Nigel McGuinness to wrestle part-time, focus on commentary

Nigel McGuinness, the AEW commentator who returned to in-ring competition in 2024 after more than a decade away, said he has no intention of resuming a full-time wrestling schedule and will continue to perform only on a part-time basis when storylines call for it. McGuinness made the remarks in recent interviews following a string of sporadic matches that culminated in an unsuccessful challenge for Zack Sabre Jr.'s IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at a recent Forbidden Door pay-per-view.

McGuinness, 49, said a full year of wrestling is not something he wants to undertake again. "No, good lord, no," he said. "My full years of wrestling are long, long, long gone." He added that while he enjoys competing, he believes his value to the company is greatest when he balances occasional in-ring appearances with his weekly role as a commentator. "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," he said.

The former Ring of Honor world champion retired from regular competition around 2011, citing medical issues, and moved into commentary work. He reemerged as an in-ring performer with a...