think people expected it to be a bit more competitive seeing as how Gunn had beat legit tough guys like Dr. Death and Bradshaw to qualify for the match.  The other groaner of the night was the Hell in a Cell match between the Big Bossman and the Undertaker.  I don't remember a whole lot about it, but I do remember the Bossman being hung from a noose at the end of the match.

Tori vs. Sable

Sable beat Tori (not Torrie Wilson, but the former Terri Powers) to hold on to the Women's title, Hardcore Holly captured the Hardcore title, and Kane beat Triple H by disqualification in a match that saw Trips turn on his DX mates (along with Chyna) and join the corporation.

Six of the ten matches at Wrestlemania 15 were title matches, and only the world title changed hands that night.  The atmosphere that night was chaotic to say the least, and I remember actually thriving on that unpredictably as a fan.  It was what made Raw fun.  I know this post is somewhat negative toward the Attitude Era in general, but I do believe that the events 13 years ago have had a negative impact on the business today.  I also felt like the main event of Austin vs. the Rock was more about Austin's feud with McMahon than anything else.  Remember, I'm an old school fan.  I loved the long title runs for guys and a healthy diet of top contenders.  But no matter what era of wrestling, I have been and always will be a fan of it.

What are your thoughts?  Am I too harsh with my comments?  Share here or on our Facebook wall.