Nic Nemeth may have gone viral after a WWE RAW segment with Hugh Jackman, but he also got in serious trouble with the promotion.
After the segment which saw Jackman deliver a devastating punch to the then-Dolph Ziggler, the Show Off suggested that he was dealing with a potentially fractured jaw.
On a recent edition of the “Going Postl” podcast, Nemeth explained how the comment got him in hot water with higher-ups in WWE. He said
“The next day (after RAW with Jackman), I said, ‘I have to go for x-rays. I may have a slight fractured jaw’ and by the time the next morning came around, I was being threatened with being fired from WWE because I had lied and TMZ was calling them to check on it and I go, ‘I’m just trying to protect the storyline.’ I said, ‘I didn’t say Hugh Jackman put me in a hospital or I’m having a heart attack. I was like, oh, there’s a chance there’s a hairline fracture and I’m gonna get x-rays to keep it vague’, because it’s wrestling.
“It was such a good punch and everybody was talking about it that night and the next day, I was so excited… the second-in-command was like, ‘I don’t wanna have to fire you but you’re gonna have to recant and take this down.’”
Years later, Jackman would return to RAW and make amends with Ziggler. The X-Men and Greatest Showman star would level Damian Sandow, who was dressed as Magneto.
In 2011, WWE fans were treated to a memorable segment on Monday Night RAW featuring actor Hugh Jackman and wrestler Dolph Ziggler. The segment not only went viral but also landed Ziggler in hot water with the WWE promotion.
During the segment, Jackman delivered a powerful punch to Ziggler, leaving the Show Off suggesting that he may have suffered a fractured jaw. This comment, made in an effort to protect the storyline, ended up causing trouble for Ziggler.
In a recent episode of the “Going Postl” podcast, Ziggler, whose real name is Nic Nemeth, revealed that his comment about a potentially fractured jaw got him in trouble with higher-ups in WWE. He explained that the next day, he mentioned the need for x-rays to check for a hairline fracture. However, this led to him being threatened with termination from the company.
Nemeth’s intention was to keep the storyline vague and maintain the excitement generated by Jackman’s punch. He didn’t claim that Jackman had put him in the hospital or caused a serious injury. Nevertheless, TMZ caught wind of the comment and contacted WWE to verify the story.
Feeling the pressure from both WWE and TMZ, Nemeth found himself in a difficult situation. He stated that he was excited about the attention the segment had received but was soon faced with the possibility of being fired. The second-in-command at WWE instructed him to recant his statement and remove it from public view.
Years later, Jackman made amends with Ziggler when he returned to RAW. This time, he targeted Damian Sandow, who was dressed as Magneto. The segment served as a way to bring closure to the previous incident and allowed Ziggler to move on from the controversy.
This incident highlights the delicate balance between maintaining the authenticity of storylines in professional wrestling while also dealing with real-life consequences. Wrestlers often find themselves in situations where they have to protect the integrity of the storyline, even if it means facing potential backlash from fans and the promotion itself.
In the world of professional wrestling, where scripted events are presented as reality, maintaining the illusion is crucial. However, incidents like this remind us that there is a fine line between storytelling and the potential consequences that can arise from blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
As fans continue to enjoy the spectacle of professional wrestling, it’s important to remember that behind the scenes, wrestlers like Nic Nemeth put their careers on the line to entertain us. The incident with Hugh Jackman serves as a reminder of the dedication and commitment these athletes have to their craft, even when it means facing unexpected challenges and consequences.