Nicholas Theodore Nemeth (born July 27, 1980) is an American professional wrestler and stand-up comedian currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under his real name, stylized as Nic Nemeth. He also makes appearances on the independent circuit and for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where he is the current IWGP Global Heavyweight Champion in his first reign. He is best known for his tenure with WWE from 2004–2023, where he performed under the ring name Dolph Ziggler. Known for his athleticism and versatility, Nemeth is regarded as one of the most talented wrestlers in the world.
After a career in amateur wrestling, where he established several school records for Kent State University, Nemeth signed a developmental contract with WWE in 2004 and was sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he wrestled under his real name. He was promoted to WWE's Raw brand shortly afterwards in 2005, playing the caddie sidekick to Kerwin White. He was sent back to OVW shortly afterwards, being given the name Nicky and joining the cheerleading-themed Spirit Squad, who debuted on RAW in January 2006 and won the World Tag Team Championship once before returning to OVW that November. In September 2007, Nemeth was assigned to Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), where he won the FCW Florida Tag Team Championship twice.
Upon his return to the main roster in September 2008, Nemeth was repackaged as Dolph Ziggler. Since then, he has held the World Heavyweight Championship twice, the NXT Championship once, the Intercontinental Championship six times, the United States Championship twice, the Raw Tag Team Championship twice, and the SmackDown Tag Team Championship once. Overall in WWE, Nemeth has held 15 total championships. His other accomplishments include becoming the sole survivor of two Survivor Series elimination matches and the 2012 Money in the Bank winner as well as headlining multiple WWE pay-per-view events. Nemeth was released from WWE in September 2023, ending his 19-year run with the company.
After being released from WWE, Nemeth would return to the independent circuit using his real name. In January 2024, he would make his debut in New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) appearing in the crowd alongside his younger brother, Ryan at Wrestle Kingdom 18, and made his TNA debut at 2024's Hard to Kill. One month later, he won the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, his first major non-WWE championship, in his NJPW debut match.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Blonde Ambition (Leaping reverse STO)
- Superkick
- Zig Zag / Danger Zone (Jumping reverse bulldog)
- Signature moves
- Belly-to-back suplex
- Crucifix pin
- Dropkick, sometimes while sliding to the outside
- Famouser (Leg drop bulldog)
- Fireman's carry gutbuster
- German suplex
- Heart Stopper / Shots to the Heart (Jumping elbow drop with theatrics, sometimes preceded by multiple elbow drops)
- Inverted body slam
- Jumping clothesline
- Neckbreaker variations
- Necksnap
- Standing
- Swinging
- Olympic slam - 2024-present
- Powerslam
- Satellite DDT (Jumping DDT)
- Shoulder jawbreaker
- Sitout facebuster, sometimes from the top rope
- Sleeper hold, sometimes with bodyscissors
- Stinger Splash (Running corner splash)
- Managers
- AJ Lee
- Big E. Langston
- Big Rob
- Kaitlyn
- Lana
- Maria
- Taryn Terrell
- Vickie Guerrero
- Wrestlers managed
- Nicknames
- "The #Heel"
- "Mister Ziggles"
- "The Natural"
- "Perfection"
- "The Showoff"
- "The Wanted Man"
- Entrance themes
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
- "Counting the Days" by Collective Soul
- "Welcome to the Jungle" by Guns 'N Roses
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- "Bad H.S. Band" by Joseph Saba & Stewart Winter (used as a member of the Spirit Squad)
- "Team Spirit" by Jim Johnston
- "Time to Shout" by William Kingwood
- "I Am Perfection" by Jim Johnston Feat. Cage 9
- "Here to Show the World" by Jim Johnston Feat. Downstait
- "We're Here to Show the World" by def rebel (used as a member of the Dirty Dawgs)
- Florida Championship Wrestling
- "Big Style" by Freebie and the Bean
- "Time to Shout" by William Kingwood
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- "Wanted Man" by Downstait
- Independent circuit
- "Wanted Man" by Downstait
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- "Wanted Man" by Downstait
- Ohio Valley Wrestling
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Florida Championship Wrestling
- FCW Florida Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Brad Allen (1) and Gavin Spears (1)
- New Japan Pro-Wrestling
- IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship (1 time, current)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked #9 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2013
- Rolling Stone
- Wrestler of the Year (2014)
- Worst Storyline (2015) – with Rusev, Summer Rae and Lana
- Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
- TNA World Championship (1 time, current)
- World Wrestling Entertainment
- World Heavyweight Championship (2 times)
- WWE Intercontinental Championship (6 times)
- WWE United States Championship (2 times)
- WWE Raw Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Drew McIntyre (1) and Robert Roode (1)
- WWE SmackDown Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Robert Roode
- World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Johnny, Kenny, Mikey, and Mitch
- NXT Championship (1 time)
- Money in the Bank (2012 – World Heavyweight Championship contract)
- 22nd Triple Crown Champion
- Slammy Award (2 times)
- Best Twitter Handle or Social Champion (2014) – @HEELZiggler
- Match of the Year (2014) – Team Cena vs. Team Authority at Survivor Series
- WrestleCrap
- Gooker Award (2015) – feud with Rusev, Summer Rae and Lana
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Most Improved (2011)
- Most Underrated (2011)