Skip to main content

A Little Taste of That Missing Excitement: Free Agency Growing Again in Professional Wrestling

nigelNigel McGuinness is now a member of the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling Roster. Set to debut on tomorrow tonight’s edition of iMPACT, McGuinness will now go under the name of Desmond Wolfe. McGuinness err…Wolfe is one of the best kept secrets on the wrestling circuit, dominating the reigns of Ring of Honor (ROH) wrestling, and impressing international hotbed crowds such as Japan, with a flair of charisma and arrogance.

Since the days of the Monday night wars, and the wrestling boom period of the late 90’s and the earlier part of this decade, wrestlers and free agency were a hot topic amongst wrestling fans. Who was going where? Who would resign? Surprise debuts, and sad farewells. The busts, the surprise signings, and all the evaluations that comes with free agency. It seems lately, things have opened up. Wrestlers have options once again (though not as equivalent as in the past), and fans are excited to see some different options. 

Wolfe along with other top free agent talent, Bryan Danielson (and my selection for wrestler of the year in 2007), agreed in principle to contracts with WWE, and were expected to debut soon. However, Wolfe, who unfortunately suffered several concussions in the past few years, did not pass his pre-screening physical with the WWE, thus leaving the door open for him to sign with TNA. The move definitely caught everyone by surprise, and has TNA fans, and McGuinness…err Wolfe fans very excited about the possibilities. However, most importantly, the defection and move has stirred up the free agency scene in professional wrestling, and brought back a level of excitement that wrestling fans have missed.

With Danielson moving to WWE, Booker T heading into free agency, the mysterious status of Mr. Kennedy, and Wolfe’s debut in TNA tomorrow tonight, a little part of that time came alive again. That element of surprise. That excitement. Something very difficult to recreate in our microwave society of available information. It might not be the same as the boom period, but it does shake things up a bit. And that is something professional wrestling in North America desperately needs.
Labels:

Recently Read

Would You Rather: Questions 121-130

This edition of "Would You Rather" is credited to the NBA Would You Rather NBA Account on Instagram ( See Here ). Adding to the fun, this edition (and possibly future ones) are all NBA basketball questions.  121. Who would you rather have on your favorite NBA team - Giannis Antetokounpo or James Harden?  Seeing how I'm a lifelong suffering Knicks fan, the thought of any of these guys in blue and orange is hard to believe. With that said, I'm taking the Greek Freak for this reason - I enjoy watching him play a bit more. Nothing against Harden who is amazing as well, but at times, the ball sticks and that isn't always fun. Plus, I feel like we haven't yet seen a finished Giannis. 122. Would you rather have Giannis Antetokounpo with no driving ability or James Harden with no Three-Point shooting ability?  This is definitely a weird and unique one, but I'll take Harden. Giannis without his strength doesn't offer much. However, if Harden's d...
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/13/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. 25th Anniversary of 9/11 It is sort of hard to imagine that it has been twenty-five years since that awful day. It's been fifteen years since I've shared my experience as a High Schooler in Brooklyn, NY , and everything that came with that day (and the many to follow afterwards).  The world changed, and to this day, it still feels hard to grasp what happened (and what transpired with the health of so many afterwards). The lives lost, and the damage done. My son learned about 9/11, and his questions around it ignite some of that struggle with thought around it.  Daddy, how did they get the planes?  Did the building just, like, fall over?  On this 25th anniversary, it is even more concerning to see how the day is also politicized and sometimes weaponized in culture wars. I remember Americ...
Read more

Sunday Sundown Rundown - 9/20/26

The Sunday Sundown Rundown (formerly in the format of "3 Up and 3 Down") is where I share thoughts on three topics that piqued my interest, along with my favorite photo from the week. Gas Prices Up and Up and Up.  It feels like these prices just continue to make life expensive and worrisome in so many ways. If it's not the price of our usual weekly trip, it's the sky-high cost of diesel that is affecting the cost of goods.  Yeah, I'm complaining. Aren't you as well? White House Press Ban Is it me, or is this as random as it comes from this administration?  Look, there are not a lot of things going well, especially as midterms approach. Maybe you might differ. I really value the insight and opinions of those enjoying the current landscape shaped by our political leaders.  But suddenly banning networks feels not only unconstitutional; it just feels like a misdirection.  Hey, look over here at this...not this, and this, and maybe that!  Also, it feels tiring. ...
Read more