Kevin Nash Names Steve Austin as the Most Over Performer in Wrestling History
The Evolution of a Massive Fan Connection
Kevin Nash spent decades in the ring alongside and against the biggest names in sports entertainment, including Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, The Rock, and Ric Flair, as detailed by Wrestling Inc. Yet, when reflecting on crowd reactions and live audience engagement, Nash singled out Austin’s peak period as an absolute outlier in professional wrestling history.
Missed Opportunities and Tag-Team History
Beyond evaluating Austin’s status as a generational draw, Nash also addressed his own in-ring history with the iconic star. On the “Kliq This” podcast, Nash expressed regret over never having a major singles match against Austin, describing himself as “runner-up” and “Miss Congeniality at WrestleMania 18.” At that 2002 event, Austin faced the late Scott Hall, who had Nash in his corner before Nash was ejected from ringside, leading to an Austin victory secured via two Stunners, according to Wrestling Inc. reporting.
While the two never clashed in a one-on-one pay-per-view singles match, they did share the ring in other capacities. Nash, Hall, and Hulk Hogan—collectively known as the NWO—defeated Austin and The Rock in a handicap match on the March 11, 2002, episode of “WWE Raw.” Earlier in their careers, during their time in World Championship Wrestling in 1991 when Nash performed as Oz, the two briefly teamed up on the house show circuit, securing a victory against Firebreaker Chip and Todd Champion via double disqualification, per Wrestling Inc.
Behind the Scenes on Set
The working relationship between Nash and Austin extended beyond the squared circle into Hollywood feature films. Nash reminisced on “Kliq This” about shooting the 2005 remake of “The Longest Yard,” which featured a cast including Goldberg and The Great Khali. Rather than indulging in the high expenses typically associated with film production per diems, Nash and Austin found ways to economize during the 40 to 45 days of production in New Mexico and subsequent weeks in Los Angeles. Nash noted that he and Austin routinely bypassed expensive resort pricing by purchasing items directly from local liquor stores to mix their own drinks after long shooting days alongside hundreds of extras.
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