AEW: Swerve Strickland AEW Return Plans Update, AEW All In 2024 & All Out 2024 PPV Buys Update, Nigel McGuinness on Retirement from Wrestling in 2011 Not Due to Injuries

Sep 20, 2024

Swerve Strickland Rest Break & AEW Return Plans Update

As noted before, Swerve Strickland has been on a break from AEW since his Lights Out Steel Cage match against Hangman Adam Page at AEW’s All Out 2024 event earlier this month.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that Strickland is currently expected to return from his break sooner than originally expected.

Meltzer speculated that Strickland will likely return in time for next month’s WrestleDream 2024 event on October 12th in Tacoma, Washington due to the event taking place in his hometown but this is something he has yet to confirm from his sources.

Meltzer reported that AEW’s return plans for Strickland is currently not known.

Updated Estimates for AEW All In 2024 & All Out 2024 PPV Buys

As noted before, AEW’s All In 2024 event this past August at Wembley Stadium in London, England was estimated to have generated around 158,000 pay-per-view buys and All Out 2024 event earlier this month in Hoffman Estates, Illinois was estimated to have generated around 102,000 pay-per-view buys based on updated data and estimates.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that All In 2024 is current estimated to have generated slightly under 160,000 buys based on updated late buys purchases. Meltzer reported that All In 2024’s cable television buys is currently up 28.1% compared to this past June’s Forbidden Door 2024 event based on the same number of days after the event. Meltzer also reported that All In 2024’s streaming buys increases currently have not been enough to push the estimated total buys over 160,000.

In regards to All Out 2024, Meltzer reported that the event is currently estimated to have generated around 103,000 buys based on updated late buys purchases. All Out 2024’s cable television buys reportedly is currently down 35.1% and a similar decline for streaming buys compared to All In 2024’s buys based on the same number of days after the event.

Nigel McGuinness Comments on His Retirement from Wrestling in 2011 Was Not Due to Injury Reasons

TV Insider held a recent interview with Nigel McGuinness. One of the topics discussed included McGuinness’ thoughts about the misconceptions over his retirement from wrestling in 2011 and the reason was not due to any injury-related reasons and instead due to money-related reasons.

“It didn’t really. There is a lot of confusion and misinformation. The truth of the matter is when I stepped away from wrestling, it was purely because I couldn’t make a living as a wrestler anymore. I could have gone back to Ring of Honor and wrestled that style, but I wouldn’t have made enough money to even afford health insurance, let alone save for the rest of my life. That style in Ring of Honor just wasn’t doable. WWE wasn’t interested in me because of an old arm injury, even though it was perfectly healed. I didn’t want to go back to TNA given what happened there. That was it. There was no AEW or anywhere else to make a living wrestling. I had no choice.
When I retired and did that documentary The Last of McGuinness, it was partly because if I could get my story out there, perhaps someone would catch on to it and tell the rest of the story. Little did I know it would take until now with Tony Khan and AEW. I didn’t step away because of concussions. I didn’t step away because of hepatitis. I was perfectly okay to wrestle. So it’s all not a factor going in. You obviously are cognizant of the possibility of injuries and stuff like that, but you try to keep it out of your head. It’s just like anything else in life. There are risks involved, but the rewards outweigh them.”

McGuinness also gave his thoughts about his recent in-ring return and how much unfinished business he has left for his wrestling career.

“There isn’t a lot to be honest with you. This is a long journey for me. When I retired back in 2011 and did my documentary, that gave me a sense of closure to some extent. When I was working in WWE, I had so many of my generational peers who went on to such success in terms of fame and money they made and in terms of their ability to wrestle on that stage. There was always an itch there. There was a sense of failure, not achieving my dream. But to a large extent, I found peace with that by the time Wembley came around. There only is Bryan who needs this squaring away in my head…I can’t go back or change history. It’s an odd feeling when you realize the only thing stopping you from being a wrestler is you. All I can do is try to show if I had continued, perhaps I would have the same success as other people. That’s not what it’s all about. It’s not about just the success you have but the journey you take and what you become because of it. I have so many positive things that happened after stepping out of the ring.
There was the documentary, me becoming a color commentator, and getting to announce the largest paid pro wrestling attendance of all time at Wembley Stadium. A place where at 16 years old I dreamt of being a professional wrestler. I’m not looking for any kind of resolution other than when people call Bryan the best wrestler in the world and lord him and all those awards he has as the best technical wrestler. I think he paid for those, I’m not sure. I want to show I was as good as him and if I can beat him at Arthur Ashe, I can prove that. It’s not about the AEW title. It is prestigious but I’m not coming back to win the title, but coming back to show I was as good as Bryan Danielson. That if fortune had given me the right hand, I would have had the same success.”