Nic Nemeth recently opened up about his decision to join TNA Wrestling over All Elite Wrestling.
WWE released Nemeth, then known as Dolph Ziggler. Since January, he has been working with NJPW and TNA. Since his release, fans have been curious about him potentially working with AEW.
Speaking on Konnan’s Keepin’ It 100 podcast, Nic Nemeth was asked whether he had talks with AEW. (H/t Angel Aramboles of WrestlingNewsCo for the transcription)
“In the past, some [talks] but I had a plan that I’ve been working on for probably the last year and a half. I didn’t want to go anywhere,” Nic Nemeth said. “I appreciate that several companies reached out immediately. I [said] I have this one plan, I want to do this on my own. Even so, Scott D’Amore was so insistent because the locker room was so strong and somebody in the locker room of TNA reached out and I go, man you guys are really making this hard.
“[I said] let’s do some dates. I’m not gonna sign for 3 years but I said I just wanna bounce around and be a hired gun. I’ll go with anybody and do anything. [I said] I just got out of a long-term relationship, 19 years. I don’t want to sign a paper that says you can’t do this.”
Nic Nemeth: I Think I’m Going To Do A Year, Then Settle Down
Nic Nemeth then stated that he does not want to be locked in right now, as he is coming off a long run in WWE. He stated that he thought he would bounce around for a year before he eventually settled down somewhere.
“I can still represent companies, I am a great brand ambassador. I just don’t want to be locked in, I did it for too long. I stayed a couple extra years to get the good money. Now I’m rested up, I’m in the best shape of my life mentally and physically. I think I timed it out perfectly, no matter what any fans tell me on Twitter.
“I did my plan exactly how I want to do it and I want to bounce around. I thought I was gonna bounce around for 6 months and then look around. I think I’m gonna do a year, maybe longer, and then settle down somewhere. So far, Japan has treated me so well. That locker room is awesome.”
Nic Nemeth On NJPW
Nemeth also went on to praise the booking of the company, as he noted that its business model was similar to that of WWE.
“The business model behind the scenes is so close to WWE like long-term booking, having pieces in place, having people in place to where you don’t just always have to go to bits,” Nic Nemeth said. “You can go to someone and go to someone else and make a move here.
“I don’t always want to bother the most important boss with a small thing because I’m new. All the pieces in place in that business model is long-term booking and storytelling and I go man, that’s what I can sink my teeth into the most.”
Nemeth previously said that he felt like TNA could be a perfect fit. Check out his comments here.
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