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Wrestling superstars are no strangers to exploring other endeavors once they taste the bright lights of success inside the squared circle. Over the years we have seen superstars like The Rock and John Cena transition to Hollywood to make a career in the world of films. However, there is also one renowned superstar with an extensive resume in films that many fans are not aware of. That is WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash.
By the year 1996, Kevin Nash was one of the top talents in the WWE, competing as the well-liked "Diesel" persona. He had rapidly ascended the ranks to become a dominant WWE Champion and had all but cemented his position as one of the era's major main eventers. He replicated similar success in WWE's rival promotion, WCW, and has competed in other major companies as well throughout his career.
While Nash built a storied career in the wrestling world, Nash decided to explore acting projects, beginning from his early years and continuing to do so even to this day. So let's dive deep and explore the vast film career of Big Daddy Cool, Kevin Nash.
Kevin Nash Made His Debut In Films In The 1990s
The beginning itself of Big Daddy Cool's film career was one of a kind as he was featured alongside the popular Ninja Turtles. Kevin Nash was cast as Super Shredder in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze, his first role in a feature film, in 1991. When the opportunity came in, Nash was just starting out in his career with WCW.
The WWE Hall of Famer discussed how he got the part in a July 2022 edition of his podcast, Kliq This. “I think I was actually underneath a hood. Like Dr. X or some shit. I was wearing Flair’s Black Scorpion red Mask with the black scorpion on it. I was wearing that he left it after that pay-per-view. He left it in the locker room, and I kept it. I started wearing it as my hair grew back.”
At a WCW event in Greensboro, North Carolina, Carolco Studios approached Kevin Nash backstage, and he was immediately given the part. “I’m in Greensboro, North Carolina, and I’m walking to the ring. And I hear somebody yelling, Nash, Nash! And this is before the internet, and all that shit, and I’m like, the f*ck? And I look at these two guys over there. And one of them’s got a card in his hand. I walk over, and it’s Carolco Studios. The guy says, ‘hey, would you be interested in playing Super Shredder on the Ninja Turtles movie?’ I’m like yeah."
The WWE Hall of Famer stated that former actor Kevin Peter Hall had been cast in the Super Shredder role but passed tragically in 1991 as the outfit was being built. As a result, they required someone of his stature, and Kevin Nash was seen as the perfect fit.
Kevin Nash Was Accidentally Stabbed During The Filming Of 'The Punisher'
Kevin Nash was a part of the film 'The Punisher' playing the role of The Russian, who is an enemy of his co-star, Thomas Jane's title character, Frank Castle. However, a mishap occurred on the set when Jane and Nash were filming their pivotal moment in which The Punisher was to stab The Russian.
Thomas Jane explained on "The Rich Eisen Show" that a stunt coordinator had neglected to move out the props, causing Jane to use a genuine blade and stab Nash in the collarbone. "That was a bad day. I gotta tell you, when I was swinging around, and grabbing the prop knife, and he's there, and I plunge it into his chest ... and it stabs him, and it goes in, and I'm looking at the knife, I'm looking at him. Kevin, he's just looking down at me, and there's a knife sticking out of his chest ... Yeah, that was rough, and you know what made it worse? He was so nice about it."
Kevin Nash Has Worked In Over 20 Films For The Last Twenty Years
Kevin Nash's film career includes everything from a Marvel series to video game adaptations, original horror, comedies, and reflections on the inner turmoil of being a male stripper.
After his incredible start in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nash continued to appear in many other movies. The 90s era saw Kevin Nash do only two films after his debut, Freejack, and Family Plan. The 2000s were a good period for Big Sexy working in movies like The Punisher, The Longest Yard, Grandma's Boy, DOA: Dead or Alive, and Almighty Thor. While it appeared that Nash would no longer work in films in the 2010s, that turned out to be untrue as the former WWECchampion did films like The Association, John Wick, Magic Mike, Slaw, and Blood Circus. Furthermore, the start of the 2020s has seen Nash appear in Chick Fight, COVID-19 Invasion, Dog, and Magic Mike's Last Dance.
