Kevin Nash Experiment and Why WWE Won't Let Go of the Past

The WWE released Kevin Nash shortly after bringing him back into the fold. Despite this, I have a suspicion that he is in all likelihood not gone for good. Firings and retirements in wrestling are about as permanent as a haircut. 

Why was a creaky, washed-up wrestler part of a major storyline in the first place? The brains behind WWE and wrestling fans have an often detrimental love of the past.

Nash’s days with the NWO were ratings gold. One of the most famous stables in wrestling, they took WCW by storm in the ‘90s. Hogan’s heel turn, the factions, the spray paint, all of it was extremely compelling. 

By no means does it mean we need to crank up the old band and see if NWO 2.0 would draw people in.

The same way a portion amount of the movies made now are remakes, sequels, prequels or reboots, wrestling is tempted to go for the built-in audience and quick fix of going to what’s worked before. Vince McMahon has tried to recreate the emotional resonance of the Montreal Screwjob time and time again; Mankind at the 1998 Survivor Series, CM Punk at this year’s Money in the Bank. 

Crafting an entirely new plot is challenging.

Remixing an old hit is far easier. 

WWE is tempted to feed us the past partly because by nature, wrestling fans are highly nostalgic. Wistfully watching videos on YouTube or reminiscing about our favorite moments, as an audience we are often looking backwards. When Stone Cold was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, fans shouted, “One more match!” 

We have trouble letting go. Many fans would often rather see a shoddy, broken down version of an old hero than a brand new superstar who they don’t know yet. 

Bringing back superstars of old taps into an old memory.  Creating a new one, on the other hand, takes time and a new emotional investment. 

Nash’s appearance at this year’s Royal Rumble received a big reaction. The Rumble is often a showcase for old stars to shine again temporarily. Did the WWE have a full Nash return in mind when they signed him then or did seeing the fans’ excited faces have the WWE creative team thinking of NWO t-shirts and powerbombs?

I don’t blame them for going to the well again.

Like an NFL team signing an over-the-hill veteran running back over some kid out of college, WWE feels safer going with someone who has had success before. Is Alex Riley going to be a star? 

What about Heath Slater? Who knows? You can’t be sure about the future. 

The past is always there, ready to be mined. 

Should WWE decide to bring Kevin Nash back again they’ll only be doing themselves a disservice. You can’t recreate magic. 

A babyface vs. babyface collision a la Ultimate Warrior and Hogan at WrestleMania VI won’t work now. McMahon has tried to rekindle the fire that he and Austin started in ’98 with the likes of Shawn Michaels and Randy Orton and had lessening degrees of success. 

Despite the temptation, WWE should keep Kevin Nash in its rear-view. Nash has had his time.  Giving him airtime for the sake of nostalgia is a waste when the future waits to be written.