At the start, Nic Nemeth found himself in an unusual predicament as a male cheerleader. However, the one-time TNA World Champion was resolute in bringing life to the character.
Prior to his 2006 stint as Nicky in the Spirit Squad, Nemeth had played the role of Kerwin White/Chavo Guerrero’s caddy.
During a recent discussion on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast, Nemeth reflected on his experience as a part of the Spirit Squad. He mentioned,
“I found myself in the role of a cheerleader. This was my shot – being a part of a five-member cheerleading team that was always tossed around. My stance was, if this is my only opportunity to be a part of WWE’s television program, I aimed to do it to the best of my abilities – knowing that I have given my all for this occasion.”
“The solution is to show the boss that if he decrees that, ‘Hey, you’re a cheerleader now,’ you accept that cheerleading role with full gusto. When the occasion arises for you to turn the tide, to pick your battles and opt for where you want your character to proceed, then you embrace it and carry it forward.”
In 2008, the WWE audience saw the return of Nemeth under the new alias of Dolph Ziggler. He continued his journey to become a several-time World Champion until his departure in 2023.
During his 2016 rivalry with The Miz, Nemeth’s past involvement with the Spirit Squad was brought up, with The Miz reintroducing two other members to mock the ‘Show Off.’