Kevin Nash

At 64 years old, Kevin Nash has this physical status:

Kevin Scott Nash (born July 9, 1959) is an American semi-retired professional wrestler best known for his time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).

Nash has competed under a variety of wrestling names, but he is best known for his WCW service, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), and as Diesel in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE). Nash (then known as Diesel) won the WWF World, Intercontinental, Tag Team Championships (the WWF Triple Crown) in 1994, and this year's Slammy Awards (now Tag Team of the Year) and (with Shawn Michaels) Best Tag Team (now Tag Team of the Year) awards were given.

Nash has won a total of 21 titles, including being a five-time world champion and one-time WWF Champion) and a 12-time world tag team champion between the three teams, as well as being a four-time world champion (four-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE Champion) and a 12-time world tag team champion between the three sports.

The 358-day WWF Championship run by Nash is the longest since the 1990s.

Nash was the first wrestler to beat Goldberg in WCW, breaking his undefeated streak of 173–0 at Starrcade in 1998.

Nash played professionally for the University of Tennessee for a short time until his career was cut short due to a knee injury.

Nash was a member of The Kliq, a well-known backstage group that included Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Scott Hall, and Sean Waltman.

He, along with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall, are among the three founding members of the New World Order (nWo).

Nash was inducted individually into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2015, and he will be inducted into the New World Order for the second time in 2020 as a member of the New World Order alongside Hogan, Hall, and Waltman.

Early life

Nash was born in southeast Detroit, Michigan, on July 9, 1959, to a devout Christian family. When Nash was eight years old, Nash's father, Robert, died of a heart attack on April 4, 1968. Wanda Nash's mother died on December 27, 1994, after a four-year fight against breast cancer. He attended Aquinas High School and the University of Tennessee, where he majored in psychology and minored in educational philosophy. Nash was a center for the Tennessee Volunteers basketball team at the University of Tennessee. He was with the team from 1977 to 1980, when the team made it to the NCAA Sweet 16 tournament. Nash did not play a fourth year for the Volunteers after a physical altercation with head coach Don DeVoe and a string of other on-campus events, and he applied to Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Nash considered his options and then migrated to Europe, where he competed for numerous teams. He began his career in 1981 in Germany (while playing for the Gießen 46ers) when he strained his anterior cruciate ligament. Nash enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 202nd Military Police Company in Giessen, West Germany, with his basketball career extending. He was stationed in a safe NATO facility for two years, during which time he was promoted to the rank of specialist. He spent time in the Army on an assembly line with Ford Motor Company and as the floor manager of a strip joint in Atlanta, Georgia, and wanted to try professional wrestling.

Personal life

Nash and his wife Tamara married in 1988 but then broke in 2000, although they later reconciled. Tristen, the couple's son, was born on June 12, 1996 and was a solo guitarist and poet. Tristen died of heart arrest as a result of alcohol withdrawal syndrome on October 20, 2022.

Nash is a Native American.

After his death, Nash announced on March 2, 2016 that his brain would be donated to the Boston University CTE Center and the Concussion Legacy Foundation. Brandi Chastain, a women's soccer player, reported doing the same thing on the same day.

Nash has been outspoken in favor of gay wrestlers in the industry.

Nash was arrested for battery by assaulting a drunk man in a parking lot of a restaurant in Florida in May 2011, although he and his wife Tamara were leaving. Prosecutors in June 2011 announced that Nash was not guilty of any charges against him, claiming that he was only acting in self-defense as the inebriated man attempted to flirt with Nash's wife.

Nash was arrested on December 24, 2014, just after midnight, for battery against his 18-year-old son, Tristen. Two hours later, police were called back and Tristen was arrested for battery against Nash's wife, Tamara. Nash would not face charges on January 15, 2015, according to prosecutors. Nash's lawyer maintains that he was only defending his wife the night he was arrested.

Source

Professional wrestling career

Nash made his Wrestling (WCW) debut as the orange-mohawked "Steel," one half of the tag team The Master Blasters. He was first partnered with Master Blaster Iron, with whom he made his Clash of the Champions XIII debut in 1990, defeating Brad Armstrong and Tim Horner. At the following Worldwide taping on September 7, the Masters Blasters launched a war against Tim Horner and Mike Rotunda. On several house shows, they will defeat Horner and Rotunda. Master Blaster Iron Iron was replaced by "Blade" on September 22, Nash's partner Master Blaster Iron was recalled.

In October, the revived Master Blasters began their undefeated streak. Meanwhile, Nash will face Tom Zenk in his first singles match on September 28. The Blasters upended The Southern Boys at Halloween on October 27, 1990, and the Blasters began to move up the WCW tag team rankings. However, their winning streak would come to an end on November 22, when Tom Zenk and Brian Pillman handed them their first defeat with Pillman pinning Blades. The Southern Boys, Alan Iron Eagle and Tim Horner, defeated them, ending their undefeated streak and winning a NWA United States Tag Team Championship championship shot against then champions The Steiner Brothers on two occasions. They were squashed on television in 52 seconds by the Steiners in a match that aired on Worldwide on February 2, 1991. The Blasters' enthusiasm began to fade after this defeat, as the Blasters will suffer follow-up losses to The Southern Boys and Ricky Morton and Tommy Rich. At the end of the month, the tag team was disbanded.

Nash was rebranded as simply The Master Blaster in February 1991 and suffered his first singles loss on February 27, 1991, when he was pinned by The Junkyard Dog. While competing in tag team matches with Stan Hansen and Arn Anderson, he also lost to Brian Pillman in house show matches. At a house show on May 12, he defeated Pillman in his last match in this role.

Nash reappeared under his new name, as the silver-haired Oz, a character based on the Wizard of Oz's 1900 children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, a week later. About a month ago, The Great Wizard, who was in charge of many wrestlers, was defeated by Ron Simmons at The Great American Bash on July 14. In reality, all plans for Oz were immediately terminated when Nash refused to sign a $300/night promise when WCW was lowering costs. Nash was chosen to be retained until a new gimmick can be developed. He lost at Halloween Havoc to Bill Kazmaier on October 27, causing a riot. Nash fought as Oz throughout 1991 and went on a long losing streak, losing to Kazmaier, Rick Steiner, Dustin Rhodes, and Arachnaman.

Vinnie Vegas, a witty pseudo-mobster based on Steve Martin's character in the 1990 film My Blue Heaven, was repackaged as Vinnie Vegas, a wisecracking pseudo-mobster based on Steve Martin's character in Clash of the Champions XVIII. Vegas was quickly recruited into "A Half-Ton of Holy Fire," a large group of wrestlers created by Harley Race, which included WCW World Champion Lex Luger, Big Van Vader, and Mr. Hughes. After Luger left, the stable disappeared in February 1992, and Vegas joined The Diamond Mine, a stable led by Diamond Dallas Page that also included The Diamond Studd and Scotty Flamingo. Page and Vegas became Teaming together in 1992, after Studd and Flamingo left the stable (Studd's leaving for the WWF and Flamingo striking out on his own). After Bill Watts was fired from Page in late 1992, the tag team split in late 1992. Nash spent the first half of 1993 with Big Sky, a large Sky team. He left the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in June and his final WCW match against the Cole Twins on June 3, teaming with Big Sky in a losing effort against the Cole Twins.

Nash left the WCW in June 1993, signing a deal with the WWF at Shawn Michaels' request. With an alpha-male gimmick, he was given the stage name "Big Daddy Cool Diesel" ("Diesel" or "Big Daddy Cool" for short). Nash grew long hair, posing as the role, adopted the look and demeanor of a typical cocky biker thug from Detroit, sporting black sunglasses and leather clothing. Shane McMahon's suggestion of Diesel was a play on the fact that Nash was from Detroit, also known as "The Motor City." Nash's first entrance music was a simple series of truck engine sounds and booming horns, playing off his character's name.

Diesel started out as the bodyguard/best friend of Shawn Michaels, with the two being referred to as Two Dudes with Attitudes. On June 6, 1993, he made his WWF debut at a house show by assisting Michaels in beating Marty Jannetty for the WWF Intercontinental Championship. He first appeared on Raw, June 7, the day after being introduced as Michaels' bodyguard. Diesel appeared at the Royal Rumble in January 1994, first as one of many wrestlers who aided WWF Champion Yokozuna in defeating The Undertaker in a casket match and then in the Royal Rumble match, defeating seven men in less than 18 minutes of in-ring time. Following abuse from Michaels during the April 30, 1994 episode (taped April 13, 1994) of Superstars, Diesel emerged victorious from the Intercontinental Championship from Razor Ramon. On August 28, the pair of Diesel and Michaels defeated The Headshrinkers to win the WWF Tag Team Championship, making Nash the double champion. Diesel, on the other hand, lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon the next night at SummerSlam. When Michaels mistakenly launched a superkick on Diesel, the relationship between Diesel and Michaels dissolved after the Survivor Series ended. After struggling to locate Michaels, the audience responded angrily, turning him into a babyface. However, Nash was no longer a tag team champion, as Michaels' behavior led to the team's being forced to leave the titles.

Diesel defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF Championship on November 26, 1994, three days before he fought at Survivor Series. Diesel defeated Backlund in an eight-second squash at Madison Square Garden. Hart then promised him a match for his name, which was a match at the Royal Rumble next month. Due to the interference of several wrestlers, including Shawn Michaels, the match came to a draw. Michaels was furious over his ex bodyguard's beating of him to the WWF Championship, but he was still too pumped to win the Royal Rumble match later that evening, earning him a championship shot at WrestleMania XI.

Nash defeated Michaels in WrestleMania XI on April 2, accompanied by actress Pamela Anderson (who was supposed to valet for Michaels) who was supposed to abandon Michaels to retain the title. Jenny McCarthy, Anderson and Michaels' replacement for her, was left in the ring after the match. Michaels' next night, on Monday Night Raw, he was betrayed by his current bodyguard, Sycho Sid, prompting Diesel to come to his rescue and reunite the tag team. Diesel defended the WWF Championship against Sycho Sid at the inaugural In Your House pay-per-view on May 14 and In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks on July 23. Diesel maintained the WWF Championship at SummerSlam by defeating King Mabel, who had dominated the King of the Ring tournament.

Owen Hart and Yokozuna met on September 24 in Saginaw, Michigan, where Diesel and Michaels took on the reigning WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and Yokozuna. As in addition to the tag belts, Diesel's WWF Championship and Michaels' recent winning Intercontinental Championship were also on the line. Davey Boy Smith was sent to replace Hart if he did not turn up at the party. Hart arrived at ringside, entered the competition, and was pinned by Diesel for the victory and the championship, making him and Michaels holders of all three major WWF championships. The reign did not last long, however, as Hart and Yokozuna's titles were returned to them on Raw the next night, despite Hart not being formally attached to the game when he was pinned.

Diesel's WWF Championship reign lasted until November 19, when he was defeated by Bret Hart at Survivor Series. Following the loss of the game, Diesel struck Hart.

Diesel defeated Owen Hart, who had shot Diesel's ally Shawn Michaels in a match the previous month at In Your House 5 in December 1995. Diesel finished 22nd in the Royal Rumble in January 1996, ranked 22nd in the British Rumble. Diesel was the last man to be disqualified from the Royal Rumble after being superkicked over the top rope by the king, Shawn Michaels. Following the match, Diesel teased Michaels before giving him a high five. Diesel continued to participate in the main event involving The Undertaker and WWF Champion Bret Hart, costing The Undertaker the title. Diesel tried to regain the WWF Championship from Hart in a steel cage match on February 18, but he was defeated by The Undertaker in retaliation for his conduct at the Royal Rumble.

Nash's employment situation was in jeopardy just short of being in a state of uncertainty just prior to WrestleMania XII. At the time, WCW Executive Vice President Eric Bischoff, WCW Executive Vice President, was contributing a large sum of money to the WWF's staff, so they decided to jump ship. In reality, Bischoff had been successful in persuading several high-profile WWF members to join WCW over the past two years, including five-time World Cup Champion Hulk Hogan and his on-again, off-again colleague and two-time WWF Champion Randy Savage, and was in the process when Hall's friendship, Kevin "Razor Ramon" Hall, was due to end. Hall was the first to join the company and was given a deal that paid him "above Sting money," Nash revealed (although Ric Flair, Hulk Hogan, and Randy Savage were still earning more). Hall also informed Nash that he had been granted "most favored nation" status, implying that if someone new was hired for more money, Hall's salary would increase to match that contract. Nash was awarded a three-year contract with a $1.2 million annual salary. Nash told Vince McMahon that he did not want to leave the WWF and that if McMahon was able to match the offer, he would remain. According to Nash, he would have to offer matching deals to other wrestlers and that, in a difficult financial situation, he simply could not afford it. Nash joined the company shortly after.

Diesel turned on The Undertaker at WrestleMania XII on March 31, after which he recovered from his heel and went on to feud with Shawn Michaels once more. Diesel, the first televised WWF Championship since 2002, faced Michaels for the WWF Championship (he had won from Hart at WrestleMania XII) in In Your House. Better Friends, Better Enemies on April 28. He challenged Michaels for the title once more in a steel cage match at a house show on May 19, but was defeated again. Diesel, Michaels, Razor Ramon, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, a group of off-screen friends who collectively called "The Kliq," hugged one another in the ring and bid farewell to each other. This incident, later identified as the "Curtain Call" or "MSG Incident," was a serious breach of character, since it displayed heels and babyfaces interacting with one another. Nash left for WCW shortly after, with his WWF obligations now fully fulfilled.

After two weeks of Scott Hall's appearance on WCW and taunting announcers, wrestlers, and the company, Nash and his pal returned to work on June 10, 1996, after Hall interrupted Eric Bischoff. The pair were originally described as "invaders" from the WWF, and the taleline had pushed them as "invaders" from the WWF (which WCW later had to scale back due to legal issues raised by the WWF). At Bash at the Beach, Hall and Nash fought Lex Luger, Sting, and Randy Savage's team, promising to add one more man to their entourage. Hulk Hogan came out to save the match, but it was then that Savage would turn on Savage and announce himself as Nash and Hall's third man. They began shaming promotions under the New World Order right away (nWo). He had dyed his hair blonde at his return. Nash continued to work with Hall as the Outsiders from 1996 to 1997, and they also competed for the WCW World Tag Team Championship. Nash began to exhibit his leadership abilities in the nWo and became a "second in command" alongside Hogan. In 1997, Nash, Hall, and Sean Waltman distinguished themselves from the rest of the nWo by naming themselves the "Wolfpact."

The nWo began to combat within its ranks after a while, with Hogan and Nash fighting for supremacy. On April 20, 1998, the confrontation came to a conclusion for Savage's newest WCW World Heavyweight Championships against Hogan and former nWo inductee Randy Savage. Nash intervened on Savage's behalf and jackknifed Hogan to the mat, igniting the dissolution of the nWo into two opposing sides (Nash's involvement was not sufficient to prevent Hogan from regaining his championship, despite Bret Hart's interference shortly thereafter). Nash joined nWo Wolfpact as the leader, as well as Savage, Curt Hennig, and Konnan. Hennig, however, defected over to Hogan's nWo Hollywood group just later. Then turned on Nash during a match between Hall, Nash, Sting, and The Giant (who had been kicked out two years ago), getting him to his tag team championship belt and leaving the ring. However, Lex Luger joined Nash's crew for a brief period of time. After being recruited by both sides early in 1998, Sting would eventually become a member as well. Nash became Sting's partner after Sting captured Giant's half of the tag team title at the Great American Bash in June. They defended the championship until July 20, when they were defeated by Hall and The Giant. Nash later set his sights on his ex girlfriend, and the feud came to a halt at Halloween Havoc on October 25. Nash jackknifed Hall twice during the match, but instead of pinning him, the ring and lost by countout. Nash and Diamond Dallas Page became part of a loosely coordinated "creative team" that also included Dusty Rhodes and Kevin Sullivan in November 1998.

Nash's 60-man, three ring battle royal, which was a staple of the pay-per-view, was contested the following month, with the winner taking a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship at Starrcade. Nash came to an end after practically knocking his ring out and big booting Lex Luger, who had Scott Hall in the Torture Rack over the top rope, got his shot at the title. Nash captured the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Goldberg (who had a record of 173–0 losses before the match) after Scott Hall stunned Goldberg with a stun gun. Nash ended Goldberg's long-running undefeated streak in doing so. Nash and Goldberg were supposed to meet in a rematch on January 4, 1999, but the match didn't take place because Goldberg was banned for stalking Miss Elizabeth. The night also marked the return of Hulk Hogan after his "retirement" two months ago. Nash took on Hogan instead, with Goldberg unable to fight. Hogan simply poked Nash in the chest, causing him to crumble and not allow Hogan to pinned him for the title. The act brought the two feuding nWo factions together into a single entity. The revival, however, was short-lived, and by May 1999, the nWo reunion was over due to injuries to Hogan, Hall, Luger, and Steiner. In the meantime, Nash became WCW's head booker in February 1999 and assisted in writing some of the later WCW's more popular scripts.

Nash defeated Diamond Dallas Page at Slamboree in May 1999 for the second time. He appeared on The Tonight Show and put up a $250,000 challenge to Bret Hart for its May 24 show. Owen, Bret's brother, died in a wrestling stunt right as Bret was heading to Los Angeles; this promptly cancelled their match and feud. Nash then found a feud with returning Randy Savage, who was later joined by a returning Sid Vicious at The Great American Bash in June, effectively ending Nash's disqualification victory (as the Jackknife Powerbomb's signature move by WCW leadership due to the high risk of injury). This rivalry came to an end in a tag team match at Bash in July 1999, pitting Nash and Sting against Savage and Sid. It was also agreed that whoever had the pin in the match would become the WCW World Heavyweight Champion. Nash was pinned by Savage and lost his championship, but he would have his revenge on Nitro next night in a championship match between Savage and a returning Hulk Hogan, and Hogan kept the tie alive. Nash fought Hogan during a match pitting Hogan against Vicious the following week. Nash, Sid, and Rick Steiner then feuded with Hogan, Sting, and a returning Goldberg until Road Wild, where Hogan defeated Nash in a "retirement" match. Nash, Hall, Bret Hart, and Jeff Jarrett were among the 'nWo 2000's that was later revealed to be a new nWo version involving Nash, Hall, Bret Hart, and Jeff Jarrett. Due to Hart's illness, the series will not last long, and Nash spent the majority of 2000 feuding with Terry Funk, Mike Awesome, Scott Steiner, and Booker T.

On the August 28, 2000 episode of Monday Nitro in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Nash defeated the WCW World Heavyweight Championship from Booker T. At Fall Brawl, he eventually lost it to Booker T. He served as a WCW commissioner and mentor to the Natural Born Thrillers, who would then turn to Nash. Nash joined Diamond Dallas Page, reuniting the Vegas Connection, but The Insiders were renamed. They sparred with the Perfect Event (Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo) and captured the WCW World Tag Team Championship in Mayhem on November 26, 2000. They were first stripped of their position by Commissioner Mike Sanders in mid-December, just a few weeks later. They regained the title at Starrcade a week later. The Insiders' 2001 feud with the Natural Born Thrillers continued in 2001 (WCW's final months). Nash lost another "retirement" match to Scott Steiner at SuperBrawl Revenge, but it would not be long before the World Wrestling Federation announced the transfer of the organization to the World Wrestling Federation. Nash chose to postpone the remainder of his deal, which came as he had a stipulated deal with AOL Time Warner.

Nash, along with Scott Hall and Hulk Hogan, were rehired by the WWF following the expiration of his AOL Time Warner contract. Vince McMahon said they had recruited the nWo in order to destroy the WWF, which McMahon could not accept because McMahon was a co-owner of the nWo. Billed as the original nWo, Nash, Hall, and Hogan returned to the WWF at No Way Out on February 17, 2002. The nWo conducted an interview in which they proclaimed to have reformed, gave a six pack of beer to Stone Cold Steve Austin (which he refused), and traded insults with The Rock. They interfered in the evening's main event, assisting Chris Jericho in retaining his Undisputed WWF Championship against Austin. Nash continued to interfere in the match between Hall and Austin, until he was forced to return backstage. After having offered thanks to Hogan for defeating him earlier that night, he and Hall turned on him later that night. Nash suffered a quadriceps tear in a tag match on the July 8 episode of Raw in March. The nWo was officially disbanded by Vince McMahon as Eric Bischoff became Raw's general manager on the July 15 episode of Raw.

Nash returned from a nine-month absence on the television show "April 7, 2003," much to the delight of both Shawn Michaels and Triple H, who were feuding with each other when Nash returned. Nash was given the opportunity to remain friends with either Michaels or Triple H as part of the storyline, but Triple H made the call for him and ended with a low blow. Nash and Triple H feuding with one another spawned. In a six-man tag team match against Triple H, Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho, Nash teamed up with Michaels and Booker T against Triple H, Ric Flair, and Chris Jericho, ending with Triple H winning for his team and pinning Nash after striking him with a sledgehammer. Following backlash, Nash was given a shot at Triple H's World Heavyweight Championship, and the two teams met in Judgment Day with Michaels and Flair in their respective corners. Following the match, Triple H would be disqualified and retained the title as a result, but that did not discourage Nash from tackling Triple H, throwing him through the announcer's table with a Jackknife Powerbomb. They clashed again in a Cell match in Bad Blood next month, with Mick Foley as the special guest referee, but Nash lost the match.

Nash feuded with Chris Jericho in August 2003, and he was forced to shave his hair after losing a hair vs. hair match against Jericho on the August 18 episode of Raw. Nash was made to have his hair cut for his role as The Russian in the 2004 Punisher film. In an Elimination Chamber match against Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Goldberg, Chris Jericho, and Randy Orton, his last match in WWE was at SummerSlam. After Jericho pinned him from Michaels' Sweet Chin Music, he was the first to be ruled out. He did execute a Jackknife Powerbomb on Jericho and Orton before leaving, but not before. Nash then stepped away from in-ring action and underwent neck surgery.

On November 7, 2004, Nash appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling alongside the returning Scott Hall, who was assisting NWA World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett in a ladder match with Jeff Hardy. The three men identifie themselves as the King of Wrestling in subsequent weeks and began feuding with Hardy and A.J. Styles. Weakness, Styles, and Randy Savage defeated the Kings of Wrestling at Turning Point on December 5, the King of Wrestling was defeated by Hardy, Styles, and Randy Savage.

Hall left TNA in early 2005, and Nash and Jarrett were split after Nash stated his intention to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. At Against All Odds, Nash received a championship shot against Jarrett on February 13, 2005, but lost due to opposition from the debuting Outlaw. Following the loss, Nash and Sean Waltman joined forces with Sean Waltman to begin battling with the recently established Planet Jarty. In a First Blood match against Jartt, who struck Nash with his belt, Nash lost to The Outlaw in March 13. Planet Jartt and his allies' rivalry culminated in a scheduled Lethal Lockdown match against Jartt, Waltman, and Monty Brown, pitting Nash, Waltman, and The Outlaw. Nash was taken from the card and replaced with B.G. James was forced to miss much of 2005 due to a staph infection that had been on his staff.

Nash appeared on TNA on October 1 for the first episode of Impact! Jartt has been targeted and powerbombed on Spike TV, causing him to be shot and demolish him. On October 23, Nash advanced to face Jarrett in a match for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship at Bound for Glory. Nash and Jartt had several tense discussions in the weeks leading up to the festival, on one occasion brawling with one another and with guest referee Tito Ortiz. Nash was hospitalized with chest pains on October 22, the day before Bound for Glory. A fight royal was held in Bound for Glory to determine the number one contender; Rhino defeated Jarino and then defeated Jarino for the NWA World Heavyweight Championship. Nash was eventually discharged from the hospital after suffering a mild cardiac arrest. On a tour of South Africa, he returned to the ring in December 2005 and took several matches.

On the April 27, 2006 episode of Impact!, Nash revealed in a pre-taped segment that he would give Alex Shelley a personal interview. Nash boasted to be the world's most profitable WWF World Heavyweight Champion of all time, while others referred to the X Division as "basically filler" in the interview. Nash went on to announce that he planned to destabilize the X Division in order to reassert his TNA status. On May 14, he began his campaign at Sacrifice, powerbombing Puma and continuing his campaign on Impact's May 19 episode. Chris Sabin was fired shortly after he had defeated Petey Williams to win the TNA 2006 World X Cup Tournament for Team USA. Over the weeks, Nash continued to assault X Division wrestlers, culminating in Sabin's challenge of him to a match at Slammiversary. Nash's remarks were also accompanied by pre-taped segments with Shelley (some on YouTube) and his "X Division debut" on Impact!'s June 15 episode, where Nash fought a comedy match against a midget Shelley dubbed a "Sabin-type wrestler" in a pre-taped grappler. Nash defeated Sabin in his second televised match in less than a year, despite Shelley's help.

Nash and Shelley formed Paparazzi Productions around this time, with Johnny Devine as the cameraman. Nash then decided to apply for the X Division championship. He was drafted into a Number One Contendership match against Sabin at Hard Justice. He said he had created an 840° somersault splash that he would reveal in the match. However, over the weekend, he sustained a mysterious neck injury while playing it with Tito Ortiz, and named Alex Shelley as his replacement in the match. Nash was helpless as he watched Shelley lose the match to Sabin from a wheelchair. Nash was out of action due to the illness, but the Kevin Nash Open Invitational X Division Gauntlet Battle Royal was announced in Bound for Glory. The Austin Starr was the champion of the competition. Nash became involved in Starr, which seemed to be Shelley's behest. Nash appeared on the "Bowl Championship Series" during a weekly segment known as the Paparazzi Championship Series. In a segment called "Paparazzi Idol," he and Sonjay Dutt and Jay Lethal joined him in continuing these skits. Nash was a kind of boss for Lethal, assisting him in the adoption of "Macho Man" Randy Savage, who impersonated him. Lethal and Dutt's altercation caused Sacrifice. Nash broke it down, but Sonjay kicked him. Sonjay apologised, and Nash forgave him. With Nash's humming mantras backstage, Dutt became the Guru.

He began directing The Motor City Machine Guns, but this was short-lived before he took up the role of Dr. Nash, psychiatrist and advisor to Kurt and Karen Angle. Nash later participated in a short time with TNA Heavyweight Champion Kurt Angle, which culminated in the creation of Nash aiding Angle. Nash warned the Angles how difficult Sting can be based on Nash's history with Sting in WCW. Nash interfered on Angle's behalf during his World Championship defense against Sting at Bound for Glory. However, it was for naught as Sting claimed the award from Angle via Scorpion Death Drop after fending off Nash and Angle's wife, Karen. The following Thursday, Impact!, Nash, and Angle underwent a change of heart because Angle blamed Nash for his absence from the World Championship. Angle finally struck Nash, who was retaliated by Jackknife Powerbombing Angle in the middle of the fight. Sting defended the TNA World Championship against Angle in a rematch from Bound for Glory, and Nash had a ringside seat. Angle and Sting were out of the game, and when Angle pushed Sting onto Nash, Sting turned around and shot Nash in the chest with a right hand shot, resulting in Nash interfering on Angle's behalf. Even though earlier he said he was not going to help Angle, Angle and Sting were out of the game. Following the match, Angle won, Nash gave Angle a hand shake but Angle was "flipped off" by the new champion. An enraged Nash demanded a match with Angle, but TNA Management's public face, Jim Cornette, opted instead to book Nash against Sting and a colleague of his choosing, with the condition that the individual with the highest TNA World Heavyweight Champion will be named as the TNA World Heavyweight Champion. It was revealed to be Booker T. after a red herring that Scott Hall was the mystery partner.

Nash and his partner Samoa Joe were disqualified in a championship match against TNA World Tag Team Champions A.J. After Nash and presumably betrayed Joe, style and Tomko were lost. On the other hand, Nash was actually able to convince Joe into accepting his Machiavellian mentorship when they stormed into Nash's locker room fighting for a squabble. In a one-on-one match on Impact, Nash lost to Kurt Angle. With the winner qualifying for the Three Ways to Glory match at No Surrender, the contestants are locked. He appears to have parted ways with Joe on good terms on the September 11 episode of Impact, prior to No Surrender. Nash returned to Bound for Glory IV and swerved Joe in the back with Sting's bat, assisting Sting in winning the TNA World Heavyweight Championship and turning heel once more. He officially joined Sting, Booker T. Scott Steiner, and Kurt Angle on October 23 to form The Main Event Mafia, a gruesome stable. Joe did not foresee him for his scathing remarks directed at his best friend Scott Hall's absence a year earlier, and befriending him was part of a long-term plot to boot him out of the position. He went on to defeat Joe at Turning Point. Nash was unable to be on the Genesis card due to a staph infection, and Cute Kip was to replace it. Nash appeared on Impact on January 29. The main event Mafia took over the show.

On Impact!

He began an on-screen friendship with Jenna Morasca, who later began appearing as his valet on April 23. He was reunited with Joe and helped Angle win the World Heavyweight Championship at Slammiversary, and he was a hero at the World Heavyweight Championships.

Nash beat A.J. at Victory Road. The Legends Championship is his first appearance in TNA. Nash lost the title to Mick Foley just three days after. Nash beat Foley at Hard Justice a month later to regain the Legends Trophy. In a 3-way match that also included Hernandez, Bound for Glory Nash lost the Legends Championship to Eric Young.

After Angle announced the death of The Main Event Mafia and turned model, Nash became a star in the feud with Eric Young and the World Elite, on the following episode of Impact! However, World Elite members Doug Williams and Brutus Magnus gained their TNA World Tag Team Championship the following month.

On the following episode of Impact!

As a tumescent Mick Foley approached Young with a note about who Hogan would be returning to TNA, he congratulated him on his brave play and aligned himself with the World Elite, as he approached him in TNA for information about who Hogan would be returning to him, including Syxx-Pac, Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell, and Scott Hall. When Nash said he was getting "the band" back together, hints at a nWo return, more mistrust was fuelled to Hall's return. Nash was involved in the "Feast or Fired" match and took home the briefcase containing a shot at the TNA World Tag Team Championship.

Impact's special live, three-hour Monday night version of Impact on January 4, 2010. Hogan made his TNA debut in TNA, and Scott Hall and Sean Waltman joined the company to welcome him. Nash, Hall, and Waltman all formed their alliance, but Hogan remained outside the alliance, claiming that times have changed. The match was contested by Beer Money, Inc. on February 4th, Genesis and Syxx-Pac in their first match back together, Nash and Syxx-Pac, who had replaced Scott Hall in the match, were defeated by Beer Money, Inc. In a tag team match, where The Band's TNA futures were on the line, Destination X Nash and Young faced Hall and Syxx-Pac. Nash fought Young and helped the Band win, granting them contracts with the firm. Nash gave Young a spot in the Band on March 29, claiming that what happened in Destination X was nothing personal and nothing personal. Young turned down the bid and defeated the Band in a six-man tag team steel cage match. Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, and Jeff Hardy were a team of the evening. Nash returned a measure of revenge on Young by defeating him in a Lockdown steel cage match. Nash replaced Syxx-Pac, who was unable to attend the performance, and began a St. Louis Street Fight, where they were defeated by Team 3D. Eric Young joined Team 3D and joined The Band on May 3rd. After TNA World Tag Team Champion Matt Morgan was assaulted by Samoa Joe, Nash's teaming with Hall and pinned him to victory in the TNA World Tag Team Championship, he pinned him to victory on May 4, during the tapings of the May 13 episode of Impact! Young was later named as the third of the champions under Freebird Rule, according to Nash. The Band was barred from the Tag Team Championship at the June 14 tapings of Impact! Hall had been released from his TNA deal the day before. Nash and Young decided on the June 24 episode of Impact! as Nash had hoped to go after Hogan, who was chastised for what happened to Hall and Waltman, but did not want Young to be punished for it.

Nash was unable to convince Hogan to rehire Hall and Waltman, and missed a meeting with Eric Bischoff, who claimed that Nash had attempted to hurt TNA by bringing Hall and Waltman in. Sting, who had feuded with Jarrett prior to his 30-day suspension, was back in TNA and defeated Jarrett, Bischoff, and Hogan together with Nash on August 5th. Nash defeated Jarrett in a singles match on August 26, following Sting's interference. Nash helped Sting beat Jart the following week. Samoa Joe assembles himself with Jartt and Hogan at the end of the match, causing Nash and Sting to fly away. After Jartt struck Sting with a baseball bat, Jarrender Jarrett and Joe defeated Nash and Sting in a tag team match. D'Angelo Dinero, who claimed to have accessed Bischoff's secretary Miss Tessmacher's details, joined Nash and Sting on the September 16 episode of Reaction, which would mean Nash and Sting were correct about Hogan and Bischoff being up to something. After Hulk Hogan, who had been supposed to team with Jardt and Joe, was forced to cancel due to back surgery, he was compelled to leave Bound for Glory Nash, Sting and Dinero. Jartt left Joe at the end of the game and left him pinned by Nash. Nash and Sting were correct about Hogan and Bischoff from the start of the case, as they joined Jargon and Bischoff. Nash's deal with TNA came to an end on October 13, 2010 and he announced his withdrawal from professional wrestling. Nash and Sting announced on October 14, 2010 that they were walking away from TNA rather than being a part of Hogan and Bischoff's regime. Nash signed a new TNA deal in January 2011, but before being contacted by WWE, he was released on television.

At the 2011 Gathering of the Juggalos, Nash, Hall, and Waltman appeared. Nash beat Road Dogg and Billy Gunn with a victory by Waltman.

Nash made his All Japan Pro Wrestling debut on September 23, 2012, defeating Seiya Kea and Taiya, while Nash pinning Sanada with the Jackknife Powerbomb for the victory. Nash appeared at two GFW shows on August 28 and 29, 2015, having briefly signed with Global Force Wrestling as a "Legend" to help promote activities and tours. Flex Armstrong was defeated by Nash for the Big Time Wrestling Heavyweight Championship on August 10, 2018. This will be his last match, after he announced his retirement on January 5, 2020, to restore his body.

Diesel for the first time since 1996, Rumble, Nash, was promoted to the Royal Rumble in the Royal Rumble Match on January 30, 2011. He ranked 32 in the competition, but Wade Barrett ended him at number 32, but Wade Barrett was ruled out by Wade Barrett. He had signed a five-year WWE Legends deal, according to the website. Nash and Sean Waltman were on hand on April 2 to celebrate Shawn Michaels' induction into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. Michaels was banned by Triple H, and Nash and Waltman joined the two on stage to celebrate. Michaels was inspired by Michael's words after Michaels' address.

Nash, who is no longer recognized as Diesel, returned to SummerSlam in August, chastising CM Punk after he became WWE Champion, allowing Alberto Del Rio to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and win the trophy, effectively turning heel. Triple H, WWE's on-screen chief operating officer, had ordered him to assault the winner by text message the following night. On the radio, Punk blasted Nash, so Nash hit him the next week. He dragged Punk out of a match, thus causing him to miss out on a championship match. Nash was signed by John Laurinaitis to an on-screen deal the next week and demanded a match against Punk. Nash fired Triple H at Punk instead of booking him into the match, but Nash fired them both at a labor contract signing and was shot on film. Nash was intruding in their match at Night of Champions, along with The Miz and R-Truth. Triple H defeated Nash with a sledgehammer before winning the game. After the match, Nash returned to help Miz and Truth defeat Punk and Triple H with a Jackknife Powerbomb and struck him again with his sledgehammer, blocking him from receiving medical attention and taking him off television. Laurinaitis then committed Nash to a new deal on Monday, the following Monday. He continued to appear on Raw, threatening Santino Marella with a Jackknife Powerbomb and reducing advertisements about how Triple H was more of a boss than a friend. Nash participated in his first televised WWE match in eight years on December 5 in Raw, defeating Santino Marella. Nash continued to fight Triple H at TLC: Tables, Ladders, and Chairs in a ladder match with a sledgehammer hanging above the ring, which he lost by pinfall after a sledgehammer shot to the face, bringing the feud to a halt.

Nash debuted on WWE's developmental training program, NXT, in late 2012 and early 2013. Nash assumed the night as the guest Match Commissioner, a position he was granted at the behest of Dusty Rhodes. Nash was halted by Heath Slater, who promptly delivered his finisher, effectively turning face to the crowd. Nash would return to NXT's tapings on January 20th to reunite with members of The Kliq, allowing him to effectively resolve all issues with Triple H, and embracing him once more. The reunion also became a reunion of D-Generation-X and Nash, and the honorary member of the stable was given the title of honorary member of the stable. Nash assisted DX in taking down Damien Sandow.

Nash came as the 14th entrant in the 2014 Royal Rumble game, excluding Jack Swagger before being eliminated by Roman Reigns. Scott Hall, his real-life close friend and former tag team competitor, was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2014. Nash appeared on the September 11 episode of Raw to reunite the nWo with Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall as part of Hogan's birthday celebration. Following his detention, Nash was barred from WWE on December 24, 2014, but the charges were quickly dismissed when they were dropped.

They defeated The Ascension, the nWo's reuniting act from previous weeks, on January 19, 2015, with X-Pac and Scott Hall collaborating with The Acolytes Protection Agency and The New Age Outlaws. Nash would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2015. Shawn Michaels, a long-time friend and Kliq member, was inducted on March 28. Nash, alongside Hulk Hogan and Scott Hall, in their attempt to even the odds in favour of Sting in his match against Triple H, who had D-Generation X (Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, Shawn Michaels, and X-Pac) in his corner on March 29, 1999. However, Sting lost the match after Triple H struck him with a sledgehammer while attempting a Stinger splash.

On July 22, 2019, Nash made his WWE debut at the Raw Reunion show. Nash was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame (2020 Class) for the second time as a member of nWo, alongside Hogan, Hall, and Sean Waltman on December 9, 2019.

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