Nic Nemeth Alleges WWE Broke Handshake Deal to Leave the Company After SummerSlam 2019 Squash Bout with Goldberg

He explained that the feud was one-sided, with him playing the heel who would lose quickly to the returning WCW stalwart. Nemeth expected the bout to be short but hoped to get some offense in before the finish. However, Vince McMahon told him that the plan was for Goldberg to simply hit a spear and a Jackhammer for the win.

[I said,] ‘What’s the point of Ding, ding, ding, spear, Jackhammer?’ I go, ‘A local could do it, anybody could do it.’ And [Vince] was like, ‘Well, I don’t know what he can do with you.’ I go, ‘If I can’t be in this match doing something, then I have to leave this company right now.

Nic Nemeth via Chris Van Vleit podcast

Nemeth recalled reaching a breaking point, frustrated with how little creative effort was being put into his storylines. He said that if his only purpose was to be a scarecrow, someone to take a spear and a jackhammer, then he didn’t want to stay in WWE any longer. He added that this situation unfolded just before what was supposed to be his second-to-last night with the company.

Nemeth later revealed that the match with Goldberg was meant to be part of his planned exit. He was told he could put two people over before leaving, Goldberg on Sunday, and The Miz the following night in a career on the line match on Raw. Nemeth said he wanted Miz to beat him cleanly, ideally by submission, to make his friend look strong.

He planned to lose to Goldberg, then to Miz, and leave on a handshake deal. However, on the day he believed he was finishing up, Nemeth was informed that he wouldn’t actually be allowed to leave, forcing him to stay under contract.

Ultimately, he remained with WWE for four more years before being released in September 2023. Since January 2024, Nemeth has reinvented himself in TNA Wrestling, where he’s already captured the company’s top championship, proving that his best days in the ring are far from over.

Nic Nemeth rules out NXT return amidst TNA’s working relationship with WWE

It is safe to say that Nic Nemeth is thoroughly enjoying his time in TNA Wrestling, and he’s made it clear that he will do whatever it takes to help the promotion succeed. As already stated, the former World Champion was released in the fall of 2023. Just a few months later, he made his TNA debut at Hard To Kill, and by the summer, he had already captured the TNA World Heavyweight Championship.

Despite TNA’s ongoing partnership with WWE, Nemeth has yet to appear on NXT, and there’s a good reason for that. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Nemeth explained that he has no interest in competing on NXT unless TNA benefits from it directly.

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 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.

Nic Nemeth via Chris Van Vleit podcast

While Nic and his brother Ryan did appear earlier this year on TNA iMPACT! to challenge Fraxiom for the NXT Tag Team Championships, that match took place under the TNA banner rather than on NXT TV.

On top of that, Nemeth has expressed that he’d rather see younger TNA talent get opportunities to perform on NXT instead of taking up airtime himself. In particular, he praised X-Division Champion Leon Slater , saying he hopes rising stars like him can impress top WWE executives like Shawn Michaels and even Triple H . 

At the recent NXT Showdown event, Slater represented TNA alongside top names like Mike Santana, Moose, and Frankie Kazarian , as well as former WWE stars Mustafa Ali , The IInspiration, and Mara Sadè. Nemeth believes appearances like these are crucial. Not only do they strengthen the partnership between WWE and TNA, but they also give rising wrestlers the kind of exposure that can change their careers.