When most people think of Shawn Michaels, they think of the two-time WWE Hall of Famer, the “Showstopper,” the “Heartbreak Kid,” and “Mr. Wrestlemania.” VIBE had the pleasure of connecting with the man who has been the brains behind NXT, WWE’s development brand, for the last few years as they prepare for their Stand & Deliver premium live event during Wrestlemania 41 weekend in Las Vegas.
“This whole week is what we work all year for,” Michaels said. “It’s going to be very exciting. A lot going on. I’m just trying right now, even at 60, trying not to get overwhelmed with everything.” HBK has laid out quite the slate of matches for NXT’s biggest show of the year, loaded with homegrown talents, former AEW wrestlers who have immediately made their marks in WWE, and international sensations who transitioned over to the premier wrestling company.
“I’d be lying if I didn’t say it was challenging,” he admitted when asked about building out a marquee show full of talent who constantly cycle in from other companies and out to the main WWE rosters on SmackDown and Monday Night Raw every year. “But I’ll say this, we’ve got so many talented young men and women on this roster that don’t always get to be on all of those shows [weekly and road loops] that we were previously talking about.”
Given the overflow of talent, one noticeable highlight of this Stand & Deliver card is the number of multi-person matches taking place, which online fans have been conflicted about. Michaels explained his mindset on booking those bouts quite simply. “I know that some of the wrestling purists out there don’t always believe in that,” he said. “But there are way too many people here that have put in so much work, so much time, so much effort over the last year here at NXT, that we want to make sure that as many people as we can handle have an opportunity to enjoy this incredible weekend and be a part of what’s going to be a fantastic show that kicks off the weekend.”
There is the Triple Threat match for the NXT Title featuring the champion Oba Femi, former champion Trick Williams, and young upstart Je’Von Evans. There is also the NXT Women’s Championship match, a Fatal-Four-Way, featuring champion Stephanie Vaquer, former champion Giulia, new signee Jordynne Grace, and standout homegrown talent Jaida Parker. With this embarrassment of riches, it almost feels requisite to give a label to this era of NXT, such as the NXT 2.0 moniker from 2021-2023, or the Black & Gold nickname from the years before. Michaels let us in on what some of the wrestlers have determined this current NXT period should be known as.
“I don’t know what I would label it,” he said. “NXT is experiencing success, television ratings, endorsements, sponsorships, a lot of the commercial things that they have not had the opportunity in the past to experience. That’s what I’m most proud of […] Some of our talent [are] saying that it’s the Black and Platinum era. [….] All I know is it’s a good time right now for NXT. We have incredible momentum.”
Another highlight of NXT is the diversity within the company. There have been prominent Black, Asian, and Latino champions or contenders over the last few years. “There she is, Jaida Parker, homegrown, out of college, trained here at the Performance Center,” he said of one of the four women contending for the NXT Women’s title. “100% through and through NXT and WWE to the core. And she has just done an amazing job this last year as far as growing herself as a performer.”
Je’Von Evans, one of the men fighting for the NXT Championship, is just 20 years old but has already established himself as one of the most exciting talents on the roster; he wrestled against the legendary Randy Orton back in October 2024 and received a co-sign from WWE legend Rob Van Dam. “It’s crazy, he might be the one that, I guess, people look at as having the most experience, but my goodness, he’s still a baby,” Michaels said. “Talent beyond his years.”
When it comes to tag team wrestling, it is safe to believe that most people in the wrestling community would acknowledge that Fraxion, made up of Nathan Frazer and Axiom, is the best tag team in the world. “I think right now they are clicking on all cylinders,” HBK said. “Very proud of both of them. […] They were talented as singles, very gifted […] but once they really committed to being a team, they have taken it to another level. […] People really do sincerely consider them possibly the best tag team in the industry right now. And that’s amazing praise for two guys, again, at their age.”
Shawn Michaels could rightfully gush on and on about his current roster, but it wouldn’t have felt right to end our conversation without asking him about a hot topic in the wrestling community right now that is related to his in-ring career. Many people have been questioning who the rightful “Mr. Wrestlemania” is, and the conversation has centered around him and 11-time main eventer Roman Reigns.
“I’m honored to be included in anything that has Roman Reigns in it,” Michaels said. “What Roman has built over the last decade plus has been really, really amazing. And for those of us, again, that watched him and all the stuff he had to endure personally and professionally […] That’s to me when you bow down, you say, ‘Dude, you’ve earned everything and deserve everything that you’re getting.’”
Ultimately, despite being the overly confident and charismatic superstar fans watched for decades, Shawn happily bent the knee to the new Mr. Wrestlemania. “He certainly main evented a heck of a lot more Wrestlemanias than I have,” he added. “So I would have no problem giving the mantle over to him […] I am not somebody that is going to hold on like grim death to any of his nicknames or anything else. I’m very honored to have made a place at Wrestlemania, but I’m even more excited about so many of these guys that have taken our business into the future in such a positive and healthy way.”
Shawn Michaels’ boots may be hung up, and he may have handed over one of his most special crowning labels to Roman Reigns, but he is still heavily responsible for the future of this business beyond the Tribal Chief. Every day, he helps to shape the future Mr. and Mrs. Wrestlemania. See for yourself at Stand & Deliver on Saturday, April 19.
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