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

Nic Nemeth has opened up about his rocky run with the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, revealing he expected to defend the title in TNA at one point but that those plans never materialized the way he anticipated.

Nemeth captured the title from David Finlay at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s New Beginning event in February 2024. The very next night, he wasted no time setting his sights on a marquee challenger, calling out legend Hiroshi Tanahashi for a title defense. That match, however, didn’t come together as quickly as Nemeth hoped — an injury to Tanahashi pushed the bout all the way back to May, leaving the newly crowned champion in limbo for months before he could put the belt on the line against one of the promotion’s biggest stars.

Nemeth has made clear he wasn’t thrilled with how the reign played out, and part of that frustration ties into expectations that a defense would take place in TNA, where he has been a regular presence. For a champion looking to build momentum and cross-promote a title across territories, the delays and shifting plans clearly didn’t sit well.

Nemeth’s IWGP Global run has been a notable chapter in the ongoing working relationship between New Japan and TNA, a partnership that has seen talent and titles cross over between the two promotions in recent years. His comments shed light on some of the behind-the-scenes friction that can come with juggling a title reign across multiple companies, even when the on-paper plans — like a showdown with Tanahashi — sound like can’t-miss attractions.

As Nemeth continues to compete across both NJPW and TNA, it remains to be seen whether he’ll get the chance to build the kind of cross-promotional title program he initially envisioned.