Former WWE star confirms he will never wrestle full-time again: "There's too many guys on the roster anyway"

A former WWE star has announced that he will not wrestle full-time again due to the roster being filled with talented individuals.

That star is Nigel McGuinness, who worked for WWE from 2016 to 2022 as a commentator. The 49-year-old currently works for AEW, where he is a commentator on Collision and also performs part-time in the ring. Nigel, known for his technical skills in the ring, was most recently seen competing against Zack Sabre Jr. for his IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door 2025, a match he lost. For those unaware, Nigel had retired from in-ring competition for several years before joining AEW and returning to the ring. Since then, the former ROH World Champion has maintained a semi-retired status. Now, Nigel has further clarified his in-ring status.

Speaking on The Magic of Wrestling, the AEW star said that a full-time schedule doesn't benefit him and that other younger wrestlers should get more of the limelight.

"I don't think there's any benefit to me wrestling a full-time schedule. 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...I love doing it, but not full-time. There's too many guys on the roster anyway, younger guys who deserve more of those spots than me,” said Nigel [H/T: WrestlePurists on X]

Check out his comments in the video below:

Nigel McGuinness says WWE legend Bryan Danielson will never wrestle again

Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson are arch-enemies in the world of wrestling. At Forbidden Door 2025, the Englishman rekindled their rivalry by stating that the American Dragon's in-ring career is over. Meanwhile, Bryan Danielson has not competed in a ring since WrestleDream 2024.

"Clam Digger. Late Danielson. His career is over. Goodbye, Dragon!” Nigel said.

The last time Nigel and the former WWE Champion faced off was at AEW Grand Slam in 2024. Given their respective status in the company, it will be interesting to see if the two will ever step in the ring again.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

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Edited by Karan Raj