Following his celebrated return to the ring earlier this year, AEW commentator Nigel McGuinness clarified his future as an active competitor in an interview with The Magic Of Wrestling. The former ROH World Champion confirmed that he has no plans to pursue a full-time wrestling schedule, preferring to step back into the ring only on a part-time basis when the story calls for it.
McGuinness, who was forced into an early retirement over a decade ago due to medical issues, explained his current mindset. “I don’t think there’s any benefit to me wrestling a full-time schedule,” he stated. “With the part-time schedule that I’m currently on, if an opportunity presents itself and it makes sense from a storyline perspective, then I’ll do it.”
While he reaffirmed his passion for performing, McGuinness believes the regular spots on the AEW roster are better served for the next generation of talent. “I love doing it, but not full-time,” he said. “There’s too many guys on the roster anyway, younger guys who deserve more of those spots than me.”
McGuinness made his surprise in-ring return at the AEW All In event at Wembley Stadium in 2024. The match was his first in over 10 years. He has worked a handful of matches since, but his primary role in AEW remains as the lead color commentator for AEW Collision.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit The Magic Of Wrestling with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
