Kevin Nash Bash

Kevin Nash
Courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

In the name of fairness, if you're a Kevin Nash fan, stop reading this blog now.  Instead, check out some other posts or subscribe to My 1-2-3 Cents on YouTube.

If you've decided to keep reading, you probably feel the same way I do on this situation.  Kevin Nash recently did an interview with Grantland (click here to read the whole thing) where he buries "smaller" wrestlers like Chris Benoit, CM Punk, and Eddie Guerrero.  Here's a direct quote:

"When Benoit and Guerrero hugged [at the end of WrestleMania XX], that was the end of the business," he says. "Has business been the same since that WrestleMania? Has it come close to the Austin era? Has it come close to the nWo or the Hogan era? You put two f----- guys that were great workers that were the same height as the f------ referees, and I'm sorry, man. Are you going to watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch d---? Even if you're not gay, you will not watch a porno movie with a guy with a three-inch d---. That's not the standard in porno films. So you put a 5-foot-7 guy as your world champion."

2 champs celebrate
Photo by WWE

I'll start with statement.  In my opinion, that celebration between Benoit and Guerrero remains one of the greatest moments captured in wrestling history.  If you eliminate what Benoit did to his family and focus solely on his wrestling, I'd say it's hard to argue that he was one of the all time great technicans.  Guerrero belongs in that category too.  Unlike Chris, I felt like Eddie was more of an entertainer.  His work with Chavo as Los Guerreros and his time with Chyna and "Latino Heat" was superb.

HBK, HHH, and Benoit
Photo from: WWE

Secondly, look at the picture I posted.  This was prior to the match where Benoit won the title.  He and Shawn Michaels are billed as different heights (Benoit 5'9", Michaels 6'1"), but if you look closely, if there really is a four inch difference it's hard to see.  They look pretty darn close as far as I'm concerned and I've never heard Nash bash HBK's height. 

Who cares how tall a wrestler is?  Or how fat or thin or physically fit.  That's what I like about wrestling.  There are all different body types who are highlighted.  Should guys like the Great Khali and Ron Ries (remember him?) get world title runs because they're taller than CM Punk or Daniel Bryan?  Hell no.

Speaking of Punk and Bryan, here's what "Big Sexy" had to say about them...

"They are not bigger than life," he says. "I bet they could both walk through airports and not be noticed unless they have a gimmick shirt on and the belt."

Punk laughs at Nash (so do I)
Photo from: WWE

Punk is billed as 6'2", a whole inch taller than Nash's buddy Shawn's alleged height of 6'1".  The bottom line is it doesn't matter.  Being tall has no impact on a wrestler's ability and as we've seen doesn't seem to impact them in getting over with the crowd.  I'm not condoning a Hornswoggle run as champ, but D-Bry and others in the under 6 foot club can bring something to the table.

Why is Nash making these comments now?  My guess is he wants to attempt to remain relevant.  People are talking about him again, and I've fallen into the trap too by posting this blog.  I really wanted to voice my opinion on the situation.  I'll be honest I was never really a fan of his in the first place, so coming up with a way to criticize him is easy.  It didn't matter to me if he was Oz, Vinnie Vegas, the Master Blaster, or Diesel, I always found Kevin Nash to be rather blah. 

Vince McMahon took a chance on him in 1994 and Nash made the most of the opportunity.  I'll give him credit for that, but he by no means produced anything memorable outside of his feud with Shawn (but really Shawn told that story)  I cringed when Nash won the WWF title and then went on to WCW to do the same thing there.  Then there's the trainwreck he helped create when he started booking there.

But I feel like I've made my point.  My opinion is size does not matter when it comes to the world of wrestling (or sports entertainment) and I feel like the WWE has finally gotten that message with Punk running as champ for nearly a year now.  We don't need a world of giants, muscle heads, and knuckle draggers.  Thanks for reading.

The Wizarding World of Wrestling

Since today is the opening of the new Harry Potter film, I decided to let my inner geek out completely and dedicate a post to some of the wizardly and magical superstars of years past.  Here are the only three I could come up with.  I'm sure there are more.

All photos are courtesy of wwe.com unless otherwise noted.

Oz.  Now I don't remember a whole lot about Oz.  I do recall him being based on the character from the Wizard of Oz.  But what I don't know is if he used any kind of "magic" when in the ring, other than the ability to make an audience disappear.

Oz of course was played by Kevin Nash, and when he first appeared in WCW in 1991 he got a lot of hype.  But I think it was more of a case of "all show and no go."  The only match I remember with him was one where Ron Simmons handed him his ass.  This was just about the time Simmons was rising up the ranks.

So while Oz was far from great, it did create a silly gimmick for us to look back at and mock nearly 20 years later.  Who would have thought back in '91 this guy would go on to win the WWF and WCW world titles?  Same guy, different character I suppose.

Papa Shango.  He wasn't really a magician or a wizard.  More of a voodoo guy with mystical powers.  After all, he made the Ultimate Warrior throw up on TV.  Remember that? Or what about the stuff he'd do to the jobbers he was facing.

His big break came at Wrestlemania 8 when he "interfered" in the match between Hulk Hogan and Sid.  This promoted the return of the Ultimate Warrior.  The two feuded for the months that followed, with Shango doing the job.

Eventually, he would take his smoking skull, bone necklace, and other voodoo tools and leave the WWF.  While the character was gone, the man behind the skull face and blazin' tattoos would soon return.  This time, Charles Wright was Kama: The Ultimate Fighting Machine.  Then he became Kama Mustafa and joined the Nation of Domination.  That character turned into the Godfather before becoming the Goodfather.  Lots of gimmicks for the Wright, but the
Godfather was arguably the most popular with fans.

But Papa Shango may go into the book of awesomely bad gimmicks.  It was an odd time in wrestling.  Although I guess each era has its share of hokieness.

Phantasio.  Remember him? If not, don't worry.  His act didn't last very long. I actually saw him wrestle at a Superstars, Raw, Coliseum Home Video taping in the summer of 1995. It was in St. Louis and his opponent was Rad Radford.

Phantasio had wrestled in USWA as Spellbinder.  I think his gimmick was similar.  As you can see, he was the precursor for the "Crow" Sting.

He wore a mime mask to the ring, and once he arrived, he removed it and revealed the white and black face paint.  He would do tricks for the kids.  This was all at a time when the WWF was coming off the steroid trial and allegations of sexual harassment.  Vince was covering his bases and adding as many "kid friendly characters as he could.

This was also the era of Who?, the Goon, and TL Plopper.  Phantasio must not have cast a good enough spell on the powers that be, as he was only with the company for a few months.  He apparently also wrestled on the first TNA pay per view back in 2002, but only that one night.

So, Muggles I hope you enjoyed this one.  Until next time.