WWE veteran reveals he was slated to come out of retirement after 12 years at AEW All In 2023; match got canceled
AEW made history with its 2023 All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium in London. Tony Khan set a new attendance record with his company's UK debut, which was also its first pay-per-view outside North America. A veteran star is opening up on how his comeback from retirement was pulled from All In plans.
Bryan Danielson finally became AEW World Champion at All In 2024 after missing last year's event due to a broken arm that he suffered during his match against Kazuchika Okada at Forbidden Door. This year's event also featured the return of Nigel McGuinness, who retired from pro wrestling in 2011. Speaking on a recent episode of Talk Is Jericho, Nigel revealed he was originally scheduled to resume his historic rivalry with The American Dragon at All In 2023.
Tony Khan apparently informed the former WWE commentator of plans to run Wembley early on and asked if he could wrestle. However, Danielson's broken arm prevented the match from happening then.
"The first Wembley, I was ready to go, and in ring shape, but Bryan broke his arm in a match with Okada. That didn’t work, there was ideas of maybe I could be in this match or that match, but I didn’t want to be an add-on, I wanted it to really mean something. Then at Wembley this year, obviously my intention was Bryan again, but because they wanted to go in the direction of The Owen, that didn’t make sense, which I’m perfectly okay with," Nigel McGuinness said. [H/T to Fightful]
The WWE veteran explained why he was fine with the Casino Gauntlet's appearance, even though he was hoping to face Danielson.
"I just feel blessed with being able to step in a ring again. The opportunity came around with the Casino [Gauntlet]... it made sense, because if I was gunning for Bryan, I’d have to get a title opportunity against him. It made sense in that regard, there was a nice little tie-in with Christian at the end, that might go somewhere, it might not, I don’t know. Either way, what a moment. Just incredible," McGuinness said.
McGuinness and Danielson finally locked up again at the Grand Slam edition of Dynamite two weeks ago. Bryan won the non-title match in just under nineteen minutes. The American Dragon now leads their singles match series at 9-3 with two draws.
Bryan Danielson praises Nigel McGuinness after AEW Grand Slam
Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness shared the ring thirty-eight times since 2005. Their first match since Danielson's win at ROH Glory By Honor VIII on September 26, 2009, took place on September 25, 2024, to open AEW Dynamite Grand Slam.
The AEW World Champion discussed the win over McGuinness on The Nikki & Brie Show. Danielson praised the AEW commentator for his performance.
"It was really cool. really special. For somebody who hasn't wrestled in thirteen years, he did fantastic. It was so neat, so cool, so special," Bryan Danielson said. [H/T Fightful]
There is no word on when McGuinness will wrestle again but as for Danielson, he is set to defend the World Championship against Jon Moxley at WrestleDream This Saturday.