Nigel McGuinness Reveals Why WWE Pulled Contract Offer in 2009

Nigel McGuinness was one of the most exciting superstars to make a name for themselves in Ring of Honor. He used to be part of WWE until his release back in 2022, but it appears WWE had initially pulled a contract offer for McGuinness back in 2009 as well.

Nigel McGuinness stopped wrestling at the end of 2011, and fans were disappointed, especially after he had such a stellar run in TNA. There were many rumors about why he quit, with some saying it was because of an injury.

In a recent interview with Chris Jericho on the Talk Is Jericho podcast, McGuinness explained that WWE had offered him a contract but took it back after their doctors found what they thought was an arm injury.

“No, it’s a little convoluted, but I’ll give you the condensed version. I got signed by WWE, they decided to rescind the contract because of an arm injury, even though my doctor said it was perfectly healed and I had wrestled with it for two years. But that was it, that was their doctor’s [decision].”

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McGuinness said his own doctor said the injury was healed, but WWE’s doctor said he needed surgery. After McGuinness passed his physical, WWE’s doctor asked if he had any other injuries. McGuinness mentioned a bicep tear he had a few years before, and the doctor wanted to see an MRI. Even though McGuinness and his doctor didn’t think surgery was necessary, WWE’s doctor insisted he needed it.

At that time, McGuinness had been wrestling for Ring of Honor, making $46,000 in his best year, and he didn’t have health insurance. Without money saved or insurance, he couldn’t afford the surgery, especially when he didn’t think it was needed. WWE didn’t guarantee him the contract even if he had the surgery, so they took back the offer.

“After I passed the physical, he said, ‘Just in passing, you’ve never had any other injuries, have you?’ Being honest, I said, ‘Well, I partially tore my bicep a couple of years ago but it’s perfectly healed.’ He said, ‘Just let me see the MRI.’ So I sent him the MRI, he took a look at it and said, ‘Oh no, you need surgery.’ What was I gonna do? At that point, I had only ever wrestled in Ring Of Honor. My best year in wrestling as an active competitor was for Ring Of Honor believe it or not and I made $46,000 with no health insurance. So, at the end of the year, I didn’t have any savings. So, was I going to pay out of pocket, because I didn’t have insurance, to have a bicep surgery that I didn’t think I really needed. My doctor, who was a renowned orthopedic surgeon in Tampa, he agreed as well. On the off chance that they might be interested, and we all know how that goes as well. They didn’t even say, ‘Get the surgery and we’ll be interested.’ They just said, ‘Nope, that’s not going.’”

As for McGuinness now, he fulfilled his dream by making his in-ring return at AEW All In and also getting to face Bryan Danielson during AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam in New York City last month. Sometimes things happen for a reason and Nigel McGuinness knows that all to well now.