Nigel McGuinness gives update on AEW in-ring future
Nigel McGuinness loves being able to wrestle occasional AEW matches, but he has no interest in a full-time return to the ring.
While appearing on The Wombreezy Wrestling Podcast, McGuinness — a commentator for AEW — was asked if he would be interested in working a full wrestling schedule for a year. McGuinness responded by saying that he loves what he’s doing now and doesn’t see what the benefit would be of him taking a regular spot from younger competitors.
“Of wrestling? No, good lord, no [laughs]. My full years of wrestling are long, long gone,” he said. “Good lord, you could have asked me probably 10 years ago and I would have said the ship has truly sailed when it comes to me even wrestling again. But I guess, truthfully, without AEW and specifically Tony Khan, I never would have got this opportunity again.
“I don’t think there’s any benefit to me wrestling a full-time schedule. [The] sort of part-time schedule that I’m currently on, you know, if an opportunity presents itself and it makes sense from a storyline perspective, then I’ll do it. I love doing it. But, yeah, not full-time. There’s too many guys on the roster anyway, younger guys, who deserve more of those spots than me. But if I can add a little bit of flavor, little bit of spice, to what else is going on with my experience and the fact that they see me on TV every week as a commentator, then I think that’s the best way they can use me.”
McGuinness is a former ROH World Champion and also starred for TNA before retiring in 2011. He transitioned over to commentary after that and did not wrestle at all for nearly 13 years — until returning at Wembley Stadium during AEW All In 2024.
This year’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view included an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match where McGuinness unsuccessfully challenged fellow countryman Zack Sabre Jr. for the belt.
McGuinness, 49, told The Wombreezy Wrestling Podcast that he feels very blessed to have had the career he’s had. He currently works alongside Tony Schiavone on the AEW Collision commentary team every week.
Last month, McGuinness and his partner Kaori Takee revealed that they are expecting a child together.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.