Nic Nemeth has been wrestling all around the world since being released from WWE. He is the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion and the AAA Mega Champion.
Recently, while speaking to Wrestlezone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard, Nic Nemeth opened up about why he chose to use his real name rather than trying to adopt part of his WWE persona as a first or last name.
“It’s really weird with me. It’s not somebody that was like a character in WWF 20 years ago for six months and they would love to use it on the independents but they can’t or whatever. It is so associated with me for fifteen consecutive years, that it is weird to not use it. So, I don’t want to take advantage of it and be like, ‘Guys look, I’m making money on it.’ But I did wanna have like, DZ or something, so just, you could [still have some link or association]. A lot of people don’t know my real name and that’s fine. But I say, ‘You know what? Let’s do a clean break, let’s start all over.’”
How did he think of the Most Wanted Man?
The IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion also shared how his nickname ‘The Most Wanted Man’ came to fruition.
“The day I was out of WWE, I had so many phone calls, my phone melted. I have so many texts, I had to shut it down. I couldn’t use it. It was hot. Put it away. And I go, ‘Okay, the rest of the world wants me. And they want me now, and bad.’ I go, ‘Oh, Wanted Man. Perfect!’ Use my real name, but let’s focus on Wanted Man because it actually applies. I even want a story to be told with my nickname, not just, ‘Oh it’s a cool RATT song that I love.’
“And it is a great RATT song, by the way. One of my favorites. But then I had Downstait go out of their comfort zone and make me some hair metal that I love, a version of Wanted Man! And it is so great. And I live for it. That’s what I am doing man. I am going where people are begging to have me instead of having me on the bench to use for ‘In Case of Emergency, break this glass and go let Dolph wrestle for the World Title. Let the whole world think he’s winning it and go right back to the bench.’ This is wanted everywhere. And I go, ‘This genuinely applies.’ So, I love storytelling, even if it’s in the name,” Nic Nemeth said.
Do you think Nic Nemeth made the right choice to not use his WWE name outside the company?
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