Add as a preferred source on Google Nic Nemeth made a one-night return to WWE in November 2025, and he has now revealed all the details that were kept secret at the time.
In a recent interview with Rewind Recap Relive, the current TNA World Champion revealed that he turned down multiple offers from the company following his departure in September 2023. The opportunity involving John Cena, however, was considered too special to pass up.
Nemeth said the following:
“A couple of different times I was asked to do some things and it didn’t feel right, but when it came to John I was like man, he and I actually have some stories together, we’ve done some things. If you watched Total Divas or Bellas, I tried to steal his girl.
“So I loved that there was a real connection there and I said okay, it’s been a year and a half, two years, now, for one thing, for John, for something special, awesome.
“I found out it ends up being at Madison Square Garden, I go man, this is big but also are they expecting Jeff Hardy? Are they waiting for Jericho? Do they want Undertaker to come out? I don’t know what’s happening, I hope they still remember.
“That old music hit, and it’s almost like telling an old joke on stage when you finish the punchline and it feels like a minute goes by but it’s a second ‘why is no-one laughing, why is no-one laughing’.
“It was like ‘I’m here to show…’ and I hear nothing. I’m like ‘oh no’, and a quarter of a second goes by, and they erupted to where I couldn’t feel my body, and it very much, as surprised as the Money In The Bank cash-in, feeling that crowd on me.
“That was a beautiful moment, I’m glad they remembered, I’m glad I gave them a hell of a match, Solo never looked better in his life, and I just had to remind everybody.
“It was great. ‘Oh my ex is gonna be at this party? No problem’. You hit the gym a little harder for a couple of weeks, you get the tan, get all dolled up and go ‘oh sorry, you guys didn’t wear a tuxedo for this party? I’m sure it’s fine for you guys, I’m just James Bond that kicks everybody’s ass’.
“Oh by the way, when I walked out of the ring and walked into Gorilla everyone lost their shit too. They were like ‘damn that was awesome’. I’m like ‘yeah I know, I’m really good at wrestling, anyway see you later I’m going back to TNA’.
“I was really, really proud, even in the moment when I got goosebumps, I was there to represent TNA, and at the top of the stage I get the ‘TNA baby’ and popped into the hip swivel. I was just so excited it was working out for everybody. Great time to go back for one time.”
The return took place on the November 17 episode of Raw at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Nemeth was revealed as Solo Sikoa’s mystery opponent in the first round of The Last Time Is Now Tournament, working his first WWE match in over two years.
The tournament featured 16 participants and included two names without WWE contracts: Nemeth and Matt Cardona, who even appeared under the Zack Ryder name at the time. Gunther won the competition and earned the right to face Cena in his final match at Saturday Night’s Main Event on December 13.