Shawn Michaels reflects on his innovative moments.
Whether as an in-ring competitor or an executive, the WWE Hall of Famer has been no stranger to innovation in WWE. Ahead of NXT Deadline, Michaels sat down with Sam Roberts on a recent episode of Notsam Wrestling. When asked which innovative match or moment was his favorite to take part in, Michaels reflected on his first Hell in a Cell match against The Undertaker.
“I think Hell in a Cell was my favorite,” Michaels said. “I can remember an old Tommy Rich-Buzz Sawyer angle that I saw in Georgia Championship Wrestling where they had a regular cage, but they put a top on it. So, that’s what I suggested, and they take that idea and then make what is now Hell in a Cell. The first time I walked into St. Louis and saw it there, I was like, ‘Oh, my goodness.'”
Michaels compared his experience to being like a kid in a candy store. He noted that it looked like fun, and he was thinking of all the ways he could climb on top and jump off the structure. The legend recalled how the first Hell in a Cell match against Undertaker went nearly 50 minutes as they called a lot of the match on the fly. All these years later, as WWE’s Vice President of Talent Development Creative, Michaels still has the opportunity to take part in more firsts in WWE, and this privilege is not lost on him.
“There can only be one first. You always remember your first. I always joked that I was the guinea pig for stuff, but I loved that challenge. I loved that they trusted me with it, and that’s come full circle,” Michaels said, referring to the creation of the NXT Iron Survivor Challenge that will debut at Deadline. “That’s sort of what this was. A lot of stuff with us down here happens at last minute, and there’s a December opening for a premium live event. You know, TLC is not gonna happen, and ‘Oh, could we maybe do that?’ But what are we going to do now? We’re just coming off Halloween Havoc, so it can’t be too hardcore, stipulation-type oriented, because that’s what the other one was. So how could it be more wrestling-based or a little bit more disciplined?”
Michaels complimented the creative team that helps him “every step of the way.” He noted they that get to try stuff in NXT and will continue to do so to explore what works and what doesn’t. When things don’t work, Michaels said it rolls off his back a little easier because they are developmental. Time will tell how the Iron Survivor Challenge will turn out at NXT Deadline
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