Shawn Michaels has no interest in producing a watered-down version of WWE’s main-roster shows.
The man running NXT wants the brand to have its own identity—even if that means its matches move faster and look different from the slower, story-heavy classics that defined the second half of his legendary career.
During his “Busted Open” interview, Nic Nemeth asked Michaels how NXT teaches inexperienced performers to create emotional moments instead of simply executing a series of wrestling moves. Nemeth specifically asked how athletes entering WWE from football, gymnastics or other sports learn the importance of character, timing and audience connection.
Michaels said one of the biggest challenges is showing young talent a classic match without convincing them that they can immediately reproduce its effect. He used his famous matches against The Undertaker as the clearest example. Two developing wrestlers could recreate the physical structure, but they would not receive the same audience response because fans haven’t spent years investing in their characters.
“The most challenging part for NXT is helping them understand that you can do—for instance, they’ll show the me-and-Undertaker match—‘That’s how it’s done.’ But trying to also help them understand: You guys can do the same match, but it’s not going to get the same response.”
Michaels explained that his matches with Undertaker worked because both wrestlers entered them with decades of history, established characters and enormous credibility. Young wrestlers who slow the action down without building that connection risk losing the crowd.
“You guys don’t have the investment and the character development that we have. You can show them that model, but help them understand they’re not going to react that way right now. You can take your time; all they’re going to think is, ‘This is boring and it’s going too slow.’”
Michaels knows some people disagree with his approach, but he wants developing NXT talent to establish themselves through action first. That philosophy comes directly from his own career. Michaels said veteran wrestlers repeatedly told him to slow down, but he initially went in the opposite direction because speed and activity helped him connect with the audience.
“There are a lot of people—I’ve said this many times—a lot of people who disagree with me. I always want to sell action down here first. I can’t speak for the rest of the world. I was told to slow down a bunch. I went faster to get over.”
Only after Michaels had established himself as a top WWE star did he feel he possessed enough credibility to slow his matches down and make individual moments feel significant.
“Then, when I felt like I earned the right and I had the equity as a WWE Superstar to begin to slow down and create those moments, I did. That’s what we try to convince them of here and teach them here.”
Michaels said NXT wrestlers can still create those slower, emotional scenes when a storyline has earned them. Those are often the moments when a developing performer finally understands the relationship between the story and the audience’s reaction.
“When we have a storyline where they’re able to really do that—and they will get that response that we’re wanting them to get because the storyline calls for it—I feel like that’s when the light goes on and they go, ‘Oh, okay. That’s what he’s talking about.’”
The problem is that NXT operates on a compressed timeline. Unlike Raw and SmackDown, it develops performers who may leave for another roster as soon as they become established.
“From an NXT standpoint, we don’t always have that, because everything’s so much faster here. We’re the only brand where, again, we’re developing them and then they go somewhere else.”
When a story has enough emotional weight, Michaels wants the wrestlers to take their time. When that foundation doesn’t exist, he would rather give the audience action.
“If we can get those moments, absolutely. But a lot of it, again, you have to be in the moment to feel it. So we try to ready them. It’s a little of both. But I will say, guilty as charged: If you’re not going to do that, I’d rather sell action right now.”
That approach connects to Michaels’ larger vision for the brand. NXT isn’t supposed to imitate WWE’s flagship programs. It has its own purpose, audience and rhythm.
“I don’t want NXT to be a SmackDown or a Raw light. We have those. I want it to be a totally different show. It needs to be a brand that also stands on its own—and it is.”
Michaels believes NXT is unlike any wrestling promotion in the world because its ultimate goal is to develop successful performers and then surrender them to Raw or SmackDown. Most wrestling companies identify popular talent and build around them for years. NXT builds performers knowing that success will eventually cost the brand some of its biggest names.
“It’s totally different. It’s unlike any other brand out there in the world, if you ask me, because nobody has the model that we have. Nobody builds people up just to lose them. Everybody builds people up to build around those guys. We’re unlike any other beast out there.”
Michaels called the entire process a balancing act. NXT must teach traditional wrestling psychology, create television-ready stars, deliver immediate action and prepare performers for careers on shows with completely different expectations.
“It’s a balancing act, but we certainly take our time in those moments when we feel like we can create them.”
Michaels’ message is clear: Young wrestlers can’t borrow someone else’s legendary moment before earning the audience investment that made it legendary. NXT will give them the tools, but they must establish themselves before expecting fans to treat every pause like WrestleMania.
Should NXT continue emphasizing faster matches, or would the wrestlers benefit from slowing down and learning traditional in-ring storytelling earlier? Leave your feedback and tell us what style you want from the brand.
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