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Nigel McGuinness
By Craig Young
- Who were you a fan of while growing up?
Ultimate Warrior, ted dibiase, bret hart, ric flair, roddy piper, hogan.
- What was like being in attendance at Summerslam 92? What are your favourite memories of being there apart from the obvious Bret vs Davey Boy match?
it was the height of my fandom i'd guess, the height of wrestling spectacle in my country. it was just the first time i really realised it was what i wanted to do with my life.
- Why did you relocate to America? Did you have wrestling as a profession in mind at that time?
Absolutely. I wanted to do it for a living and as far as I knew the US was the only place to do that/
- Why did you want to get into the profession? You wanted to be a pro wrestler because....?
i felt it was my destiny.
- What was it like on your first day of training in the HWA?
magical, just being in the ring doing what i'd dreamt of for years.
- During the rest of your training there, did you ever feel like giving up?
never. although all evidence made it seem like i was going to have to
- Your debut match against GQ Masters III was featured on ABC's 20/20 programme, why?
i guess the producers saw something in my story. or they liked my butt.
- You were the first HWA European Champion, how did that title come into existance?
it was a good gimmick to get my heel schtick over, i invented it using the new breed belt i had at the time.
- What was the best thing about working for HWA at this time? What was the worst?
the comraderie of guys all starting out at the same time. the freedom of taking the first steps of my dream. the financial strain and emotional stree trying to be succesful put on me.
- After a year you were advised by Steven (William) Regal to return to England. Why was this?
because i was a british wrestler but only wrestled an american style and if i was ever gonna be hired over here it would be as a british wrestler.
- How beneficial was your time in All Star Promotions in England? Who helped you there?
tremendously. brian dixon gave me the opportunity to wrestle 5 or 6 shows a week. Robbie Brookside, Joe Legend, James Mason, Doug Williams, Chic Cullen especially all leant a hand.
- How would you describe your wrestling style?
dull as fuck. but i'm trying to make it more exciting.
- You have described your gimmick as a punk rock soccer hooligan. Do you in reality favour punk rock and how much do you follow football in England?
not at all. i like classical music and prefer aussie rules.
- What is the significance of the iron you carry to the ring?
it has none, other than to get people asking that question.
- You have made quite a mark in ROH especially winning the coveted Pure Wrestling Title. How significant is that title win in your career thus far?
i'd say huge. it was a chance to make somehting with my spot and I have to take it to the next level.
- Who do you have the best in ring chemistry with in ROH?
dragon, joe, spanky all have great flexibilty being able to work with anyone. cabana and claudio also in the right format.
- Someone wants to look at the ROH product for the first time. Which shows do you recommend that person to watch?
The first New York city show was a good one. Or the Joe Kobashi one.
- Who are your best friends in the business?
Haven't had any best friends since I was eleven. Valued friendships with guys like cabana, the guys i started with in hwa.
- Who would you like to wrestle in TNA or WWE who you haven't faced before? Why?
Kurt Angle if I was ever ready, he's one of the best of this generation. William Regal, so much respect for him. AJ styles as he is so talented I would be forced to up my game.
- It has been rumoured recently that fellow Englishman Doug Williams has garnered the interest of the WWE. He is a tremendous worker but do you think he would get over with WWE fans?
In the right spot for sure. As you say, he has some great strengths that would put him high up on a list of guys there.
- WWE and TNA both call you offering you similar money contracts tomorrow - where do you go? Why?
Tough call, many variables outside of money. If they had specific plans for you, if they wanted to put you in developmental, if you were allowed to work elsewhere. Once I had all that info I'd ask a few choice people whose opinion I really value.
- Looking at the British wrestling scene, there is a lot of great talent slogging away but getting minimal recognition from the general public. Now it seems that The Wrestling Channel has dropped FWA programming, the only general outlet for the British product to the public. Why is it such a battle to showcase some of the best workers in the world? Are the UK fans apathetic towards their own home grown talent in favour of the theatrics of WWE/TNA, or are TV companies just not willing to take the risk with a product which has been stigmatised over the years as 'boring'?
I think there is definitely a notion of American guys being bigger superstars than British guys, but that is obviously larger a perception based on coverage. From what I've been told the current TV market in the UK just isn't interested in a British product. The ebbs and flows of the business are often swung by very few people. I don't think the last celebrity "wrestling" helped things at all, even though anyone in the business knows it had nothing to do with wrestling.
- Who, currently wrestling on British soil, do you see as making an impact in America if they chose to go?
It never a question of if they choose to go. It's always if someone chooses them to go. Again, someone "up there" has to like you before you can really go anywhere. Doug as you mentioned has the ability to succeed, so does a guy like Joe Legend. Jody and Johhny have shown they can both perform on an international level. But as I said, how you perform is often only part of the puzzle.
- What are the differences in wrestling in front of a British crowd and an American one?
No such thing as an American crowd or a British one. The All Star crowd is as different to the FWA crowd as the ROH crowd is to the Georgia championship one. The crowd's at All Star are much easier to entertain, and want more theatre and action I'd guess. There's not a whole lot different between an FWA and ROH crowd from all I've heard.
- What are your long term goals in the business?
Make some money and create a legacy.
- What has been your worst injury to date?
torn mcl / separated shoulder / herniated disks.
- What advice would you give to anyone wanting to break into the business?
Don't. Unless you really want to and are aware of the sacrifices. The pain, and the financial strain is only part of it. You miss out on a lot pursuing it.
- Feel free to add anything else you wish
Just keep supporting and respecting wrestling. Remember that the people in the ring are risking and sacrificing a lot to be where they are. If it was that easy and the rewards were that great there'd be a lot more people doing it.
Thanks for your time Nigel.
Be sure to check out Nigels website at www.nigelmcguinness.com
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