by Ross Forman
WCWNWORoss@aol.com

Dusty Rhodes, who years ago invented Kevin Nash’s Oz gimmick, said Nash is “an untapped leader of a Booking Committee.”

The two worked together on WCW’s Booking Committee in 1999 when both were consultants to Eric Bischoff. Despite constant reports that Nash was WCW’s lead Booker, a rumor that has been spread like wildfire on the Internet and in wrestling newsletters, he never held such title. Bischoff always had the final say.

“Creatively, Kevin is very good and we worked well together,” said Rhodes, who now runs Atlanta-based Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling. “He was just coming into his own (on the Booking Committee) when the company made changes. Kevin is very modern, but still sees things old-school. He’s so in-tune with the atmosphere of the country, and that helps. I often was more of the old-fashioned cowboy, but he was into other things … but could combine our thinking.

“I think he’s a real force as far as a creative person.”

Case in point, Lenny and Lodi, the tag duo that Nash and Rhodes worked on together to help get over … and that they definitely did, until higher-ups within Time Warner, listening to pressure from GLAAD, forced Lenny and Lodi off TV.

“With the Lenny & Lodi characters, we were way ahead of our time, obviously,” Rhodes said. “Corporate people came in one day and said, ‘Shut that down.’ We objected, but they didn’t listen. The funny thing is, the ending to that whole (story line) was that they were just brothers.

“Everyone always wanted us to say they were gay, but they weren’t,” which would have come to light had the storyline been fully developed.

Rhodes often was in charge at WCW shows of Lenny and Lodi vignettes, including one that showed the two, ironically, walking out of a closet. “That was fabulous s***,” Rhodes said, laughing. “Those two guys could work and have an impact, and they did.”

Nash also, obviously, has had a huge impact on pro wrestling over the past decade or so. Not surprisingly, Rhodes said.

“When I first met Kevin, I saw talent in him, but I knew he had to find himself, find the right gimmick,” Rhodes said. “ We had him in several gimmicks early on, such as Vinnie Vegas. Then I created a tremendous persona with Oz. I gave him the opportunity then, whether or not he liked it or not. The entrance of Oz the first night was the most awesome entrance in the history of the business.

“You often hear people talk about ‘finding your character.’ Well, Kevin Nash’s best character is, of course, just being Kevin Nash.

“His presence and his look in the ring is still untapped; it’s phenomenal.

“I have a lot of good memories of working with him. And I would love to sit on a Booking Committee again with Kevin.”

Visit Dusty Rhodes Official Website: http://www.dustyrhodes.net/