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Nigel McGuinness (born in London) is an English professional wrestler, currently working for Ring of Honor in the United States of America, where he is the current ROH Pure Champion.

Career

Early career

Nigel McGuinness was a wrestling fan from the age of twelve, particularly enjoying The Hart Foundation and The British Bulldogs, and attended SummerSlam 1992 while wearing Ultimate Warrior face paint. After attending Les University, McGuinness relocated to America in the 1990s in order to attend Kent State University, and graduated in 1997 with a degree in chemistry.

In September 1998 McGuinness began training under Les Thatcher in the Heartland Wrestling Association (HWA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, incurring large debts in the process. After debuting in September 1999, defeating GQ Masters III in a match that was featured on ABC's 20/20, he spent a year wrestling in the mid west. McGuinness returned to England where he worked two full time jobs to earn enough money to be able to return to the U.S. to wrestle, and wrestled for All Star promotions between September and December 2001, where he learned from wrestlers such as Robbie Brookside.

Heartland Wrestling Association

McGuinness developed a heel character which he described as "a punk rock soccer hooligan...Billy Idol meets Johnny Saint."

On July 10, 2001, McGuinness defeated Dean Jablonski in a singles match with the HWA Tag Team Championships on the line (the co-holder of the titles, Chet Jablonski, was indisposed), claiming the titles for himself and his partner, The Human Time Bomb. McGuinness and The Bomb held the titles until August 7, when the Jablonski brothers regained the titles. McGuinness and The Bomb would become champions for a second time on July 23, 2002, defeating the Jablonski brothers once more. They lost the titles to Southern Breeze later that year.

In 2003 McGuinness introduced the HWA European Championship to HWA. He held the title until September 30, 2003, when he lost to Hoss. He regained the title on November 4 and promptly retired it.

McGuinness won the HWA Heavyweight Championship on September 6, 2003 in Batavia, Ohio, defeating Chad Collyer, He held the title until January 3, 2004, when he lost the title to Hoss. McGuinness defeated Hoss to begin a second heavyweight title reign on January 6, and held the title until March 17, 2004, when he lost to El Temor.

Ring of Honor

McGuinness debuted in Ring of Honor (ROH) on August 9, 2003, wrestling Chet Jablonski. He wrestled for ROH throughout 2004 but had limited success. In March 2005, McGuinness and Colt Cabana teamed together to challenge for the ROH Tag Team Championship, but lost to the incumbents, Dan Maff and B.J. Whitmer. Cabana and McGuinness then began fighting one another, with McGuinness defeated Cabana for a shot at the ROH Pure Championship. He challenged the champion, Samoa Joe, on June 12, 2005, but was defeated. He faced Joe once more on August 27, and defeated him to win the Pure Championship.

Ohio Valley Wrestling

McGuinness appeared on the September 3, 2005, episode of OVW TV, losing to Elijah Burke. He wrestled Danny Basham on the September 11, 2005, episode of WWE Sunday Night Heat, losing after Basham hit an inverted DDT.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

In October 2005, McGuinness signed a non-exclusive contract with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He debuted in TNA on November 13, 2005 at Genesis, losing to Shark Boy.

NOAH

McGuinness toured Japan with Pro Wrestling NOAH in November and December 2005. He wrestled nine matches in total, seven of which he won, and teamed with fellow gaijin Doug Williams, Too Cold Scorpio and Bison Smith.

Wrestling facts

Finishing and signature moves

• Tower of London (cutter; with opponent draped on ropes)
• Thames Barrier (Modified wrist lock)
• Guvnor's Crumpet / Divorce Court (Hammerlock armbar takedown)
• Artful Dodger (roll-up)
• Steamboat arm drag
• European uppercut
• Top rope handstand evasion

Managers

• Tina McGuinness

Quotes

• "I'm not in the HWA to play. McGuinness is in it to win it!"
• "I am the best PURE wrestler in the world today!"
• "I'm the best there is, I am the best there was, and I am.........well, you know the rest of it."
• "Name's Nigel Mcguiness, I'm in it to win it!"

Championships and accomplishments

• Heartland Wrestling Association

• 2-time HWA Heavyweight Champion
• 2-time HWA European Champion
• 2-time HWA Tag Team Champion (with the Human Time Bomb)

• New Breed Wrestling Association

• 1-time New Breed Heavyweight Champion

• Ring of Honor

• 1-time ROH Pure Champion

Championship Succession

Trivia

• McGuinness regularly carries an iron (decorated with the Union Jack) to ringside. When asked, the typical story given is that a group of men once broke into his home to attack him, but he was able to defend himself with the iron. In reality, he began carrying the iron after a girlfriend's mother asked him why some wrestlers carried weapons to ringside, and then enquired as to whether anyone had ever carried an iron before.
• On March 5, 2006, McGuinness became the longest reigning ROH Pure Champion in history, surpassing John Walters' previous record of 189 days.

References

• Nigel McGuinness at OWW.com
• Nigel McGuinness at IWCwrestling.com
• Nigel McGuinness at ROHReborn.com
• Interview at Twnpnews.com
• Interview at Warrior1Wrestling.com
• Interview with Harold Williams
• Interview with Steve Urina
• Interview with ArmpitWrestling.com
• Solie's title histories

External link

• The official website of Nigel McGuinness

• English professional wrestlers
• Londoners