Kevin Nash shared that he stopped following wrestling after witnessing a match between Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins where both wrestlers repeatedly kicked out of each other’s finishing moves while the referee was incapacitated. Nash discussed this on the latest episode of Kliq This with Sean Oliver, prompted by a conversation about Vince Russo’s tenure writing for Juggalo Championship Wrestling and the idea of multiple people controlling a wrestling show.
Nash expressed that wrestling companies can’t thrive under committee leadership; there has to be one person with the final say, consistently, not changing weekly. He said creative heads will produce content their way, and fans will either accept it or tune out. Using a metaphor, Nash compared Russo’s booking style to making spaghetti sauce—fans either like it or they don’t, and if they don’t, they eventually stop eating it altogether.
Regarding modern wrestling, Nash believes the problem is an overemphasis on high-risk spots with less focus on storytelling and psychology in matches. He cited the Reigns-Rollins bout, criticizing how the two no-sold each other’s finishers for an extended period, saying that moment turned him away from wrestling entirely. Nash likened this to comic book stories that break their own rules, which can alienate the audience.
He added that he’d rather spend time learning new things than watch two wrestlers ignoring the drama of their moves. Nash noted that there are plenty of other interests and knowledge gaps he’d prefer filling over such wrestling styles.
The Reigns vs. Rollins match took place at SummerSlam on August 2 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Later in the podcast, Nash reminisced about his best matches with Shawn Michaels, sharing insights he picked up from Michaels and Scott Hall—especially how Hall’s subtle actions could draw the audience in or land Nash in trouble with just a punch. He emphasized the lesson that timing matters, with less sometimes being more, but when it’s time to escalate, performers need to fully commit, particularly heels facing bigger opponents.
Nash has voiced similar opinions before, such as his view that there’s only one correct way to work a cage match and that certain risky moves can ruin the structure of such matches. He also mentioned recently rewatching classic bouts posted online, including his 1994 WWF Championship win over Bob Backlund at Madison Square Garden, praising Vince McMahon’s execution that night.
Fan Take: Kevin Nash’s critique highlights a growing frustration among traditional wrestling fans regarding the shift away from storytelling toward flashy, high-risk maneuvers. For fight fans, this signals a crucial crossroads—wrestling promotions might need to find a better balance between athletic spectacle and emotional engagement to maintain long-term interest in the sport.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
