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Fresh for everyone, fuel restrictions apply. - What's up, you guys? Sean Ross, welcome to Fightful here with a name, you know. Nick Nemeth, you're gonna be able to see him at TNA emergence here in Louisville, Kentucky. Well, not here, about an hour away from me, but Louisville, Kentucky, nonetheless, weekend of August 30th and 31st, big Iron Man match with Josh Alexander. Nick Nemeth, is this a bit of a homecoming-ish for you, you used to live in Louisville, yeah? - I was in Louisville for a while training it for OVW, and also it's an exactly five hour car ride from Cleveland where I grew up. So as much as that, and my brother went to Xavier, I got to go visit him a few different times. But as much as that, it's not really a homecoming, but the cool thing is, a really cool thing is, you just reminded me, outside Old Shepherdsville Road, OVW shows, those same fans waiting outside at 4 p.m. to come into the show, those same loyal fans, a lot of them will be at these shows. And whether it was WWE or TNA, AEW, whatever, they're so loyal, they will come to every show. And I remember at Park in the Car, seven years ago, just going to Louisville, I'm like, okay, great. And I saw the same people, I'm like, I appreciate you guys more than you will ever know. It's real easy to be like, oh, what are these guys doing here, and take it a different way of like, we're so lucky to have such loyal fans like that, that no matter what you do, if they're rooting for you, they'll find a way to come see you. And that is the greatest part of our job. - You might very well be the most experienced Louisville wrestler on this show. I mean, you've wrestled in Louisville. - Are you just calling me Old? - I mean, just like, yeah, you're a lot of experience in wiry and veteran life. - No, no, no, specifically in Louisville, you've probably wrestled there more than anybody else on this card. - Okay, that's fair. - Maybe Matt Hardy out of sheerly being old. - Just being around the business longer, yeah, there's a chance. But yeah, the Louisville area, yes, of course. Elizabeth Town, a couple of the community centers. Yeah, of course, some of the, Elizabeth Town, one time we got eight people at a show for OVW, but also Elizabeth Town, E-Town, we call it would also be some of our hottest random shows. And it was like, such a cool thing. That's how you learn. Like, you're in front of eight people or you're in front of 400 screaming people and you go, oh, okay, this is a different show. And that's- - I learned about Elizabeth Town 'cause they had a jujitsu team called E-Town BJJ that would compete with our contrast lane team. I was like, what the hell is E-Town? And that's where we learned that. Before we get too heavy into TNA, I wanna say, gosh, like seven years ago, I interviewed a fellow by the name of Gerald Harris. Are you familiar with that name? - Yeah, yeah, I am. UFC fighter at the time, one of my favorites. And we had, of course, the crossover MMA pro wrestling coverage. And he's like, man, you know, one of the toughest guys I ever saw on the amateur wrestling match was then Dolph Ziggler, Nick Nemeth. And he was talking about you being a dog Nick Nemeth. - Wow, that's very nice. Yeah, very, very tough opponent is as much as I loved amateur wrestling. I was above average, I was pretty good. I was not a badass guy, but, you know, I made a lot of things happen, I think, based on my stamina from high school, from wrestling at St. Edge. And just always like, hey, there's some other talented guys in your bracket, but you're never gonna be tired and you're always gonna be ready to go. And that really helped me win a lot. So I appreciate that 'cause he was a hell of an opponent and then became a genuine badass in real life. So that means a lot here and that every once in a while. - And obviously you did brought BloodSport recently, but like around the time you would have probably been making that decision of, do I go to pro wrestling or what do I do? Was MMA ever in the cards? Because Gerald Harris ended up being on the Ultimate Fighter. Like he was on Team Rampage. Like there was a legitimate path. And also it was the follow up for a lot of like TNA shows and WWE shows. - Oh yeah, yeah, there was a nice, there was a nice intertwined community there for, and the first, maybe the first seven or eight UFCs, the ones with like legit no rules. My buddy, his older brother had the tape and we would do sleepovers on the weekend and watch just like watch those over and over. And every once in a while, I'll see a clip now. Holy crap, it's crazier than a fake movie. Like, there are fights where someone is just repeatedly elbowing someone in the face until they're unconscious. There's a, it's not in Hackney. Somebody is just getting punched in the crotch. - There was like, he did that too. - That's just insane. - Yeah, yeah, yeah. Just punched like this. - And doesn't give up right away. He helps. - How tough he is. He's on a totally exposed crack, crack. There's like six or seven, and then he's like, okay, that's enough. That is like, that's funny about the guy that got punched in the wiener. He's the guy that threw the shoe at Austin Powers. - Oh my God. - And he was later convicted for a brutal sexual crime. - Oh, Jesus, okay. - A hero. - Yes. - He's absolutely a hero for punching that in the wiener. - Oh my God, but that, but I watched those so much, and I loved them, and I didn't, I didn't realize, I didn't think it was like a job or something I could do, but I also, because of watching those, after in high school at St. Ed's practice, my buddy, Jim Kleppel and I, we would, once we were done, and then eventually, a couple of coaches would eventually, with me, we would do the not strikes in the face, but we would do body strikes, and like without knowing any jiu-jitsu, without knowing any of like the fighting off your back, none of that stuff, but just using wrestling, we would use that and not strike in the head, and we would try and choke it, get to a point where we could choke somebody out, or hit him in the ribs enough that they gotta let go of something and you snatch something up. So I, that was my favorite thing to do on Thursday and Fridays, like after practice, because you gotta get another workout in, 'cause you gotta cut a little weight for the weekend, and it was, and also there was always a chance of having a nice black eye for the weekend, like, hey girls, oh, fight, yeah, I guess I'm kind of a fighter, you know, whatever. So I didn't mind, like, I'd allow the strikes, we'd do like, on Fridays, we would let each, like, yeah, if you get a clean shot, get it in the eye, you know, don't knock me out, but give me a nice shiner for the ladies for the weekend. But I love that stuff, we watched it, loved it, I go, I really, and I think my last day of high school, I hope I have this in order, everyone went around like, what is your plan for the next 15 years? And it was like, go to WWE, become champion, use that to get my foot in the door at UFC, become UFC world champion, and then use that to get on Saturday Night Live, and then eventually use that to go back to law school, and then possibly become like the mayor of Palm Springs or something, but we all went around doing it, and I go, I was pretty close on a couple, and there's time, but that was 30 years ago. - Same thing that you mentioned earlier is gonna hopefully come in handy next weekend, you're facing Josh Alexander, hour-long Iron Man match. - Will this be the longest match of your career? - I think so, because there's, yeah, televised, I'm trying to think there's a couple of half Iron Man's, like that Survivor Series was like an hour, but I wasn't in there the whole time, there was other guys and everything. So this will be a full-on hour, and someone like me who maybe two, three, five years ago was like, I could do two hours if you wanted. The last year or two in New York, I was only having three and four minute matches, so no matter how much cardio I did, if I got six or eight minutes on TV, great, but no matter how much cardio you do and what you're doing, it's not the same as ring time. So I was actually pretty nervous last week when it ended up being a 30-minute drawing, oh man, I hope I can still go, I talked a bunch of trash. I'm in the best shape of my life. I work out every single day no matter what. I go, I hope I still got it, and at the end of that one, I went, okay, I'm good. I was nervous because I was in a bubble for 20 years and I wanted to see, can I go with people outside of that bubble, can I make things happen, can I be as good as the trash I talked, and so far, yes. And Josh is someone who, you know, when I famously didn't watch wrestling for a little while, because I hated what I was doing, as I started to come to TNA and do independence, I picked up on what he was doing and like that, it's like his thing is being an Ironman nonstop buzzsaw guy that can go and I go, this is a hell of a challenge. I really am looking forward to this because it really goes to show like, it's not, can I hang? This is, can I get an A plus plus in the Ironman match and the first one that I'm really doing? So that's, it's a lot of pressure, but I love it and I live for it and he is not gonna let up and I look forward to that very much. - So Josh Alexander, he actually rests as a lot of small towns here in Kentucky, believe it or not. I've seen him wrestle like Cynthia. He has been victorious in world title matches in the city many times. However, he lost a bird scooter race to Yaboy right here. - Oh, so he's on the outs, yeah, that's the end, yeah. - Not aerodynamic whatsoever. Ross who is on this call is a personal witness to this. - Wow. - So I feel like if you lose the championship, you could just simply challenge him to a scooter. - When in doubt, some kind of a scooter off or maybe a race, a ski race down the hill to save the community center. Something like some kind of these movie. - Yeah, it makes almost a world to me. - Yeah. - So it makes almost a little bit of a month. - Yeah. - That'd be wonderful to cover personally. - You appearing in TNA caused a lot of buzz 'cause obviously you're going to be a person that a lot of companies are after. A lot of places have interest in. What made you choose TNA? What made you say, you know what? I want to wave that flag 'cause you quite literally did. Like you were there with the branding and everything letting people know TNA had sort of re-arrived. - Yeah, it's first and foremost, I didn't want to go anywhere. I was very, very lucky. Again, I don't know how the outside world works other than getting it through friends who are on the independence, friends in different companies and you have an idea, but you don't truly know. And my last day in New York, I didn't know if my phone was never going to ring again or you get a couple of handful people like, "Hey, congrats or good luck." Or, "You want to do this one show?" - Anywhere worth going is worth going in good boots and you can find your perfect pair at Tacovas. Tacovas crafts quality Western boots for everyone, from generational ranchers and lifelong cowboys to first time boot buyers, which is what I was up until a couple of years ago. Growing up in Kentucky, you see boots everywhere. But I never jumped into the game until I found Tacovas and I love it. 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And I said, guys, it's almost a bit out of my standup. I'm just getting out of a relationship, a long-term 19-year relationship. I'm not looking to get engaged right now and sign a three-year deal somewhere or a five-year deal or even one year. I said, what I want to do is the reason I asked to leave was 100%, I'm getting paid a shit load of money to sit on the bench. And occasionally break the glass and you have a big match or, in case of emergency, if somebody's hurt. But you only have a certain window. I might be able to do this until I'm 60, but you only have a certain window where it's relatable and believable and this guy can be champion at any company right now. And you can't do that. I went another year and a half and then started to do it. Like, yeah, maybe things that aren't going to work out. I'm not going to get some. I go, what are the chances I can get in the room with Tana Hashi before my career is over? Never. I'm going to be in WWE forever. And I got it. And I got to bounce around and do some things. And then, I'll never forget Scott D'Amour was like, we want you here. I go, listen, I appreciate that. I just, I can't do it. He goes, here's what we got in the background. Here's the long-term storytelling. Here's all the bits and pieces. Here are the people behind the scenes. The locker room's so good. And all these people from the locker room are texting me. And I go, I love it so much. I just, I don't want to be tied down. Like, what if I'm not helping you guys? Or what if I hate it or it doesn't work out? I don't want to sign a three-year deal. How about a year? No. And then, how about 10 dates? I go, all right, that I can do. Let's do 10 dates. And if you don't think I'm worth it, cut me out. Or if I say, this sucks, I can't. I don't like this company. I love it so much. Everybody's great. In a world where every locker room is pretty friggin' awesome and hardworking. Like, there's no wrestling locker room where people are like, oh, nobody works hard here. It's every place you go is like, these guys are busting their ass to make something special happen. And that is the exact same case with TNA. The infrastructure behind the scenes is really awesome. I love Gail Kim. I love Tommy. But not even because I worked there. Like, I actually know them and like them a lot. And I go, okay, and there's some of the people who get it. And I go, man, the storytelling and the bits and pieces and the behind the scenes work. And they go, we're basically building this up from the ground again. And I go, put me on every possible media thing. If you need me to fly in three or four days early to do something, I will do it, absolutely. Because I wanna go all in and make this count as much as possible. So that's, and I go, that's the case. That's always been the case. And I keep re-upping for long-term. I'm not gonna like sneak out of here or like take off of the title or like leave them hanging. I wanna see how far I can go and help this company while they are kicking ass and on the upward slope. - Working with your brother, how has that been as well? Because I mean, that's something we didn't really get to see on a grand stage. And now we see you like working with him here and there and having matches against ABC who have been phenomenal as a team. - Yeah, I mean, those dudes rock and they are really good. And that's another thing, before I get to my brother, everyone was like, "Hey man, you're kinda spoiled "in your bubble. "When you get out there, you're gonna realize "everybody kinda sucks." And I'm like, "Wow, okay. "Every single person I've touched for the first time, "maybe one person in 70 months, wasn't that good? "Everybody else has been friggin' phenomenal." Like, I'm like, "Why aren't these guys signing somewhere? "Holy crap, I can't believe it. "Like, there's every person I've come to talk to except for one "and no one even even knows and we'll never know." It's like eight months of, "Wow, this guy gets it. "Oh, this young kid's listening. "Oh, he's just laying there selling. "Oh, he gets it. "I've been blown away because I was prepared for the worst." And I have been blown away by the talent that either is unsigned or dominating independent scenes. It's fantastic. So, I got a chance to finally work with my brother after all these years of doing things and never having a chance. And I go, "We don't have crazy chemistry in the ring "because we haven't really worked together, "but we have natural chemistry." So, it worked out really quickly, really easily to get into a couple of pieces and just do it again. Having your opponents be ABC really helps out 'cause those guys are so smooth, so slick. They can do anything and they could be there for anything and that really helped out. But it was fun to get, I thought it was, I really didn't want to be anywhere near the world title picture for the first six, eight, 10 months a year and Moose forced my hand to have a match, but whatever. We got that out of the way and I go, "I wanted to focus on, I want to find a way to where, "if I still got it, that the crowd organically "is starting to go, we need this guy fighting "for the world title." And I did everything in my power to get that way, so I thought, we had a tag team match, we were setting it up, we're outnumbered and making things happen and even a pay-per-view match and I go, "This is the way, let me do things "that I haven't done." I tagged with Robert Roode, but again, the last couple of years we're doing three and five minute matches and we're there to help the street profits get a win or something. And it was like, we need something better than that. So to focus on not being a singles guy fighting for the title and to go a totally different direction, but constantly be showing how good I am, hoping that a couple people here and there start going, "We need him in the world title picture," and then bumping into Moose or bumping into the top guys and then going, "Oh, I want to see this match up," or this one and then now slowly building into it and then getting in the world title match. And I didn't know if Moose was gonna retain one more time and totally dominate and solidify himself as like the TNA legend champion, I didn't know if Joe Henry was gonna steal one and be like, "This is the moment for him." I didn't know what was gonna have. Josh Alexander punched Joe Henry in the balls and I go, "Oh, here we go, maybe he's the champ." I go, "That was the first time I've been in a bunch of matches." Ladder matches a bunch, and I am afraid of heights, but it doesn't matter. Tons of ladder matches. And every time it's like, "Oh, there's one or two guys "that you think could possibly win "and they're on the trajectory." But the other guys are kind of filler and they're out there and they're always kind of in there. When it came to that match, every single person legitimately could have won. And I was like, "This is great." Moose could stay on top. Macklin could be world champ again. Frankie is crushing it again for like the 40th year in a row. He could be champion. It was like, "Joe Henry, is he gonna steal it? "Josh Alexander can always go, can he go? "Damn, I could win this." Like, that was one of the first times where I constantly said, "Anybody in this match could win." And no one's gonna be like, "What?" It was like, it all made sense. I like when that works out the way 'cause that's not always the case. But yeah, working with everybody's been great, getting a chance to do some stuff with my brothers even better. We're working out a bunch of other stuff behind the scenes, so that'll be coming out in the next couple of weeks and months, it'll be fun. - We do have a time limit, but before we go, and again, I'm gonna remind people, Louisville on August 30th and 31st, I interviewed Brian Danielson this past week and-- - He talks shit about me? - I'll kill him. - No, no, no. I highlighted to him that my favorite piece of non-wrestling, wrestling content was yourself, him, and Ryback on Table 5. - Ah, yes. - You guys, you were an enabler. You were a gas lighter on that. - Oh, yeah. - We witnessed a 300-pound man being bullied relentlessly. And I've never been more-- - Just a little sneak peek. That wasn't a full day, that wasn't weeks and months in the locker room, and that's really, Daniel Bryan thing is a mental abuse of his close friends or whatever the situation is. And I just got to tag along and enjoy it because it felt good, but yeah. He's an antagonist, and I really love that. And also, any chance I get to have a talk with him politically, outside in the locker room, or just headbutten each other on the top of the ladder is an absolute blast for me. I just, we had some really fun matches that I really, really wish I could recreate in the near future, that'd be kind of cool, but who knows? - So I'll wrap with you. - I'd be done this weekend, I don't know. - I'll wrap with this. Ryback took a C. Alice to impress Brock Lesley. (laughing) Who would you take a C. Alice to impress? - Or we'll say blue to you first. - It would probably be someone of the female persuasion, but I would never like, sorry. I mean, we all want to-- - You want to impress Ron Reese? What'd he do to you? - I would go out of my way to not impress anyone with the help of PEDs. I would do it on my own, own at your Al, and it would have to be like, I don't make me be Kurt Angle, and I'd be like, "Hey, listen, Kurt, I can go, just let you know." Like anytime you want to try me. - Well, we're gonna see him go for an hour straight and hold for us. There's Paris and all. - Angle, and all. - August 30th for TNA emergence. Nick Nimeth, one of the thank you so much for taking the time. - You got it, man. - Until next time, guys, we're out. I'm gonna do a speed run of why you should get NordVPN.com/fightful. Listen, all your favorites abroad when you're traveling, you can shield your data from snoops and criminals, especially on that public Wi-Fi, airport, coffee shop, venue, hotel. You can also get the Nord password manager in case you're always forgetting your password. It's available on all your devices and operating systems, whether it be TV, phone, laptop, desktop, whatever. You can even put it on your router. They also have the file encryption tool to help protect that. 24/7 tech support, so in case you don't know how to use it, they'll help teach you how to use it. It's the fastest VPN on the planet. 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