Is Bryan Danielson Wrestling Nigel McGuiness At AEW Grand Slam?

Will he or won't he? That is question on whether fans will see AEW Heavyweight Champion Bryan Danielson take on long time rival Nigel McGuiness at AEW Grand Slam on Sept. 25 from Arthur Ashe Stadium in Flushing, NY.
Wednesday, 9/25
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) September 12, 2024
New York, NY#AEWDynamite Grand Slam
TBS, 8pm ET/7pm CT
AEW World Champion @bryandanielson vs@McGuinnessNigel
2 weeks from tonight
Wednesday 9/25, only if doctors clear Bryan to fight before showtime,
then it will be
Danielson vs McGuinness in 2024 in New York! pic.twitter.com/yDt6RDjrFV
Danielson has been out of action since AEW All Out when he successfully defended the title against TNT titlist Jack Perry.
Standing in the ring alongside Danielson after helping him thwart a cash-in of an AEW title shot from Christian Cage, fellow Blackpool Combat Club member Claudio Castagnoli attacked him with a vicious uppercut. Danielson, befuddled at what just happened, stared at Castagnoli. Then, Jon Moxley came up from behind and choked Danielson endlessly with a plastic bag.
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On the 9/11 edition of AEW Dynamite, Danielson vs. McGuiness was formally announced with the caveat of "if Danielson is cleared to compete". McGuiness has been prodding Danielson to goad him into the ring for the event on the 25th. McGuiness began by narrating a highlight package of their story on this past Saturday's edition of AEW Collision.
Nigel McGuinness takes us back to 16 years ago when he had a historic rivalry with #AEW World Champion Bryan Danielson, and why he believes it's proof that HE is the one to end the career of the American Dragon!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 15, 2024
Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!@McGuinnessNigel | @bryandanielson pic.twitter.com/SCzlZbmdQk
The attacks by McGuiness continued this week as a "BRYAN FEARS NIGEL" shirt debuted on AEWShop.com.
BRYAN FEARS NIGEL. Get this @McGuinnessNigel shirt that just dropped at https://t.co/9hHlXpcSbp!https://t.co/8QqVphqzfQ#ShopAEW #AEW #AEWDynamite #AEWRampage #AEWCollision pic.twitter.com/BytHrnggq2
— ShopAEW.com (@ShopAEW) September 17, 2024
Then we got to this Wednesday's edition of AEW Dynamite and McGuiness continued his assault on "The American Dragon", including starting a rumor about Danielson having to relinquish the title if he doesn't wrestle McGuiness.
One week to Grand Slam - here's a thing #AllEliteWrestling #GrandSlam #americancoward pic.twitter.com/2PfV7MhZgv
— Nigel Mcguinness (@McGuinnessNigel) September 19, 2024
"The American Coward yet to give any indication of if he'll face me at Arthur Ashe Stadium," McGuiness said. "Well, I did hear a rumor Bryan that if you don't show up, you might be stripped of the title. If that's the case, let me ask you: Is not losing to me and me proving I should have had all your success really more important than the AEW world title?"
McGuiness returned to the ring for the first time in 13 years at August's AEW All In as a surprise entrant in the Casino Gaunlet Match. Now, he's possibily on the verge of facing his biggest career rival in the United States' largest media market.
WHAT?! NIGEL MCGUINNES IS IN THE CASINO GAUNTLET MATCH!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 25, 2024
Order #AEWAllInLondon on PPV right now!
🔗 https://t.co/JlBXZPLNGj@McGuinnessNigel pic.twitter.com/XhLkAJwgtm
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: Steven Muehlhausen is a veteran combat sports writer for various outlets including Sporting News and Yahoo Sports. He can be reached at stevemuehlhausen@yahoo.com and followed on Twitter @SMuehlhausenJr.
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