Kevin Wacholz
Encyclopedia
Kevin Wacholz is a former professional wrestler
who once worked for the World Wrestling Federation
(WWF) in 1992 as Nailz. He was also known as "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly in the American Wrestling Association
(AWA) in the 1980s.
midcarder. By 1986, he was a top heel and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
. He was also using the moniker, "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly.
In 1987, he was issuing arm wrestling
challenges and was managed by Sherri Martel
. This caused him to feud with Tommy Rich
, who answered one of his challenges on an edition of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN
. Kelly appeared to have the arm-wrestling match against Rich lost when Martel interfered on Kelly's behalf, for which Martel paid when Rich tore off her dress as payback.
After Martel left the AWA, she was replaced by Madusa Miceli
as Kelly's manager. He often teamed with Nick Kiniski
as "The Perfect Tag Team" to contend for the AWA World Tag Team title
.
He left the AWA for the independent promotions before it folded in 1991.
during his incarceration, and also claimed to be innocent of his crimes. Following Big Boss Man's squash of Dave Roulette on a May 30 edition of WWF Superstars, Nailz, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, attacked Boss Man, then handcuffed him to the top rope and repeatedly hit and choked him with Boss Man's nightstick.
Nailz easily defeated numerous jobbers en route to defeating Boss Man's storyline ally Virgil
at SummerSlam
and continued to feud with Big Boss Man, who had recovered from Nailz's beating. Nailz is also credited with ending the full time wrestling career of Sgt Slaughter in October 1992 (Slaughter would not appear again on WWF TV in a wrestling capacity until December 1997) Eventually, Big Boss Man defeated Nailz in a nightstick match at Survivor Series
, putting an end to their feud.
He was then set to feud with The Undertaker. The two had a stare down that aired on the October 24 edition of WWF Superstars and a picture of the two staring was used as the cover for the January 1993 issue of WWF's monthly magazine, but the feud never went anywhere.
However, Wacholz was fired
from the WWF in December 1992, reportedly after he attacked Vince McMahon
in his office over a dispute over money, while John Nord
watched the door. Bret Hart
recalls that Wacholz "cornered Vince in his office and screamed at him for fifteen minutes". Bret notes that he was just down the hall from the incident when he heard a loud crash, which was Wacholz "knocking Vince over in his chair, choking him violently". The incident led to a series of lawsuits between Wacholz and McMahon. Wacholz fired the first shot, alleging that McMahon had gave him steroid
s on a number of occasions; McMahon denied the claim, but Wacholz proceeded to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. The WWF filed a counterclaim against Wacholz, but later dropped the matter.
Wacholz later went on to testify against McMahon and the WWF when they were being indicted for giving their athletes steroids, saying that McMahon told him to take steroids and that he personally hated McMahon. According to the 2003 book WrestleCrap
, his testimony included the comment "I hate Vince McMahon's guts." Wacholz's testimony backfired and proved a catalyst in McMahon's acquittal.
(WCW) in 1993 for a short stay as The Prisoner to feud with Sting
.
Wrestled In Jim Crockett's Short Lived WWN promotion in 1994 Under the name "The Convict." He would also wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling
that year.
In 1996, Wacholz used his Nailz gimmick in Tito Santana
's American Wrestling Federation
. He retired in 2000.
He has two adult children and continues to reside in Minnesota. Wacholz owns & operates his own business - AAA Trailers.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
who once worked for the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
(WWF) in 1992 as Nailz. He was also known as "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly in the American Wrestling Association
American Wrestling Association
The American Wrestling Association was an American professional wrestling promotion based in Minneapolis, Minnesota that ran from 1960 to 1991. It was owned and founded by Verne Gagne and Wally Karbo...
(AWA) in the 1980s.
American Wrestling Association
Kevin Wacholz started wrestling in 1982 in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as Kevin Kelly, a babyfaceFace (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a babyface or face or in simple words, a fan favorite is a character who is portrayed as a heroic relative to the heel wrestlers, who are analogous to villains...
midcarder. By 1986, he was a top heel and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship
AWA World Heavyweight Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Heavyweight Championship was a professional wrestling world heavyweight championship and the highest ranked championship in the defunct American Wrestling Association. All AWA trademarks, including the AWA World Heavyweight Championship, are now owned by WWE...
. He was also using the moniker, "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly.
In 1987, he was issuing arm wrestling
Arm wrestling
Arm wrestling is a sport with two participants. Each participant places one arm on a surface with their elbows bent and touching the surface, and they grip each other's hand...
challenges and was managed by Sherri Martel
Sherri Martel
Sherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
. This caused him to feud with Tommy Rich
Tommy Rich
Thomas Richardson , better known by his ring name, "Wildfire" Tommy Rich, is a professional wrestler. He is best known for his wrestling career in Georgia and Memphis throughout the 1980s.-Professional wrestling career:...
, who answered one of his challenges on an edition of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Kelly appeared to have the arm-wrestling match against Rich lost when Martel interfered on Kelly's behalf, for which Martel paid when Rich tore off her dress as payback.
After Martel left the AWA, she was replaced by Madusa Miceli
Debra Miceli
Debrah Ann Miceli is a Monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She is best known under her ring names Madusa or Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she held the AWA World Women's Championship one time...
as Kelly's manager. He often teamed with Nick Kiniski
Nick Kiniski
Nick Kiniski is a Canadian retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his work with WCCW, PNW and AWA and for being one half of the tag team American Breed with Paul Diamond in Texas All-Star Wrestling.-Career:...
as "The Perfect Tag Team" to contend for the AWA World Tag Team title
AWA World Tag Team Championship
The American Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was professional wrestling world tag team championship in the American Wrestling Association from 1960 until the promotion folded in 1991.-History :...
.
He left the AWA for the independent promotions before it folded in 1991.
World Wrestling Federation
In 1992, a noticeably heavier Wacholz entered the WWF as Nailz, an ex-convict who, in a series of promos alleged that he was abused by former prison guard Big Boss ManRay Traylor
Ray Walter Traylor, Jr. was an American professional wrestler. He was best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Big Boss Man and World Championship Wrestling under various ring names, most notably Big Bubba Rogers.-Early years:Traylor, a prison guard in...
during his incarceration, and also claimed to be innocent of his crimes. Following Big Boss Man's squash of Dave Roulette on a May 30 edition of WWF Superstars, Nailz, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, attacked Boss Man, then handcuffed him to the top rope and repeatedly hit and choked him with Boss Man's nightstick.
Nailz easily defeated numerous jobbers en route to defeating Boss Man's storyline ally Virgil
Mike Jones (wrestler)
Mike Jones is an American professional wrestler, who most recently performed for World Wrestling Entertainment under the ring name Virgil, where he appeared on its Raw brand as Ted DiBiase, Jr.'s personal assistant...
at SummerSlam
SummerSlam (1992)
SummerSlam was the fifth annual SummerSlam professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on August 29, 1992 at Wembley Stadium, London, England but was aired in the United States on August 31...
and continued to feud with Big Boss Man, who had recovered from Nailz's beating. Nailz is also credited with ending the full time wrestling career of Sgt Slaughter in October 1992 (Slaughter would not appear again on WWF TV in a wrestling capacity until December 1997) Eventually, Big Boss Man defeated Nailz in a nightstick match at Survivor Series
Survivor Series (1992)
Survivor Series was the sixth annual Survivor Series pay-per-view professional wrestling event produced by the World Wrestling Federation . It took place on November 25, 1992 at the Richfield Coliseum in Richfield, Ohio...
, putting an end to their feud.
He was then set to feud with The Undertaker. The two had a stare down that aired on the October 24 edition of WWF Superstars and a picture of the two staring was used as the cover for the January 1993 issue of WWF's monthly magazine, but the feud never went anywhere.
However, Wacholz was fired
Termination of employment
-Involuntary termination:Involuntary termination is the employee's departure at the hands of the employer. There are two basic types of involuntary termination, known often as being "fired" and "laid off." To be fired, as opposed to being laid off, is generally thought of to be the employee's...
from the WWF in December 1992, reportedly after he attacked Vince McMahon
Vince McMahon
Vincent Kennedy "Vince" McMahon is an American professional wrestling promoter, announcer, commentator, film producer, actor and former occasional professional wrestler. McMahon is the current Chairman, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Committee of professional wrestling promotion WWE...
in his office over a dispute over money, while John Nord
John Nord
John Nord is a retired American professional wrestler. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.-Career:John Nord started wrestling in late 1984 as "The Barbarian" for Mid-South Wrestling under manager Skandor Akbar...
watched the door. Bret Hart
Bret Hart
Bret Hart is a Canadian on-screen personality, writer, actor and Semi-retired professional wrestler. Like others in the Hart wrestling family, Hart has an amateur wrestling background, including wrestling at Ernest Manning High School and Mount Royal College...
recalls that Wacholz "cornered Vince in his office and screamed at him for fifteen minutes". Bret notes that he was just down the hall from the incident when he heard a loud crash, which was Wacholz "knocking Vince over in his chair, choking him violently". The incident led to a series of lawsuits between Wacholz and McMahon. Wacholz fired the first shot, alleging that McMahon had gave him steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s on a number of occasions; McMahon denied the claim, but Wacholz proceeded to file a wrongful termination lawsuit. The WWF filed a counterclaim against Wacholz, but later dropped the matter.
Wacholz later went on to testify against McMahon and the WWF when they were being indicted for giving their athletes steroids, saying that McMahon told him to take steroids and that he personally hated McMahon. According to the 2003 book WrestleCrap
WrestleCrap
WrestleCrap is a professional wrestling website created by RD Reynolds and Merle Vincent , serving as a "hall of shame" for some of the worst gimmicks and storylines in pro wrestling history...
, his testimony included the comment "I hate Vince McMahon's guts." Wacholz's testimony backfired and proved a catalyst in McMahon's acquittal.
Post-WWF
He went to World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) in 1993 for a short stay as The Prisoner to feud with Sting
Sting (wrestler)
Steven James "Steve" Borden , better known by his ring name Sting, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
.
Wrestled In Jim Crockett's Short Lived WWN promotion in 1994 Under the name "The Convict." He would also wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...
that year.
In 1996, Wacholz used his Nailz gimmick in Tito Santana
Tito Santana
Merced Solis better known by his ring name Tito Santana, is an American professional wrestler whose heyday spanned from the late 1970s to the early 1990s, though he continues to appear on the independent circuit. He is best known from his time in the World Wrestling Federation...
's American Wrestling Federation
American Wrestling Federation
The American Wrestling Federation was a national professional wrestling federation founded by Paul Alperstein.-History:Alperstein, a promoter from Chicago, founded the AWF in 1994 and was on-air president of the company....
. He retired in 2000.
He has two adult children and continues to reside in Minnesota. Wacholz owns & operates his own business - AAA Trailers.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Lateral vascular neck restraint
- Sleeper hold
- Signature moves
- The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Chokehold)
- Standing clothesline
- ManagersManager (professional wrestling)In professional wrestling, a manager is a secondary character paired with a wrestler for a variety of reasons. The manager is often either a non-wrestler, an occasional wrestler, an older wrestler who has retired or is nearing retirement or, in some cases, a new wrestler who is breaking into the...
- Madusa MiceliDebra MiceliDebrah Ann Miceli is a Monster truck driver and former professional wrestler. She is best known under her ring names Madusa or Alundra Blayze. Her early career was spent in the American Wrestling Association, where she held the AWA World Women's Championship one time...
- Sherri MartelSherri MartelSherri Schrull was an American professional wrestler and manager, better known by her ring names, Sherri Martel and Sensational Sherri....
- Madusa Miceli
- Nicknames
- "Mr. Magnificent"
Championships and accomplishments
- World Wide Wrestling AllianceWorld Wide Wrestling AllianceThe World Wide Wrestling Alliance , formerly known as NWA Ohio, is a defunct American professional wrestling promotion. However, NWA Ohio Owner & Promoter Dave Nelson's claim of owership of the WWWA name is disputed.-History:...
- WWWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)
- Pro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling IllustratedPro Wrestling Illustrated is a professional wrestling magazine. PWI is currently based in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania and published by Kappa Publishing Group.-History:The first issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was released in 1979...
- PWI ranked him #78 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
- PWI ranked him #336 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003