Nigel McGuinness comments on potentially coming out of retirement.
The former ROH World Champion retired due to injuries in 2011 and transitioned into non-wrestling roles. He had a lengthy run as a commentator in WWE, but the company released him in October 2022. McGuinness then signed with AEW/ROH, as he appeared at ROH Supercard of Honor before he subsequently received the “All Elite” graphic.
The England native went on to appear on the April 5 episode of AEW Dynamite, where Tony Khan announced that AEW would make its United Kingdom debut with All In London at Wembley Stadium on August 27.
Speaking with Stephanie Chase of Digital Spy, McGuinness discussed potentially wrestling again and whether AEW All In would be a fitting occasion. When asked about the factors that would go into the decision, he noted that the event and the circumstances were a big part of it.
“It’s certainly the event and perhaps a final chapter to my career, to my journey, so Wembley Stadium certainly springs to mind,” McGuinness said. “There are a number of factors, I’m an age now and at a place in my life where I certainly don’t want to harm the rest of my life. I don’t want to get any injuries or anything serious that’s going to impinge my ability to enjoy my life as a parent or to travel. So that’s certainly a concern.
“You’ve also got to understand that at a show like Wembley, there are so many guys that are super talented and deserve those spots as well, so to take one of those spots for myself I think would be pretty hard.”
Nigel McGuinness also stated that he might not have a reason to stay on the sidelines if AEW sells out Wembley Stadium, but plenty of factors are part of the equation.
“I think if we sell the place out, maybe I’ve got no argument but to go dust the boots off,” McGuinness added. “But it’s so many things, it’s the event, it’s the opponent, it’s the timing and it’s hard to know. I cannot give you a definitive in that regard.”
If McGuinness does wrestle again, he noted that he’d prefer to face someone from his past, and he pointed to Bryan Danielson.
“In terms of dream opponents, obviously it would have to be someone like Dragon [Bryan Danielson], given our history and the true story that’s there,” McGuinness said. “I think the best stories, the best angles in wrestling, always have that undercurrent of reality and it’s just so real there. It’s just so real and it’s so honest and authentic and nuanced as well in the sense that, it’s not just as simple as there’s a good guy and a bad guy, you can understand and you can identify with both of our journeys.
“We were once going in the same direction and now we’ve gone in completely different paths, but there’s a lot of emotion there to establish and even if that means me just being on commentary for a match of his as well.”
However, Nigel McGuinness also noted that some new opponents could be compelling options as well. He named AEW World Champion MJF and Jonathan Gresham as two examples, though he’s not sure he could have a great match with them now.
“There are guys like Jonathan Gresham or MJF as well, those sort of guys that you go, ‘Yeah, I think I could really have a great match with them,'” McGuinness said. “But then you think to yourself, ‘Well, the old Nigel McGuinness could really have a great match with them. I’m not sure about the Nigel McGuinness now’
“Someone said a while ago, ‘I bet you could get in the ring tomorrow, couldn’t you?’ I said, ‘I’m sure I could, I’m just not sure I could get back out afterwards, that’s the reality of it.'”
Fans will have to wait and see whether Nigel McGuinness laces up his boots again, whether it’s at AEW All In or elsewhere.
Nigel McGuinness’ last match was at a December 2011 event for American Pro Wrestling Alliance. His last televised match took place in September 2010, a win (as Desmond Wolfe) over Stevie Richards on TNA Xplosion.
