Throughout his illustrious career in the WWE, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson encountered numerous rivals and allies.
One particularly memorable clash emerged between him and Kevin Nash, a two-time WWE Hall of Famer. Delving into the intricacies of this feud, as chronicled by Brian Gewirtz in his revealing book,
“There’s Just One Problem…: True Tales from the Former, One-Time, 7th Most Powerful Person in WWE,”
provides insight into the complex world of professional wrestling.
The Rock’s conflict with Kevin Nash unfolded in 2002, amidst Nash’s return to WWE alongside his nWo comrades after a stint in WCW.
The reintroduction of the nWo stirred mixed emotions backstage, given their pivotal roles in igniting the Monday Night Wars in 1996.
Despite The Rock’s admiration for wrestling icons like Hulk Hogan, Nash, and Scott Hall, tensions brewed beneath the surface.
The spark igniting their feud occurred during a backstage segment at No Way Out 2002. Hogan, aiming for a photo op with The Great One for his son, veered into insult territory, prompting a retaliatory verbal assault from The Rock.
In a moment blurring scripted entertainment with real-life animosity, The Rock referred to Nash and Hall by their WWE personas, “Big Daddy Cool” Diesel and Razor Ramon, respectively.
However, the scripted altercation failed to extinguish the simmering tensions between The Rock and Nash.
![](https://reelzap.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/nWo-.jpg)
Nash took issue with the ensuing promo, questioning The Rock’s decision to dissipate their mutual animosity on their very first night back. This disagreement laid the groundwork for further friction between the two wrestling titans.
The conflict escalated as the nWo found themselves embroiled in a feud with The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin post-event.
Their rivalry reached its zenith at WrestleMania X8, where The Brahma Bull emerged victorious, prompting Hogan’s face turn. However, the animosity spilled beyond the squared circle.
The aftermath of WrestleMania X8 saw tensions escalate on RAW. In an unscripted moment, The Rock branded Nash a “Big Daddy B***h,” a move deemed unprofessional by Nash.
The heated exchange continued during a subsequent tag team match, as Nash defiantly confronted The People’s Champion in the ring, bellowing, “Who’s the b***h now?” This confrontation fueled the flames of their ongoing feud.
Despite the intensity of their rivalry, time proved to be a potent healer. In 2021, Nash extended an olive branch to The Rock on Twitter/X, apologizing for his past actions.
"If ya smell what The Bloodline is cookin"#TheBloodline is completely on the same page ☝️@TheRock @WWERomanReigns @HeymanHustle #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/wU9DD2sa8I
— WWE (@WWE) March 2, 2024
The Brahma Bull graciously accepted Nash’s apology, acknowledging the necessity for the nWo’s resurgence to make an impact.
As for their current endeavors, Nash has since retired from in-ring competition, with his last match occurring in 2018. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame twice – first as a solo star in 2015 and again in 2020 as part of the nWo.
Meanwhile, The Great One, amidst his burgeoning Hollywood career, occasionally makes guest appearances in the WWE, with rumors circulating about a potential match at WrestleMania 40.
In conclusion, The Rock’s feud with Kevin Nash epitomizes the multifaceted nature of professional wrestling, where scripted rivalries often spill over into real-life animosity.
However, their eventual reconciliation underscores the transformative power of time and mutual respect, transcending past grievances for a renewed camaraderie.