Kevin Wacholz Biography

Kevin Wacholz (born April 17, 1958) is a former professional wrestler who 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 (AWA) in the 1980s.

Professional wrestling career

American Wrestling Association

Kevin Wacholz started wrestling in 1982 in the American Wrestling Association (AWA) as Kevin Kelly, a babyface midcarder. By 1986, he was a top heel and challenged for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship. He used the moniker, "Mr. Magnificent" Kevin Kelly.

In 1987, he was managed by Sherri Martel and regularly issued arm wrestling challenges. This led to a feud with Tommy Rich, who answered one of his challenges on an edition of AWA Championship Wrestling on ESPN. Rich appeared to have the contest won, when Martel interfered on Kelly's behalf. In retaliation, Rich tore off her dress.

After Martel left the AWA, Kelly took Madusa Miceli as his manager. He often teamed with Nick Kiniski as "The Perfect Tag Team" to contend for the AWA World Tag Team Championship.

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

World Wrestling Federation

In 1992, Wacholz debuted in the WWF as Nailz, an ex-convict who, in a series of promos, alleged he was abused by former prison guard Big Boss Man during his incarceration. He also claimed to be innocent of his (unspecified) crimes. Following Big Boss Man's squash of Dave Roulette on the May 30 episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, Nailz (dressed in an orange prison jumpsuit) attacked Boss Man, handcuffing him to the top rope and repeatedly hitting and choking him with his own nightstick.

Nailz easily defeated numerous jobbers en route to defeating Boss Man's ally Virgil at SummerSlam. He continued to feud with Boss Man, who had recovered from Nailz's beating. The feud came to its climax when Big Boss Man defeated Nailz in a nightstick match at Survivor Series.

Before Nailz finished the feud with Boss Man, he began another feud, this time with The Undertaker. The two had a stare down on the October 24 episode of Superstars, a photo of which was used as the cover of the January 1993 issue of WWF Magazine.

However, Wacholz was released from his WWF contract in December 1992, after he allegedly attacked Vince McMahon in his office over a financial dispute. while John Nord watched the door. Bret Hart recalled in his autobiography that Wacholz "cornered Vince in his office and screamed at him for fifteen minutes". Hart claims he was just down the hall from the office when he heard a loud crash, which was Wacholz "knocking Vince over in his chair, choking him violently". The incident led to a series of lawsuits between Wacholz and the WWF. Wacholz alleged McMahon had given him steroids on a number of occasions; McMahon denied the claim. Wacholz then filed a wrongful termination lawsuit. The WWF filed a counterclaim against Wacholz, but both suits were later dropped.

In 1994, Wacholz testified against McMahon during his trial on charges of supplying steroids to WWF wrestlers. He claimed McMahon had told him to take steroids. According to the 2003 book WrestleCrap, his testimony included the comment "I hate Vince McMahon's guts."

Post-WWF

He went to World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in 1993 (as The Prisoner) for one match, with Sting.

He wrestled In Jim Crockett's short-lived promotion, WWN, in 1994, as The Convict. He also wrestled for New Japan Pro Wrestling that year, as Nailz.

In 1996, Wacholz appeared in Tito Santana's American Wrestling Federation as Nails (pronounced identical to "Nailz"). Wacholz officially retired in 2000.

He has two adult children and resides in Minnesota. He owns and operates his own business, AAA Trailers.

In wrestling

• Finishing moves
  • The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (Sleeper hold)

• Managers
  • Madusa Miceli
  • Sherri Martel

• Nicknames
  • "Mr. Magnificent"

Championships and accomplishments

• World Wide Wrestling Alliance

• WWWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #78 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1992
  • PWI ranked him #336 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003