During a recent interview with Busted Open Radio, Nic Nemeth (formerly Dolph Ziggler) discussed joining NJPW at Wrestle Kingdom 18. He will make his NJPW debut on February 23rd against David Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship. Below are some highlights.
On wrestling in NJPW:
“I was thinking about that for a long time, going different places for the last few years, especially focusing on ‘what do I want to do for the next move?’ That’s been for a few years, working out a plan. I heard so many different things from Ambrose [Jon Moxley] and different guys saying, ‘You need to see what this locker room feels like. You need to see, being here.’ I was like, ‘Man, I wonder if…can I adapt to this?’ I feel like I can adapt to anything. Can I? You do a little homework and bounce around and you go, ‘This would be something really special.’ I’ve made a career out of famously saying, ‘I don’t watch wrestling. I hate it. It was usually a joke. I just hated what I was doing and you couldn’t really critique it at home. So I go, ‘I hate wrestling.’ But you get a moment of, one, I can be part of something special. Two, seeing it in a completely different environment. Not just go to a different state and wrestle, not go to a different company in the United States, but to expand and go, ‘I feel like I can do everything here. Now, I’m going to start over at other places.’ Can I start from the bottom or middle and re-create it? Almost like a Twilight Zone where the guy wants to go back in time and go, ‘Can I remake my fortune?’ Can I remake my career on a different level and 2.0 scale?”
On how his NJPW run can be special:
“After going, ‘I don’t watch wrestling I’m retired.’ After going above and beyond and secretly getting to Japan and putting this all in place, just getting there and walking into the locker room, and knowing two or three faces, which really helped. I was going somewhere, I brought my brother with me, and I didn’t know people. I didn’t know if I was welcome. Am I scumbag to these guys? Am I okay? Can I earn my way into this locker room, what’s the situation? It was so weird, but fun, because you see a couple of faces and feel, ‘I’m kind of at home, I’m not accepted yet, how can I get accepted, what can I do to prove I want to be here, not for myself but to help, to make the show better, the company better, to make more eyes.’ You really start to think you can. I got to watch closely the entire card, and watching it in person I go, ‘Okay, this is different, this is special. I can do something with this guy. I can see this aspect of me going here and making this happen.’ Since I was a surprise, I didn’t get a chance to walk around the arena. I was hidden in the back. When my brother and I walked out, I went, ‘Oh my God, this is not just another level, this is big, this is huge,’ and I got little shivers down the back of my neck and I went, ‘this can be something so special. I’m going to do what I can to make that happen.’”
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Former WWE superstar Nic Nemeth, better known as Dolph Ziggler, recently discussed his upcoming debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) at Wrestle Kingdom 18. Nemeth will be facing David Finlay for the IWGP Global Championship on February 23rd. In a recent interview with Busted Open Radio, he shared his thoughts on wrestling in NJPW and how he believes his run with the company can be something special.
Nemeth revealed that he had been considering joining different promotions for a few years and was focused on figuring out his next move. He had heard from fellow wrestlers like Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose) about the unique experience of being in the NJPW locker room. Despite famously saying that he hated wrestling in the past, Nemeth felt that he could adapt to anything and saw NJPW as an opportunity to be part of something special. He wanted to challenge himself by starting over in a different environment and recreating his career on a new scale.
The former WWE superstar also expressed his excitement about being in Japan and joining NJPW. He admitted that he initially didn’t know if he would be accepted or if he would fit in with the locker room. However, seeing familiar faces and feeling a sense of home made him realize that he could contribute to the company’s success. Nemeth was impressed by the quality of the matches and the atmosphere at NJPW events, which made him believe that his run with the company could be something truly special.
Although Nemeth’s debut at NJPW was kept a surprise, he was thrilled by the size and magnitude of the event when he walked out with his brother. He felt that this opportunity was not just another level but something huge and significant. This realization motivated him to give his best and make his time in NJPW memorable.
Nemeth’s decision to join NJPW has generated excitement among wrestling fans who are eager to see what he can bring to the promotion. His experience and talent, combined with the unique NJPW style, could create some incredible matches and storylines. Wrestling enthusiasts can follow all the latest news and updates about Nemeth’s NJPW journey on eWrestlingNews.com or through their Twitter and Facebook pages.
In conclusion, Nic Nemeth’s decision to join NJPW and his upcoming debut at Wrestle Kingdom 18 has sparked anticipation among wrestling fans. He believes that his run with the company can be something special and is determined to make a positive impact. With his talent and the unique NJPW environment, fans can expect some exciting moments in the future.