It didn’t take Nic Nemeth long to cause some buzz in his new broadcasting gig. Just this week, Nemeth was revealed to be one of the new featured hosts of Busted Open Radio and the former Dolph Ziggler got into a conversation with Dave LaGreca about the story unfolding for Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia. 

LaGreca is a self-proclaimed “Cody Crybaby” and has been a major advocate for “The American Nightmare” to be the one to unseat “The Tribal Chief” at WrestleMania, so much that The Rock mocked LaGreca on one of his viral pre-SmackDown social media promos.

“I appreciate this two-year story, I really do, I just think it’s so funny that finishing the story isn’t like the end of the storyline, it’s like ‘No, he has to win cause his dad wasn’t champion.’ That’s the story?:

LaGreca noted that Dusty’s story isn’t the only one, but Cody has had his own journey to get to against WrestleMania. Nemeth believes that’s a story that any star has.

“Has it? Everybody else who wasn’t a legacy in the business had to go through a bunch of stuff too.”

Nemeth then coyly asked LaGreca if Cody got to wrestling on his own merits and when LaGreca emphatically said “yes” Nemeth had quite the pregnant pause that caused LaGreca to laugh as Nemeth put that notion in question.

We got some INTERESTING thoughts from @NicTNemeth & @davidlagreca1 on the subject of @CodyRhodes…

And yeah, this show was MUST LISTEN!😂😂😂

Catch the FULL Breakdown on the #bustedopen247 Podcast!https://t.co/FJWfVbFpk4 pic.twitter.com/dH8FPNyQSF

— SiriusXM Busted Open (@BustedOpenRadio) March 15, 2024

We’ll likely at least get to see a little more of that “story” told from The Rock and Roman Reigns’ end as The Bloodline is set to be acknowledged Friday night in Memphis for SmackDown.

Popular free agent Nic Nemeth has quickly made an impact in TNA Wrestling. He made his shocking debut at TNA Hard To Kill on January 13 and put the roster on notice. Two months later, the company granted him the opportunity to challenge for the TNA World Championship at their next premium live event.

On the March 14 episode of TNA Wrestling, Nemeth was involved in a tag team match alongside Speedball Mountain (‘Speedball’ Mike Bailey & Trent Seven) against The Rascalz (Trey Miguel & Zachary Wentz) and Steve Maclin. After Nemeth won the match, TNA World Champion Moose, Eddie Edwards, and Brian Myers attacked the ‘Babyfaces.’

Moose made sure to hit the former WWE talent with his title and celebrated as the show went off the air. After the episode ended, TNA announced on Twitter that Moose would defend the TNA World Championship against Nemeth at TNA Rebellion on April 20. 

The upcoming title opportunity will be Nemeth’s second since leaving WWE. On February 23, he defeated David Finlay at New Japan Pro Wrestling The New Beginning in Sapporo to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. A win over Moose would be impressive, as he would win two titles from TNA and NJPW in less than two months. 

That said, Moose is still early in his reign, and TNA may not have him lose it this quickly. Nemeth is also not signed exclusively to the company, which may hurt his chances of winning the TNA World Championship. Regardless, the match has the potential to be exciting, and fans will be interested if Nemeth wins. 

More Matches Announced For TNA Rebellion

Although TNA announced Moose’s next championship defense, they had another match to make official. On Twitter, TNA shared that Edwards and Myers would defend the TNA World Tag Team Championship against Speedball Mountain at the next PLE. 

Speedball Mountain has been building momentum as a team, so it seemed like a matter of time before they earned a title opportunity. Edwards and Myers won their championship at TNA Sacrifice on March 8 by defeating ABC (Ace Austin & Chris Bey). It may be early for another title change, but Speedball Mountain will present an exciting challenge at TNA Rebellion. 

The upcoming PLE looks like an interesting show that fans may not want to miss. Nemeth will have a chance to make history by winning his first TNA World Championship. 

Popular free agent Nic Nemeth is having a career resurgence after leaving WWE last year. He has been appearing on the independent wrestling scene for TNA and New Japan Pro Wrestling. However, he’s taking another step in his wrestling career by joining SiriusXM Busted Open. 

Dave LaGreca announced on the recent SiriusXM Busted Open episode that he is excited about Nemeth’s addition to the team. 

When speaking about joining the podcast, Nemeth said, “…For someone who loves watching wrestling, as you all know, hopefully, my insight of being able to survive for 19 years at 5’11, 195 pounds, having no friends in the office, somehow that can apply to this, but mostly me figuring out which channel wrestling is on would be the best part.”

It was noted that Nemeth’s schedule for the show’s appearances has yet to be figured out. However, he will appear in the March 15 episode with LaGreca. 

The move to wrestling media could be great for fans to get the perspective of someone as accomplished in WWE as Nemeth. He also showed good chemistry with LaGreca, Bully Ray, and Tommy Dreamer, which is promising for his future on the podcast. 

Nic Nemeth On His Excitement On Being An Independent Wrestler & His Future

Nemeth has been making waves in wrestling since making his shocking debut at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 on January 4. A month later, he defeated David Finlay to become the IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion. He’s also teased challenging TNA World Champion Moose, which can happen later this year. 

The IWGP champion spoke about his newfound excitement about being an independent wrestler. He also shared that he is catching up with more wrestling from different promotions and where he feels he could test himself. 

“…I love it. There is an entire world out there that I’ve never even seen in person or been face-to-face with anyone, and there are a million opponents that I’ve never even been in a locker room with, so I’m excited for the wrestling part, but also the part where I’m learning and following all the television aspect of it and pay-per-views and premium live event, however you guys say them depending on the company. I can’t wait to sink my teeth into it,” said Nemeth.

Nemeth’s move to becoming an independent wrestling star seems to be going well. He is gaining traction on his own and is enjoying the direction of his career in 2024. 

A former WWE tag team has scored their first taste of championship gold following their release from the promotion in September of last year. 

September 2023 saw the first wave of talent releases following the launch of TKO Group Holdings that same month. These releases came shortly after WWE cut over 100 employees from its corporate offices. These cuts were made as part of synchronization efforts with UFC to ensure that there was as little unnecessary staff in TKO. 

New Champions

Mace and Mansoor, collectively known as the Maximum Male Models, were among the names cut from WWE in September of last year. Now the pair have captured championship gold. At an event for Beyond Wrestling, the pair won the promotion’s tag titles. WWE NXT Superstar DIJAK was in attendance at the show to commemorate the win for the models. 

WE DID IT! NEW CHAMPS!@GREATBLACKOTAKU @suavemansoor @beyondwrestling @indiewrestling pic.twitter.com/EviJEUlptu

— DONOVAN DIJAK (@DijakFYE) March 9, 2024

In WWE, neither Mace nor Mansoor won championship gold. Mace’s only title opportunity in WWE came at a 2020 WWE NXT live event where he unsuccessfully challenged NXT Champion Adam Cole. Mansoor would never even get an opportunity at a title in WWE, with his biggest win being the 51-Man battle royal victory at WWE Super Showdown 2019. 

Championship Releases

Notable names cut at the time included Matt Riddle and Nic Nemeth, both of whom have gone on to capture championship gold in New Japan Pro Wrestling. Nemeth is the current, and second-ever IWGP Global Champion while Riddle is currently the NJPW World Television Champion. 

Mustafa Ali has gone on to join TNA Wrestling and is the reigning TNA X-Division Champion. The Retribution leader captured the title, his first championship in a major wrestling promotion, in the main event of TNA No Surrender. 

As the new IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, Nic Nemeth is looking to make a significant mark in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Once he fulfills that quest, though, Nemeth is keen on rekindling a rivalry with one of his former WWE colleagues, who is now a prominent player in AEW.

In a recent interview with Monopoly Events, the former “The Most Wanted Man” expressed his desire to wrestle “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson for the first time outside of the WWE setting. Nemeth and Danielson — who were previously known as Dolph Ziggler and Daniel Bryan, respectively — shared the ring on over six-dozen occasions while under the WWE umbrella. 

Wanted Man Wants The American Dragon

Due to the creative constraints placed on them at the time, though, Nemeth isn’t sure if their matches ever lived up to their true potential. 

“I’d like to be back in [the ring] with Daniel Bryan too, without WWE saying he has to win and protecting him,” Nemeth said. “I want to go one-on-one with a guy that everybody treats as one of the best of all time and in the world and I go ‘You’re not better than me, not by a long shot.’ So I want to fight him one-on-one while everybody watches and goes ‘Oh right, I guess Nic’s pretty good too.’ No, I’m freaking great at this.”

“I would absolutely love that. I have a long list of some Japanese legends that I want to get into because I want to test myself, but man, when I come out on the other side of that, I’m looking for Daniel Bryan. I’m going headbutt him right in the head, knock him down, choke him out, tap him out. You name it, I can’t wait.”

Since departing from WWE in September 2023, Nemeth is now one of wrestling’s hottest free agents. Aside from his work in NJPW, Nemeth has also landed opportunities in TNA Wrestling, Game Changer Wrestling, and the World Wrestling Council. 

Given that NJPW and AEW have a well-established partnership, it is possible that Nemeth could also find himself in the territory of AEW and compete in his first non-WWE match against Danielson. 

The NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo event signified the start of a new era for NJPW as a new crop of foreign talent took center stage in the wake of some older names leaving.

The show built around Nic Nemeth’s debut for the promotion saw the officials putting their trust into the wrestling veteran in his very first outing for the company. The star formerly known as Dolph Ziggler not only main-evented the show but also picked up the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship in his debut match for the promotion.

Nemeth made it very clear in his first promo as the new champion that he will be taking this responsibility very seriously. The Global Champion declared passionately that the title means everything to him and he won’t be just sitting on his ass around after this big victory:

“This might be 20 more years of me holding this title and defend it in every goddamn night. If that’s what it means, that’s how I will go into my grave holding this, holding this championship that says, I am better than the best and I don’t just sit on my ass now and go home and wait for a call in three months to say it’s time to defend it.

You want a shot, you earn it, you step up to me, man to man, face to face, look me in the fucking eye and say, I think, I think. I think I can go with you. I think I can hang and you better believe that I’m gonna knock your head off your fucking body.”

https://twitter.com/prowresclips/status/1760996719083368734

Nic Nemeth wasn’t the only name who was trusted by the company to lead it forward. In an event that also featured one of Kazuchika Okada’s final matches for the promotion before his departure, Matt Riddle made headlines by picking up the NJPW World TV Championship from the new company president Hiroshi Tanahashi.

NJPW New Beginning In Sapporo Full Results: Nic Nemeth, Matt Riddle And More

Apart from this the show also showcased names such as Shota Umino who now have the responsibility to step up as the next generation of pillars for the legendary promotion. You can check out the full results from the event below:

Holy sh…. !!! Matt Riddle in his debut match at #njpw has just dethroned Hiroshi Tanahashi with the "BroDerek" to become the new NJPW TV Champion at The New Beginning In Sapporo #njnbg https://t.co/jApwPzLl3O

— ERD Wrestling (@ERD_Wrestling) February 23, 2024

• Toru Yano & Tomoya def. Shoma Kato & Tomoaki Honma
• Zack Sabre Jr. def. Yuji Nagata
• HOUSE OF TORTURE (Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Yujiro Takahashi & Ren Narita) def. Boltin Oleg, Togi Makabe & Ryusuke Taguchi
• Kazuchika Okada, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI def. Great-O-Khan, Jeff Cobb, Francesco Akira & Callum Newman
• Los Ingobernables De Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & BUSHI) def. Just Five Guys (SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI & TAKA Michinoku)
• IWGP Women’s Championship Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) def. Mina Shirakawa
• IWGP Junior Heavyweight Championship Match: SHO def. El Desperado (c)
• NEVER Openweight Championship Match: EVIL (c) def. Shota Umino
• NJPW World TV Championship Match: Matt Riddle def. Hiroshi Tanahashi (c)
• IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship Match: Nic Nemeth def. David Finlay (c)

With the recent backstage changes and the confirmed departure of top names such as Will Ospreay and Okada, NJPW has a lot of challenges ahead. The latest event, however, was a declaration from the company that they are ready to face the music and there is a new set of faces that are going to help them rebuild the company in wake of older talents leaving. 

Related: Hiroshi Tanahashi Acknowledges NJPW’s Need For New Stars After Recent Departures

Welcome to SEScoops’ Daily Drop – a rundown of the top stories in pro wrestling all in one place.

Our mission is to provide our readers with the most important and interesting news from WWE, AEW and more that’s timely, informative and engaging. The Daily Drop is a destination where you can get a snapshot of the top stories in wrestling.

• WrestleMania 40 COUNTDOWN: 48 days away

Here’s the Daily Drop news report for Wednesday, February 18, 2024:

WWE

– SEScoops was able to report who had a hand in The Rock and Roman Reigns’ SmackDown promo this week.

– LA Knight is being considered for a big title match at WrestleMania 40.

– Fightful Select provided a new extensive report about Janel Grant’s lawsuit against Vince McMahon, John Laurinaitis and WWE.

– Velveteen Dream ended his long hiatus from the ring by re-appearing at an indie wrestling show.

YO ITS PATRICK CLARK (FKA velveteen dream) WTF pic.twitter.com/mkKMxXlOtO

— Za’Nief Washington (@zanief_) February 18, 2024

– Nic Nemeth revealed that he actually requested his WWE release several times before the company finally fired him in September 2023.

AEW

– Rush made his current visa situation very clear, as there was a previous report on the matter.

– There was another injury for the AEW roster 

– Ric Flair, who is now associated with Tony Khan’s company, discussed the fact that skeletons in his closet ended his political aspirations.

– New information is out that revealed the ballpark of how much Mercedes Mone asked for from WWE. She reportedly inked a deal with AEW and will make her debut during the March 13th episode of AEW Collision in Boston.

What’s Next

– WWE Elimination Chamber: Perth takes place next Saturday, February 24.

– AEW Dynamite: Big Business is coming to Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.

– AEW Revolution takes place the following weekend on Sunday, March 3.

– WWE NXT Stand & Deliver will be on the afternoon of April 6th, right before the first night of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.

– WrestleMania XL will take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, airing as a two-part event.

– Backlash France will be held on May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.

– WWE NXT Battleground is scheduled for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, and will be available exclusively on the WWE Network and Peacock.

– WWE Money in the Bank will take place on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.

– WWE Bash In Berlin is set for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

Former WWE star Nic Nemeth (previously known as Dolph Ziggler) recently revealed that he was ready to leave WWE to explore new avenues.

Nemeth had a storied career in WWE but that’s all in the past. He recently ended a 19-year run with the company as he was part of the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings.

Following his release, Nemeth arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he introduced his ‘Wanted Man gimmick.’ He eventually showed up in TNA Wrestling. Nemeth had previously disclosed that several individuals contacted him after his release and wanted to sign him into their company.

Nemeth will be a part of Title Fight Friday on night one of New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23. 

Nic Nemeth revealed he had been planning to exit WWE

Ahead of his debut, Nic Nemeth spoke to NJPW on whether there had been a big culture shock in that adjustment after his exit from WWE, or if was it more of an exciting process. Here is what he said:

“It’s a little bit of both. The first six or seven years of my career, I would get to every Monday after Wrestlemania thinking ‘well, this is the day when I’m gone!’ (laughs). So I would think about, OK, I can go back to school, go to law school, be a manager at Chipotle… you start thinking about all these things and get ready to go so you’re not blindsided by being told you’re released.”

The former World Champion revealed that he was well aware that he was a mainstay in WWE but still got to a point where he was determined to leave. He said: 

“But after about ten, 15 years of that I started realising, OK I’m a mainstay here, I’m needed. But I got to a point where I was ready to go. I’d asked the company a few different times whether I was ready to go, and they told me I was signed, and they weren’t letting me go. So I started asking them, ‘hey, can I start doing this, can I start something else’. So I was prepared to be done and to start exploring other avenues.”

Nic Nemeth further outlined how he prepared himself to attain what he’s been planning to. He said:

“I spent the last six, eight months, a year, saying ‘I’m going to be in the best shape of my life when all this goes down,’ and when it finally got to the point where I asked (WWE) enough and they gave me my release, then it became ‘OK, well you asked for this for the last five years, you’d better deliver.’ So, OK, I’ve got this, I’m doing this, I have insurance ready, I’ve been training in the ring, watching different things, and I’m ready to go. So let’s go.”

At New Beginning, Nic Nemeth is all set to challenge the inaugural NJPW Global Champion David Finlay for the title. 

Cody Rhodes’ choice to face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40 has had the wrestling world buzzing after a complicated road to this decision. 

Rhodes made his choice clear during the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Leading up to this event, there had been a lot of talk about who Cody would pick, especially after Rhodes said last week he wouldn’t be facing Reigns this April. A massive fan backlash may have influenced WWE’s decision, with the ‘We Want Cody’ movement being heard both at WWE events and on social media. 

The Wrestling World Reacts

Triple H was present for Cody’s decision at the WrestleMania 40 kick-off press conference. Taking to Twitter, the WWE’s Chief Content Officer made it clear that the decision has been made. 

Decision made. @CodyRhodes gets the chance to finish his story when he challenges @WWERomanReigns in the main event of #WrestleMania XL. pic.twitter.com/A12apAnELf

— Triple H (@TripleH) February 9, 2024

WWE U.S Champion Logan Paul had backed Cody Rhodes in the run-up to the press conference. On social media, Paul shared a video of his reaction to Cody’s decision and The Rock slapping him. 

Let him cook @CodyRhodes pic.twitter.com/q6dvtHuWBP

— Logan Paul (@LoganPaul) February 9, 2024

Cody’s fellow AEW alum Amanda Huber spoke highly of Rhodes and is excited to see him finish the story in April. 

If you want to know the type of man @CodyRhodes (and @WWEBigE )is, he drove 5+ hours the day after Christmas to be in the room with me to tell Brodie Jon was going to pass.

He held him as he cried. Then he took him to the beach and filed kites.

If he’s not the type of human… pic.twitter.com/ovhHp8r2Pp

— Amanda (@MandaLHuber) February 9, 2024

TNA Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth used some political satire to explain what’s going on with the Cody Rhodes/Roman Reigns/The Rock dynamic. 

What an insane press conference!
Biden appears to be in trouble, not just polling-wise. And quickly forcing an outsider to take his place for 2024, would appear to jump Kamala,
(who’s polling even lower than biden)

— Nic Nemeth (@NicTNemeth) February 9, 2024

With Cody Rhodes not challenging for the World Heavyweight Championship, Drew McIntyre is pleased that his quest to win the gold became all that much clearer. 

https://t.co/Ezv9zxgAfD pic.twitter.com/856cSZuK3F

— Drew (@DMcIntyreWWE) February 9, 2024

Cody’s wife Brandi used some emojis to share her excitement for the upcoming match. 

?????? https://t.co/nJw7YVfrvJ

— Brandi Rhodes (@TheBrandiRhodes) February 9, 2024

And as for the man of the hour himself, Cody Rhodes had a clear message after challenging Roman Reigns. 

For everything https://t.co/vmwuYwngkZ

— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) February 9, 2024

TNA and New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Nic Nemeth is set to star in a new wrestling-themed film based on a popular comic book series. 

The ‘Wanted Man’ has been announced for Imagos Films‘ live-action adaptation of Kyle Starks’ comic book, The Legend of Ricky Thunder, though the film will be called Absolute Thunder. Nemeth will star as Thunder, a legendary wrestler who is forced to face the crushing truth that his run at the top was all scripted. As if that isn’t bad enough, Ricky also has to deal with the fact that aliens are real and plan to take over the world through the power of pro wrestling. 

Nic Nemeth Comments

In a press release, Nemeth said that when he was presented with the project, he couldn’t say no in good conscience. 

“Kyle Starks’ comic book was presented to me out of the blue, and wow was it beautiful, fun, awesome, and wholesome. So I could not, in good conscience, say no! Second of all, I AM Ricky…we all are haha!”

Absolute Thunder director Don Thacker has described the movie as 80s action comedy meets 90s anime. He has also said the film will tell a “wholesome story about friendship, confidence, self-esteem, and wrestling. So much wrestling.”

Nic Nemeth On the Big Screen

Absolute Thunder won’t be Nemeth’s first time in a leading role. In 2016, he portrayed Ray Thompson in WWE Studios’ own Countdown. The film sees Thompson try and prevent a terrorist attack at a WWE event while saving the life of a child hostage. Ziggler portrayed a robotic version of himself in The Jetsons & WWE: Robo-WrestleMania! He will also star in Drugstore Jone, a new comedy set to release this month. 

Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler in WWE) recently surprised the fans during an indie show.

Nemeth has a decorated WWE career in the rearview mirror. He recently ended a 19-year run with the company as he was part of the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings. 

Months after his shocking release from WWE, Nemeth arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling where he introduced the fans to his ‘Wanted Man gimmick’ and most recently he made an appearance in TNA.

Nic Nemeth uses his WWE theme song

Nic Nemeth recently worked WWC Euphoria event in Puerto Rico. Fans noted an interesting thing which is that he used his WWE theme ‘Here To Show The World’ while making his entrance to the ring. Former WWE Superstar Primo Colon introduced Nemeth to the fans and hyped up his appearance. At the event, Nic Nemeth squared faced Ray Gonzalez in a singles match.

https://twitter.com/FiteTV/status/1748894210491576642

After his NJPW and TNA appearances, fans are hopeful that Nic Nemeth will show up in AEW eventually. It’s worth noting that his brother Ryan Nemeth is also a part of the AEW roster. He had been trying to convince Nic for a decade that he should exit WWE. 

But for now, it seems that Nic Nemeth made his goals in TNA clear during his first promo in the promotion. He is going after the ultimate prize of the promotion, TNA World Championship. Read more below:

Nic Nemeth made his goals in TNA abundantly clear during the Wanted Man’s first promo since arriving in the company. 

In the main event of TNA Hard to Kill, Moose dethroned Alex Shelley to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Nemeth made his debut by confronting the new champion in the ring. Nemeth would end the show by celebrating with the fans and ripping his shirt off to reveal the TNA shirt underneath. 

Nic Nemeth is Coming for the TNA World Championship

After his thrilling debut at TNA Hard to Kill, fans were excited to hear what the former WWE World Champion had to say. On this week’s iMPACT! On AXS TV, Nemeth reflected on his past, and his arrival in TNA, and gave a very clear message about his future plans. 

“I was very fortunate to rack up a lot of accomplishments in 19 years, but I did it all in one world [WWE]. So I’ve got to admit to you guys, this start right here, this is a little intimidating. I’ve got some emotions running through.You say I’ve still got it, I never lost it.

“I’m intimidated, I’m scared. I’m nervous. I’m excited. And make no mistake about it, I picked my time and place. I showed up in this ring and I lined up face-to-face with the TNA World Champion. And, I am going to become TNA World Champion.”

What’s Next for Nic Nemeth? 

Nemeth’s debut match will take place on next week’s episode of TNA iMPACT! where he will face Zachary Wentz. The show will also see Kazuchika Okada & Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. The System (Moose, Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards). In a rematch from TNA Hard to Kill, new Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace will defend against Trinity.

TNA Wrestling isn’t the only place fans will be able to see the Wanted Man in action… 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops. 

WWE released a lot of talent in September, and Dolph Ziggler’s name was arguably the most surprising one. Now the former World Champion is making his own way through the pro wrestling world, as he has popped up for both TNA Wrestling and NJPW so far. There were a lot of options on the table for Nic Nemeth.

Nic Nemeth Had Options

The former Dolph Ziggler has garnered attention in recent weeks by appearing for NJPW and, most recently, TNA, marking a nearly 20-year tenure in WWE. One thing is very clear, he is getting priority booking wherever he goes.

During a conversation on TNA’s Instagram after Hard To Kill, Nemeth disclosed that numerous individuals contacted him post his release, expressing their desire to have him in their company.

Nic Nemeth reflected on the past three, four, five, six months, contemplating how to prolong his legacy and embark on a distinct chapter with a new mindset and persona. 

He expressed feeling like a wanted individual, recounting the multitude of people who reached out to him after his departure from his previous job. These messages weren’t mere expressions of thanks or congratulations, but rather indications of a significant level of interest and desire for his involvement.

A bunch of people reached out instantly and said, ‘We want you here.’ I go, man, it is great to feel that. I’m very fortunate and lucky that people [said], ‘How can we get you? What can we do?’ I was like, I’m kind of a wanted man, it got me more excited, like I’m back in, okay. I was like, ‘I could show up and be a hired gun here. I could take this guy out, and we could go run. I’m figuring out, where could we go, and I watched TNA go to IMPACT and become TNA in this special moment at Hard To Kill, where this is a coming-out party for TNA again. I go, that could be a perfect fit. Hopefully, I can back it up in the ring, other than just talking about it and showing up.

Dolph Ziggler’s Next Moves in Pro Wrestling

Many fans expected Nic to arrive in AEW eventually, because Ryan Nemeth, his brother, is on Tony Khan’s roster. He was also telling Nic for a decade that he should leave WWE. That has not happened yet, but at this rate, nothing would surprise us.

TNA Wrestling delivered on a big surprise at the end of Hard to Kill with Nemeth, and he has already wrestled for the company. Someone like Nic Nemeth obviously has options on the table.

Nic Nemeth was amazed by the efforts of the TNA Wrestling roster that he was able to watch in person at last weekend’s Hard to Kill event. 

The ‘Wanted Man’ made his debut in the closing moments of Hard to Kill, confronting new TNA World Heavyweight Champion Moose. Nemeth was released from WWE in September 2023, ending his nearly two-decade tenure under contract. 

Nic Nemeth Wowed By TNA’s Roster

Speaking on Instagram Live about his arrival in TNA Wrestling, Nemeth said he was blown away by how hard the roster worked to make Hard to Kill such a success. 

“Not only did I want to make an impact by making an entrance, showing up, making it seem like ‘Man, this is a special moment’ [but] I was trying to figure out the best possible way to do so. Coming down the entranceway, everyone’s doing that. I’m hiding out, watching the show, I got to really, really enjoy the entire card. So I got here secretly and was hiding out, and I was watching on a tiny phone the show all the way through.

“I was blown away by, everybody works hard, in this business. Everybody works hard. But to actually see it come through to fruition, while you’re watching, and you can just see it in the wrestlers’ eyes. You can see it in their faces and their emotions go ‘This is not just a special night. This is a locker room that wants to be the best. Man, it put chills on my arms. 

“This is a special thing. In a world where everybody is special, this was standing out to me. I was so grateful that I got a chance to see it and I go ‘What is the most exciting moment I could do?’ The main event of this special night with the new champion crowned. And I go ‘This is where I can stand out and say everybody If you don’t know about TNA, hopefully you do, and if you already know, it’s just gotten better right now.’

After his debut, Nemeth didn’t waste time in competing in his first TNA match… 

For the use of quotes, please give an H/T to SE Scoops.

Nic Nemeth had plenty to say about his past, his future, and TNA Wrestling in his first promo for the company. 

In the main event of TNA Hard to Kill, Moose dethroned Alex Shelley to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Nemeth made his debut by confronting the new champion in the ring. 

Nic Nemeth’s First TNA Promo

Last night, TNA taped their Snake Eyes event, which saw Nemeth in action. During the show, Nemeth cut a promo in front of the fans. The former Superstar reflected on his debut the night prior and how he’s feeling right now. 

“Hard to Kill was one hell of a moment, wasn’t it? TNA is back baby. From the opening match to that main event, there was something in the air and damn it, I loved every second.

“I’ve been very fortunate. I’ve done 19 years, and a hell of a lot of events. I was very fortunate to rack up a lot of accomplishments in 19 years but I did it all in one world. I got some emotions running through. You said I still got it, I never lost it!

“I’m intimidated. I’m scared. I’m nervous. I’m excited. And make no mistake about it, I picked my time and place. I showed up in this ring and I lined up face to face with the TNA world champion. I am going to become TNA world champion. I am going to celebrate with each and every one of you!

“I respect the men and the women of this locker room way too much to stroll in here and demand a world title match and get it. This is my day one. This is my first day right here, right now, doing it all over again. It starts here, right now. This time, I earn it all the way to the top.

“I promise I will do it again. I’ve done it in the past and I will never stop. It’s the first time in my life that I do it as Nic Nemeth!”

Nic Nemeth on the mic!#tna #hardtokill pic.twitter.com/tY1gtjMxJg

— Christine (@ShiningPolaris) January 15, 2024

Nemeth’s Debut Match

Nic Nemeth did more than just talk during the TNA Snake Eyes taping. During the show, Nemeth defeated Zachary Wentz in his first match outside of WWE in decades. One fan who attended said the match was good and added that Wentz controlled the action early on. You can check out some photos from the match and Nemeth’s entrance below. 

Nic Nemeth defeats Wentz. #SnakeEyes #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/sv6HdYL62C

— Tennessee Revolver (@TNRevolver) January 15, 2024

Maclin attacks Nic Nemeth after the match, but gets a Zig Zag for his troubles. #SnakeEyes #IMPACTonAXSTV pic.twitter.com/fwXVX5EGol

— Tennessee Revolver (@TNRevolver) January 15, 2024

It’s not just TNA Wrestling where fans can see the ‘Wanted Man’… 

H/T – No DQ

The ‘Wanted Man’ of professional wrestling Nic Nemeth has arrived in TNA Wrestling after making his debut for the promotion at the Hard to Kill event. 

In the main event of TNA Hard to Kill, Moose dethroned Alex Shelley to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion. After the match, Nemeth made his debut by confronting the new champion in the ring. 

Watch Nic Nemeth’s TNA Debut

Things got physical between the two and Nemeth would get the best of Moose. After the brawl, Nemeth went into the crowd and ripped off his shirt to reveal a TNA shirt underneath. 

.@NicTNemeth is at #HardToKill! pic.twitter.com/RevwToF5tD

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 14, 2024

Nemeth’s First TNA Match

Nic Nemeth made quite the ‘impact’ with his TNA Wrestling debut, and it won’t be long before fans see him in the ring. It has been confirmed that Nemeth will compete at the TNA Snake Eyes event that’ll take place in Las Vegas today. Nemeth will take on The Rascalz’ Zachary Wentz. 

BREAKING: @NicTNemeth will make his TNA in-ring debut TOMORROW at TNA #SnakeEyes from the Palms in Las Vegas as he takes on @ZacharyWentz – to air on a future episode of #TNAiMPACT on @AXSTV!

Get tickets HERE: https://t.co/uIMNT4ffq6 pic.twitter.com/4oMSSjFUhF

— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) January 14, 2024

Wrestling’s ‘Wanted Man’

Nemeth is best known for his time with WWE as Dolph Ziggler, a run that saw him become a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Dolph Ziggler was among those released by WWE in September 2023, as part of the first wave of cuts following the launch of TKO Group Holdings. 

The release of the Show-Off led to several people in the industry sharing tributes to his WWE run, including John Cena. Nemeth has since admitted that he was being paid to sit at home and do nothing during the latter stages of his WWE career. More recently, Nemeth reintroduced himself as wrestling’s ‘Wanted Man’ with a zombie-apocalypse-themed video. 

TNA Wrestling isn’t the only place fans can see Nic Nemeth… 

Dolph Ziggler was released from WWE in September, but Nic Nemeth is already in NJPW. He may pop up in any number of places at this point, and his brother, Ryan Nemeth, is more than happy to see it happen.

Ryan Nemeth is Excited About Nic Nemeth’s New-Found Freedom

“I’m very excited about it,” Ryan Nemeth said on Busted Open Radio. He continued to say that he had a flashback to when that question is asked a question about a match, and he only has, “Well, you’ll have to wait and see,” to say. Right now, Nemeth can’t contain his excitement about getting to team with his brother.

It also turns out that Ryan has told his brother, the former Dolph Ziggler, to leave WWE for a very long time now.

“I can’t wait. Is there something or isn’t there? I’ve been telling him to leave WWE for like over a decade now. I think it’s always great to leave and reinvent yourself or leave and just do something else. “

Ryan highlighted the advantages of departing from WWE to embrace reinvention and explore diverse creative paths. The prospect of wrestling alongside his brother and the creation of fresh content is also on the horizon. The Nemeth Brothers are ready for this new career chapter, with Ryan proclaiming, “Nemeth Bros forever, baby.”

Ryan Nemeth continued to say that he is excited to team with his brother, Nic, and also do more comedy shows with him. He went on to plug the Wanted Man project, and there is more to come.

“I’m psyched to tag with him, I’m psyched to do more comedy shows with him. We just shot Wanted Man, which is incredible and getting a huge positive response to launch his new character. We have 3 million views on social platforms. I’m so psyched about the positive response. Some horror websites are doing write ups on it. That kind of stuff is what I’m psyched about and you can’t do that kind of stuff when one of you is trapped in a very intense WWE schedule. I’m very excited to start wrestling with him, doing events with him, and shooting more stuff. Nemeth Bros forever, baby.”

Nic Nemeth After WWE

Nic Nemeth made very good money in WWE for a long time. He also made the kind of money that Vince McMahon paid people that he didn’t want to leave. He is financially comfortable and can pick his own projects. That could add up to result in a lot of future projects for the Nemeth Brothers.

Some were surprised by Dolph Ziggler’s WWE release, but he is not going to be hard to find with everything he seems to have on deck.

Wrestling free agent Nic Nemeth will have the chance to flex his comedic muscles as part of a new film he’s been attached to. 

Nemeth was released from WWE in September 2023, ending his nearly two-decade career with the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. Nemeth is best known for his time as Dolph Ziggler and is a two-time former World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE NXT Champion. The Show-Off was arguably the biggest name cut from WWE last year. 

Nic Nemeth’s New Comedy Film

Taking to Twitter this week, Nemeth shared that he has a part in the new comedy film Drugstore June. The former Superstar was pleased to be working with some very funny people and said that the film’s lead Esther Povitsky ‘kills it’ in her role. 

the funniest people in the world & @littleesther kills it! Happy to be a part of #DrugstoreJune pic.twitter.com/w6ZRLgaOJB

— Nic Nemeth (@NicTNemeth) January 10, 2024

According to IMDB, Ziggler portrays the role of a deliveryman. Other names attached include Bobby Lee (Pineapple Express), Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense), Beverly D’Angelo (National Lampoon), and James Remar (Miracle on 34th Street). The film is set to be released next month. 

What’s Next for Nic Nemeth?

While Nemeth hopes to continue his comedy career, the Show-Off’s first passion remains pro-wrestling. Nemeth made his debut for NJPW at the recent Wrestle Kingdom event, where he brawled with David Finlay. The two will face off at The New Beginning on February 23. There have also been creative pitches within AEW for Nemeth’s arrival though it is unclear if the All-Elite promotion has reached out to the former Superstar at this time. 

Nic Nemeth wasn’t kept busy during the final months of his WWE career… 

Nic Nemeth is now a “Wanted Man” after now officially being a free agent. The former Dolph Ziggler was one of several releases by WWE back in September, and he kicked 2024 off with a surprise appearance at Wrestle Kingdom.

However, Nemeth’s impending exit was something he actually fully expected and even inquired about.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Nemeth touched upon how his leave felt like a long time coming.

“I was planning for half of this entire last contract going, ‘I know at some point, I’m being paid way too much to sit at home so I’m gonna have to get out of here.’ I always wanted to be ready to go, just in case they said, ‘I know you’ve been doing 90-second matches, can you do 30 minutes with The Undertaker?’ You’re damn right I can. I was ready to go anyway.

“I just wanted to have every option available. It wasn’t out of the blue. I had sent emails to the boss over the last few months saying, ‘I have to move on to somewhere else, can you let me do this?’ Eventually, without exact back and forth, that’s how it worked out.”

Nemeth has plenty to look forward to as free agency is a new beginning for him. His appearance at Wrestle Kingdom even surprised talent backstage at NJPW, but Nemeth will be keeping busy overseas in the wrestling realm as he’ll be making appearances in the United Kingdom and Australia.

Since his release, Nemeth also has been doing stand-up appearances with his younger brother Ryan.

Please credit Busted Open Radio and h/t to Fightful for the transcription.

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. 

Nick Nemeth (WWE legend Dolph Ziggler) has started the new year in a big way with a surprise appearance at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom and a slick-looking trailer introducing a new persona, the ‘Wanted Man’ Nic Nemeth.

Nemeth, one of the top free agents in all of pro wrestling, introduces his persona in creative fashion. He’s depicted in the back of a police car before a zombies attack occurs.

The former World Champions fights them off and blows up the building as ‘Wanted’ posters with his face on it adorn the walls. Nemeth shows off his acting chops in the trailer, which featured an appearance from a rubber chicken (a nod to his stand-up comedy work) and a zombie getting his head kicked off at one of the worst ‘Superkick Parties’ ever.

The song featured in the video clip is the self-titled ‘Wanted Man’ by the band Downstait. The short was executively produced by Nic Nemeth, Ryan Nemeth & Jake Hartmann, and written by Ryan Nemeth & Maggie Levin.

Nic Nemeth keeps his options open 

Nemeth has had a successful WWE career which spanned 19 years and he has had multiple accolades. Unfortunately, Nemeth’s time in WWE came to an end when he was part of the first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings. 

Back in November, Nic Nemeth decided to get back to comedy and share the stage with his brother Ryan, something that they have done on multiple occasions in front of sold-out venues. They went on to host a special two-show Hunkamania tour. Now, months after his shocking release from WWE, Nemeth has arrived in New Japan Pro Wrestling. 

With his decorated WWE career in the rearview mirror, Nemeth, a future Hall of Famer has doors of opportunities wide open with top promotions such as NJPW, AEW, TNA as well as the indies chasing his signature. This is something the ‘Wanted Man’ video implies. 

We will have to wait and see which company lands the signing of Nic Nemeth.

WWE released a lot of Superstars in September 2023, and Doph Ziggler’s name was arguably the most shocking to make the list. Although Ziggler stayed silent about his next move in pro wrestling, fans found out what he had in store at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 event.

Dolph Ziggler’s NJPW Debut

Nic Nemeth, also known as Dolph Ziggler from his long WWE run, made a significant impression with his brother Ryan Nemeth during their debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Their entrance before the Winner Take All IWGP & NJPW Strong Tag Team Title Match caught everyone by surprise, not only astonishing the audience but also creating a buzz of excitement backstage among fellow wrestlers.

As the Nemeth brothers took front-row seats to witness the highly anticipated showdown, their unannounced presence backstage brought shock from both fans and the pro wrestling world.

.@HEELZiggler appears in NJPW.

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#njwk18 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/g35eSbTB13

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2024

Internal Reaction Nic Nemeth’s NJPW Debut

Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net provided an interesting note about Nic Nemeth’s appearance at Wrestle Kingdom. It was said that this was a surprise backstage at the Tokyo Dome as well.

Sources backstage at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 18 relayed to me that Nic Nemeth’s appearance was just as much a surprise backstage as it was for everyone else. One source stated, “Where the f*ck was he hiding?” Another source added, “Never saw him or anything until he went out.”

The Wrestle Kingdom 18 event marked a new chapter for the Nemeths, leaving an indelible impression with their unexpected and strategic debut in the world of New Japan Pro Wrestling.

Ryan Nemeth in AEW

Ryan Nemeth has appeared for AEW over the past few years, with infrequent appearences in recent months. His most recent match took place on the November 4th episode of ROH on HonorClub, where he, along with Peter Avalon, lost an eight-man tag team match. 

Ryan Nemeth was also a regular participant on Being the Elite, a show that concluded late last year. At this time, it appears that his name has a lot more hype in NJPW after Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth caused quite a stir when he made his debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling at Wrestle Kingdom 18. 

Nemeth, best known to wrestling fans as Dolph Ziggler, was dressed to impress as he appeared in front of the crowd in the Tokyo Dome. The former Superstar was accompanied by his brother and AEW star Ryan Nemeth. 

.@HEELZiggler appears in NJPW.

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#njwk18 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/g35eSbTB13

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2024

Nemeth’s Appearance Kept A Surprise

According to Cassidy Haynes of BodySlam.net, Nemeth’s presence was kept a secret from virtually everybody. Two sources who were backstage at the Tokyo Dome relayed that Nemeth was not in public view before he appeared on the broadcast and most of the wrestlers on the card found out along with the fans watching at home around the world.

Nemeth and Finlay brawled backstage, all but guaranteeing that this was more than just a cameo:

Acknowledging he doesn’t even go here, Nic Nemeth says he has pride for the IWGP Global Title…while he understands using “questionable” tactics to win, what Finley did was disgraceful. If given the opportunity to wrestle for it and win it, he will make it the pinnacle #njwk18 pic.twitter.com/uJ1ojAceWE

— Issa ?????? – PWI ? Contributor (@IssitaMarie) January 4, 2024

Nemeth’s arrival in New Japan comes months after his surprising release from WWE in September of 2023. The first wave of releases after the launch of TKO Group Holdings, Nemeth was cut alongside Mustafa Ali, Shelton Benjamin, Matt Riddle, Emma, Riddick Moss, Aliyah, and other Superstars. 

What’s Next? 

Nemeth watched on as David Finlay faced Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay to crown the first IWGP Global Champion. After the match, Finlay got in the face of Nemeth, who had some choice words for the new champion. The two would brawl at ringside. 

.@THEdavidfinlay × @HEELZiggler "Next Battle?"

Sign up Now & Stay tuned to https://t.co/CeQLGjTmZ5#njwk18 #NJPW #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/AO2znYwWxl

— NJPW WORLD (@njpwworld) January 4, 2024

This post-match incident is seemingly setting Nemeth up as a future challenger for the IWGP Global Championship. It’s possible that the match could come as soon as NJPW Battle in the Valley which will take place on January 13. 

NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 also saw the crowning of the second-ever NJPW World TV Champion. Click here to find out more. 

Former WWE Superstar Nic Nemeth may be All-Elite soon enough if those working within AEW have their way. 

Nemeth was released from WWE in September of this year, ending his nearly two-decade career with the Sports Entertainment juggernaut. Nemeth is best known for his time as Dolph Ziggler and is a two-time former World Heavyweight Champion and one-time WWE NXT Champion. The Show-Off was arguably the biggest name cut from WWE during the September releases. 

Nic Nemeth is All-Elite?

Next week, Nemeth’s 90-day non-compete clause will expire and he will be free to work and sign with any promotion that wants him. Sources in AEW who spoke to WrestlePurists have stated that there is a push within the promotion for Nemeth to be signed when the time is right. There have already been multiple creative pitches being drawn up for Nemeth. One idea would see the Show-Off paired with fellow WWE alum CJ Perry. Perry and Nemeth had an on-screen romance in 2015 during which Nemeth would feud with Perry’s real-life husband Rusev (now AEW’s Miro.)

What’s Next for Nic Nemeth?

We don’t know for certain if Nemeth will join AEW but the former WWE World Champion isn’t struggling to find work outside of WWE. The former Ziggler has been announced for WWC’s Euphoria show which will take place on January 20. Nemeth will compete against Ray González at the event. Nemeth will also be part of the MCW Fan Jam convention that is set to take place on February 4. Fellow WWE alum Matt Riddle has also been announced.