Interview: Shawn Michaels on Coaching, Longtime Friendship with Triple H, More

ESPN held a recent interview with Shawn Michaels discussing his job as a Performance Center coach, working in a NXT event in 2017, his thoughts on WWE’s future, his longtime friendship with Triple H, and more.

On the topic of what he enjoys the most about being a Performance Center coach, Michaels stated not having to “grow up” and being able to encourage younger talent to do the same with their careers.

“For me to have a huge influence or impact on anybody is probably not a healthy thing. 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.

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.”

On the topic of why he worked in an event for NXT in 2017, Michaels stated it was due to NXT holding a show in his hometown at the time and being very interested in a guest referee idea that was pitched to him.

“On a fairly regular basis, especially my guys, they’re pitching a lot of ideas where I’m ‘in there doing something. I’ve usually begged off from it every time. But this particular show, it was in San Antonio, it was with Adam Cole and Drew McIntyre, and I can’t recall all the circumstances, but it was just something where [it was like], ‘If you don’t mind doing it.'”

On the topic of the future of the WWE, Michaels stated he rather have the spotlight be focused on the younger talent instead of himself and older veterans but is still thrilled at the direction both WWE and NXT are moving forward.

“I know, on one hand, us old guys are always getting asked to come back and do stuff. 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.”

On the topic of the evolution of his friendship with Triple H, Michaels stated it has pretty much remained the same since his active career days but now it is more focused on management related work.

“It’s great. For he and I, other than the fact that he’s in a suit all the time… it’s very much the same relationship we had all those years on the road, that we sort of did in the car. Now we get to do it, in some form, in a much bigger, corporate setting. It’s honestly still the same guys, sitting around and driving up and down the road — that’s what we do. It’s just that now, somebody is actually driving us, because he doesn’t actually drive himself anymore.

We’re sitting in the back, throwing out ideas, writing shows, coming up with creative things of that nature. Look, you cannot beat it — honestly. I get paid to hang out with my buddy, and it is extremely tough to complain about that. I still have absolutely no idea how I’ve stumbled into the unbelievably blessed life that I have, but I try not think about it too much, for fear I might wake up one day.”

Other topics discussed during the interview included Michaels’ thoughts on today’s era of veterans being more receptive to admiration from younger talent than past eras and his teachings in the Performance Center.