Every 'Next Big Thing' In Wrestling History: Where Are They Now?
13. Diesel
Vince McMahon was correct when he sensed that Diesel - a much cooler giant than had emerged in the 1980s - might be the one to lead pro wrestling into a new boom period.
Vince McMahon simply didn’t promote him as such. WCW got him right.
Diesel was very over initially. Fans were super-enthused about the “Diesel spot” at the 1994 Royal Rumble, during which he eliminated a then-record seven participants in a shocking rapid-fire barrage. Before it devolved into a transparent trope, the Diesel spot was incredibly effective. Diesel won the WWF Title that same year, but was, infamously, the worst-drawing champion in company history. Some of his matches were interminable, which didn’t help, but the true cause of death was Diesel being told to “wear a big smile out there”. What got him over was taken from him: a tale as old as time.
He was a cool, effortlessly funny dude who excelled when he was able to simply be Kevin Nash. The creative was perfect - the nWo storyline transformed the industry - but Nash was key to it. Hollywood Hogan was the star, but Nash and Scott Hall made it cool, which was the USP.
After failing to give a single toss after 1999, Nash these days holds shares in the most lucrative open-ended grouped investment product in wrestling: a podcast in which he often criticises AEW.