Nic Nemeth Reveals Why He Didn’t Join AEW and Chose TNA Instead

Nic Nemeth has been one of TNA Wrestling’s biggest signings since his WWE release in September 2023, but according to him, an AEW deal was never close to happening.

During his interview with Chris Van Vliet, the former WWE star admitted that while he’s friends with many AEW wrestlers and has had conversations with Tony Khan, he never seriously considered signing with the company. Instead, he chose TNA because it felt right on every level.

“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 lot of people, even in the worst-case scenario, with negotiations and setting up their careers for years to come.”

Nemeth said he watches AEW every week and respects everyone on the roster, but admitted that the company’s fast-paced, complex match style doesn’t fully fit how he performs.

“I watched every Wednesday — partly because I have to talk about it on Thursday — but also because I’ve come to know and respect everyone on that show. It’s got so many moving parts that I don’t even know if I could fit my old style into it. I can adapt to anything, but if I had to remember a long, complex sequence like some of those matches, I’d probably lose the emotional flow and just focus on remembering spots. Still, when AEW puts on those pay-per-views, they blow the roof off — it’s incredible.”

When it came time to make a decision, Nemeth said he thought about TNA legend Kurt Angle — someone he’s admired throughout his career — and how much Angle helped build the company’s legacy. Nemeth wanted to contribute to that same spirit.

“With TNA, I thought about Kurt Angle — he’s my hero. I knew I’d never be him, but I also knew what he did for that company was special. I thought maybe, just maybe, I could do something similar. People respect me, and maybe my being there could help make TNA a little bigger and better — even by 1%. Once I met the locker room and everyone behind the scenes, I knew this was the right fit.”

He made it clear that once he met the team at TNA, there was no doubt where he belonged.

“I wasn’t going anywhere else — I didn’t want to. Maybe I’d do a couple of dates somewhere, even at AEW, just to see how it felt, but TNA was the place for me. I’ve talked a lot for 15 years, saying no one’s better, no one can follow me — and now it’s time to back that up.”

Nemeth’s TNA run has already proven to be the right choice, as he’s become a top star and even captured championship gold since signing in 2024. While an AEW run could have been exciting, it’s clear he’s exactly where he wants to be — helping TNA grow into something bigger.

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