Nic Nemeth (Dolph Ziggler) Appears At NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 18

Nic Nemeth (FKA Dolph Ziggler) made a surprise appearance at Wrestle Kingdom 18 today. 

New Japan Pro-Wrestling's biggest show of the year once again emanated from the Tokyo Dome and prior to the Title vs. Title Match between Bishamon and El Phantasmo & Hikuleo, Nic Nemeth was shown walking through the stadium with his brother Ryan Nemeth. With both men wearing suits, they sat at ringside for the match although they never interacted with either tag team. 

NJPW STRONG Openweight Tag Team Champions El Phantasmo and Hikuleo ended up defeating YOSHI-HASHI and Hirooki Goto of Bishamon to become IWGP Tag Team Champions. Guerrillas of Destiny connected with the Super Thunder Kiss 86 down the stretch but Goto initially kicked out. ELP then followed up with a CR3 before Hikuleo hit a Frog Splash of all moves to pick up the win for G.O.D. 

The Nemeths then remained seated at ringside as Wrestle Kingdom 18 before David Finlay goaded Nic following his IWGP Global Heavyweight Title win. One shove from David Finlay later and a pull-apart brawl broke out as the two wrestlers tried to get at each other as they were guided through the Tokyo Dome. 

Today marks Dolph Ziggler's first appearance in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He previously spent 19 years in WWE from 2004 until his release in September 2023. Nic Nemeth's non-compete expired in December and his next scheduled match is for the World Wrestling Council in Puerto Rico where he will face Ray Gonzalez on January 20. 

The expectation is Nic Nemeth will eventually turn up in All Elite Wrestling and creative pitches have already been made for the 43-year-old.