AEW: Nigel McGuinness on Upcoming Match Against Bryan Danielson, Sammy Guevara on Wanting to be “The Best Version” of Himself for AEW Return, More News

Nigel McGuinness Comments on His Upcoming Match Against Bryan Danielson at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 2024

A recent episode of the Battleground Podcast featured Nigel McGuinness as the guest. One of the topics discussed included McGuinness’ thoughts about the reaction from the crowd for him at tonight’s AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 2024 show likely being different than the one he received at Wembley Stadium for his surprise in-ring return at AEW All In 2024.

“I know it’s not going to be the same reaction, and I’m gonna be plenty of people in New York that don’t like me. I’ve always said when people ask me about getting in the job, what do you need? You just need people to care about you, and it was always the case with me. People either loved me or hated me, but as long as they had an opinion, that was all that mattered. I think there’s going to be a lot of that, hopefully. I mean, a lot of those people who followed our careers since Ring of Honor are going to come out and really want to see who can prove that today they are the better wrestler. That’s all I’m trying to do. I’m just trying to show that all the success that he’s had, should have, could have, and would have been mine in a different universe.”

McGuinness also gave his thoughts about the AEW World Championship not being on the line for his match against Bryan Danielson.

“I can promise you this is going to be a monumental match, a monumental night. For me, it’s destiny that’s come about now after sixteen years to your earlier point. Never would have dreamt this would happen. If Bryan’s got the balls to show up, then I guarantee you it’s going to be a match for the ages. You don’t often get an opportunity like this in sports because of the nature of sports, but, to me, this would be, perhaps, like a Michael Jordan against a Kobe Bryant. The ability to see where they are now, and that’s what you’re going to get.

Bryan’s back is against the wall. That’s often the times where he’s at his best. But I promise you, I’m going to do absolutely everything to just prove my point, the title is not on the line. So you know, whether win, lose or draw, he’s leaving Arthur Ashe with the belt, and he’s heading to WrestleDream to defend it, but I can beat him, and I can prove that I was every bit the wrestler that he is, that he was, and that’s going to be in the back of his mind for the rest of his life, and he deserves it.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Sammy Guevara Comments on Wanting to be “The Best Version” of Himself for His AEW Return

Sammy Guevara recently released a new vlog on his YouTube channel. One of the topics discussed included Guevara’s thoughts about his recent return to AEW and him being tired of standing in his own way and wanting to be the “best version” of himself for his return to the company.

“What a trip. This was literally my first time being back on the road in literally five months. Had some matches, I felt good out there. The Texas crowd always showing me love, so thank you, Arlington. It was a cool set-up, too. It was a different vibe than the normal entrance set-up that they have. I’m digging it. I made my return, and it was in Ring of Honor, which I think no one expected that, and I see some people complaining online, like, ‘What’s he doing in Ring of Honor?’ It’s like guys, I’m just happy to be back in the ring. It’s been a long time time I was in a ring. It’s been a long time since I’ve been wrestling out there. So I’m just happy. I’m happy with it. Me coming back right now, I’ve had so much time off to really just think to myself, what [do] I want? What does Sammy Guevara want out of wrestling? Truthfully, I just want to be the best version of myself. That might sound corny or generic, but I’m just tired of standing in my own way. I can go and say it’s because of this or because of that I’m not where I am, but ultimately, you have the choice to go and be the person that you want to be, and that’s what I want to do. When I come back right now, I just want this to be the best version of Sammy Guevara, and I don’t want to stand in my own way, and I want to just keep giving my best. Whatever comes my way, whether it’s Ring of Honor, whether it’s Collision, Dynamite, whatever it is, you put me in that wrestling ring, and I’m just gonna give it my all, man, and I hope that I can make myself proud, that in a couple months, I can watch back and say, ‘Hey, you’re doing alright.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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AEW News & Notes

AEW recently released a Road to Grand Slam video hyping up tonight’s AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 2024 show.

As noted before, Kenny Omega has been out of action for AEW since this past January due to diverticulitis and underwent surgery this past May for it. Besides Omega, Kota Ibushi has also been out of action for AEW since this past January due to injuries to both of his ankles. Ibushi recently provided an update on Instagram posting photos of him and Omega recently training in the ring for their upcoming returns from injuries.

Orange Crush Magazine recently announced on Twitter that they will be participating in this year’s NADA Miami fair on December 3-7 in Miami, Florida and will be debuting Lee Moriarty’s first ever painting exhibition.

AEW recently announced that they will be holding three new AEW Dynamite and Collision shows this November and December. It was announced that they will be holding a new Dynamite show on November 13th at the Total Mortgage Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, a new Dynamite show on December 4th at the Fischer Center in Indianapolis, Indiana, and a new Collision show on December 12th at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. It was also announced that tickets for all three upcoming shows are currently on sale.

PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that WWE had initially filed a copyright strike against AEW over their Nigel McGuinness compilation set on YouTube over issues involving Ring of Honor footage WWE had believed they had owned the rights to. Johnson reported that this copyright strike was later taken down and the confusion appears to have been due to content that WWE had licensed from ROH when it was owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group but Tony Khan currently owns all of the assets of ROH outright.

Anthony Bowens recently announced on Twitter that he will be representing AEW and competing in a celebrity Home Run Derby event on October 5th in Sugar Land, Texas.

Dustin Rhodes recently reflected on Twitter about the past five years of his career in AEW and loving his time in the company. Rhodes stated “I love @AEW!! For 5 yrs I have been on this “One Last Ride”, and I have loved it. This place is good for my soul!“

As noted before, Ricky Starks has been out of action for AEW since this past March due to a head-injury scare incident and AEW officials no longer having plans for Starks and Big Bill to continue as a tag team nor any current creative plans for his return. Starks recently provided an update on Twitter stating “Hard work and nothing less. Ready to wrestle because that’s what I was meant to do That and be #Absolute“

In a recent episode of The Extreme Life with Matt Hardy podcast, former AEW talent and co-host Matt Hardy gave his thoughts about Jeff Jarrett’s success in AEW. Hardy stated “Jeff Jarrett is great. Once again, huge kudos to Jeff Jarrett, huge fan of his work and what he is doing right now. He’s incredible. He’s one of those guys that I feel like has so much name value. Generations of fans know Jeff Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett needs to be featured in a very positive and productive way on AEW TV. I think it does nothing but help the AEW product. If you put Jeff Jarrett in the position and the right situation to succeed, it’s gonna be a win through and through.” Hardy also gave his thoughts about how there is equity in veterans who can still get in the ring and compete on a high level. Hardy stated “There is equity in Double J, there is equity in these veterans who can still get in the ring and who can still compete, especially on a semi to high level. If you utilize these guys in right position, you put them in the position to succeed, they’re beneficial. People know who they are, they have star power. There’s generations of fans that know who they are. If you can put them in the right dosage and the right scenario and have them seem successful and have them seen improvement and relevant, they are super beneficial for anybody’s product.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)