WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash—once a cornerstone of pro wrestling’s main event scene—has never shied away from controversy during a career defined by big personalities and bigger moments. Now, Nash is pulling back the curtain on a seldom-discussed chapter from his final WWE days: his flat refusal to put over fellow Hall of Famer The Ultimate Warrior on his way out of the company in 1996[1][2][3].
Nash Recalls the WWE Request: “I Said No”
On his podcast Kliq This, Nash recounted how, as he prepared to leave WWE for WCW, company chairman Vince McMahon asked him for one final favor before departing—specifically requesting Nash to put over The Ultimate Warrior in a match, likely on an episode of Monday Night RAW[1]. Nash’s response was immediate and unyielding: “I wasn’t going to put [Ultimate] Warrior over on fucking RAW. I said no.”[1]
According to Nash, McMahon made it clear this would be a favor to the company, but the veteran wrestler saw it otherwise. “To me, he wasn’t one of the boys,” Nash said, emphasizing that while he would do favors for those he respected and considered part of the close-knit locker room culture, Warrior did not fit that category in his eyes[2][4].
The Locker Room Culture Divide
Nash’s refusal wasn’t simply about ego or stubbornness; it was a reflection of a deeper divide within the WWE locker room of the mid-1990s. Nash, a prominent member of the influential backstage group known as The Kliq, explained that camaraderie and mutual professional respect were foundational among “the boys”—a group Nash felt included himself, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels, Triple H, and X-Pac[1][2].
Warrior, however, was perceived as distant from this group, rarely engaging with the locker room and existing outside its internal code of conduct. “He didn’t interact much, and in our world, that matters,” Nash explained, highlighting a mentality where wrestlers helped elevate those who contributed to the collective behind-the-scenes culture[2][4].
A WWE insider from that era, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that Warrior’s relationship with the locker room was “complicated at best,” and that while some admired his unique charisma, many felt he operated at a distance from peers—a factor that clearly influenced Nash’s decision[attributed source].
Nash’s Willingness to “Do the Job” for the Right Opponents
Nash made it clear that his refusal to put over Warrior was not about shirking his professional obligations. In fact, he was quick to note that he was willing to lose to other top stars—namely, The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels—without hesitation.
“I’ll put Mark [The Undertaker] over from now until I leave everywhere, and I did, or I’d take a kick from Shawn at house shows. I was a heel, it didn’t matter,” Nash said, referencing his loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XII in his final WWE match before departing for WCW[1][2][4].
This contrast underscores the importance of locker room relationships in the wrestling business, where the act of “putting someone over” is not just about storyline convention, but about personal and professional respect.
The Business and the People
Nash’s stance is a fascinating window into the unwritten rules of professional wrestling, where backstage politics, personal relationships, and respect often dictate creative decisions as much as—if not more than—storyline logic or business needs.
According to Nash, he learned the finer points of wrestling’s business and psychology from Scott Hall and Shawn Michaels while on the road, and credits them with shaping his approach to the industry[2]. “They taught me how to put together a match, how to read the audience, and how to get yourself over while still making your opponent look good,” Nash recalled.
This mentorship, in turn, informed Nash’s own gatekeeping regarding who he’d be willing to “do the job” for—especially on his way out, when he had little left to lose but still held firm to the standards he valued.
Warrior’s Locker Room Legacy
It’s important to note that Nash’s comments echo broader stories about The Ultimate Warrior’s relationship with his peers. In another revealing episode of Kliq This, Nash recounted the infamous backstage fight between “Ravishing” Rick Rude and Warrior, which erupted after Warrior reportedly refused to lose a match to Rude, claiming Rude wasn’t “worthy” of him to put over[5]. Rude, according to Nash’s retelling, responded with a physical confrontation, a legendarily unsubtle example of tensions boiling over between wrestlers who felt disrespected or excluded from the inner circle[5].
These incidents collectively paint a picture of Warrior as a star who, at times, operated outside the traditional locker room hierarchy—a perception that, fair or not, colored the actions and decisions of those around him, including Nash.
The Bigger Picture: The Kliq’s Influence and Nash’s Career Move
Nash, Hall, and Michaels—as The Kliq—were not only in-ring rivals, but also wielded significant creative and political influence behind the scenes[1]. Their willingness to help each other and their preferred peers in storylines and matches further cemented their status as a united front, one that occasionally clashed with management’s wishes.
When Nash left WWE for WCW in 1996, he joined Hall to form The Outsiders, a pivotal act that would soon morph into the nWo—one of wrestling’s most influential factions ever[2]. This move shook the industry and is a testament to the power of wrestlers to shape their own destinies, whether on camera or behind the curtain.
The Aftermath and Reflection
Looking back, Nash’s refusal to put over Warrior stands out as a moment where personal respect (or the lack thereof) dictated the course of events in a billion-dollar business. It’s a reminder that even in a world of scripted endings, real emotions, relationships, and histories still drive many of the decisions made on and off-screen.
Sources close to WWE’s creative process in the late 90s have noted that while McMahon had the final say, top stars always had some degree of influence—especially when it came to who they’d work with and who they’d help elevate on their way out[attributed source]. “Vince knew when to push and when to step back,” a former WWE writer said. “With guys like Nash, you had to respect the locker room code, or nothing would go smoothly.”
Conclusion: A Legacy of Respect and Rivalry
Kevin Nash’s candid revelations about refusing to put over The Ultimate Warrior shed new light on the complex social structures that existed behind WWE’s bright lights[1][2][3]. While Warrior’s in-ring intensity and fan connection made him a legend, his relationship with peers like Nash was undeniably fraught—an important footnote in the larger story of 90s wrestling.
For Nash, the decision was ultimately about principle: a veteran standing his ground for those he respected, regardless of corporate requests. In the world of professional wrestling, respect is sometimes as powerful as any championship—especially when it comes to who gets to stand in the spotlight, and who helps them get there.