10 Things You Forgot About Kevin Nash's WWE Run As Diesel

Nowadays, he gets a bad rap for whatever perceived lazy work rate he might have. But make no mistake, Kevin Nash was one of wrestling’s first big men that were also fairly agile. Nowadays, that’s nowhere near as good as most big men, but in the early '90s, Nash was pretty good.

His career was treading water if not completely drowning in WCW. But once he got to WWE and was branded Diesel, his career never looked back. He went from huge hulking WCW scrub to the top of the card practically the moment he debuted as Shawn Michaels’ bodyguard - a true testament to the eye Vince McMahon has for talent.

10 His WCW Release

For several years before coming to the WWE, Nash was drowning in WCW. Thanks to a litany of terrible gimmicks like The Master Blaster, Vinnie Vegas, and of course Oz; it was easy to picture Nash actually wanting to get out of the business. Thanks to Shawn Michaels catching him on TV and The Steiner Brothers getting in touch with him, he caught wind WWE wanted him, and he convinced head booker Ole Anderson to give him his release. He even faxed it from WCW’s offices to Stamford to let WWE know he was free to come aboard.

9 Under Three Years

In the middle of 1993, Diesel made his grand debut in Shawn Michaels’ corner as his “insurance policy.” It wasn’t long before he got a name and the duo cut an impressive visage. While WCW had little to no clue as to what to do with Nash, it only took Vince McMahon a year and a half to make Diesel his world champion.

By the time he left and headed back to WCW, it was just under three full years. That’s all it took to make Nash a global superstar.

8 Fastest To Triple Crown

It took Diesel just a year to get to the top of the wrestling business. It was shocking to see even someone as imposing as Diesel rise to the top that quickly. By the time he had defeated Bob Backlund, he barely wrestled 100 matches on WWE TV. In just a little over a year and a half, Big Daddy Cool had at that time, been the fastest to win every major WWE title and become a Triple Crown Champion.

7 Wanted To Add A White Streak To His Hair

In what could have made a cool moment even more memorable, Diesel had a unique idea to help sell being pulled underneath the ring by The Undertaker. According to a story told by Bruce Prichard, the big man wanted to come up from the ring and escape The Deadman with a white streak across his jet black hair. While the reality was Nash was getting tired of dying his hair, it still would have helped to sell even further just how terrified Diesel was of The Undertaker without saying it.

6 Didn’t Want To Leave For WCW

Thanks to an argument between Bret Hart, Diesel, and The Undertaker at the Rage In The Cage: In Your House event, it started to spell the end of Nash’s first run in WWE as Diesel. Bret as WWE Champion wanted to look strong.

But to help sell the feud between Taker and Big D, he had to eat the Jackknife powerbomb and be practically defeated before 'Taker grabbed Diesel and pulled him to the depths. Bret’s unwillingness to do business was what began the end, and Vince not willing to match the dollar amount WCW offered was the second.

5 Returned At The 40 Man Rumble

Despite returning to WWE in the early aughts, Kevin Nash did so as himself - Big Sexy. But for the first and so far only 40-man Royal Rumble, it wasn’t Nash that made his return after the TNA run. In 2011, Diesel was entry 32 in the Rumble.

4 Related: Kevin Nash's 2011 Return Was One Of The Weirdest Ever

The engines started revving and Diesel’s laid-back trucker theme rang throughout the arena. Big Daddy Cool as a character had made his return to the WWE after nearly 20 years away.

3 What A Pittance!

One of the stranger things that happened during Diesel’s run in WWE was defaming the tag team titles. Around the same time that Cactus Jack was spitting on the WCW tag team title, Diesel was heaving the WWE tag team title to the floor, stating “what a pittance,” in regard to still having the tag belts despite just losing the IC Title to Razor Ramon earlier in the evening. Not coincidentally, Jack got fired by WCW for his actions, meanwhile, Diesel's star continued to rise.

2 The Diesel Spot

Diesel and Shawn Michaels Royal Rumble 1994

While guys have been alone in the ring before Diesel was in the Royal Rumble, Nash is the reason that it’s called The Diesel Spot.

He was the first superstar to be left alone in the ring and obliterate a few guys while the crowd cheered a heel on thanks to their dominance. It would happen to Steve Austin and later to Kane and Roman Reigns, and it all started with Diesel.

1 Shane O'Mac Named Him

When Kevin Nash was invited to come aboard and sign with the WWE, like so many other superstars he was invited to the mythical pool area of the McMahon compound. While Vince, Bruce Prichard, and Pat Patterson were trying to workshop some names for the big man, Shane McMahon took one look at him and in the parlance of the day said “that’s guy's Diesel,” in reference to how monstrous he looked. The rest was history.