It was late 2002. Professional wrestling was in this weird, transitional fever dream where the "Attitude Era" had technically ended, but the insanity hadn't quite scaled back yet. If you were scouring the indies or keeping tabs on the burgeoning Northeast scene, you probably stumbled upon a matchup that sounds like a fever dream today: Prince Nana against Crash Holly.
Think about that for a second.
On one side, you have the "Crown Jewel" of Ghana, a man who would eventually become the legendary manager of The Embassy in Ring of Honor. On the other, the "Houdini of Hardcore," a guy who made the WWE Hardcore Championship a household name by defending it in airports, playgrounds, and hotel rooms. When they crossed paths, it wasn't just a match. It was a collision of two very different types of charismatic survivalists.
Honestly, it's easy to forget how much of a workhorse Crash Holly was after he left the bright lights of the Fed. People remember the 22 Hardcore Title reigns, but they forget he was a legitimately gifted technical wrestler who could go with anyone. When he stood across from Prince Nana, the vibe was electric because Nana knew how to draw heat like almost nobody else on the circuit.
Why the Matchup of Prince Nana against Crash Holly Defined an Era
Wrestling thrives on archetypes. Nana was the arrogant royalty. Crash was the ultimate underdog who thought he was a giant.
The match itself took place in the context of the independent circuit, specifically for Maryland Championship Wrestling (MCW). This was a territory that acted as a bridge for talent. If you could make it there, you could make it anywhere. Seeing Prince Nana against Crash Holly in that environment felt like a "superfight" for the hardcore tape-traders of the early 2000s.
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Nana didn't just wrestle; he performed. He’d spend five minutes just trying to get his robe off while the crowd hurled insults at him. Crash, ever the frantic ball of energy, would pace the ring like a caffeine addict. The contrast in pacing was basically a masterclass in psychology. You’ve got the slow, methodical, pompous heel and the "100 miles per hour" babyface.
It’s rare to see two guys who so thoroughly understood their "gimmick" to the point where the wrestling almost felt secondary to the character work. But make no mistake, the wrestling was stiff. Crash was known for taking ridiculous bumps, and Nana wasn't afraid to lay it in.
The Dynamics of the "Hardcore" Style on the Indies
When we talk about the legacy of this encounter, we have to talk about the 24/7 rule. Even though they weren't in a WWE ring, the spirit of Crash Holly’s most famous creation followed him everywhere.
- The crowd expected chaos.
- Nana expected to be treated with a level of respect he never earned.
- The referee usually ended up caught in the middle of a screaming match.
- The finish was almost always a chaotic scramble.
In the match between Prince Nana against Crash Holly, you saw a version of Crash that was liberated. He wasn't just a comedy act. He was showing the indies that he belonged in the conversation with the best technical flyers and brawlers of the time.
Nana, meanwhile, was cementing his status as the premier manager-wrestler. He used his "royal" status to mask a vicious streak. If you watch the footage—which is grainy, old-school camcorder quality—you can hear the fans legitimately loathing Nana. That's a lost art. Today, everyone wants to be a "cool" heel. Nana just wanted you to hate him enough to pay to see him get punched.
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What Most People Get Wrong About This Feud
A lot of modern fans look back and think this was just a "one-off" comedy match. That’s a mistake.
While there was humor, the technical execution was sharp. Nana’s ability to cut off a ring is something that younger wrestlers should study. He didn't need to do a 450 splash. He just needed to be in the way.
Crash Holly, or Mike Lockwood in real life, was actually quite small, but he wrestled "heavy." When he hit a dropkick, it looked like it hurt. In his exchanges with Nana, there was a level of fluidity that you only get when two veterans just click.
There's a specific spot in their encounters where Nana tries to use his wealth—usually a handful of "stolen" jewelry or fake cash—to distract the ref, only for Crash to roll him up in a small package. It's a classic trope, but they executed it with such timing that the building would nearly explode.
The Aftermath and Legacy
Shortly after these encounters, the wrestling world shifted. Crash Holly sadly passed away in 2003, making these independent matches some of the final glimpses of his incredible talent outside the WWE machine. It’s a bittersweet thing to watch now. You see a guy who clearly loved the business, working in front of a few hundred people with the same intensity he had at WrestleMania.
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Prince Nana, of course, went on to become an institution. He stayed relevant for decades, eventually leading Swerve Strickland to the world title in AEW. But if you ask Nana about those early days, he’ll tell you that working with guys like Crash was where he sharpened his teeth.
Actionable Insights for Wrestling Historians and Fans
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific era of wrestling or the careers of these two icons, don't just stick to the highlight reels.
- Seek out the MCW archives. Maryland Championship Wrestling has preserved a lot of this footage. Seeing the full match provides the context that a 30-second YouTube clip can't.
- Study the "Transitional" Heels. Watch how Prince Nana manages his heat. Notice how he never lets the crowd "off the hook." He stays in character from the moment his music hits until he’s back in the locker room.
- Appreciate the Selling. Look at Crash Holly’s face during his matches with Nana. He sells the frustration of being cheated better than almost anyone in history.
- Analyze the 24/7 Psychology. Even without a belt on the line, the "Crash Holly style" of wrestling involves using the entire environment. Note how they use the ring posts, the aprons, and the guardrails to tell a story of a desperate underdog vs. a protected royal.
The story of Prince Nana against Crash Holly is a testament to the fact that wrestling isn't just about the big arenas. It's about two guys in a high school gym or a community center making a few hundred people believe, even just for twenty minutes, that a Prince and a Hardcore Legend are the only two people that matter in the world.
To truly understand the evolution of the independent scene into what we see on TV today, you have to look at these specific, gritty interactions. They are the DNA of modern sports entertainment.
Next Steps for the Deep Diver:
Start by looking for "MCW Shane Shamrock Memorial Cup" footage or the late 2002 independent loops. These shows often featured the most intense versions of these characters before the industry changed forever. Pay close attention to the ringside promos; Nana's mic work during this period was a precursor to the "Embassy" promos that would eventually define the early years of Ring of Honor.