AEW Star Thinks They’re ‘More Valuable’ On Commentary Than In Backstage Role

Published: Jul 7, 2025 by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: Jul 7, 2025 by Dave Adamson

Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.

AEW

An AEW star has revealed that they feel they are “more valuable” on commentary than in a particular backstage role.

Following his retirement from in-ring competition in 2011, Nigel McGuinness would take on commentary roles in ROH before signing with WWE in 2016.

Departing the company in October 2022, McGuinness would head back to ROH under Tony Khan’s leadership, taking commentary duties there and in AEW.

During a recent appearance on the Heel Sh*t Podcast, McGuinness was asked about the possibility of adopting another role in AEW.

Asked about becoming a backstage producer, McGuinness would weigh up the possibility, referring to his experience in WWE, saying:

“I don’t think so. I appreciate that. It’s very kind of you to say that.

“I know that when I was in WWE, I oftentimes would go, ah, I really feel like I could say something about this match.

“I could have said beforehand that I think really would have helped them every now and then if some of the guys, like Grayson Waller every now and again, guys like that will come up and knew my history and asked me a couple of ideas and I’d be able to give them a little bit of input, et cetera, et cetera.

“But now I just… commentary takes up so much of my time in terms of the preparation on the show, et cetera, especially when I’m still getting in the ring every week as well.”

An in-ring return at AEW All In in August 2024 would see McGuinness in a handful of matches, with his most recent seeing the veteran team with Daniel Garcia in a losing effort to FTR at Double or Nothing in May.

McGuinness would go on to discuss his the possibility of returning to in-ring action, noting where he sees his value in AEW, stating:

“With the possibility of wrestling again, then I don’t think there’s the time for it. I think I’m probably more valuable as the commentator in that regard.

“Also an agent, producer, whatever you want to call it, it’s a very, very difficult job. Very difficult job. There’s a lot of, I don’t want to say egos involved, but there are egos involved, and there’s also, you’ve got two people, if it’s a singles match or four people, or however many people who are in this match all have their own idea of what they want to do with the match. Then you’ve got the agent above that. Then you’ve got Tony (Khan).

“Everybody’s got a different idea necessarily of what this way is to go. You’ve got to somehow navigate all of this. It’s not for me, I don’t think so.”

Following his match at ROH Final Battle in December 2024, it was reported that it wasn’t likely the last time Nigel McGuinness would be seen in the ring.

With three matches in 2024, McGuinness has, at the time of writing, only had the one match at AEW Double or Nothing so far in 2025.

Transcript from Fightful.