For a man nicknamed “Mr. WrestleMania,” the question of “one more match” never really goes away. With ongoing rumors about Saudi Arabia’s interest in having The Heartbreak Kid wrestle at WrestleMania 43, speculation among fans has only grown stronger.
Those hoping to see HBK lace up the boots again, however, can put that to rest. During a recent appearance on Shannon Sharpe’s Nightcap podcast, Shawn Michaels shut down any possibility of a return. To emphasize the finality of his in-ring career, he revealed he is scheduled to undergo double knee surgery next month.
Michaels, whose last official match took place at Crown Jewel in 2018, explained that his fulfillment now comes entirely from his work behind the scenes with NXT, where he’s focused on mentoring the next generation of WWE talent.
“Not a chance. I’m so blessed and so unfortunate to have done what I’ve done,” Michaels said. “I’m so overjoyed to be doing what I do now and helping the future of WWE. Being part of that, NXT is thriving on Tuesday nights on CW Network. To help these young men and women achieve their passions and dreams is something that I had no idea I’d enjoy this much, but it is so great. I think the business is in tremendous hands for the future.” (h/t Fightful)
When asked if he misses the roar of the crowd or the physical toll of competing, Michaels made it clear he doesn’t miss the travel or the punishment his body endured. He explained that he still gets the same creative and emotional payoff from guiding matches as he once did from performing in them.
“I don’t [miss being in the ring]. The physical aspect, I don’t miss. The travel, I don’t miss,” he elaborated. “I’m able to still get that same charge when we’re sitting there and I’m telling a story to these talents, where I’m trying to convey, ‘This is what we’re looking for out of this match, and we’re going to tell this story…’ When that happens and it all comes together, it’s that feeling where you watch the joy in that talent’s heart when they’re finally getting it. It’s in a different aspect that I receive that charge that I used to have when I got in the ring.”
For fans of The Heartbreak Kid, this confirms his legendary in-ring career is firmly behind him, with his focus now fully on building the future of the business through NXT.