10 Wrestlers Promoters Were Afraid Of

10. Nailz

In 1992, just as Vince McMahon was trying to avoid prison, he introduced a wrestler allegedly from one. Kevin 'Nailz' Wacholz, though as artificially inflated as any of the men on the roster the chairman was hurriedly scurrying away in response to the FBI's interest, was sufficiently tall and sufficiently vicious looking to be draped in an orange boiler suit and still come across menacing. The fear the wronged convict put into gawping children would soon translate to the back office.

At SummerSlam '92, Nailz handily dispatched of Virgil before a crowd of 92,000 people. Though there was no suggestion he'd drawn that gate, Wacholz nevertheless felt shortchanged by the $8000 payoff he received for his first PPV match. Incensed, he made his point perfectly clear - the gravelly voice was just for effect - at a set of tapings in Green Bay, WI, demanding $15,000 in advance for a proposed programme with The Undertaker.

After being told a firm "no", Wacholz lunged at his boss. It's not clear whether Vince, Mr. Burns-like, jumped into his Smithers Pat Patterson's arms, but his sphincter must surely have loosened as Wacholz hands tightened around his neck. According to backstage witnesses, McMahon turned blue as a smurf. No surprise, the assault didn't aid in the negotiations; Wacholz was fired on the spot.