The Big Mosh, Blade, & DFL began the interview by discussing Nigel's recent injuries & his physical tribulations over the past several months, and asked the ROH Champ how he is feeling days before quite possibly his most important match ever against "The American Dragon" Bryan Danielson this upcoming weekend. Nigel responds that he is "110%, has had the chance to rehab over the past month or so, & is ready to go." He is doing well, is ready for his upcoming title defense, & is not letting the pressure of the big match Saturday night bother him very much. As Ring Of Honor's World Champion, to him, every match is very important now -- and must be taken very seriously.
The Mayhem Crew talked about seeing Nigel years perform in Cleveland, OH a few summers ago, and literally saw him “tear the house down" vs. Danielson in one of the night's main events. Many wrestling pundits/journalists/fans are very high on the McGuinness/Danielson rivalry, comparing it to some very high profile wrestling feuds in the annals of wrestling history. Nigel talked about his first match against "The American Dragon," and noted that the chemistry between the two was exceptionable, and has led to more competitions between the two rising talents. He has all the respect in the world for Danielson's work, and thinks the fans will be in for a treat, as Ring Of Honor returns to "The Big Apple" this weekend.
Without a doubt, Nigel is putting his focus first on his opponent for this Friday's bout with Brent Albright in Deer Park, NY. He is taking his match with Brent seriously, and never overlooks anyone on the Ring Of Honor roster, as it is chock-full of unrelenting talent.
Switching up topics, Mosh makes light of the WWE's Rey Mysterio & his torn bicep injury, and asked Nigel how he is faring under the punishing effects of a similar ailment while continuing to wrestle. Nigel states that it is difficult, but he must carry on defending his title with his current condition. Since his diagnosis/situation was not as severe as it potentially could have been, so he chose rest & natural rehabilitation over surgery, in respect to a doctor's prognosis.
DFL, Blade, & Mosh mentioned Ring Of Honor's recent struggle to penetrate the wrestling PPV market by asking Nigel whether or not the casual fan is being properly & expediently introduced to the ROH "television" product. Nigel responded that the company was very careful to not stretch itself too thin by attempting to move quickly, and accomplished its goal of making the Ring Of Honor product more apparent & marketable. While he does not personally know the specifics of the monetary side of things, the Pay-Per-View offering is but another step to hopefully bringing ROH to all household television sets.
The Big Mosh asked Nigel for his perspective on his comparison to the pseudo-controversial WWE personality, John Cena -- who is booed as often as he is cheered. McGuinness says that the comparison to the biggest revenue draw in today's wrestling business is definitely a compliment, and "the Ring Of Honor fans are highly passionate who bleed the colors of the company."
ROH's debut in Orlando, FL is just around the corner, and The Mayhem wanted to know Nigel's about his feelings going to/competing in Florida -- coinciding with World Wrestling Entertainment on the eve of WrestleMania XXIV. McGuinness talked about the pressure & high-profile nature of the shows, and added that his top spot in the company is not only carried by himself, but by the supporting card & roster as well.
The Ring Of Honor promotion was synonymous with recently re-signed TNA wrestling star Samoa Joe for a significant period of time, and Mosh reminisced about some excellent offerings between the ROH & TNA promotions. Blade, DFL, & Mosh asked Nigel his feelings about Joe, and the chance of the reemergence of talent exchange between the two. Nigel stated that Joe is a very hard worker and is certainly deserving of his new contract with TNA. Despite all of the criticism about Joe, Nigel certainly respects him & his contributions to the business. Nigel does admit that Joe's abilities in the ring have made him “step up his game," and also adds that he does not believe any heat currently exists between ROH & Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Winding down the interview The Big Mosh made reference to Nigel's spectacular tenure & successful future in Ring Of Honor, and asked Nigel who else in particular would he like to wrestle in the coming months. Mentioning Erick Stevens & Tyler Black, McGuinness says it's difficult to accurately target any one talent, as the current ROH roster is full of burgeoning talent, and that no one is to be taken lightly.
MNM then followed up by asking the champ what his short & long-term goals are. Nigel responded that the business is ever-changing, so it is difficult to assess the landscape in a predictable manner (makes reference to past WWE offerings and compares it to what is currently on offer today). Nigel then said that his short-term goal is to defend & elevate the ROH World Title, while his long-term aspiration is to make the Ring Of Honor compete on a national (and hopefully international) platform as well.
Lastly, Mosh asked Nigel for his closing thoughts in respect to the road ahead & his title reign. Nigel said that life at the top is more difficult than previously anticipated -- especially with injuries he has recently sustained. He mentioned how difficult is was for him to go out to a rabid audience in New York and having to inform them that he lacked the capacity to wrestle a high-profile match. All in all Nigel McGuinness summed it up by saying that he will continue to prosper & persevere, notwithstanding the many challenges & roadblocks that are lying in wait for him. The Monday Night Mayhem Crew thanks Nigel for his time and wish him luck in his future endeavors.