There can be no more daunting task than going one on one against boxing great Mike Tyson in his prime. That was the exact demand of former WWE supremo Vince McMahon from a legend.
And not just in a WWE wrestling match but in a boxing bout with Tyson, which definitely would have been a scary prospect.
That veteran performer was none other than Kevin Nash. He recently opened up on how McMahon using Iron Mike as a decoy led to a $5 million demand and his losing of the WWE title.
Nash reminisced about the matter. And it’s for charity, I said Mike Tyson would knock me the f**k out. He could conceivably kill me, I said I’m not f***ing fighting him for less than 5 million dollars.”
Nash reminisced about the matter in his Kliq This podcast. He said, “He {Vince McMahon} starts telling me about this idea he had where I’m going to box Mike Tyson in Central Park. And it’s for charity, I said Mike Tyson would knock me the f**k out. He could conceivably kill me, I said I’m not f***ing fighting him for less than 5 million dollars.”
Big Daddy Cool did end up losing his gold to Bret Hart in Survivor Series 1995. McMahon’s hilarious description of him losing the title left him admittedly perplexed. No wonder his initial reaction was to ask for $5 million. The WWE chairman has always had a penchant for the unusual.
And this was certainly one of those moments. Unfortunately for Nash, that would be the only time he would hold the top prize in the Stamford-based promotion.
The Baddest Man on The Planet did appear in the global wrestling phenomenon in the 90s. In fact, he played a significant part in the WrestleMania XIV event.
Tyson made a profound impact in WrestleMania XIV
Tyson would serve as the special guest enforcer in the main event clash between “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels for the WWE Championship at the 1998 Showcase Of Immortals.
And when the assigned referee was knocked out it was the iconic boxer who made the three count for Austin to win the match. It was a huge surprise for many as Tyson was supposed to be on Michaels’s side. Especially with him making no secret of his association with DX since appearing in WWE.
HBK tried to confront Iron Mike after the match but was KO’d by a trademark punch. Thus making for a classic WrestleMania moment. That could have been the fate of Kevin Nash if Vince McMahon would have had his say. Although the former boss only used the boxer’s name in order to change the WWE title holder.