30 Day Wrestling Challenge - Day 14 Most Missed Wrestler

There are so many wrestlers no longer able to be in the squared circle, but Matt Brummitt argues there is one he misses more than any other...

BRUM - NIGEL MCGUINNESS

I miss Nigel in the ring so so much.

It's much worse than people like CM Punk and Misawa because McGuinness's career felt a lot more incomplete. Nigel's five year run at his peak, bookended by him vs Joe at ROH It All Begins 2005 and vs Angle at TNA Final Resolution 2009 is stellar.

The zenith of this period, for me, was his ROH World/Pure title unification match in Liverpool in 2006 against Bryan Danielson. This is my favourite match of all time and a thing of wrestling beauty (apart from that ringpost spot, I guess).

My emotions towards McGuinness are that of an ex lover. The good times were oh so good, but the breakup was really fucking hard. If you want a sad evening, you can relive that breakup in The Last of McGuinness, a fantastic but somber watch. I believe Nigel has now uploaded it for free on Vimeo.

This story isn't quite Requiem For A Dream though. It does have an uplifting coda of sorts. Nigel has managed to stay in wrestling and become arguably the best commentator in the world.

It's not the same as him clotheslining people's heads off, or bending their arm where no arm should bend, but hearing his voice every week still conjures up a spiky blonde haired bastard sticking two fingers up at the world.

I still miss you, darling. Please come home.

30 DAY CHALLENGE

DAY 1 - FAVOURITE MALE WRESTLER

DAY 2 - FAVOURITE FEMALE WRESTLER

DAY 3 - FAVOURITE MOMENT YOU'VE SEEN LIVE

DAY 4 - FAVOURITE TAG TEAM

DAY 5 - YOUR FIRST WRESTLING MEMORY

DAY 6 - FAVOURITE FACTION

DAY 7 - FAVOURITE PROMOTION

DAY 8 - FAVOURITE MANAGER

DAY 9 - FAVOURITE COMMENTARY TEAM

DAY 10 - FAVOURITE ENTRANCE THEME