Athletes - Kevin Wacholz

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	Athletes - Kevin Wacholz

Kevin Wacholz was a professional wrestler who once worked for the WWE (then WWF) in 1992 as Nailz. He was also known as "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly in the American Wrestling Association in the 1980's.

AWA Career

Kevin Wacholz started wrestling in 1982 in the American Wrestling Association as Kevin Kelly. By 1986, he was a top heel and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. He was managed by Madusa Miceli and often teamed with Nick Kiniski as "The Perfect Tag Team". He was also using the moniker, "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly. In 1987, he was issuing arm wrestling challenges and now managed by Sherri Martel. This caused him to feud with Tommy Rich who answered one of his challenges.

He left the AWA for the independent promotions before it folded in 1991.

WWF Career

Feud with Big Boss Man

Wacholz entered the WWF in 1992 as Nailz, an ex-convict who, in a series of promos alleged that he was abused by former prison guard (and now fellow WWF wrestler) Big Boss Man while in prison. Following Big Boss Man's squash match on a WWF syndicated program, Nailz – dressed in orange prison garb and hell-bent on revenge – charged the ring and brutally attacked Big Boss Man, eventually using a nightstick to injure his one-time tormentor.

Nailz squashed Virgil at SummerSlam 1992 and continued to feud with Big Boss Man, who had recovered from Nailz's beating. Eventually, Big Boss Man defeated Nailz in a Night Stick match at the 1992 Survivor Series, putting an end to their feud.

Nailz's departure

Nailz was set to feud with then recent face wrestler The Undertaker. The two had a staredown that aired on a WWF syndicated program, but the feud never went anywhere. Rumours had been stated that he was supposed to wrestle The Ultimate Warrior in a feud, but this was untrue. The Warrior claims otherwise on his site, however, and he said that this planned program with Nailz was part of the reason he left the WWF in 1992.

Wacholz was fired from the WWF in December 1992, reportedly after he attacked Vince McMahon over a dispute over money.

The incident led to a series of lawsuits between Wacholz and McMahon. Wacholz fired the first shot, alleging that McMahon had sexually harassed him 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.

Post WWF

He went to World Championship Wrestling in 1993 for a short stay as The Prisoner to feud with Sting.

In 1996, Wacholz used his Nailz gimmick in Tito Santana's American Wrestling Federation.

Wacholz retired in 2000.

Profile

Birthday: April 17, 1958
Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota
Height & Weight: 6'5"
Trained by: Brad Rheingans
Debut: 1982
Previous Gimmicks: Thor (World Class), Kevin Kelly (AWA), Kevin The Magnificent, Magnificent Kevin Kelly, Nailz, The Prisoner (NWA)
Managers: Madusa Miceli, Sherri Martel

Championships/Accomplishments

1-Time WWWA Heavyweight Champion
Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked him # 336 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003.

[ Visit the complete Wikipedia entry for Kevin Wacholz ]

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