Thanks for all your suggestions!
For fear of damaging anything I took it back out and tried one more time to not much luck. I did some more research and found that I had run into an issue with the DIY. They use this tool:
to get the axle out. I cheaped out and used the three prong claw axle puller from Harbor Freight. It did it's job to get the axle out, but was obviously no help in getting it put back in. I believe the tool they used is supposed to work both ways.
So I went ahead and ordered this
drive shaft puller from Amazon. I found a Youtube video where a guy used it on a 7 series and I think it's going to do what I need it to do.
If it doesn't work I'll have to go and look at getting the old nut welded to a bolt like wpoll or flipping the nut like kmm111 suggested. I had cleaned out the hub real well and used BP Blaster, soapy water, and WD40 with no luck.
Hopefully the tool is here by this weekend and I can get this baby buttoned back up. This is the biggest job I've attempted on a car so I'm not surprised I've run into issues, but thanks for chiming in and I'll be sure to update the post once I get it fixed.