Nic Nemeth on why he went to TNA, his time in WWE (Patreon)

This week, former two-time WWE Heavyweight Champion Nic Nemeth was a guest on the Wrestling Perspective Podcast. Nemeth, formerly known as Dolph Ziggler in the WWE, would join Dennis Farrell, Lars Frederiksen, and Ace Steel for nearly an hour, and the four discussed numerous topics.

Nic discussed being a 19-year veteran in the industry. He shared his unconventional career journey and insights. He discussed his strategy and his feelings about modern professional wrestling.

The former Spirit Squad spoke about his desire to explore various areas of interest while maintaining his WWE career. He said he wanted to be someone who could do multiple things. He mentioned that if they [WWE] needed  someone to talk about the stock market, he could do that, or if they wanted him on Fox News, he could do that, too.

He described his friendship with WWE Hall of Famer the late Pat Patterson. Nic said he became close with Pat. He described Pat as someone with infectious energy, a love for the stage, and committed to improving everyone around him.

Nic discussed the importance of match psychology. He talked about his characteristic strategy of selling his matches more dramatically than other wrestlers, his thoughts on modern professional wrestling, and his enthusiasm for being a ring general.

He also discusses his experience working with Bron Breakker down in NXT. He said he likes helping new talent develop their skills. He also praised his time working with Bobby Roode.

Nic revealed the backstory behind his ring name, 'Dolph Ziggler,' and his attempts to get it changed. He said his name would be David Diggler, and he would try to leverage his amateur wrestler background to keep his name. Nic said initially, there was talk about his character being an understudy to Kurt Angle.

Nic would discuss his love for stand-up comedy and his experiences in WWE. He stated that even though he might have stepped back a bit to focus on his career, he always continued to perform in some capacity in the wrestling scene. He also talked about teaming up with Sarah Tiana, a comedian who headlines nationwide.

Nic would describe how his comedy tour schedule worked with  his WWE schedule.

Nic explained how he would divide time between wrestling, comedy, and improve. He disclosed his participation in WWE was not due to using him for all live events, but rather his refusal to idle away when not in the ring and it led him to the availability to perform at comedy shows.

He revealed his decision to join TNA. He said he was influenced by its imminent rebrand and the fantastic locker room culture. He mentioned that while joining New Japan Pro Wrestling, he ultimately joined TNA because it will be a platform that will continue to grow in the coming years. He says he plans to continue his career in the wrestling industry for another 15-20 years, focusing on personal success and helping others excel.

Nic expressed excitement and apprehension about navigating the independent wrestling scene because of its unpredictability. He said he relies on people like Zack Ryder (Matt Cardona) to help him understand the dynamics of the Indie scene.

Nic recalled a recent successful experience outside his comfort zone when he wrestled in Puerto Rico. He expressed an eagerness to look for more opportunities. He would also mention the different environments in independent wrestling, such as unfamiliar rings, the need for standard locker rooms, and the need to bring personal equipment.

In closing, Nic spoke about his social media accounts. You can follow him on X at @NicTNemeth.