TNA's Nic Nemeth joined Chris Van Vliet on his podcast last week and talked about his departure from WWE, whether he was close to signing with AEW and a potential return to WWE. Here are some highlights:
On if he was close to signing with AEW after leaving WWE
"I wasn't. I love so many people there. I've had a couple of conversations with Tony in the past, and I rooted for those guys every step of the way. AEW being a thing helped a bunch of people out, worst-case scenario, with negotiating and setting up their career for years down the line. I go if this ends in two or three years, it helped a bunch of people out and put some other people on TV, and they're rocking and rolling and doing their thing. I watched every Wednesday, because I have to talk about it on Thursday. And it's another one where I gotta watch wrestling. It's like kind of a joke, but I've like come to learn all the people on the show and watching what they do. If I could do all the stuff that everyone does, their top circle, the whole show, really, it has so many different moving parts and pieces to it that I don't know that I could, from my old style. I can adapt to anything, and I have been, and I even watched. The 2025 version of me still applies some different things that I wouldn't have done a few years ago. But I don't know if in a 35-45 minute match, if it wasn't with me and Bryan Danielson or Jon Moxley, those guys where I know what they've done, and I can move around and do some things, but it's like, if it's remembering a sequence like I'm getting 30 guys in Contra every two minutes, I would be more vacant in the match, instead of like feeling the emotion and just remembering it. I go, I don't know how they do it, but when it comes to those pay-per-views, they blow the roof off, and it's incredible."
"And I just really thought with TNA, I go, I will never, ever be Kurt Angle. He's just my hero, but I know that he did something special with going to TNA and I go, maybe, just maybe, this guy that a bunch of people, most people, seem to respect and have been waiting to see what I can do, maybe me showing up here and being involved could be another spark that does something, because they're already getting talked about and making some moves, and they've been a insane brand for years. But I go, maybe, just maybe, me being there makes this a bigger and better place by 1%. Then falling in love with the locker room and everyone behind the scenes, I just go, this is the fit. I wasn't going to go anywhere. I didn't want to. A couple dates for somebody and a couple dates at AEW, 100% I would have done that. But I just go I need to travel the world and be able to sleep at night knowing that I can go, because I talked this sh*t for 15 years. No one's better, no one can follow me. Sorry about the booking, but that's not my call. And it's like, now it's like, back it up or don't. And I had to, and I would have gone almost anywhere for a few dates just to check it out, but TNA was the fit. I would have watched their progression from the outside if I wasn't there, but I'm rooting for all those guys and girls."
On possibly returning to WWE
"Maybe, but I really love what I'm doing. I really, really love what we're doing as a company, and what I get to do on my free time, plus with the company. So sure, possibly something. [But still be with TNA?] Yeah, and that's fine. I've said this since they started talking together and making things public about everything with WWE relationship, I said, if I can help TNA get something, I will be there. If it's to go to NXT and have a match, I'm not interested. I've done everything I've could possibly do in NXT, and if it's to do something with someone that I worked with, like Randy or Cody or Seth or something, I would be open to it if it helped TNA do something, or make a stride, or just get some kind of box checked to help us out. But I otherwise, I will be cheering along on the outside."
On why he has no interest in NXT
"Oh, I don't think there's anywhere for me to go there. I was the champ, and if I went there and was in a battle royal and lost, what am I doing? That doesn't help TNA get on the map somewhere. Now, if it's come fight our champion and and because of this, we'll have someone come to TNA and do something. Please use me to negotiate, because I want what's best for TNA, and there's some things there, but for the most part, I would much rather NXT, especially what NXT is, let's get Leon Slater there. Let's get some people who are young, up-and-comers, who get a piece of that. And then maybe the eyes of the boss of instead of just Shawn Michaels, maybe Triple H goes, who the hell is this guy? Who is this girl? Oh, my God. Okay, we can bring them up and do something with them, and that's what I would much rather see. We have an insane talent roster, guys and gals that some I'm just getting to know, but some I've been locked in and following, and that would be great for them. I don't think me being there helps TNA. And if it does, you bet your ass I’m there."
