Kevin Wacholz

Kevin Wacholz (born April 17 1958) 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 in the 1980s.

Professional wrestling career

American Wrestling Association

Kevin Wacholz started wrestling in 1982 in the American Wrestling Association as Kevin Kelly, a babyface midcarder. 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" to contend for the AWA World Tag Team title. 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.

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 (and now fellow WWF wrestler) Big Boss Man while in prison and also claimed to be innocent of his crimes. Following Big Boss Man's squash match over Dave Roulette on a WWF syndicated program, Nailz, dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit, brutally attacked Big Boss Man, eventually hitting him with a nightstick. Nailz easily defeated numerous jobbers en route to defeating Virgil at SummerSlam 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 Survivor Series, putting an end to their feud.

Nailz was set to feud with then recent face wrestler The Undertaker. The two had a stare down that aired on a WWF syndicated program and a picture of the two staring was used as the cover for WWF's monthly magazine, but the feud never went anywhere.

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. Wacholz apparently started choking Vince McMahon until he was turning blue in the face. 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 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.

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. He retired in 2000.

In wrestling

• Finishing and signature moves
• Lateral vascular neck restraint
• Chokehold
• Standing clothesline

• Managers
• Madusa Miceli
• Sherri Martel

• Theme music
• "Bad to the Bone" by George Thorogood and the Destroyers: "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly (AWA)

Championships and accomplishments

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

References