Shawn Michaels On Coaching At The WWE Performance Center: I Never Have To Grow Up
Shawn Michaels is enjoying his life at the WWE Performance Center following retirement.
Michaels retired in 2010 following a loss to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26, wrapping up one of the greatest in-ring careers of all-time. In 2016, Michaels became a trainer and producer at the WWE Performance Center, helping coach the next generation of superstars.
Speaking to Tim Fiorvanti of ESPN, Michaels discussed his role at the Performance Center.
“For me to have a huge influence or impact on anybody is probably not a healthy thing,” Michaels joked. “It’s 30 years later and I still have no idea why this company still has me employed, or is letting me talk or instruct or coach younger talent, because it’s obvious that it’s not good for the wrestling business in any way shape or form. They’re all going to be incredibly bad influences — and hopefully, that’ll all be because of me.”
Getting the self-deprecation out of the way, Michaels continued, “I always wondered, after wrestling for 30 years, and in a sense never having to have a real job or really have to work a day in my life, what I would do after I was done doing that. Then I get to stumble into this job at the PC, and clearly I still do not have to grow up, which is phenomenal. You get to coach a bunch of other young men who you are encouraging not to ever have to grow up, and you can’t beat it.”
Michaels began wrestling in 1984 and is widely regarded as one of the best to ever do it. He was dubbed “Mr. WrestleMania” for his performances against Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Chris Jericho and Razor Ramon on “The Grandest Stage of them All.” Michaels knows that the current group of stars grew up watching, and likely admiring, him.
“Not all of them, but the majority of them, at least, grew up watching me,” said Michaels. “I can see myself the way I was with Flair, and Tully Blanchard, and Arn Anderson. In my era, you weren’t allowed to talk about it — you couldn’t sit there and look at those guys and tell them, ‘Holy cow man, I never thought in a million years I’d get to be in the ring with you or talk with you.’ You couldn’t do that. That cat’s out of the bag with all of these guys — they all did interviews before I got the job here, so we already knew about that.”
Despite returning to the ring at WWE Crown Jewel in November, Michaels knows that it’s time for the next generation to take the spotlight.
“I know, on one hand, us old guys are always getting asked to come back and do stuff,” said Michaels, “But I really am one of those guys that want [to let the young guys take the spotlight]. I’m thrilled with the direction of the WWE and NXT, and I want the business to move on into the future.”
Michaels teamed with Triple H to take on the Undertaker and Kane at Crown Jewel. Following the bout, Michaels could be seen telling Triple H, “We’re too old for this.” Triple H suffered a torn pectoral muscle in the bout. The injury could keep him out of WrestleMania 35.
