12-time WWE champion reveals the main reason he didn't join AEW: "I'd probably lose the emotional flow"

A former 12-time WWE champion recently revealed why he did not join AEW despite interest from the Jacksonville-based promotion.

AEW President Tony Khan has signed many ex-WWE stars over the years. However, one name that has escaped the promotion was Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Ziggler). Nemeth is a 12-time champion on the WWE main roster, having won the World Heavyweight Championship and United States Championship twice, the Tag Team Championship twice, and the Intercontinental title six times. Nemeth, who is currently working for WWE's partner company TNA, recently revealed a major reason why he did not join Tony Khan's promotion.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, The Show Off admitted that although he had conversations with Tony Khan, he ultimately opted out of joining All Elite Wrestling as the promotion didn't fit his style.

"I've had a couple of conversations with Tony in the past, and I rooted for those guys every step of the way...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," said Nemeth

Is Triple H getting overconfident? Here are the signs!

Nic Nemeth says he watches AEW every week

Although Nic Nemeth decided against joining the Jacksonville-based promotion, on Insight, the TNA star also revealed that he watches Tony Khan's product every week and even stated that AEW does pay-per-view incredibly well.

“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. When AEW puts on those pay-per-views, they blow the roof off — it’s incredible, ” said Nemeth [H/T Ringsidenews]

As of today, Nic Nemeth is a vital cog in TNA, but given the promotion's partnership with World Wrestling Entertainment, it will be interesting to see whether the erstwhile Dolph Ziggler appears on WWE programming soon.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

Know More

Edited by Karan Raj