Nov 25, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Nashville Predators mascot Gnash rides onto the ice prior to the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
The ‘Smashville’ slogan is well-known in Nashville Predators circles. But at a home game on March 23, 2013 against the Columbus Blue Jackets, it took on a whole new meaning.
Former professional wrestler and promoter Jeff Jarrett staged a stunt with Gnash, the Preds’ mascot, that involved “smashing” a guitar over the head of the rival mascot’s head.
Here’s a story from our archives that relives that fun moment in Preds history.
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Jul 13, 2013/vol. 66, issue 26
NASHVILLE’S GUITAR HERO
BY GREG OLIVER
Pro wrestler and promoter JEFF JARRETT is a hockey convert who was looking to capture the loyalty of Nashville Predators fans with one swing of his guitar.
So at a late-season Predators home game, Jarrett took out a rival mascot to prove his passion to Preds nation.
In the best of pro wrestling traditions, it was a setup. Jarrett had met Gnash, Nashville’s mascot, at a charity event at the Bridgestone Arena and they cooked up a devious plan, which they put into action during the second intermission of a home game in late March.
The victim? Stinger, the visiting mascot of the Columbus Blue Jackets. After the two teams’ cheerleaders traded licks through duelling banjos, Jarrett went into action and destroyed a guitar over the enemy’s head.
“Right before Gnash took Stinger’s head off with the guitar, I stepped in and said, ‘Let me do the honors,’ ” Jarrett said. “It was great. The people went bananas, they loved it.”
The Nashville-based grappler didn’t grow up with hockey, but when the Preds came to the city in 1998, he was drawn to it and has been a fan ever since.