Bryan Danielson vs Nigel McGuinness moves ever closer, as the English star has moved to trademark his ring name for the first time.
It has been over a decade since Nigel McGuinness wrestled his last match, but AEW’s All In could see a return to the ring against a familiar foe – Bryan Danielson.
Over the years, Danielson and McGuinness put on some of the best matches over seen. They had technical classics and hard-hitting bouts, that the Ring of Honor fans had never seen before.
Both men won the ROH Championship and are rightly legends of the promotion, despite them leaving the company on the same day in 2009.
While Bryan Danielson went on to huge success in the WWE as Daniel Bryan, McGuinness was turned down by the promotion.
This prompted him to retire from the ring, ending one of the most promising careers in wrestling.
His last match ever was in 2011, before Nigel McGuinness moved into commentary for ROH, and later WWE.
He left WWE in late 2022, signing for AEW just in time to announce the big All In 2 show, taking place at Wembley Stadium on August 27th in London.
With the biggest show in British wrestling history coming up, many fans have been wondering if we could see the return of Nigel McGuinness for one last bout.
Well, it seems the man himself has also been thinking that, and wants one last match with Bryan Danielson at AEW All In 2.
Nigel McGuinness vs Bryan Danielson
Nigel McGuinness has made a huge claim about AEW All In 2, revealing that he’ll “come out of retirement” if the company manage to sell out Wembley Stadium.
With the opening day of sales successfully selling 36,000 tickets, morale is high in AEW, with hopes of actually selling out the 90,000 football (soccer) venue for a wrestling.
McGuinness noted this success, in an exclusive interview with Glasgow Live to promote the event.
“It couldn’t be any bigger. It’s a milestone for the company and will be a great moment for everyone in the company. And who knows, if it sells out maybe I’ll come out of retirement.
Ask if he needs to shine off his boots, he said: “Yeah maybe for that clamdigger [Bryan] Danielson.”
Nigel McGuinness vs Bryan Danielson would be a huge match-up for the British crowds, who share a deep respect for both men in that potential match.
Being his first match for 12 years, the quality of the bout would be in dispute, but everybody knows that Danielson can carry anybody to a great match if he needs to.
McGuinness also spoke about the emergence of British talent in the company, signifying a boom of top wrestlers from the UK out in America and Japan.
Stars like Saraya (Paige in WWE), PAC and Jamie Hayter have lit up AEW in recent years, while stars like Will Ospreay and Zack Sabre Jr have become some of the top wrestlers in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
It’s super important. There was the longest time back in the 80s and 90s that there were very few British talent. You had the British Bulldog, William Regal and it took a while before we started to see the plethora of talent who had established themselves. So many of them are now in AEW.
“The likes of Saraya, Jamie Hayter who have followed in the footsteps of me and Doug Williams, Kip Sabian, Will Ospreay, Zack Sabre Jnr – the list goes on.
“It’s not a question of who’s going to be there – it’s more who’s not going to be there [All In]. The UK has always been a phenomenal fanbase for professional wrestling, ever since I was a fan back in the early 90s.
The Englishman also revealed that he was in attendence for the incredible Bret Hart vs British Bulldog match at Summerslam 1992, which held the previous record gate for a British show, until beaten by Clash at the Castle.
McGuinness revealed that Summerslam 1992 was the reason he became a wrestler, and was excited to come “full circle” at Wembley Stadium in August.
“Speaking of Wembley, it was 31 years ago that wrestling was last there. I was there, a young Nigel McGuinness, fifty rows back from the ring. That was the moment, or one of the moments I decided to become a professional wrestler.
“To return and be part of that show it’s all coming full circle. It’s beyond words and it will be a moment that I could never have imagined. You couldn’t have written it. You wouldn’t have believed it.
“There will be a similar moment for the next Nigel McGuinness, or the next Will Ospreay or Zack Sabre Jnr who is going to be there as well. This is going to be that moment, that show of the next generation. To feel that sense of community is brilliant.
McGuinness also took the Twitter, following the incredible tickets sales for All In.
After sales moved past the 60,000 mark, he remarked about his previous comment of coming out of retirement if it sold out.
Bryan Danielson Thinks He’d Break Nigel McGuinness Neck
When asked about a potential bout with Nigel McGuinness at All In, Bryan Danielson had some harsh words about the Englishman, during the Double or Nothing post-show scrum.
The Blackpool Combat Club leader claimed he would “break” McGuinness neck if they wrestled, and thinks the British star has been out of the ring for too long to match up with The American Dragon.
I think Nigel McGuinness probably needs to shut his mouth a little bit. I don’t think, at this point in his life, he can handle the same intensity as 2006.
I mean, when you watch him on commentary – I think the world of him as a wrestler and a commentator – but he no longer has the physical ability to match up with me.
I’m 42 years old, and it doesn’t matter – I train so hard to stay like this. He stopped training. Do you think you can catch back in three months?
No, you can’t. I look at his neck and think I’d break it, and I only way 185 lbs.
Bryan Danielson on wrestling Nigel McGuinness at All In.
AEW All In 2 will take place at Wembley Stadium in London, England on Sunday August 27th, 2023.
You can click below to view the full AEW All In match card, and learn more about the legendary AEW event.