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.
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).
