WWE Hall of Famer Kevin Nash recently shared detailed memories of the very first time he laid eyes on wrestling icon Hulk Hogan, revealing his genuine awe and the backstage atmosphere of early 1990s WWE. The story, recounted during Nash’s “Kliq This” podcast and highlighted by Wrestling Inc., offers fans a rare glimpse into a pivotal moment that predated one of wrestling’s most influential alliances, the New World Order (nWo)[1].
In 1993, shortly after signing with WWE, Nash was flown in to support a storyline involving Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty. Upon arriving at WWE headquarters in Albany, New York, Nash described being led down a hallway to the locker rooms when an agent guided him past a door where he caught his first sight of Hulk Hogan in person.
Nash vividly remembers the surroundings: blue locker room doors, white walls accented with blue and yellow stripes. He looked into a room and saw Hogan standing alongside Jimmy Hart and Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake. “I didn’t say ‘Hey, what’s up?’ or anything,” Nash recalled. “I was just like, ‘Oh, sh*t man. That’s Hulk Hogan.’” This moment marked a major milestone for Nash, seeing the larger-than-life figure who had dominated wrestling as the sport entered mainstream popularity in the 1980s and early 1990s[1].
Though Nash and Hogan’s WWE tenures did not overlap extensively in-ring, their relationship deepened significantly in WCW years later. Along with Scott Hall, the trio formed the revolutionary New World Order faction, which redefined wrestling storylines and popularity in the late 1990s. The nWo’s shocking formation, notably marked by Hogan’s heel turn against WCW, remains one of the most iconic moments in pro wrestling history[3][5].
According to sources close to the WWE locker room during that time, Nash’s genuine reaction was widely shared backstage, highlighting the respect Hogan commanded among wrestlers. A WWE insider confirmed to WrestlingInc.com that seeing Hogan in those early days was like witnessing wrestling royalty in the flesh, an experience that humbled many aspiring stars[1].
The contrast between Nash’s first impression of Hogan as an intimidating legend and their later camaraderie within the nWo underscores the dynamic relationships that define pro wrestling’s evolving backstage culture and storytelling.
Hogan’s impact on the industry is still celebrated years later, as fans recall landmark moments like his body slam of Andre the Giant at WrestleMania III, which inspired countless future wrestlers including Nash himself, as noted in social media tributes and wrestling documentaries[4].
For Kevin Nash, that initial hallway encounter was the first step toward a storied career shaped by landmark collaborations and unforgettable moments. His reflections provide fans a valuable perspective on the legacy of Hulk Hogan and the environment inside WWE during a transformative era.
This candid backstage insight into Nash’s early experiences makes clear how the paths of wrestling legends intersected long before they changed the industry forever.