Nic Nemeth Says He Was Originally Planned To Defend IWGP Global Title In TNA

Nic Nemeth says his run with the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship didn’t go as planned, and that he was originally supposed to defend it in TNA. Nemeth won the title at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo Results in February of 2024, defeating David Finley to win the title. He then challenged Hiroshi Tanahashi the next night to be his first opponent.

The match between Nemeth and Tanahashi didn’t happen until May, when Tanahashi won it. Nemeth recalled the matter in an interview with Ella Jay. You can check out the highlights below (per Fightful):

On the Initial Plan For the Title:

“Going to New Japan and getting in the ring with Tanahashi was the coolest thing ever. We were going to have some kind of a crossover where I had a New Japan championship and we were going to defend it on TNA and go back and forth and set up things for a while. It’s the craziest story that I don’t think is out there anyway.”

“We had the match where I won the title and the next night, I wanted to go out and go, I want my very first defense to be you Tanahashi. I point to him because he was doing commentary. It was like the coolest moment. The crowd loved it. I was like, ‘This is going to be freaking special and amazing.’ Since I said the first defense will be against Tanahashi, that night he injures his ankle I think. He comes hobbling in the next day and he can’t stand up. I go, ‘Oh no. Are you okay? What’s the deal?’ He can’t go. He ends up being injured for a few months.”

On Not Being Able to Defend the Title:

“I’m not able to defend this title anywhere because we made this big marquee of who the very first defense will be. So, now I’m not bringing it on TNA. Now, I’m not coming back and forth and fighting for it. It’s just sitting in my bag and being help up at conventions. I go, ‘This is breaking my heart. Can we find a loophole?’ They’re like, ‘No, no, no. Don’t worry. When he’s okay, we’ll have the match.’ Months go by, we have one match, it’s fun. I lose the title the next day. It could have been a nice little crossover for TNA and New Japan. I was looking to defend it and hold it up in the air and kind of represent both, but it didn’t work out that way.”