For over a decade, Nigel McGuinness has been working as a commentator, and now apparently is attempting to return to the pro wrestling ring.
Fightful Select (subscription required but recommended) reports that the former Ring of Honor World Champion is “taking measures” to try to come back to wrestling and is considering a return to the ring, though it is unclear if he is currently cleared to do so.
To add another layer, McGuinness was mentioned in the months leading to AEW All In as a potential competitor on the card. However, Fightful noted that they could not confirm if the plan was for him to wrestle or if it was broached internally by AEW.
AEW has had McGuinness as a commentator for Collision, but a potential return to the ring would be a drastic change from his current duties and all the work he’s done in pro wrestling for the past 12 years. There has been no hint of his return to the ring on AEW programming, but that could easily change with a storyline development.
At 47 years old, it would be a surprise if he actually returned for a match. His last wrestling appearance was in December 2011, with his last televised match in September 2010 with TNA. McGuinness also revealed on AEW Unrestricted that he left the wrestling ring because “no one would hire [him]” as a wrestler.
With All In only two weeks away, McGuinness must be cleared to compete soon if he is to make a confrontational appearance. It would be an exciting moment, even if it is just a one-off, for him to make a surprise appearance in the ring in London, where he is from. By Aug. 27, fans will see if McGuinness steps into a pro wrestling ring once more and plays a role at AEW’s biggest show yet.