Interview: Shawn Michaels on Helping Write NXT TV and Getting Advice from Triple H

A recent episode of the E&C Pod Of Awesomeness podcast had Shawn Michaels as the guest and some of the topics discussed included working in NXT and getting advice from Triple H on how to work with NXT talent.

On the topic of NXT, Michaels stated he originally planned to just visit NXT and work there for a very brief time but ended up enjoying the experience to the point he wanted to be involved in a more frequent basis.

“When we came here, when we came to Florida just to visit, it was just this unbelievably infectious, positive environment. And then, we ended up moving here and I was around it a little more. And then, you have people asking me questions. And then, all-of-a-sudden, you’re back in, you are in this give and take and throwing stuff around, and yes, getting back into that creative process that we all enjoy so much. It’s all of this preplanning that drives you. Performing it is great, but so much of the fun is just coming up with it and the process that you go through to come up with it. To sit there with your buddies and throw a bunch of stuff out there, and ‘this is good – let’s do that’, ‘no that doesn’t work’, and then, all-of-a-sudden, when you all hit on it, and everybody looks at each other like, ‘ooh yeah, that’s it.’ And that’s certainly what I’ve found as I kept going in and out of there is that this generation was very into that, and even better is that desire to take it to another level.”

While discussing more about his work in NXT, Michaels revealed he is currently a member of NXT’s Creative team.

“To [Triple H] and I, clearly, [NXT] is his baby, but I mean, I’m all in. Yeah, they’ve got me hook, line, and sinker. And it’s funny because he kind of hired me like, ‘just stick your big toe in and see how you like it. Just do a couple of times a week.’ And then, of course, whatever it is, two years later, I’m full scale helping to write TVs and doing it all! I’m so far in, there’s no way I’m getting out and I have no desire to get out because it’s a blast. It really is.”

On the topic of getting advice from Triple H for handling NXT talent, Michaels stated he contacts Triple H whenever he needs help on writing out plans for certain talent, such as Lars Sullivan and Aleister Black, due to being less familiar with their styles of wrestling.

“I was never 6’5″, 235 [lbs.]. Do you know what I mean? And a guy like Aleister [Black] or a guy like Lars, I can help them to a point, but I’ve never been a bigger type [of] guy. Many times, I have to call Hunter and ask him because he works a different style. And I don’t know. I can throw some junk out there for you because I worked with big guys, but at the same time, I know my limitations. I’ve never been a 6’8″, 300-pound dude. And so, I had Mick [Foley] in there a month or a month-and-a-half ago. And it’s just about getting them as many different ideas. It doesn’t matter to me where they come from. As long as they get better, I don’t care if it comes from the dude next door. If they advance, and they get better, and that gets them an opportunity at the main roster, that’s what we’re there to do, to help these guys move on.”