Dolph Ziggler made a surprise return to the NJPW in the Wrestle Kingdom pay per view on January 4. Ziggler debuted with his real name Nic Nemeth and confronted the IWGP Heavyweight Champion David Finlay in a press meeting after the show.
There were many rumors speculated regarding the reason for his departure from WWE and in a recent interview, Ziggler revealed the reason for leaving the WWE and confirmed that he requested for the release from the WWE.
Dolph Ziggler reveals sending mail to “the boss”
Dolph Ziggler was released by WWE on September 2023 along with several superstars due to the budget cuts. After his release Ziggler was rumored to join NJPW and it happened on January 4. After his debut in NJPW, Ziggler gave his first interview on the Busted Open Radio, where he was asked about his WWE release.
Ziggler said, “I was ready to go anyway, I just wanted to have every option available. It wasn’t out of the blue. I had sent emails to the boss over the last few months saying, ‘I have to move on to somewhere else, can you let me do this?’ Eventually, without exact back and forth, that’s how it worked out.”
Ziggler stated that he sent emails to the boss, but didn’t reveal the name. The boss is believed to be none other than the Game, Triple H, who has over 90% of creative control after the WWE UFC merger.
Ziggler further added, “I was prepared. For the last six, eight, ten months going, ‘At some point, I have to make a change here.’ As you get ready to go and see you don’t have a chance to be in a PPV match and steal the show. You don’t have a chance to have a six-minute match to steal the show. You have a match and it’s three minutes and you don’t get an entrance and everyone knows who is winning.”
Ziggler was not happy with his booking and he didn’t get a chance to compete in a pay-per-view for more than a year. The last pay per view Ziggler participated was in the 30 man Royal Rumble match in 2022. Ziggler was eliminated by Bad Bunny after being in the match for less than five minutes.
Dolph Ziggler set for first match since WWE release
After his debut in the NJPW, fans speculated that Dolph Ziggler will compete his first match in a NJPW ring. However, as a surprise Ziggler is set to compete in the WWC ring, a wrestling promotion based in Puerto Rico.
WWC made a announcement on social media, stating, “The Most Wanted Man, Nic Nemeth, will have his first match after his WWE exit against Puerto Rican legend, Ray González, at WWC, Puerto Rico.”
The match is announced for the Euphoria event, which is considered to be the largest independent event in Puerto Rico in the last decade. The event will be live from the Puerto Rico’s wrestling cathedral on January 20.
After the match Ziggler is anticipated to sign a full time contract in NJPW and expected to have a dominant run in the promotion with his new gimmick, the Wanted Man.
