Dolph Ziggler’s return to WWE at Madison Square Garden on November 17th lit up the arena, but according to him, the surprise wasn’t as last-minute as it seemed on TV.
Now wrestling under his real name Nic Nemeth, the former World Champion has revealed exactly how long he knew he’d be part of the Last Time Is Now tournament — and how far he went to make sure the secret stayed under wraps.
Appearing on Busted Open Radio, Nemeth explained that he was told about the return a couple of weeks in advance. But rather than leaking the info, he stayed silent — even with those closest to him.
“Two, three weeks, perhaps.”
Nemeth said he didn’t even tell his own family, other than his brother, and made it clear that any leak would be traced back to him.
“I didn’t tell my parents. I told my brother. ‘If anybody finds out, I’ll know you told them because I told nobody else.'”
He even avoided spilling the secret in a group chat with longtime friends and fellow wrestlers Bobby Roode, Zack Ryder, and Brian Myers.
“I’m in a group chat with Bobby Roode, Zack Ryder, and Brian Myers. I didn’t say anything. Me and Zack didn’t say anything. He said nothing.”
Nemeth kept it cool during interviews too, dodging speculation at The Big Event fan convention just days before RAW.
“A couple interviews at The Big Event, they were like, ‘Are you wrestling on Monday at the Garden?’ ‘Pshhh, I wish. That would be cool. Cena’s last Raw.'”
Even though he lost his match against Solo Sikoa, Ziggler’s MSG return hit hard with fans, and it was clear the energy meant something to him. He also opened up about the surreal experience of hiding out for hours backstage in a ski mask before making his entrance — adding another layer to a moment that felt bigger than just a match.
Ziggler hasn’t signed a long-term deal with WWE and remains active in TNA Wrestling, but his inclusion in Cena’s farewell tournament gave longtime fans one more reason to cheer.
What do you think of Ziggler keeping his return locked down for weeks? Would you have been able to keep it secret from everyone — even your own parents? Sound off in the comments and let us know.
