Nigel McGuinness heading to WWE
A reader posted a comment on The Ring Posts 20 Version 2.0 entry very early this morning and asked who Nigel McGuinness was. My response: “McGuiness was Ring of Honor champ for most of the grading period [Aug. 1, 2008 to July 31, 2009]. I think you'll see him in WWE or TNA at some point, most likely TNA.”
Well, I was on the right track but I ended up at the wrong destination. McGuinness has signed with WWE, according to various Internet reports.
I have thought for a while that McGuinness, a talented worker and decent talker who plays a British heel in ROH, was a lock to one day work for one of the Big Two. I leaned toward TNA picking him up because I wasn’t sure he was the kind of performer that WWE would have interest in. He works a European style that, on the surface, doesn’t seem like a great fit for WWE. In TNA, I think McGuinness would have become the big star that former ROH champion Samoa Joe was projected to be, but who ultimately fell short of expectations.
It will be very interesting to see how McGuinness gets pushed in WWE. He has the potential to be a major player – or he could be the next Paul Burchill.
WWE’s signing of McGuinness comes on the heels of the company’s recent acquisition of ROH star Bryan Danielson. Danielson is a fantastic worker, but with his ordinary look and lack of charisma, I don’t necessarily see him as WWE material. Perhaps the success of another former ROH champion, CM Punk, has made ROH’s top stars more attractive to WWE. Plus, signing these guys blocks TNA from getting them.
Obviously, losing McGuinness and Danielson is a severe blow to ROH, and it’s demonstrates why it is difficult to be the No. 3 promotion. It’s the same situation ECW was in during the Monday Night Wars in the ’90s. Once a guy became a star in ECW, it was only a matter of time before WWE and/or WCW scooped him up.
Comments
I'm sorry, but I've seen Nigel twice live and four other taped matches and to say I've been underwhelmed would be an understatement.
First, I'll admit, he has the mic work down, but his in-ring work is abysmal. Especially the awkward looking flip thing he does when irish-whipped into the ropes.
If he even reaches Burchill's status I'd be shocked.
Posted by: JR | September 4, 2009 7:11 PM
I know that alot o ROH fans have been talking about Nigel. Hopefully, I will get a preview when I head out to the ROH show in NY, 9/26. I would think you have got to have some decent wrastlin' skills to be the ROH champ.
Kev, I always notice this on your page(see below) ,Does your show stream on the net?
"The Baltimore Sun's Kevin Eck blogs about professional wrestling. Listen to Eck Wednesdays at 3 p.m. on WNST 1570 AM."
RESPONSE FROM KE: You can listen live at www.wnst.net. The show also is archived in WNST's audio vault.
Posted by: Ryan B RI | September 4, 2009 7:27 PM
I won't be complaining about charisma or looks or anything when these guys get to the roster. If they get on to ECW or Smackdown I think they can both thrive in WWE.
Smackdown is so good right now, and if you add Danielson, McGuiness and Kaval (LowKi, Senshi - currently injured and based in developmental) into the mix with great workers like Rey, Punk, Jericho, Christian, Edge, Regal, Morrison, Hardy etc we could be in for some real special matches.
Just hope WWE gives them the 'CM Punk treatment' and allows them to make stars out of themselves. And above all else....Please don't rename these guys with ridiculous monikers....no one wants another Braden Walker fiasco!
Posted by: Anonymous | September 4, 2009 7:56 PM
I won't be complaining about charisma or looks or anything when these guys get to the roster. If they get on to ECW or Smackdown I think they can both thrive in WWE.
Smackdown is so good right now, and if you add Danielson, McGuiness and Kaval (LowKi, Senshi - currently injured and based in developmental) into the mix with great workers like Rey, Punk, Jericho, Christian, Edge, Regal, Morrison, Hardy etc we could be in for some real special matches.
Just hope WWE gives them the 'CM Punk treatment' and allows them to make stars out of themselves. And above all else....Please don't rename these guys with ridiculous monikers....no one wants another Braden Walker fiasco!
Posted by: G | September 4, 2009 7:57 PM
I just hope that they give both of these guys a realistic shot at making it to the top of WWE. There's way too much underused talent in the WWE as it is, and it'd be a shame if these guys were yet another example.
Kevin, do you think there's any reason that there's such a struggle with building talent in the industry? Not everyone can be a John Cena, but that doesn't mean that they shouldn't get the chance to grow...
Posted by: Ted | September 4, 2009 8:51 PM
I have never seen Ring of Honor, so when CM Punk debuted in the recently-relaunched ECW just over three years ago, I knew next to nothing about him. However, I very quickly concluded that he was a talent worth watching. Hopefully, Nigel McGuiness and Bryan Danielson will grab my attention too.
Posted by: Christopher | September 4, 2009 9:33 PM
I hardly watch WWE any more, but I'm absolutely thrilled at this news for Nigel's sake.
And JR, I wasn't a fan of the Jawbreaker Lariat either, and much preferred the Tower of London as his finisher. But if you watch any of his matches with Danielson, there is no way you can call his in-ring work "abysmal".
Posted by: Joe Mathieson | September 4, 2009 10:54 PM
Nigel's mic work is strong as a heel - he's pretty much born for it. And Danielson knows how to play to the crowd the same way Punk does. But regardless, both of them have such great ring work, it really only is a matter of time before they get to work with someone who will get them over as new stars - something the WWE desperately needs right now.
Hopefully this also attracts more attention to ROH, because they are heading into dangerous territory with all this. To anyone reading who hasn't tried their product yet: please give it a chance!!
Posted by: Brian B. | September 5, 2009 2:46 AM
Kevin, what exactly is European style wrestling?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Stiff, ground-based, technical wrestling
Posted by: Van | September 5, 2009 10:41 AM
Nigel should be a welcome addition to WWE, as long as he doesn't get buried in the ECW roster. It appears WWE is trying to get a bit more "international" judging by their recent additions.
I'm happy to hear that Danielson is coming in. As a no B.S. "journeyman" type technical wrestler, he'll be a breath of fresh air. Perhaps he could re-assume his American Dragon persona. That would the perfect foil for Rey Mysterio. (A lot of potential in that match.) Danielson had a developmental contract some time ago along with Spanky & Lance Cade (all students from the Shawn Michaels school & trained by Rudy Boy Gonzales, who doesn't get near enough credit IMO).
Posted by: Morgan Lane | September 5, 2009 5:50 PM
I like both these pics for WWE, then again I'm a mark for both guys. I hope they are given a chance to succeed. ECW should be a nice start for them. If they run an angle where they are given a equal push and eventually met for the ECW tile that could help give that belt a little more shine.
Unfortunately if a great match idea wasn't Vince's then he usally won't make it happen. (See Hogan vs. Flair at WrestleMania VIII)
The only downside I see to this is I was kind of hoping to see Bryan Danielson in TNA at some point to go up aganist Kurt Angle. In a wrestling world that has rather limited dream matches left that was one of mine.
Posted by: Andre the Midget | September 8, 2009 5:16 PM
Nigel is superb. Capital pick there.
I too wish ROH would pull some strings and get Angle in for one match with Danielson. Pay whatever you have to Mr. Silken.
The European Style is probably my personal favorite style now (either that or some integration of the amateur style). That's why I got into Alex Shelley the first time I saw him, but he doesn't get time to mat wrestle anymore.
Here's a random match featuring Nigel McGuinness and Jay Ryan. It's a brawl that I've watched multiple times and it does not get old...ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3gFxMvsaFg
TNA should have signed McGuinness at all costs. They better look at Davey Richards, the Briscoe Brothers, and others before the WWE does.
I think Nigel should do well in the WWE on ECW and then SmackDown. I hope for the best.
I also hope he keeps his cool shades...
Posted by: Another Wrestling Mark | September 13, 2009 2:09 AM