The Insiders (professional wrestling)
Encyclopedia
The Insiders were a professional wrestling
tag team
in World Championship Wrestling
(WCW) composed of Diamond Dallas Page
and Kevin Nash
.
, known as Vinnie Vegas, was a member of the Diamond Mine
, a stable led by Diamond Dallas Page
, that also included the Diamond Studd
and Scotty Flamingo. The relationships between DDP, Flamingo, and Vegas were used in many angles. The following year, after Studd and Flamingo left the stable, Page and Vegas began teaming together as the Vegas Connection. It was short-lived, however, as they split after teaming for only 5 months when Page was injured during a tag match in late 1992 with Tex Slazenger
and Shanghai Pierce
(later known as The Godwinns
). The Vegas Connection never returned to WCW, because Page was fired from WCW due to a torn rotator cuff
, and Nash had left for the World Wrestling Federation by the time Page returned to the company in 1994.
turned on Kevin Nash, DDP and Nash reformed their team and called themselves The Insiders, a play on Nash's team with Scott Hall
, The Outsiders, and the reportedly close friendships each man had with WCW officials, particularly Eric Bischoff
. They feuded
with the Perfect Event
(Shawn Stasiak
and Chuck Palumbo
) and won the WCW World Tag Team Championship
at WCW Mayhem
on November 26, 2000. Shortly after, they were stripped of the titles by Commissioner Mike Sanders
in mid-December. Weeks later, they won the titles back at Starrcade 2000
. By February 2001, the team had split up again, and the company was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation
the following month.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
in World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling
World Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
(WCW) composed of Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
and Kevin Nash
Kevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
.
Vegas Connection (1992)
Kevin NashKevin Nash
Kevin Scott Nash is an American professional wrestler and actor. As of 2011, Nash is signed to a five year contract with WWE under their WWE Legends program and appears as part of their Raw brand roster...
, known as Vinnie Vegas, was a member of the Diamond Mine
Diamond Exchange
The Diamond Exchange was a professional wrestling stable led by Diamond Dallas Page in American Wrestling Association, as well as in World Championship Wrestling where it was called the Diamond Mine.-AWA:...
, a stable led by Diamond Dallas Page
Diamond Dallas Page
Dallas Page , better known by his ring name "Diamond" Dallas Page , is an American retired professional wrestler, fitness instructor and actor...
, that also included the Diamond Studd
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
and Scotty Flamingo. The relationships between DDP, Flamingo, and Vegas were used in many angles. The following year, after Studd and Flamingo left the stable, Page and Vegas began teaming together as the Vegas Connection. It was short-lived, however, as they split after teaming for only 5 months when Page was injured during a tag match in late 1992 with Tex Slazenger
Dennis Knight
Dennis Knight is a retired American professional wrestler best known for his appearances with World Wrestling Entertainment as Phineas I. Godwinn and Mideon.-Career:...
and Shanghai Pierce
Mark Canterbury
Mark Canterbury is an American professional wrestler, best known for his stint in the World Wrestling Federation under the ring name Henry O. Godwinn.-Career:...
(later known as The Godwinns
The Godwinns
The Godwinns was the best known gimmick of the professional wrestling tag team composed of Dennis Knight and Mark Canterbury that they used in the WWF. The team has used other gimmicks before they joined the WWF and had a gimmick change in the WWF shortly before disbanding...
). The Vegas Connection never returned to WCW, because Page was fired from WCW due to a torn rotator cuff
Rotator cuff tear
Rotator cuff tears are tears of one or more of the four tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. A rotator cuff injury can include any type of irritation or damage to the rotator cuff muscles or tendons....
, and Nash had left for the World Wrestling Federation by the time Page returned to the company in 1994.
The Insiders (2000–2001)
In late 2000, after the Natural Born ThrillersNatural Born Thrillers
The Natural Born Thrillers was a professional wrestling stable in World Championship Wrestling in 2000. The name is a play on the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.-History:...
turned on Kevin Nash, DDP and Nash reformed their team and called themselves The Insiders, a play on Nash's team with Scott Hall
Scott Hall
Scott Hall is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the mid 1990s and early 2000s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name...
, The Outsiders, and the reportedly close friendships each man had with WCW officials, particularly Eric Bischoff
Eric Bischoff
Eric Aaron Bischoff is an American entrepreneur, and professional wrestling booker and on-screen personality currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
. They feuded
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...
with the Perfect Event
Perfect Event
Perfect Event was a heel tag team in World Championship Wrestling in 2000. The team consisted of Shawn Stasiak and Chuck Palumbo. They are former WCW World Tag Team Champions. Stasiak feuded with and "stole" Curt Hennig's "Perfect" gimmick while Palumbo feuded with and "stole" Lex Luger's "Total...
(Shawn Stasiak
Shawn Stasiak
Dr. Shawn Emile Stipich, DC, is an American chiropractor and former professional wrestler. He is best known under the ring name Shawn Stasiak and for his stints with World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment, where he is a fifteen time Hardcore Champion, and World Championship Wrestling, where he...
and Chuck Palumbo
Chuck Palumbo
Charles "Chuck" Palumbo is an American professional wrestler, currently working for Nu-Wrestling Evolution . Palumbo is best known for his time in World Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment...
) and won the WCW World Tag Team Championship
WCW World Tag Team Championship
The World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
at WCW Mayhem
WCW Mayhem
Mayhem was a professional wrestling pay-per-view produced by World Championship Wrestling and held in the month of November in 1999 and 2000. It is noted for being the first wrestling pay-per-view named after a video game, rather than the video game named after a pay-per-view.- 1999 :Mayhem 1999...
on November 26, 2000. Shortly after, they were stripped of the titles by Commissioner Mike Sanders
Mike Sanders (wrestler)
For the former National Basketball Association player, see Mike Sanders .Michael Edwin Neil Sanders is an American stand-up comedian and former professional wrestler...
in mid-December. Weeks later, they won the titles back at Starrcade 2000
Starrcade (2000)
Starrcade was the eighteenth annual Starrcade professional wrestling pay-per-view event. It was the thirteenth and last Starrcade event produced by World Championship Wrestling , and it took place on December 17, 2000 at the MCI Center in Washington, D.C...
. By February 2001, the team had split up again, and the company was purchased by the World Wrestling Federation
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
the following month.
In wrestling
- Entrance themesMusic in professional wrestlingMusic in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...
- "Kevin Nash/Wolfpac Theme" (2000–2001)
Championships and accomplishments
- World Championship WrestlingWorld Championship WrestlingWorld Championship Wrestling, Inc. was an American professional wrestling promotion which existed from 1988 to 2001. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, it began as a regional promotion affiliated with the National Wrestling Alliance , named Jim Crockett Promotions until November 1988, when Ted Turner and...
- WCW World Tag Team ChampionshipWCW World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Championship Wrestling Tag Team Championship was a professional wrestling world tag team championship in World Championship Wrestling...
(2 times)
- WCW World Tag Team Championship