Nigel McGuinness recently spoke with WWE.com about being part of the broadcast team for the upcoming WWE UK Championship tournament. Here are the highlights.
How does it feel to be a part of WWE?
“Everybody keeps asking me that – “How does it feel?” It’s surreal. I remember when I stood out there for the press conference, it felt like [I] was somebody else. I could hear the words coming out of my mouth, but it didn’t feel like it was me. This has been such a whirlwind, from getting the call from Michael Cole, to being here now. It still feels a little otherworldly. This was always my childhood dream, to work for WWE. I’m happy to be here and really excited for the future.”
Did you ever think this was going to happen?
“I’ll be honest – in the last three to four years, no. When I was actually competing, there wasn’t any doubt that I was going to get here eventually. I knew that I would have to pay my dues, struggle, learn the art form and eventually get here. I think that was what really made it so difficult for me, when I didn’t get here, to accept that. It’s funny, isn’t it? F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “There are no second acts in American lives.” It feels like this is.”
What should the WWE Universe expect from the United Kingdom Championship Tournament?
“I think they’re going to see a lot of passion. The thing about the U.K. is that it has always been a wonderful breeding ground for WWE fans. They’ve always been passionate about the product and supported it. I did when I was 14, spending my pocket money on posters, figures and Lord knows what else, which explains my difficulty getting a girlfriend at that age. I also think people will be impressed with the talent and skill level of the competitors. A lot of these guys are 5, 10 years in the job already and have been all over the world. They’re ready to go, I guarantee it. Whoever comes out on top is going to have a very big name in this company going forward.”
