Shawn Michaels Explains Why He’s Opted To Stay Retired From WWE

Shawn Michaels spent the last eight years of his wrestling career portraying a babyface instead of a heel, save one brief Hulk Hogan feud in 2005.

When talking to Sean Waltman on the X-Pac 12360 Podcast, Michaels admitted that his few years as a heel were more fun than working as a babyface. According to Michaels, the heel nature of characters is easier for he and his fellow performers to exploit creatively. 

I don't know anybody that doesn't like being a bad guy better than being a good guy. I don't want to say it's easier, certainly, at one time there was a lot of responsibility being a bad guy; Such as controlling the match, being the temple having the feel of the people, things in that nature. Creatively I think people feel more at ease of being a bad guy; because almost feel like whether it's true or not you feel like you can do anything.

Whether his affection lies with being a "bad guy" or "good guy" on screen, Michaels clarified his stance on why he's not wrestled in the eight years since his retirement — he's been down the road before. 

 I retired because I wanted to stay home with my wife & children. For me – when I retired I felt that I needed to be adamant about the fact that I wanted to be away, away and if I skip in and out people will get the impression you want to still be around it. The schedule whether you try and start once a month, two then four, six and before you know it you're back full time; so I knew I needed to stay away.

Michaels has faced WWE's attempts to goad him out of retirement, including a pitch just last year on behalf of AJ Styles to try to face him at WrestleMania 33.

You can hear the full interview on Waltman's Podcast at this link.