Nic Nemeth wouldn’t tolerate any disrespect towards the fans.
The former Dolph Ziggler kicked off the new year by surprising the fans with an appearance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 and went on to have a brawl with IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion David Finlay.
Nemeth, one of the top free agents in all of pro wrestling, arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling months after his surprising release from WWE. The former World Champion was included in the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings and he was among the list of Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Riddle, Emma, Riddick Moss, Aliyah, and other Superstars.
Nemeth’s presence was kept a secret from virtually everybody. Nemeth watched David Finlay face Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to crown the first IWGP Global Champion. Following the match, Finlay got in the face of Nemeth and had a heated exchange which led to the brawl.
Nic Nemeth apologizes for losing his cool
Following the incident, Nemeth spoke with NJPW interviewer Emily Mae and decided to explain his brawl with David Finlay. He said he was enjoying the show but Finlay messed it all up with his disrespectful gesture. Nemeth was apologetic for his actions:
“I don’t even work here. I was enjoying the show. I haven’t been to Japan in a really long time and I just wanted to see this big show, this beautiful show and see what it was like. I lost my cool and I completely apologize to the fans, New Japan Pro Wrestling. Finlay spit my face and shoved me and again I’m a grown up and I should have turned my cheek and walked away. Those three athletes beat the hell out of each other and put on a display and I was very proud to be a fan and just enjoy that moment and Finlay took that away from me and all the fans and I felt like someone had to do something.”
Nemeth said that he was standing up for the fans and wouldn’t tolerate disrespect towards the fans. He added:
“Ospreay and Moxley laid it all out there for that title just to show what that global championship means and I thought it was a spit in the face to the fans. Technically, I don’t work here, I’m an observer on the outside, he’s attacking a fan, I feel like I’m standing up for the fans and say, ‘hey, if you’re going to take the cheap shots someone’s going to knock you on your ass’ and again I am so, I’m sorry, I was out of line and if there’s anything I can do, I completely understand.”
“I lost my cool because I felt that everything that was laid out there in that match was something special, it took me back to a time when I was a kid and you just know what these wrestlers go through on a day to day basis and to have a chance on a giant stage to prove that you are this brand new title holder, that title deserves better and that’s all I should say, I think I apologize to the fans and New Japan Pro Wrestling, it’s a beautiful show, I’m so sorry, I lost my cool, I apologize”.
In the wake of a shocking brawl after yesterday's IWGP Global Championship match, @emilymaeheller was able to catch up with Nic Nemeth.#njpw #njwk18 @HEELZiggler pic.twitter.com/SzJcCNVaIi
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) January 5, 2024
With the incident, NJPW is seemingly sowing the seeds of Nemeth facing Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship. There is a possibility that the match could take place at NJPW Battle in the Valley on January 13.
