In the later years of WCW, many singles stars formed tag teams, including The Insiders. This was due to the Tag Team Championship Tournament won by another makeshift tag team, Rey Mysterio and Billy Kidman.
One of the unlikely combos that joined forces was Diamond Dallas Page and Kevin Nash. Nash was no stranger to the tag team division after being a part of the groundbreaking tag team with Scott Hall called the Outsiders. Ironically enough, DDP was a huge thorn in the side of the Outsiders and the nWo.
The Insiders – Vegas Connection
Many years ago, DDP and Kevin Nash were a part of a team called the Diamond Exchange. This group included DDP, Vinnie Vegas aka Nash, Diamond Studd aka Scott Hall, and Scotty The Body aka Raven.
Scott Hall left for the World Wrestling Federation, becoming Razor Ramon. It was actually DDP who came up with the idea for the toothpick, etc., which was the calling card for the bad guy.
The rest of the group changed their name to the Vegas Connection. The DDP and Kevin Nash team actually won several titles in Japan that were not televised.
This group was short-lived as DDP sustained a rotator cuff injury. Shortly after that, both Nash and Scott Levy left WCW for WWF, becoming Diesel and Johnny Polo.
DDP’s rise to the top
By 2001, Diamond Dallas Page was a main eventer. He had worked his way up from losing matches to becoming WCW Champion. He also became insanely popular as a WCW star fighting against the nWo.
Later, in a shoot interview on Thunder, Page stated that he was actually going to be part of the NWO, but he did not think the fans wanted to see that.
It actually worked out better for Page, leading him to become his own man and a multi-time WCW Champion. During a DDP match, Scott Hall and Kevin Nash tried to recruit Page to the NWO. Page responded with a Thunderous Diamond Cutter. The place came unglued.
DDP recounted that angle
“I was fed up with my booking in WCW. I brought this idea up to Kevin and Scott. I said I have an idea if you guys do not want to do it, I understand.
We have real history what if you guys came and asked me to join the NWO. Then feeling dejected I decline.
After weeks of this you come to recruit me and I Diamond Cutter Hall then backdrop you and take off through the crowd .”
This produced one of the greatest moments ever in WCW television.
Nash sees DDP’s Potential
When asked about DDP, Nash stated
“He’s one of my closest friends. I remember when he hooked the Diamond Cutter and the entire stadium jumped to their feet.
I said Dallas is over. Bischoff said nothing. He was afraid to push DDP because being that he was friends with Eric.
It was a buddy system. Dallas brought Scott in, and then I was going to quit the business.
That was right before WWF. Nobody had gotten a shot in on the NWO. We owed him, so we let him get to us first.”
After a recent heel turn, Page was looking to once again be a face. Kevin Nash returned after a successful time in the WWF, including a run as the WWF Heavyweight Champion.
He was a founding father of the New World Order, which terrorized WCW. Since then, Nash had become a fan favorite after breaking away from the original nWo to start the NWO Wolfpack.
The younger talent was beginning to take over WCW. In particular, Nash saw potential in the group The Natural Born Thrillers.
The Thrillers consisted of Mike Sanders, Chuck Palumbo, Shawn Stasiak, and Johnny the Bull. Nash became an on-screen coach, helping Mike Sanders become the WCW Cruiserweight Champion. The Thrillers decided to turn on their coach. They attacked Nash.
“I have someone I can count on to watch my back. I just sat in the back and watched the Thrillers be given the tag team championships.
So Sanders being your greenhorns out here because at Mayhem I have a partner and I want a shot at your belts.”
The Insiders
The Thrillers decided to turn on their coach. They attacked Nash. DDP came to rescue his friend from the upstarts. This led to the duo of the Insiders.
It was a callback to the Outsiders tag team, as well as to both stars’ relationships with WCW executives, namely Eric Bischoff.
With a big boot and a Diamond Cutter, the challenge was issued for WCW Mayhem. On Nov 26, 2000, The Insiders defeated WCW tag team champions Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo, aka the Perfect Event.
Unfortunately, they were stripped of the titles by Mike Sanders, now WCW Commissioner, who stated the illegal man was pinned.
A rematch was scheduled for WCW Starrcade. Before the bell rang, WCW CEO Ric Flair said that if Mike Sanders interfered, the Thrillers would lose the belts.
The match started out with all offence from the Insiders until a well-placed kick from Palumbo turned the tide. From there, the Thrillers double-teamed a weakened Page.
Nash finally got the hot tag; however, the crowd was noticeably quiet. Nash got double-teamed, and as Page made the save, Mike Sanders gave him a low blow.
Mike then hopped on the ring apron to distract the ref while Palumbo levelled Nash with the belt. Sean Ohaire a member of the Thrillers attempted to break up the pin but was stopped by Page.
Nash powerbombed Palumbo to get the win. The Insiders were the new WCW tag team Champions. What really was the point of Flair saying if Sanders interfered, the Thrillers would lose the titles, if that would not be the finish of the match? It made no sense. Welcome to WCW 2000.
Rematch
The Insiders were officially WCW Tag Team Champions. However, this was short-lived. The Thrillers won the title back at WCW Sin.
On January 14, 2001, the two tag teams collided in a rematch. This time it was against Chuck Palumbo and Sean O’Haire, or so we thought. Mike Sanders announced that, as Commissioner, if he wanted to make a substitution at any point in the match, he could. Flair walked out on the stage.
He said that since Sanders, who was no longer the Commissioner after losing earlier in the night to Ernest Miller, could not make that ruling.
The Match started; once again, The Insiders were on top. However, O’Haire showed his true talent as he backflipped out of the way of a Nash elbow and hit the Big Man with a superkick.
Page is eventually brought in but has a difficult time getting a breath from the Natural Born Thrillers. At a pivotal point in the match, Palumbo was going to give a tombstone to DDP, but it was reversed.
Page made the hot tag, and Nash started a comeback. Finally, Nash powerbombed Palumbo, but Lex Luger, with a chair, appeared ringside. Page chased The Total Package off, but Lex conveniently left the chair behind.
As this chaos was going on, Buff Bagwell attacked Nash with a wrench. This allowed Sean O’Haire to get the win. The Natural Born Thrillers were once again tag champs.
Insider Issues
Diamond Dallas Page went into a feud with Kanyon. Nash would go on to lose a retirement match to WCW Champion Big Popa Pump Scott Steiner at Superbrawl. WCW was purchased by The World Wrestling Federation in 2001.
According to one of the head bookers, Kevin Sullivan, they had Scott Hall in mind to once again tag with Nash; however, Hall was let go. He also had a theory as to why the Insiders did not work as planned.
“No Matter who you put Nash with, the people want to see Scott Hall. You immediately think about the historic tag team, the Outsiders.
There was no build. The Thrillers were just thrown in there. Everyone who bought that PPV knew Nash and DDP were going over .”
Despite the Rough end to World Championship Wrestling, The Insiders remained two of the most popular guys in the company. Enemies on screen, best friends in real life turned tag team partners is real.
It’s something that the fans can grasp. Wrestling is at its best when reality is mixed with fiction. If WCW had stayed in business, do you think this angle would have had legs, or would it have just fizzled out after the loss to the Thrillers?
