10 AEW Talents You Didn't Know Wrestled For WWE
10 Wrestlers for AEW you didn't know performed in WWE
1. Nigel McGuinness
In September of 2009, Nigel McGuinness agreed a deal in principle to sign with WWE. But a month later, the offer was rescinded when an old biceps injury that required surgery resulted in him failing a physical.
It was a bitter blow for the former Ring of Honor World Champion, whose main goal in the business was to make it to WWE.
Luckily for Nigel, he did at least get one opportunity to ply his trade in a McMahon-owned ring.
After doing some work for WWE developmental territory Ohio Valley Wrestling, McGuinness was given something of a tryout against Danny Basham on an episode of Heat that aired on September 11, 2005.
The reigning ROH Pure Champion at the time, Nigel was not given an entrance and lost what was essentially a glorified squash match.
He wasn’t signed afterwards and would, in fact, have to wait more than a decade before inking a WWE contract – and not as a wrestler, but as a commentator for NXT and NXT UK.
These days, McGuinness is calling the action for AEW and got some sort of closure on his in-ring career with his emotional return to the squared circle at All In 2024.
