Shawn Michaels last competed in the ring in 2018, but the Head of NXT has a couple of matches left in him, according to TNA Wrestling’s JDC. Speaking at Monopoly Events’ For the Love of Wrestling convention in the UK, JDC (formerly Fandango) shared that Michaels told him he has “one or two matches left” in him.” Though JDC doubts he’ll ever get the chance to face the two-time WWE Hall of Famer, he would love the opportunity.
“He’s the reason why I got into the business. So honestly, it’d probably never happen, but that would be my dream match.”
Michaels’ in-ring career took an extended break in 1998 due to a severe back injury and issues with substance abuses. After healing up and finding his faith, Michaels returned to action in 2002 and would remain an active talent until 2010.
Michaels’ final match came in 2018 when he and Triple H defeated the Brothers of Destruction at that year’s Crown Jewel. Many at the time were disappointed with the bout, not only for the four men under-delivering in the ring, but for Michaels ‘spoiling’ what had been a perfect career sendoff against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26.
The Showstopper was part of the recent WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he showed he can still rile up a crowd and hit Sweet Chin Music (a lesson Kevin Owens’ learned firsthand.) Whether Michaels ever competes again or not, the possibility is out there, according to JDC.
Pro wrestling is full of iconic gimmick matches from annual ones like the Royal Rumble to ones that materialize when the circumstances demand it like Ladder Matches, Strap Matches, Street Fights, and so on. For many old school gimmick matches, it’s nearly impossible to credibly trace their origins, but for newer ones or ones that had a particularly legendary first iteration, it’s easier to know how things got started. Moreover, there are those times when it was the quality of the first go-round that facilitated the match becoming a fixture in pro wrestling lore. Only a handful of original gimmick matches remain, to this day the greatest version of all time.
Elimination Chamber, Survivor Series 2002
In 2002, WWE introduced the Elimination Chamber. The impressive structure merged elements of Hell in a Cell for its impressive structure, War Games for its staggered entries, and an old school Survivor Series sensibility for eliminations en route to a true finish.
The first go-round happened in no less mythic setting than Madison Square Garden with a star-studded field of Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Booker T, Kane, and Rob Van Dam. It’s telling that all of them but RVD had already been a world champion, whereas Van Dam himself was arguably at the peak of his abilities, if still a few years from winning his first world title.
The action was predictably excellent, culminating in an ultra-satisfying conclusion as Shawn Michaels beat the odds, winning his first and only world title of the final act of his career, after returning from his back injury. While most Chamber matches have been at least good, none has eclipsed this original classic.
War Games 1987
WWE rejuvenated the War Games concept, with Triple H first bringing it to NXT, and since making it a Survivor Series staple three years running on the main roster. Each WWE edition has been at least good, if not great, in ways that erase how many lackluster variations on the match WCW staged in its later years.
The original War Games occurred in 1987, an organic development that came out of The Four Horsemen terrorizing babyfaces, before the top babyfaces of the day banded together to go to war against them. During the Great American Bash 1987 tour, the face squad of Dusty Rhodes, Nikita Koloff, The Road Warriors and Paul Ellering went on to defeat Ric Flair, Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Lex Luger, and JJ Dillon inside the double cage. The inclusion of managers feels a bit lackluster in hindsight, but offered a clear way of protecting the regular wrestlers from taking the submission loss.
WWE has staged some excellent editions of this match, and there’s a case in favor of WCW’s 1992 edition featuring The Dangerous Alliance as the best ever. The original 1987 one quite arguably ekes out the GOAT title though for novelty, brutality, and the satisfaction of seeing the good guys finally get one over on the villainous Horsemen and seeing Dillon get some comeuppance was, in and of itself, a pleasure for fans.
Hell In A Cell: Shawn Michaels Vs. The Undertaker
Hell in a Cell has, in many ways, become the definitive blow-off gimmick match for WWE. The enormous steel cage structure is undeniably impressive and moments like Mick Foley taking not one, but two bumps from the top of the Cell in a single match cemented the gimmick’s place in WWE iconography.
While The Undertaker vs. Mankind is the most famous Hell in a Cell Match, and there have been quite a few excellent bouts inside the Cell over its twenty-five-plus year history to follow, the original match still takes the cake as its very best version. The storyline around the Cell’s construction was that it would be a structure to keep DX from helping Shawn Michaels as he tried to survive The Undertaker’s bid for revenge against him and earn a world title shot.
The match was every bit the classic one would expect from these two all-time great wrestlers who had all-time great chemistry between them. Even the finish was unique and satisfying as it saw the much-anticipated debut of Kane who arrived on the scene and cost his brother the match in truly epic fashion.
Blind Fold Match: Jake Roberts Vs. Rick Martel
The Blind Fold Match is one of pro wrestling’s more inherently silly gimmick matches, as the idea of two performers wearing hoods over their heads to wrestle is borderline comical and doesn’t exactly invite exciting bell-to-bell action.
When Jake Roberts faced off with Rick Martel at WrestleMania 7, however, a truly unique spectacle was at hand. The blind fold gimmick fit their feud perfectly, as The Model had previously blinded Roberts with his Arrogance cologne. From there, The Snake demonstrated his absolute mastery of pro wrestling psychology as he had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand, pointing around the ring to let their cheers help him find his rival. For his part, Martel more than played his part, trying the pointing gimmick too, while also playing the cowardly heel.
The match itself had a low ceiling, but the men involved made it incredibly entertaining at its time. Blind Fold Matches to follow thoroughly exposed the gimmick, though, including Triple H vs. D-Lo Brown, Drew McIntyre vs. Santino Marella, and James Storm facing Chris Harris in TNA. Each of these matches was poor, highlighting that the gimmick really demanded the right story and right performers, not to mention that it was probably best left in the WWE Golden Era that was a little hokier on the whole.
Empty Arena Match: Terry Funk Vs. Jerry Lawler
Pro wrestling feeds off live audiences with fan participation often adding a palpable sense of excitement and way for wrestlers to read what is and isn’t working in the ring. So it is that Empty Arena Matches are a bit counterintuitive, but can work in the right circumstances.
When Jerry Lawler blew off his Memphis feud with Terry Funk, the storyline at hand was Funk blaming all the biased fans and personnel in the arena for his previous failures against The King. What followed was a wildly entertaining novelty match with these two legends engaging in a brutal battle that was impossible for fans to look away from (through their TVs, of course—not in the arena).
WWE did a reasonable follow up with a Mankind vs. The Rock Empty Arena Match nearly two decades later. From there, WWE and other promotions that persevered through the pandemic were forced into other Empty Arena Matches—even an empty arena WrestleMania—during the pandemic. The unfortunate circumstances were no one’s fault, but highlighted that it took the right wrestlers and angle to get them into the vacated arena for this gimmick to really succeed.
WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event once again had a nostalgic flair, with several legends of the ring appearing at the event. During the show, Ted DiBiase, Dory Funk Jr. and ‘Hacksaw’ Jim Duggan were spotlighted in the crowd.
Jesse ‘The Body’ Ventura was part of the show after making his return to WWE with last month’s Saturday Night’s Main Event special. The WWE Hall of Famer and former Minnesota governor was excited to see Bron Breakker and Sheamus go to war for the Intercontinental Championship.
Alundra Blayze was also in the crowd, with the WWF Women’s Championship. Blayze infamously dropped the title in the trash after she moved to WCW in 1995.
The Brainbusters Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard were shown following Jacob Fatu’s assault of Braun Strowman. The pair had previously been a part of AEW.
Mark Henry, another AEW alum, was also in the crowd at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Henry’s son Jacob recently signed with WWE, leaving fans excited to see what’s to come for the young powerhouse.
The appearance of these legends, alongside the in-ring action of the modern-day roster, provided an exciting night for the WWE Universe. With four Saturday Night’s Main Events planned per years, fans can expect many more nostalgic moments featuring legends of the past on WWE programming in the future.
Kevin Owens got taken out by Shawn Michaels at the January 2025 Saturday Night’s Main Event from San Antonio, Texas.
The Heartbreak Kid moderated the contract signing segment between KO and Cody Rhodes for their upcoming Undisputed WWE Championship ladder match at Royal Rumble. Michaels claimed that his one job was to get both the contenders to sign the contract before introducing both the champion and the challenger.
Owens came out wearing a ‘Cody sucks eggs’ shirt, a play at old Dusty Rhodes insult from Dory Funk Jr. who used to call the American Dream an ‘egg-sucking dog.’ Shawn told both the stars to sit down but they refused. The WWE Hall of Famer then talked about their rivalry before prompting them to sign the contract which Cody did.
Kevin however, opted to cut a promo taking objection to Rhodes saying that he takes ‘the easy way out.’ The former Universal Champion reminded Rhodes of their Bash In Berlin match and told Cody that he ‘quit’ WWE when things got tough. KO said that he’s taking everything from his former friend, to which Michaels responded saying that Owens sounds jealous.
The former NXT Champion then went off on HBK too, telling him that he won’t be a champion that ‘loses his smile.’ Kevin Owens finally signed the contract. A referee came out to take both the original WWE title and the Winged Eagle belt and hung them to a hook above the ring.
Shawn Michaels then tried to shake both their hands but Owens got a cheap shot in on Cody as the WWE Legend was interacting with him. HBK then shoved Owens and Kevin in response kicked Michaels. He set up the veteran for a package piledriver but Rhodes kicked him in the face. Shawn then removed his jacket and delivered a Sweet Chin Music to Kevin to end the segment.
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels will have a hero’s welcome when he appears at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event this month in his native San Antonio, Texas. On this week’s SmackDown, it was announced that Michaels will oversee a contract signing between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens at the January 25, event. Owens and Rhodes will hand-over their respective WWE Championships which will be on the line at the Royal Rumblein a ladder match.
Rhodes and Owens have been at odds since WWE Bad Blood, where Owens attacked Cody following the show. Owens has claimed that Rhodes turned on him by agreeing to team with Roman Reigns. The issues between the pair grew uglier after Saturday Night’s Main Event, where Owens delivered a package piledriver to Rhodes after the show.
Michaels won’t be afraid to lay down the law in his hometown at Saturday Night’s Main Event. The WWE Hall of Famer already serves as the head of WWE NXT and hasn’t been afraid to put his hands on talent if they cross the line. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from the Heart Break Kid ahead of his exciting appearance at the January 25 special event.
WWE and TNA Wrestling have announced a groundbreaking multi-year partnership designed to create unparalleled crossover opportunities for talent of both promotions.
This collaboration will provide talent with exposure on major WWE and TNA platforms, including weekly shows such as NXT and TNA iMPACT!, as well as select WWE Premium Live Events and TNA pay-per-views.
In a statement, Ariel Shnerer, Senior Vice President of Content & Distribution for TNA Wrestling and Anthem Sports & Entertainment, shared their excitement.
“This historic relationship demonstrates that collaboration and competition do not have to be mutually exclusive… The response to our collaboration over the past year has been tremendous, and both companies have benefited—but the fans have reaped the greatest rewards.”
Shawn Michaels, WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, was similarly excited for what’s to come.
“We look forward to growing and evolving our partnership with TNA Wrestling and its outstanding group of athletes by creating new opportunities to further the development of our talent and to elevate the viewer experience at home.”
This deal comes after 2024 saw several examples of collaboration between WWE and TNA Wrestling. Jordynne Grace and Joe Hendry appeared regularly on NXT, with highlights including Hendry’s NXT Championship match at No Mercy and Grace’s NXT Women’s Championship bout at Battleground. NXT Superstars also made notable appearances in TNA, such as Wes Lee’s reunion with The Rascalz and contributions from Charlie Dempsey, Riley Osbourne, Gallus, and others.
Massive news for everyone. @WWE, @ThisIsTNA, and, most importantly, fans around the world. This valuable partnership will help prepare both companies for the next generation of this industry. https://t.co/xUSAlAnGW3
This collaboration was felt this week, with TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich appearing on WWE NXT and teased doing more with the brand after the show. Stay tuned for the latest on WWE and TNA Wrestling and plenty more collaboration between the two parties.
The January 15 edition of WWE NXT may not mark the last appearance of TNA Knockouts World Champion Masha Slamovich on the brand. During the episode, Slamovich, who captured the title by defeating Jordynne Grace at October’s Bound For Glory, was seen in the crowd ahead of Cora Jade’s match against Kelani Jordan.
After the show, WWE’s cameras caught Slamovich in conversation with NXT head Shawn Michaels. Slamovich expressed her gratitude for the invitation and hinted that a return to NXT could involve stepping into the ring.
“I said that I was going to bring this title around the world and find the best people to defend it, and so far, I like what I see.”
Shawn Michaels shakes hands with TNA Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich backstage at WWE NXT.
Shawn Michaels: "See anything you liked out there?" Masha Slamovich: "I said that I was going to bring this title around the world and find the best people to defend it, and so far, I… pic.twitter.com/pW48uX5LEv
Michaels responded by saying that he’s only a phone call away, teasing that fans could see much more of Slamovich in WWE. On X, Slamovich continued to suggest that her appearance wasn’t a one-off with a heated interaction with Cora Jade.
— Masha Slamovich ??????????? (@mashaslamovich) January 15, 2025
Slamovich’s appearance is the latest example of the talent-exchange between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling. In 2024, several stars crossed the line, including Jordynne Grace. Grace not only competed for the NXT Women’s Title but also defended the TNA Knockouts World Championship on the September 10 edition of WWE NXT against Sol Ruca.
It remains to be seen if Slamovich will put the title on the line in a WWE NXT ring, but this partnership guarantees that it’s a possibility. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Slamovich who is proving to be a fighting champion in and out of TNA Wrestling.
The main event of this week’s NXT between Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe ended in chaos and things didn’t improve even after the show went off air.
Williams defended the NXT Championship against Thorpe during the December 17 show after the latter faked an attack and convinced General Manager Ava to give him a shot at the title.
The ending of the championship match then saw Thorpe failing to get the pin after hitting Manifest Destiny on Trick, as he also knocked out the referee in the process. Williams recovered by the time the new referee approached and the match continued.
After some more offense from Thorpe, the NXT Champion hit the Trick Shot and he went for a pin of his own. The problem occurred when the other referee also recovered and simultaneously made the count in favor of Thorpe as Williams’ shoulder was also down.
What Happened After NXT
WWE posted the video of NXT GM Ava coming out to sort the situation followed by Shawn Michaels after the show went off air. Aca declared that Trick Williams was the retaining champion on account of all four shoulders being on the mat during the pinfall.
Thorpe was not happy with this decision and he continued arguing with the NXT official. In his frustration, the NXT star shoved Michaels, causing more referees to come out to contain him.
Williams then took matters into his own hands. Shoving Thorpe back into the ring, he delivered another Trick Shot. The NXT champion then stood tall, as both Ava and Michaels retreated through the stage.
This is the second time Michaels has been involved in a physical confrontation with Thorpe in recent weeks. Seeing how the events unfolded tonight, it doesn’t appear that the storyline is over just yet.
Shawn Michaels showed that he is in charge after a chaotic segment on this week’s episode of NXT on the CW from the WWE Performance Center.
This week’s episode of the company’s development show featured a backstage segment with General Manager Ava. She addressed the individuals who have lost their Iron Survivor qualifying matches over the course of the last few weeks. She announced that all the competitors would get one more chance to make the PPV card in Last Chance matches for both women’s and men’s sides next week.
Eddy Thorpe who lost his qualifying match to one-half of the current NXT Tag Team Champions Nathan Frazer was not pleased with the announcement. A number of tag teams have come out to brawl with the current champions during his bout last week. The NXT star tried to argue that he only lost the match because of interference but Eva said that she had given him everything he wanted. As the General Manager tried to leave, Eddy grabbed her hand to keep the conversation going.
A fight broke out between Bronco Nima and Mark Coffey at the same time. Bronco shoved Coffey into the door which in turn knocked out Ava who was entering the medical area. Shawn Michaels and other officials quickly ran down to check on the authority figure. Michaels was not pleased when Thorpe tried to explain himself and the WWE Hall of Famer shoved the young star against a garage door.
NXT Deadline will be taking place from The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, December 7. A total of 4 matches have been confirmed for the show till now. Apart from the Men’s and Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge matches, the event will feature Trick Williams defending the NXT title against Ridge Holland. Axiom and Nathan Frazer will also be defending the tag titles but their opponents are yet to be determined.
WWE’s collaborative relationship with Pro Wrestling NOAH picked up some serious steam this week when Yoshiki Inamura visited the Performance Center in Orlando, Florida. On X, WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels hyped up the arrival of the 31-year-old wrestler to clips of his time at the PC. Michaels added that Inamura “is going to be a problem for anyone he steps in the ring with” to footage of him wrestling in the Performance Center.
I’m excited to welcome @noah_ghc Wrestler @noah_yoshiki to #WWENXT. This hard-hitting young man is going to be a problem for anyone he steps in the ring with.
WWE has seen a strong collaboration with NOAH in 2024, as part of the Sports Entertainment juggernaut’s willingness to work with others under its current administration. In May, Yasuaki Okamoto spoke of strengthening NOAH’s relationship with WWE after being appointed the new President of CyberFight Inc, the parent company of NOAH.
It didn’t take long for Okamoto’s plans to come to fruition, as AJ Styyles would compete at NOAH Destination in July. In August and September, NXT’s Josh Briggs and Tavion Heights were part of the NOAH N-1 Victory 2024 tournament, making this growing relationship between WWE and NOAH more significant. In January 2023, WWE’s Shinsuke Nakamura was granted the opportunity to face The Great Muta at a NOAH show as part of the latter’s retirement tour.
As for what Yoshiki Inamura’s future with NOAH and WWE NXT looks like, that remains to be seen. Nevertheless, fans are excited to see what the Japanese star will do and what other crossovers we could see from both sides of this budding partnership.
On the January 4, 2010, edition of WWE Raw, Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels reconciled in the ring, over a dozen years after the events of Survivor Series 1997. The pair had been at odds both before, and long after the events of that fateful November night in Montreal, and TJ Wilson played a role in the reconciliation, according to WWE veteran Natalya.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, Natalya shared that it was Wilson who helped bridge the gap between Michaels and Hart years after the Montreal Screwjob.
“TJ had said something to Bret like, ‘I had a really great talk with Shawn and he was awesome and he was so nice to me and he was so nice to Nattie and he was just such a cool guy. He was giving me advice and being really helpful.”
Shawn disclosed that he felt “so bad” about his past issues with Bret, Natalya added, and that it was Wilson who “opened up the conversation” between the two WWE legends.
“We can all thank TJ for being the person that opened up that door because TJ is somebody that Bret really respects, and (he) trusts his word.”
During the interview, Natalya spoke about Michaels in his current role as WWE SVP of Talent Development and head of NXT. The Showstopper has been praised by many for his work with the silver brand and the former Divas Champion is no exception.
“Shawn is so encouraging to everyone. He makes you feel so good after you get back, so happy and so good about yourself. I honestly just had the best experience at NXT. And I’m always excited about the opportunity of going back.”
As for Hart, he appeared on Monday Night Raw last month in his native Calgary, where he unsurprisingly got a hero’s welcome from the Canadian crowd. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Bret and Shawn as the two icons of the ring have been able to put their differences aside and move forward with their lives.
Shawn Michaels spent his in-ring career known as the ‘Sexy Boy’ and the WWE Hall of Famer has a handsome man in mind to portray him in a movie. On Instagram, the WWE NXT roster was asked who they’d want to play them in a movie about their lives. When Michaels, the Head of NXT, was asked, he didn’t know who’d portray him today but picked Brad Pitt as his younger doppelganger.
“Young me? Brad Pitt. Old me? Uh, I don’t even want to think about it, he’s probably not with us anymore.“
WWE NXT: The Movie
Michaels wasn’t the only name from WWE NXT to give his pick for the perfect movie casting. You can check out the dream casting for the WWE NXT roster below:
Ethan Page: Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes)
Karmen Petrovic: Gal Gadot (Wonder Woman, Death on the Nile)
Ashante Adonis: Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Black Panther)
Oba Femi: Winston Duke (Black Panther, Fall Guy)
Jakara Jackson: Meagan Good (Stomp the Yard)
NXT Heritage Cup Holder Charlie Dempsey: Steve Coogan (Stan & Ollie, Joker 2)
Lash Legend: Porsha Williams (The Real Housewives of Atlanta)
WWE NXT Champion Trick Williams: Himself
With the success of The Iron Claw and a Hart family movie reportedly in the works, the world of wrestling is proving to be popular on the big screen. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest from WWE NXT and its continued work on its new home on the USA Network.
CM Punk followed in the footsteps of Shawn Michaels at WWE Bad Blood in more ways than one as ‘The Second City Saint’ tipped the cap to HBK.
Just like Shawn Michaels did at the very first Bad Blood, CM Punk got the win against his adversary in Drew McIntyre in a Hell In A Cell match. The match was brutal and bloody as Punk and McIntyre fought tooth and nail to get the better of one another, but it was Punk who came up on top after he wrapped his knee with a chain to execute a devastating GTS to pick up the 1-2-3.
Punk’s victory comes 27 years to the day since Shawn Michaels defeated The Undertaker in the very first Hell In A Cell and that wasn’t lost on the victor. Punk came out in his usual style of attire but with a bit of a twist.
Michaels happened to wear black and silver longboys for his battle against ‘The Deadman’ and Punk followed suit with his signature Chicago starred trunks with the same color scheme. However, one of those stars was replaced with an HBK heart in a subtle tribute to the current operator of WWE NXT.
Since his return to WWE, Punk has formed a friendship with Michaels as he happens to pay visit down in NXT on the regular. His most recent visit happened in a big way as he was the special guest refereee for the main event match between Ethan Page and Trick Williams. Punk’s appearance occured in Chicago and it went down on the very first episode of NXT on The CW.
In 2024, the partnership of WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling has provided exciting moments and matches, in addition to demonstrating how different WWE is post-Vince McMahon. TNA was once again represented on this week’s launch of WWE NXT on The CW, and this partnership could be one fans could witness for years to come, according to Shawn Michaels.
Speaking with The Ringer, Michaels gushed about NXT’s work with TNA Wrestling, and hopes that what we’ve seen is just the beginning.
“I look at this and hope it is a long-standing relationship… we’re enjoying this partnership, and we’re enjoying different matchups than we thought we’d be able to see here in just a short amount of time.”
Michaels, who officially serves WWE as the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, added that “nothing is off the table in WWE” and that is certainly the case in NXT. He concluded by saying that when it comes to the TNA relationship, “we want to go lower as opposed to faster.”
Jordynne Grace, Hammerstone, Joe Hendry, and The Rascalz have all come to NXT from TNA, while Tatum Paxley, Wendy Choo, Sol Ruca, and the No Quarter Catch Crew have all ‘crossed the line’ into TNA Wrestling. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on the NXT-TNA Wrestling partnership, a collaboration that fans can seemingly expect for a very long time to come.
During the interview, he was also asked about the influence HBK was for him. Strickland said that Michaels was a huge influence on him and revealed that they keep in touch even now. The former NXT star then told a story about the time he felt stuck in NXT:
“He was the influence on when I really took off in my WWE NXT era because I was just stuck, hitting this wall over and over again weekly. I was having these conversations with Triple H; I was getting this runaround. I wasn’t really getting anywhere.
Then I got a promotion one day, and I was just not happy about it. I was like ‘I don’t feel like I earned the promotion, I feel like you just paying me to keep me here rather than paying what I’ve earned,’
So I spoke out about it. I was like ‘I want to be learning under Shawn.’ He was like, ‘Well, yada yada yada,’ Matt Bloom was like saying ‘yada yada yada whatever. But his office is over there.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, bet.’ I walked over to Shawn and said, ‘Hey, can we do tape study?'”
Swerve Strickland mentioned that he took the leap because he had nothing to lose. He explained that Michaels approached the whole thing with an open mind and then helped him understand what the office wanted from him:
“I was like, ‘Shawn, can I watch tape with you sometime? Like an hour, something like that.’ He’s like, ‘Give me three matches, email them to me, and I’ll pick one. We can watch it on Tuesday.’ Sure enough, he lived up to his word. We watched a match of me on the Indies from like four years ago. He’s like, ‘I want to see the reason you got here. What’s the reason that we signed you to this contract to be here? I want to watch that.’ So we watched this stuff, and he like, he’s quiet, just watching.
Guys like that, they’re not gonna [go] ‘ooh, hah hah hah’; No, they’re just gonna watch. William Regal was very much like that too. The match was over, and he stopped. He’s like, ‘I know exactly the kind of performer you are now. Now I know who you are, now I know what you can offer.’ Next thing you know, he’s in meetings talking about TV the night before, and he’s texting me, he’s like ‘Okay, they want to see you get a little more aggressive and stuff like that. So bring it next match.’ I’m like, ‘That’s it? That’s all I’ve got to do?’
Next match, beating the hell out of me and Bronson Reed going back and forth. He comes to me in the back, and it’s like a football coach after the match. He’s like smacking my ass and [going], ‘That’s what I’m talking about. There you go.’ So I was like, ‘Yeah, I got that from Shawn.’ Next thing you know, North American Championship match happened. Next thing you know TV, I’m getting the microphone to talk now live. I get to show my personality more.”
The AEW star noted that these chances helped him stand out among other recruits. He started taking more and more risks after that and started getting much more comfortable in front of the camera. It got him ready for the bigger opportunities that came his way and made him the star he is now.
In 2024, kayfabe is a fluid entity in professional wrestling, with many wrestlers acting out of character out of the ring and on social media. In 1996 though, kayfabe was strictly maintained, until a quartet of wrestlers decided to ‘kill’ professional wrestling in the eyes of Bret ‘Hitman’ Hart’
The Curtain Call – What Happened?
On May 19, 1996, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall wrestled their final WWF matches before leaving for WCW with Hall beating Triple H while Nash lost to Shawn Michaels. After the latter match, the four friends embraced and posed in the ring, despite Nash and Triple H being heels while Michaels and Hall were faces. The incident was dubbed ‘The Curtain Call’ as it pulled back the curtain to fans, shattering kayfabe for the live crowd in MSG.
Bret Hart – The Kliq Killed Wrestling
Appearing on Netflix’s Mr. McMahon docuseries, Hart makes his views clear on the actions of The Kliq, who he believes changed the perception of wrestling on that night in New York.
“They killed wrestling that day. That was when wrestling wasn’t real anymore. We’d pulled the curtain back and said, ‘This is how it works.’ That was the unveiling of the new direction that wrestling would be. It’s not wrestling anymore. It’s entertainment.”
The Hitman Punches McMahon
Hart’s feelings on The Kliq are similar to those of McMahon, who opted not to punish Michaels, the newly-crowned WWF Champion at the time. In the docuseries, Hart recalls attacking McMahon after the Montreal Screwjob and makes his current feelings on the former WWE Chairman crystal clear.
“[Punching McMahon was] Probably the best thing I ever did and he deserved every bit of that.”
Netflix’s Mr. McMahon has proven to be a captivating watch and offers insight from those who know the controversial billionaire best. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from Bret Hart as the Hitman isn’t holding back with his views on the world of wrestling.
The WWE Performance Center opened its doors in 2013, and ever since, the facility has been a haven for talent looking to hone their skills. Now, NXT head Shawn Michaels has shared his huge vision for the center that he also calls home. Speaking in a video from WWE’s parent company TKO, Michaels shared his plan for a future where all of WWE’s main roster will have come from the PC.
“In a very short amount of time, 100% of the WWE roster is going to be from people who have walked through the doors of the Performance Center.”
Step inside the @WWE Performance Center with @ShawnMichaels, SVP of Talent Development! Watch as he shares his wisdom and takes us through the ultimate training ground where future WWE stars are made.💪🔥 pic.twitter.com/kUfXhkP1Aj
WWE’s main roster is currently home to a mix of homegrown talent crafted in the Performance Center as well as talent who made their names before signing with WWE. In the latter case, even talent who’ve established themselves outside WWE will typically spend time in the Performance Center as part of NXT being called up.
Staying in Florida
One change fans shouldn’t expect from the WWE Performance Center is a move to Las Vegas, Nevada. This week, it was reported that the center would be moving soon after eleven years in Orlando, Florida. In a statement to Fightful Select, WWE denied that a move was coming. Explaining reports that Endeavor President Mark Shapiro had shared ‘news’ of the move at a meeting in WWE Headquarters, it was said that Shapiro was speaking of “having a presence” in Vegas and that idea being “on the table.”
WWE NXT head Shawn Michaels has dropped some hints about what fans can expect once the gold brand moves to The CW later this year. In a recent interview with WGN Radio, Michaels spoke about the move which will see CM Punk appear on the premiere episode.
“I can’t let the cat out of the bag right now. CM Punk will be there, and he’s going to be playing a major role, obviously. But beyond that, we have other surprises in store that I think are going to make this a very special night for everyone.”
Last year, WWE and The CW Network announced a 5-year partnership that will bring NXT to broadcast television 52 weeks per year through late 2029. The deal will be the most lucrative contract WWE’s developmental brand has ever faced, and mark the end of five years on the USA Network.
This move will be just one of three that are set to shake-up the WWE broadcasting landscape. WWE SmackDown will soon be moving from FOX to the USA Network, guaranteeing that there will still be wrestling on the channel even when NXT departs. The biggest change will come in January 2025 when RAW moves to Netflix. The 10-year agreement is worth an estimated $5 billion and will see John Cena appear on the premiere episode.
Mere days ahead of his long-awaited return to the ring, CM Punk stopped by the WWE SummerSlam 2024 tryouts in Cleveland, Ohio. Attending the tryouts, Punk spoke about learning the fundamentals of running the ropes, stating that it’s akin to learning how to swim. Punk also enjoyed a chat with WWE SVP of Talent Development Shawn Michaels and had some words of encouragement to those trying out for the company.
WWE has hosted several tryouts over the years in its effort to fill the company’s roster with the best athletes in the world. In 2021, WWE held tryouts over SummerSlam weekend in Las Vegas. Several notable names were recruited following these tryouts including Nikkita Lyons, Tatum Paxley, Edris Enofe, Javier Bernal, and Monday Night Raw’s Maxxine Dupri.
WWE SummerSlam 2024
SummerSlam 2024 will take place on August 3, one day after the Priority Pass tryouts, from the Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The show will be the second SummerSlam from Cleveland and currently has seven matches announced. In addition to in-ring action, SummerSlam weekend will see Damian Priest: Live, which will include the premiere of his WWE: 24 episode and a live panel from El Campeon.
Keep tuned to SE Scoops for all the latest from these upcoming talent tryouts as well as the Biggest Party of the Summer.
Shawn Michaels’ ladder match with Scott Hall at WrestleMania X is one of the most iconic bouts in the history of wrestling. It was the first ever match of the stipulation to be featured on a WWE PPV, which would later become a staple of WWE programming.
The two stars were tasked with recreating the magic at SummerSlam 1995. Even though both the wrestling stars delivered what was asked of them in a big way, HBK believes the match doesn’t get the credit it deserves because of one reason.
Michaels was originally scheduled for a match against Sycho Sid at the Pittsburgh PPV. A late change was made when the feud failed to garner the interest of the audience. During a talk with Sports Illustrated, Shawn mentioned how it was a challenging task to build a face vs. face match in the limited time:
“This one was very different, the whole story going into it was different and very challenging. I will say this–Scott and I did everything we could to make it epic. I think it was.”
While the match ended up stealing the show, Shawn Michaels believes the bout doesn’t get the recognition it deserves, only because it was a rematch:
“Sequels are always tough, but this is one I think that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves, there’s a simple reason for why: it’s number two. Number one is always first. That’s when the moment shifts. There’s only one first time. I’m still proud of it, but it’s not as special because it’s not the first.”
Scott Hall had picked up the win in their WrestleMania encounter but the former DX member got his revenge in their SummerSlam rematch. This would end up being the final time the two legends faced each other in a singles match.
The war between WWE NXT and the Pat McAfee Show shows no signs of slowing down after Shawn Michaels warned of an a** kickin’ for the Raw announcer’s co-hosts.
The issues between NXT and McAfee’s co-hosts have been growing since the release of the ‘Pat McAfee Pack’ in WWE 2K24. The latest wave of DLC includes the Raw announcer, AJ Hawk, Boston Conner, Darius Butler, and Ty Schmit.
On Twitter, Michaels threw out the challenge to Schmit, Conner, Butler, and Hawk, inviting them to face off four Superstars from the Hall of Famer’s roster. Michaels was immensely confident in his NXT Superstars who’ll deliver an a** kickin’ if a match happens.
Michaels isn’t the only WWE NXT name with some choice words for McAfee’s co-hosts. In a tweet of her own, Karmen Petrovic shared her own idea as to why fans aren’t thrilled at non-wrestlers in WWE 2K24.
God forbid fans want to play with wrestlers in a wrestling game 😉
While having McAfee’s co-hosts in the game may appeal to fans of the Raw commentator and his sports show, it has ruffled feathers with fans of WWE. Keep tuned to SE Scoops for the latest in this unlikely beef as it unfolds in WWE and beyond.
Ethan Page has won the NXT Championship and you wouldn’t believe what happened afterward. WWE’s development brand presented the Heatwave special from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada this Sunday. This was WWE’s third consecutive night at the venue, following WWE SmackDown and WWE Money in the Bank.
The show was filled with many hard-hitting bouts which have become a signature of the brand under Shawn Michaels. Wrestling fans were buzzing on social media over the high spots in the tag title match between Axiom & Nathan Frazer.
However, it was the fatal four-way main event for the NXT Championship that stole the conversation. Trick Williams was defending his title against Ethan Page, Shawn Spears, and Je’Von Evans. The bout delivered everything you’d expect from an NXT main event with Evans proving to be the MVP of the match with many notable bumps.
The ending of the fight saw Page taking his frustration out on Evans for disrupting a pin attempt. Spears pulled Evans down, however, right when Page was about to hit the Ego’s Edge. Trick Williams then joined the action and took out both Shawn Spears and Je’Von Evans with a Trick Shot. He delivered one more to Page. This caused the former AEW star to fall on Evans who was lying in the ring. The referee started counting and he completed the three count before Williams could break the fall. Just like that, the landscape of NXT has been altered dramatically.
Ethan Page Recreates Classic WWE Ending
The finish reminded people of a classic WWE match from Backlash 2007. Notably, the WWE Championship match featuring John Cena, Shawn Michaels, Randy Orton and Edge ended in a similar fashion. Cena had unintentionally pinned Orton to retain the title back then, when he fell on the Viper after taking a Sweet Chin Music from HBK.
Backstage after his big win, Ethan Page clarified that his success has nothing to do with luck. He doesn’t even consider himself a lucky man – he’s just that good.
Michaels shares insight on dealing with serious storylines in NXT.
WWE NXT is taking a chance to cover more serious storylines than they have in years past. The brand has generally featured issues amongst superstars that dealt with betrayal or jealousy. However, in the last year, NXT has started to touch on complicated storylines dealing with addiction and depression.
One of the noticeable storylines that the development brand had going was Andre Chase suffering from a gambling addiction that almost cost him his Chase University. This was something that developed late last year and is still referenced currently on TV. It saw Chase being outed as having an addiction and having to deal with the ramifications of letting those around him down.
Although the storyline didn’t get too serious about dealing with gambling addiction, it was a change of pace from what NXT fans are used to seeing on TV. Shawn Michaels recently had a media call ahead of NXT Heatwave, and Metro’s Alistair McGeorge asked how the brand deals with more serious storylines. The Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative shared that WWE likes to explore serious topics but tries to be aware of how sensitive it could be for fans.
“…We do our best, as we’ve always done in this business and certainly in the WWE, to blur those lines between reality and what is 100% storyline and sports entertainment. I always want to be sensitive to that and don’t want to overstep. Sometimes, you miss the mark, and there’s something that people take from it that you certainly didn’t intend. Certainly, those things do happen,” said Michaels. He added, “…All I can do is give people as someone that has been through it(Depression) at a time when people were not sensitive to it in any way, shape or form you can trust that there is somebody that is very sensitive to it.”
‘HBK’ also acknowledged that he’ll back off a storyline and make adjustments if he feels the program is going too far.
Ongoing Storyline With Brook Jensen
NXT currently has an ongoing storyline with Brook Jensen, as he is seemingly dealing with depression and potential alcohol abuse. He has taken to social media to speak openly about not being booked for shows and feeling unnoticed, which had fans questioning if his issues were a storyline or how he feels. WWE fans were more confused when Jensen shared that he was a free agent and was appearing at independent wrestling events.
On the July 2 episode of NXT, Michaels put fans at ease by sharing that Jensen’s actions on social media and TV are part of his storyline. He explained that after splitting from his tag team partner, Josh Briggs, Jensen was given time off to clear his head after showing signs of having issues. He also revealed that the NXT superstar has been signed to the company and will be on the July 9 episode to speak with NXT General Manager Ava.
NXT’s new approach to handling serious storylines seems to be capturing the attention of fans. Hopefully, Michaels can maintain touching on tough topics and know when it may be time to assure fans that it’s more story than reality.
WWE NXT hopes to hone the science of what makes a great Superstar when the gold brand teams up with UFC later this week.
WWE NXT Battleground will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada this weekend, the first WWE event ever held at the venue. The location marks a huge move for WWE after merging with UFC in September 2023 as TKO Group Holdings.
On a recent edition of The Arash Markazi Show, WWE Hall of Famer and NXT executive Shawn Michaels appeared to promote the upcoming event. Michaels highlighted the advancements at the UFC Apex which he hopes will benefit his roster.
“The science that goes behind theirs and ours, and how all that has changed, is truly fascinating… Whatever it is you can do to enhance that, we’re always looking out for the latest and greatest.”
What’s to Come for WWE and UFC?
While it’s guaranteed that WWE NXT Battleground will be at the UFC Apex, questions remain as to what the future will look like for both companies. While no WWE Superstars have stepped into the Octagon yet, AOP’s Rezar recently threw out the challenge to UFC heavyweights during the recent UFC 302 event.
We are nine months into the merger of WWE and UFC but it appears the two sides have done little together so far. At the UFC 302 event, Dana White said that the two companies are very separate outside of WWE using some behind-the-scenes names from UFC. TKO recently merged the live event teams of both companies which has led to some lay-offs in WWE.
There is a lot that WWE’s third brand could learn from those at UFC. After all, White’s promotion has become the global leader in MMA, similar to how WWE has reached the top spot in professional wrestling. As to what lessons Shawn Michaels and those at WWE NXT learn this weekend, however, remain to be seen.
Shawn Michaels is proud to deliver a genuine surprise in today’s wrestling climate like TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace’s unexpected NXT appearance this week.
The NXT head recently spoke to Adrian Hernandez to promote the upcoming NXT Battleground special coming from the UFC Apex, Enmarket Arena on June 10. The Knockouts champion will be challenging Roxanne Perez for the NXT Women’s Title at the show.
During the interview, Michaels was asked what Grace’s appearance means for the partnership between WWE and TNA. Shawn said that he leaves those kind of decisions to people above him, and his focus instead is on delivering genuine surprises:
“Well look, right now, a lot of those things are still being worked out internally. Obviously as I try to be honest with folks all the time, there are people above me that I leave to making all those kinds of decisions. What I enjoy doing is what we did last night, which is having the opportunity to bring real surprises and real ‘oh my God’ moments back to the WWE, back to wrestling, back to NXT. That’s what we had last night.”
We’re Thrilled To Have Her: Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels also talked about Jordynne Grace’s Royal Rumble appearance earlier this year. HBK revealed what he told Triple H about it:
I have been very public about being a fan of Jordynne Grace. I expressed to Hunter [Triple H] privately that I was very jealous that he had her for the Rumble [and] that he owed me one, he owed me a big one. We’re thrilled to have her for Battleground and we’re thrilled to have her next week. This is going to be a huge epic event.
One, for NXT to be the first brand to be out there in the UFC Apex is just really really big for us. We’re so honored to get to be the brand that gets to launch that. Then of course to sort of one up ourselves, like we always try to do, having TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace contend for the NXT Women’s Championship, fighting Roxanne Perez, is going to be really really big,”
Jordynne Grace’s NXT appearance seems to have opened the gates for a bigger partnership between the two companies. Reports suggest that this collaboration will not be one-sided.
