AEW has confirmed a match that fans thought they’d never see again. Bryan Danielson is set to face off against Nigel McGuinness at AEW Dynamite Grand Slam on Wednesday, September 25th, at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens, New York.
The announcement came during Wednesday’s Dynamite episode, where Nigel McGuinness, typically seen behind the commentary desk, stepped into the ring to deliver a fiery promo. He accused Bryan Danielson of ducking him and praised AEW President Tony Khan for making the match happen, contingent on Danielson’s health status.
This matchup carries significant weight in wrestling history. Danielson and McGuinness were cornerstone figures in Ring of Honor during the 2000s, engaging in a rivalry that produced ten memorable singles matches between 2006 and 2009. Their last one-on-one encounter took place at ROH Glory by Honor on September 26th, 2009 – making the Grand Slam bout, if it materialises, a reunion nearly 15 years in the making.
For McGuinness, this match represents a continuation of his unexpected return to in-ring action. Having come out of an 11-year retirement at last month’s All Out, he’s now poised to face one of his greatest rivals on one of AEW’s biggest stages.
However, questions linger about Danielson’s ability to compete. Earlier in the Dynamite broadcast, Jon Moxley claimed Danielson was too injured to defend his title against Darby Allin at Grand Slam, leading to a match between Moxley and Allin with Allin’s title shot on the line.
On the following episode of Collision, Nigel McGuinness explained how he was able to persuade Tony Khan to give him a shot at Bryan Danielson.
What Happened To Bryan Danielson’s Retirement Plans At AEW All Out?
Bryan Danielson’s retirement from wrestling was delayed at AEW All Out after he successfully defended his AEW World Championship against Jack Perry. However, following the match Danielson was attacked by his fellow Blackpool Combat Club team members, setting the stage for an ongoing rivalry between Danielson and the BCC.