10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Dec 2)

4. Kevin Nash Couldn't Believe His Oz Gimmick Got Over In Japan

Kevin Nash
WWE.com

Before going on to play the imposing Diesel in the WWF or the super-cool leader of the nWo Wolfpac in WCW, Kevin Nash had to make do with some terrible gimmicks. In the early-1990's, Nash was cast as Oz, a direct tribute to The Wizard Of Oz movie.

Regardless of the production costs tied to Oz's entrance, WCW bosses couldn't stop the character from tanking in the United States. Unbelievably, the guise had more success elsewhere in the world. That's something Nash himself couldn't fathom when wrestling in Japan under the gimmick. For some reason, Japanese wrestling fans adored Oz.

Speaking on Eric Bischoff's podcast 'Bischoff On Wrestling', Nash said that he was awestruck by the response Oz received during a match against Shinya Hashimoto in the Osaka Dome for New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Coming down to the ring for the match, Nash was first raised via a platform on the entrance ramp. As he surfaced, he heard fans chanting for Oz, something that certainly hadn't happened back in America. Much to Nash's bemusement, Oz was over in Japan.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.