Speaking of wrestling convicts, Kevin Wacholz's portrayal of Nailz, a convict abused by the Big Boss Man, in 1992's WWF was amazing in concept, but flawed in long-term execution. How is a fan supposed to care about a heel when they only serve one purpose, and past that point, theoretically serve no other purpose in being employed as a wrestler. Wacholz had a not-so super-distinguished career as a babyface "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), one of many babyfaces brought in post-Hulk Hogan to fill the void of him leaving to head to the WWF. However, by 1992 he was re-cast as a balding pale menace in an orange prison jumpsuit and black work boots hellbent on destroying the prison guard from Cobb County, Georgia who had ostensibly made his life in prison a living hell. Though the Big Boss Man was over, after disposing of Nailz, what exactly was Nailz supposed to do? A feud with The Undertaker was planned, but in December 1992, Wacholz violently assaulted Vince McMahon due to a pay dispute, and was released soon thereafter. Likely realizing that such a one-dimensional character was a creative fail, it's entirely possible that not even Vince McMahon himself cared about Nailz.
Besides having been an independent professional wrestling manager for a decade, Marcus Dowling is a Washington, DC-based writer who has contributed to a plethora of online and print magazines and newspapers writing about music and popular culture over the past 15 years.
