Nash/Spike TV Conference Call

[TNABaddboi 0]

Kevin Nash and TNA’s Andy Barton took part in a media conference call this afternoon, set up by Spike TV to promote this Sunday’s TNA Bound for Glory PPV, where Nash will challenge NWA champion Jeff Jarrett with Tito Ortiz as a special referee.

 

Spike TV noted that TNA scored an average audience of 895,000 viewers every week on Saturdays. They touted TNA’s strong performance in the demographics, comparing it to WWE Experience. Due to the strong performances, Spike TV officially announced TNA’s first primetime special on Thursday 11/3 from 9-11 PM.

 

Nash then began taking questions from those on the conference call:

 

Nash was asked about the condition of his knees and the importance of the PPV. Nash said that it’s going to be their first time with a true national fan base with Spike TV behind them. Nash said that he’s had 13 knee surgeries but his knees have been worse and he’ll put in a “good performance.”

 

When asked about TNA as a competitor, Nash said that the product is incredible and that “we are going to build stars” into brand name players. He put over the synergy between TNA and Spike TV. When asked about being with TNA two years down the line, he said that at 46, his days are numbered but he’d like to be involved in the business in some capacity by that point.

 

When asked about the possibility of TNA going against Raw on Mondays, Nash said he’s just a worker and the company is in a growing process. He said that if the .8 turns into a 2 and then a 3, the network will hopefully make that call. He said that the company is in a growing process and the next stop is the national special. He said if they can continue to grow their numbers, which is up to the fans, it could happen, but there is also a good show in that timeslot in the form of Ultimate Fighter.

 

When asked about WWE going hard after trademarks like the Dudley Boyz, Nash said that everyone signed an independent contractor’s agreement but that’s a farce because you are an employee. He said that when he left WWF as Diesel in 1996, he learned his lesson and used Kevin Nash from that point on. He said that it doesn’t matter what you are called because your number one feature as a performer is your face and your facials. He said that sometimes guys get caught up in the importance of their name. He said that the situation shows that WWE knows they have competition. He said the Dudley situation is sad because they were those characters before they came to WWE and they deserve to have those names.

 

When asked about Scott Hall and Shawn Michaels, Nash said, “Scott’s been better.” He said that Hall is going through some tough times. He said that Shawn’s back is hanging in there and he's working a full-time schedule.

 

When asked about his hiatus from TNA, Nash said that he filmed a movie in China titled, “DOA.” He said that when he returned he spoke to Jeff Jarrett and Dixie Carter about coming back and now that they are on Spike, the time is right. Nash said that from a realistic standpoint, he couldn’t do what the talent in TNA does when he’s 25, much less today. He said that he still loves the business and can bring certain aspects to it as an old school guy, but his real career down the line will be acting as his body can’t continue to wrestle down the line.

 

Nash said that didn’t want to miss the opportunity with TNA, because he had some of the same feeling that he had when he first worked in WCW after leaving the WWF, seeing the opportunity. He said TNA was a chance to bring competition back to the professional wrestling world and give alternative programming to the people.

 

When asked about his contractual status with TNA, Nash said it was a “limited contract.” He said that and Dixie came to an agreement and he’ll work as much as he can. He said that if he books a film or TV series, they will work around that, especially since films usually don’t work on Sundays, so he can at least make PPVs.

 

When asked about TNA being on Spike TV, Nash said it’s huge. Nash said that he watches Spike TV all the time as he loves CSI and hasn’t seen a lot of the older episodes. He said that he was watching the end of the WWE programming just to catch Ultimate Fighter. He said that Spike TV is a growing network while TNA is a growing product. He said the two are a good match.

 

When asked about guys he’d like to tag with, he noted Sean Waltman “if he could work out his situation”, Scott Hall if he’s back in the game, or Disco Inferno. Nash said that if he had to team with someone, he wants it to be someone he’s friends with due to the time on the road spent together.

 

When asked how he wants to be remembered in the business, Nash said that he thinks he’s made his contributions and is "one of the better big men workers." He said that if he and Scott Hall hadn’t jumped to WCW, the business may not have had its genesis in the late 1990s. He said that in many ways the New World Order angle was one of the first true reality shows. Nash said that he hope he brought some entertainment to people and made some people mad and angry, but that’s part of the game.

 

When asked about his different personas and runs, Nash said that each had it’s high points. As Diesel, he had every major WWF title within a year during a point where the titles didn’t move very often. The New World Order angle was “huge.” He said the Big Sexy run was fun. He said when he went with that angle, it was the first time he generated a huge fan base made up of young girls and that taught him a lot about how to market yourself.

 

When asked who the best in-ring worker today, Nash said there are different clarifications of workers due to the styles. Nash said that no one will ever truly appreciate the amount of work Hulk Hogan does doing so little but still drawing tons of fans. He said Shawn Michaels and AJ Styles are incredible. Nash said that Chris Sabin and Christopher Daniels are really talented. He said that Samoa Joe is "a star on the rise." Nash praised Monty Brown as well.

 

When asked about how far AJ Styles could go in the business, Nash said that he always feels that they have to create a character for him. Nash said that he’s heard that growing up Styles was so poor he had to cross the street to visit a trailer park to watch the business. He said that for someone that poor who is able to break into the business and put it all out in the ring to where a wrong move could leave him with nothing again, that’s his character. He praised what a tremendous worker Styles is, saying he is in a class of his own as a flyer.

 

When asked why the average fan should give TNA a chance, Nash said that sometimes he watches the other show and it feels like he’s doing “home improvement.” Nash said that the people want to watch pro wrestling, physicality, and emotion, and TNA gives the people what they want.

 

When asked about the idea of TNA doing a two hour show weeky vs. a one hour show, Nash said they are developing characters and storylines, but what you do psychology wise in an hour vs. two hour are totally different worlds. Nash said that they have talents that can run for 25 minutes like “It’s nothing.” He said that if you book the same matches and let them go longer, the fans would watch it. He said Impact as it is right now is a great thing but they have the talent to fill another hour if it’s needed.

 

When asked if there’s another boom in the business coming, Nash said that he hopes so. Nash said that he’s been in the right place twice before and he’s made sure he hooked his car to this train (TNA) as well. He said he sees TNA as very similar to WCW right before the big boom hit, with a similar mix of athletic workers and top names.

 

I then asked about his reputation for looking out for himself and his friends in WCW and the death of the company – and if TNA was a chance to correct the mistakes. Nash said that the Death of WCW book was seen by people in the wrestling bubble, without realizing that Turner was effected by the AOL Time Warner merger and outside elements. They made cuts everywhere they could and WCW was $60 million in the hole. Nash said that he had nothing to do with the problems. He said that people can write what they want, but he had Time Warner stock and took a bath. I attempted to follow up, but they moved on to the next question.

 

When asked about Eric Bischoff taking criticism for the death of the company, he said that it was unfair and people took shots. He said that Turner Broadcasting gave Bischoff WCW Nitro as a way to try and kill Ted Turner’s red-headed stepchild but it turned into a success. He said that when the NOW appeared at the Cable Ace Awards, he could feel the disdain of the Turner executives who would rather make a TV movie that did a 0.8 instead of wrestling doing a 6.0.

 

When asked about TNA, Nash said he initially saw it as similar to working on an independent film that no one was ever going to see, but with Spike TV, this is a whole new world. He said that began his mental preparation for the match two weeks ago and is going to give the fans the best match he can in the time he is allotted.

 

When asked about Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff joining the NOW in WCW, Nash said that it wouldn’t have gotten as far as it could have without Hogan turning heel. He said it helped the angle to have the "Say your prayers and take your vitamins" Hulk Hogan as a heel for the first time. Nash didn’t comment on Bischoff.

 

Nash was asked about whether he would grow his hair out, and he said at his age, he’d probably look more like Iggy Pop then “Big Sexy.” He said that he was told in Los Angeles that cutting the hair allowed him to be more versatile as an actor.

 

When asked what he prefers to act in Hollywood, Nash said if he had his choice, it would be comedy he was working on. He said that a sitcom is the best job in that realm because of the structure of the job, which allows you to have a normal life and time off to work on other projects. He said in terms of an action film, Clint Eastwood could probably outrun him these days.

 

When asked his WWE Jakks figure is going to come out, Nash said that there was a dispute on the wording of the contract. He said that they can’t use the Kevin Nash name, but they can do a Diesel doll. He said the Nash trademark belongs to him and he's waiting for an updated contact to be sent to him before he signs off on the deal.

 

When asked about HHH, Nash said he’s "a dear friend" and they are in constant contact.

 

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Thoughts?

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

Every time he opens his mouth I'm left with this feeling that Nash would be one of my favorite wrestlers if he just didn't suck so hard.

[Rendclaw 0]

He is a classic case of high charisma, not-so-high talent.

 

He might not be the greatest, but he's no El Gigante, either.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Seems Nash has really turned over a new leaf and is wholly interested in putting the young guys over. Him saying that AJ Styles could be a big star is not only what the TNA faithful have been saying for the better part of the last 3 years, but also can help him (AJ) get some character going besides "I'm a wrestler, so let's wrestle."

[Guest *KNK*]

Nash has always been a great speaker, charismatic as they come. He has that charm to make you like the guy even if you know he's a scumbag asshole. At least you get the impression, he actually knows what's good for business but still rather put himself over instead.

[RavishingRickRudo 0]

Yeah, what Nash says and what Nash does are two different things. That doesn't mean I won't listen to what Nash says, cause the guy has one of the better minds in the business and clearly has put some thought into what he has been saying so he's worth a listen, but I won't necessarily believe what he says.

[cabbageboy 0]

I can't help but like Nash. Hell, if I was in WCW I'd have let him job me out to the Jersey Triad and smiled.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Which is why Nash is one of the best operators in the business. He can book you into the ground and make you happy to go along with it.

[Guest JMA]

Which is why Nash is one of the best operators in the business. He can book you into the ground and make you happy to go along with it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This is true. He'd be a great asset if he used his gifts altruistically.

 

TNA needs to get him to be a color commentator. That way the fans could see and hear him every week without him having to wrestle.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Nash is a terrible color guy.

[Guest *KNK*]

Nash is a terrible color guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

People think if you are funny and good with one liners, that means you can do color. Nash did color a few times in WCW, usually just to put himself over or bury someone or because he had some jokes to tell and Scott was passed out.

 

While he may offer a couple chuckles (which he'll then repeat constantly to drive the joke into the ground), he's generally worst then Lee Marshall or Steve Romero.

 

If Nash was involved in the wrestling business, I wouldn't mind using him as a spokesman ala Foley because he's still got some "value" and he is articulate as fuck. Creatively, he could be an asset but you'd have to hammer across "YOU AREN'T A CHARACTER. WE WILL NOT USE YOU!". To which, he'll smile and walk out the door and head to his next shooting.

 

Basically, wrestling is better off without Kevin Nash. To Nash's credit, he might not even need wrestling to live a life.

[Hunter's Torn Quad 0]

Nash is a terrible color guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

People think if you are funny and good with one liners, that means you can do color. Nash did color a few times in WCW, usually just to put himself over or bury someone or because he had some jokes to tell and Scott was passed out.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He was doing Thunder one time with Mike Tenay, and Tenay called him on his repeating this one joke over and over again, and the two got into almost a full blown argument over it.

[Guest *KNK*]

Nash is a terrible color guy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

People think if you are funny and good with one liners, that means you can do color. Nash did color a few times in WCW, usually just to put himself over or bury someone or because he had some jokes to tell and Scott was passed out.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

He was doing Thunder one time with Mike Tenay, and Tenay called him on his repeating this one joke over and over again, and the two got into almost a full blown argument over it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

To me, that was funny for the wrong reasons. At least Tenay called him on it.

[Placebo Effect 0]

He was doing Thunder one time with Mike Tenay, and Tenay called him on his repeating this one joke over and over again, and the two got into almost a full blown argument over it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

OLD GLORY LEGDROP~!

[Use Your Illusion 0]

What the hell is wrong with Scott Hall *now*?

[BUTT 0]

You know what I hate about Nash? The way he always tries to show how "inside" he is by using wrestlers' real names. Like, he's the only person in interviews that I've heard call the Undertaker "Mark". Also, he refers to WWE as "New York" in interviews sometimes. Kevin, you weren't around for the WWF expansion. You don't come from the territory days. You started wrestling in 1990. Nobody calls WWE "New York" anymore. Stop that.

[nl5xsk1 0]

While he's not the household name that he seemingly thinks he is, Nash is a plus for TNA just to be able to do things like this. No matter how much better Styles, Daniels, Joe, whomever, are in the ring, they would not be able to do a full blown press conference at this time. Nash has a history in wrestling, is 'lareger than life' size-wise, and is well spoken.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Nobody calls WWE "New York" anymore.  Stop that.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Actually, they do. People still associate a promotion with its main base of operations, ie. where they put on the most shows and/or where their offices are. Going to ECW would be going to Philly, going to WCW would be going to Atlanta, and going to the WWF would be going to New York (since MSG is there and all).

 

...so does that make going to TNA going to Nashville or going to Orlando?

[BUTT 0]

Well, I don't mind it too much of he says "I'm going to New York" or something like that. But I remember a Wrestleline interview he did right before WCW shut down where he was like "If you look at New York right now, New York's shows are terrible". I don't know, I thought it was dumb.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Yeah...used like that it's retarded.