The rivalry between Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson is one of the most storied and intense feuds in professional wrestling history. Spanning nearly two decades, their conflict has evolved from in-ring battles to a war of words, captivating fans across multiple promotions. This article delves into the origins, key moments, and current state of this legendary feud.
Origins in Ring of Honor
Early Encounters
Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson first crossed paths in Ring of Honor (ROH) during the mid-2000s. Their initial matches were characterized by technical prowess and a mutual respect for each other’s abilities. As both wrestlers rose through the ranks of ROH, their rivalry intensified, leading to several high-profile encounters.
Title Unification Matches
The feud reached new heights when McGuinness and Danielson held the ROH Pure Championship and ROH World Championship, respectively. Their attempts to unify these titles produced some of the most memorable matches in ROH history. The pure wrestling rules added an extra layer of strategy and intensity to their encounters, showcasing both men’s unreal technical skills.
Unified: The Pinnacle
The culmination of their ROH rivalry came at the aptly named “Unified” event. This match, fought under pure wrestling rules with additional stipulations, is widely regarded as one of the greatest matches in ROH history. The bout exemplified the chemistry between McGuinness and Danielson, solidifying their status as two of the best wrestlers in the world.
Diverging Paths
WWE Signing and Fallout
In 2009, both McGuinness and Danielson were set to sign with WWE. However, only Danielson passed the medical screening, mainly because he was able to conceal his long-running history of concussions, whereas Nigel’s injuries were more obviously apparent to WWE staff.
Career Trajectories
While Danielson went on to achieve great success in WWE as Daniel Bryan, McGuinness’s career took a different path. He continued wrestling on the independent circuit and even TNA before retiring in 2011 due to health issues. This stark contrast in their fortunes added a layer of real-life tension to their rivalry.
List of Notable Matches
Here’s a bullet point list of some of the most significant matches between Nigel McGuinness and Bryan Danielson:
- Weekend of Champions Night 2 (April 29, 2006) – McGuinness won by countout
- Generation Now (July 29, 2006) – Danielson won by pinfall
- ROH Unified (August 12, 2006) – Danielson won by referee’s decision (Title Unification Match)
- Driven (June 23, 2007) – 60-minute draw
- 6th Anniversary Show (February 23, 2008) – McGuinness won by pinfall
- Rising Above (November 22, 2008) – McGuinness won by pinfall
AEW Revival
Commentary Rivalry
The feud found new life in All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where McGuinness of course serves as a commentator. He frequently takes verbal jabs at Danielson.
Rumors had been circulated about a potential in-ring confrontation between McGuinness and Danielson in AEW. While McGuinness had previously downplayed the possibility, stating that Danielson is “afraid” of him, fans continued to speculate about a dream match.
The match would finally be confirmed for AEW Grand Slam, with Danielson set to defend his AEW Championship against his bitter rival.
