In the intense atmosphere of the 2003 WWE landscape, few rivalries burned hotter than the one between WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash and then WWE World Heavyweight Champion Paul “Triple H” Levesque. This feud reached its boiling point at the Bad Blood pay-per-view, culminating in a grueling Hell in a Cell match, with none other than Mick Foley serving as the special guest referee. On a recent episode of “Kliq This,” Nash took a trip down memory lane, recounting the highs and lows of that brutal encounter and the psychology behind it.
The Announcement
When WWE officials approached Nash with the idea of a Hell in a Cell match against Triple H, he had one stipulation: “I’ll have Hell in a Cell as long as it stays in the cell.” Nash vividly recalled his initial reaction when the officials revealed their plans. “I said, ‘This will f***ing suck. This will be a horrible match. We’ll put Foley in as referee just to give it buffer.’ And so I’m just [shaking my head],” Nash said. His concern was rooted in the psychology of such a match, especially considering the storyline that had built up to this point.
Psychology of the Match
For Nash, the essence of a cage match, particularly one with a roof, was about confronting his opponent head-on, without any escape. Throughout their feud, Triple H had been portrayed as avoiding direct confrontation with Nash, constantly on the run. Nash believed that the logical conclusion to their storyline was for him to emerge victorious inside the cell. “The psychology of a fing cage match, especially one with a roof, and Paul has been running from me the entire angle, is for him to fing [face Nash one-on-one]. And I should have beat him. He could have turned around and beat me a week later. I should have beat him,” Nash asserted.
The Match and Its Aftermath
The Bad Blood event also featured a feud between Evolution’s Ric Flair and Nash’s counterpart Shawn Michaels. Just as Michaels seemed poised to win, another member of Evolution, Randy Orton, intervened and hit Michaels with a chair, allowing Flair to get the pinfall despite the efforts of Nash and Michaels ended up on the losing end that night. Ironically, Nash and Michaels, who were top babyfaces at the time after arriving at the “WWE Raw” Fallout event, were sent home.
A painful thought
Nash’s thoughts on the match are characterized by a sense of lost opportunity and disappointment. A match that could have cemented his dominance instead became a testament to the turmoil in WWE history and an unexpected change in direction Despite the massive build and personal stakes there, Nash and his fans crave for different results afterwards.The Bad Blood event also featured a feud between Evolution’s Ric Flair and Nash’s counterpart Shawn Michaels. Just as Michaels seemed poised to win, another member of Evolution, Randy Orton, intervened and hit Michaels with a chair, allowing Flair to get the pinfall despite the efforts of Nash and Michaels ended up on the losing end that night. Ironically, Nash and Michaels, who were top babyfaces at the time after arriving at the “WWE Raw” Fallout event, were sent home.
Stephen’s Note
Kevin Nash’s recounting of his Hell in a Cell match against Triple H offers a fascinating glimpse into the complex world of professional wrestling storytelling. His insights into the psychology of the match and his candid reflections on the outcome provide a deeper understanding of the challenges wrestlers face both inside and outside the ring. Nash’s legacy in WWE is marked by such moments of intensity and drama, and this particular chapter only adds to the rich tapestry of his storied career.
