Nic Nemeth On Losing IWGP Global Heavyweight Title: I Know I’m Better Than This, I Want To Prove It

Nic Nemeth left it all out there.

Nic Nemeth left it all out there.

Nic Nemeth, formerly known as Dolph Ziggler, appeared in the crowd at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18 and went on to make his debut at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo, where he defeated David Finlay to win the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship. Finlay won the title back in a rematch at NJPW Wrestling Dontaku on May 4.

In his post-match comments, Nic Nemeth shared his thoughts on his loss.

“Yeah, I don’t know what to say. I just feel like I let everybody down. Myself, the fans of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. I gave you my word that I would give everything I had, and I left it all out there like I said I would. This roster, these wrestlers are so special, and I’ve only known them a short time. I told them, anything they need, I got their backs because wrestling’s a brotherhood. I’ve been here a short time, and it’s one thing to be accepted by fans, and it’s another to be accepted in a locker room that’s never seen you in 20 years. I just let everybody down, and after 19 years, you’d think I’d be used to bouncing back after a loss, but that Global Championship meant a lot to me. It meant a second chapter in my life and my career. It meant a new start, it meant wanting to one day be a full-time member of this roster if I could possibly earn it. It meant wanting to be a leader in the locker room, in the ring, and I didn’t come through. I said I would defend that title every night until the day I died and leave it all in the ring. Six months ago, I didn’t know if I’d ever wrestle again. I didn’t know if anybody wanted me to be on their show, on their roster, to even stop in and say hi. In a short time, wrestling and my love for it had finally had this mutual respect. I thought this was the start, and maybe it is. Maybe I have to lose everything to really figure out my way to the top. I love this business. It’s been my life since I was five. It’s been my life. If this is it, I have no regrets. I left it all out there. If this is it for me, I’ll never have one more regret. I just know I’m better than this, and I just want to prove it. New Japan Pro-Wrestling, thank you for everything. Just know that I left it all out there for you,” Nemeth said.

Catch up on our coverage of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku Night Two here.

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