10 Wrestlers Who Changed The Business Forever

5. Nailz

Cody Dynamite
WWE.com

Nailz was the ideal opponent for the Big Boss Man; much like his nemesis, he elevated a patently phoney gimmick, complete with special vocal effects, with his formidable presence.

He was a dire worker - his match with El Gigante is a sh*tty festival - but his legacy has changed professional wrestling forever. His testimony in Vince McMahon's steroid trial was laced with such shoot animosity that it derailed the federal government's attempt to take him down. Nailz was the only former independent contractor willing to testify that McMahon had personally pressured him to use steroids - Hulk Hogan sold for prosecutors like they were Billy Kidman, the old pro - but that willingness was reframed as revenge by Jerry McDevitt.

Nailz had beef with McMahon stemming from a money dispute and a sexual assault allegation, which formed part of a wrongful termination lawsuit. McDevitt used this existing legal acrimony to establish Kevin Wacholz as a man who had attempted to exploit the integrity of the legal system for his own ends. The tactic worked; Wacholz lacked credibility.

And so the WWF survived, reinvented itself, and monopolised. Were it not for Nailz, had the WWF survived, it might resemble a completely different organisation. Can you imagine a world without Vince McMahon?

*Lionel Hutz shudder*

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!