10 Best Wrestling Rivalries That Kept It All In The Ring

9. Bryan Danielson Vs. Nigel McGuinness

Flair Steamboat
Ring of Honor

From his dabblings with The Nexus to The ‘Yes!’ Movement’s surge in popularity, Daniel Bryan has been at the heart of some of the modern era’s most memorable storylines. He remains one of WWE’s more enjoyable on-air personalities even in retirement, but as far as his in-ring work goes, no chapter of his career produced more outstanding matches than his rivalry with Nigel McGuinness.

The duo first wrestled as members of opposing teams in Ring Of Honor’s 2005 Trios Tournament, and their earliest singles match came in April 2006. Both Nigel’s ROH Pure Title and Bryan’s World Championship were on the line, but it finished in a count-out. They met in another technical chess battle three months later, with Danielson emerging victorious, and in August, they produced one of the best matches in ROH history.

A title unification match, it saw Bryan (who had a giant chip on his shoulder after besting Nigel in the previous contest) outdo McGuinness in his native Liverpool. Starting with intense mat work, it gradually escalated throughout, with both men to great lengths to put the other. Bryan put Nigel away, but they’d wrestle a further seven singles matches throughout their careers, with McGuinness triumphing in their last big title fight (2008).

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.