Nigel McGuinness is running down a dream
“This is what I’ve imagined so many times for so many years”
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of professional wrestling.
Contents for The Week in Wrestling:
Nigel McGuinness gets shot at IWGP World Heavyweight Championship
An inside look at the past week in wrestling
Plenty more wrestling this summer
Tweet of the Week
Nigel McGuinness: “This is what I’ve imagined so many times for so many years”
One year ago, Nigel McGuinness stepped back into the ring.
After a thirteen-year retirement, his return at AEW’s All In pay-per-view last summer surprised the wrestling world. The crowd at London’s Wembley Stadium exploded when McGuinness was revealed as a surprise entry in the Casino Gauntlet match, and his performance–after more than a decade away from the ring–was particularly impressive. During that multi-man match, McGuinness even had the honor of locking up with fellow British great Zack Sabre Jr.
“It was an authentic, genuine moment,” said McGuinness, who grew up in London. “To be on that sort of stage, surrounded by that sort of talent, and get that sort of reaction, that’s nothing short of a dream come true.”
McGuinness isn’t done dreaming. This Sunday at Forbidden Door, he has the opportunity to square off against Sabre in a singles bout. It is only his third singles match since returning (his most prominent was a bout last year against eternal foe Bryan Danielson), and his very first of 2025.
The bout came together in an unexpected-but-pleasing manner when McGuinness won a “technical-spectacle” four-way this past Saturday on Collision. McGuinness forced Lee Moriarty to tap in a match that also included Daniel Garcia (more on him in a moment) and Hechicero to become the number one contender for Sabre’s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
Though McGuinness has made many treks to Japan, he wrestled for NOAH. This is his first-ever shot at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s crown jewel, and the setting adds even more magic to the moment. The match will happen at the O2 Arena in London, further boggling McGuinness’ mind.
“What dreams may come,” said McGuinness. “That’s the thought that immediately sprung to mind. It’s a dream match for many people, myself included.
“When I came back a year ago and wrestled Bryan Danielson, that was phenomenal and very important for me. But a match on this prestigious a stage against Zack Sabre Jr., I can’t get over it.”
Only months shy of his fiftieth birthday, McGuinness–whose real name is Steven Haworth–is continuing a career he began in 1999. McGuinness developed his own punk rock persona, and he grew into a key figure for Ring of Honor.
In the fall of 2009, he was headed to WWE, which his ticket to worldwide stardom. But his intense style caught up to him, as a failed physical diverted his path and led him to TNA.
An undisclosed medical condition–which he later revealed was Hepatitis B–effectively put an end to his career in 2011. McGuinness’ documentary explains the backstory of how medical complications caused his retirement.
Over the past decade, McGuinness has turned himself into one of the most compelling broadcasters in pro wrestling. But unfinished business in the ring always lingered, and the reality that he did not live up to his lofty expectations continually haunted him.
“I’ve dealt with the disappointment, the regret, and the failure,” said McGuinness. “A decade ago, never once did I dream that I’d ever have any sort of opportunity like this. I thought this ship had sailed and my career was over.
“If it weren’t for Tony Khan, none of it would have happened. I owe Tony and this company so, so much. This is the opportunity to live out my dreams.
“I’m wrestling this respected, world-renowned heavyweight champion. I get to test my wits against the greatest technical wrestler of all time, and it’s not Bryan Danielson. It is Zack Sabre Jr. He is one of the very few handful of guys that made his name in his own style. To reach the levels he has, I’m amazed. He’s the top man in Japan.”
Daniel Garcia is in McGuinness’ corner, which could lead to a turn that costs McGuinness the title. Or the unthinkable could happen and McGuinness could win a match that virtually everyone expects him to lose. The one certainty is that anyone watching this match is in for an emotional rollercoaster.
“I’m taking this one step at a time,” said McGuinness. “My mind is full of ideas. The last thing I want to do is think about the end of it.”
Despite all his accolades, McGuinness revealed that there are hurdles he will have to overcome on Sunday.
“There is always self-doubt,” he admitted. “It’s not about the cardio–it’s about the nerves, especially on a stage like this in London. But I can’t wait to hear the crowd. I know my whole story is against the odds. This is my shot. If I can have the O2 Arena behind me screaming my name, then anything is possible.”
McGuinness has envisioned this exact scenario more times than he can recall. Yet, come Sunday, wrestling for the world title on pay-per-view in front of his home crowd will no longer be a dream. At Forbidden Door, it becomes a reality.
“This is what I’ve imagined so many times for so many years,” said McGuinness. “I remember the euphoria from last year at All In and the match against Bryan. But that’s the thing about moments like these–they don’t last long. So I’m going to relax and enjoy it.”
This past week…
Roman Reigns came back to protect Jey Uso, and he’ll wrestle Bronson Reed at Clash in Paris. Is anyone else ready for Reigns to challenge Seth Rollins?
Congrats to Naomi and husband Jimmy Uso, who are expecting their first child.
Last week on Dynamite, Hangman Page appeared to outsmart MJF ahead of their title match this Sunday at Forbidden Door.
Congrats to Konnan, who is headed to the AAA Hall of Fame. He also belongs in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Here is the first glance of Cody Rhodes as Guile in Street Fighter.
Plenty more wrestling to carry us through the summer
For years, I considered SummerSlam the end of the summer.
That is no longer the case, as WWE in the Nick Khan era prefers to run the event at the beginning of August (which allows them to be ahead of college football and the NFL, securing a big portion of the mainstream news cycle for themselves). Fortunately, WWE has its Clash in Paris event on August 31, and there is plenty more to look forward to in pro wrestling during summer’s farewell stretch.
It all begins this weekend, when AEW runs Forbidden Door in London at the O2 Arena. The Athena-Toni Storm women’s title bout is must-see viewing, as is MJF-Hangman Page. In both cases, it feels too early for the reigning champ to lose the belt. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage will team together for the first time since 2011, wrestling Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne. And there is Kazuchika Okada against Swerve Strickland, as well as Mercedes Moné defending the TBS title in a match that is sure to exceed expectations (and give a wonderful spotlight to Alex Windsor and Persephone).
The indies should be included, too. There is GCW Homecoming on Saturday in Atlantic City, featuring a Matt Cardona-Shotzi, as well as Beyond Wrestling’s Americanrana ’25 on August 29 in Cranston, Rhode Island. Those hungry for more Sheamus vs. Rusev are in luck. They wrestle in a good ol' fashioned Donnybrook Match, which feels like a page out of the Vince McMahon playbook. There is also the four-way for the World Heavyweight Championship, where Seth Rollins is destined to retain against CM Punk, Jey Uso, and LA Knight.
And the centerpiece of that show is babyface John Cena against Logan Paul, where Cena can finally begin his farewell tour.
And I’ll be watching old SummerSlams. I’m currently on the 1990 event, where I get my fill of the Legion of Doom, Earthquake, and Kerry Von Erich. So thankfully, our pro wrestling summer isn’t over yet.
Tweet of the Week
Maybe you had to be there, but Vader’s appearances on Boy Meets World were nothing short of electric.