Shawn Michaels on Cody Rhodes–and WWE partnering with ESPN
“This is ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’. Now WWE is part of it.”
The Week in Wrestling is published every week and provides beneath the surface coverage of the business of pro wrestling.
Contents for The Week in Wrestling:
Shawn Michaels on Cody Rhodes & WWE’s new partnership with ESPN
An inside look at the past week in wrestling
Bryan Danielson joining commentary is a win for AEW
Tweet of the Week
Shawn Michaels on Cody Rhodes, WWE partnering with ESPN, and his role in NXT
As a child, Shawn Michaels’ favorite promotion was Southwest Championship Wrestling.
Tully Blanchard and Wahoo McDaniel were two of the promotion’s biggest stars, as well as Terry Funk and Gino Hernandez. Michaels was particularly fond of Eddie Mansfield’s run in the territory, especially during his angle with Scott Casey that ended with Mansfield getting his head shaved in a hair-versus-hair match.
“It’s not a big, well-known match, but it’s always been the one for me,” said Michaels. “I also loved when Gino Hernandez went after Terry Funk with a bull rope and dug it into his ear.”
By 1982, Southwest Championship Wrestling reached the big leagues with a television deal on the USA Network. The network aired Southwest Championship programming on Sunday mornings, which was a significant deal at the time.
But the USA Network in ’82 is a far cry from ESPN in 2025.
In addition to enjoying the old wild west style of Southwest Championship Wrestling, Michaels constantly studied Japanese wrestling.
“I had a collection of VHS tapes with matches from Japan,” said Michaels. “Those were some of my favorites. I couldn’t watch enough Tiger Mask. To me, he was so before his time.”
At the time, the grainy VHS footage felt cutting edge. But technology has advanced considerably since then. And when WWE makes its debut on ESPN on September 20 with Wrestlepalooza, it will do so live and in high definition.
“I can’t describe how big this is for us as a company,” said WWE. “It was so different when I was growing up in wrestling. We’re not this outside entity. We’re part of the global culture, and it’s phenomenal.”
One of the greatest wrestlers of all time, Michaels has found a new home in wrestling as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development, Creative. He oversees the creative aspects of the NXT brand, where he continues to flourish as a teacher and leader.
“It’s a role I love,” said Michaels, 60. “None of it feels like work for me. And if it helps the men and women here grow personally and professionally, then those are positives.”
Once known as one of the industry’s most untamed stars, Michaels has matured into a guiding light for rookies and veterans alike. He offers perspective on returning from injury, making the most of each opportunity, and connecting with the crowd–all lessons that he can speak on from his remarkable firsthand experience.
“I’m supposed to be giving back, and I’m thankful that I can do it in a line of work that I know a lot about,” said Michaels. “It’s like sharing experiences and knowledge with your children. We apply that to the young men and women who walk into the WWE Performance Center, and it’s the same thing from a career standpoint. I understand the personal struggle that goes on during this. To not recognize that would be an injustice. I want to make sure we’re covering everything and do my part in trying to help them.”
NXT is unique because, unlike other promotions, it is attempting to build stars so they can leave the brand. The current NXT men’s champion is Oba Femi, who has been dominant in NXT, and it will be fascinating to see where he fits in WWE.
As for WWE, Michaels believes that it is paramount to have the right champion to lead the way. And WWE has that, he says, with Cody Rhodes.
“You’re always comforted when you’re handing over the reins of this business to someone that respects it, honors it, and enjoys it,” said Michaels. “That gives all of us a lot of peace and comfort.
“When Cody comes into the Performance Center, it’s very fortunate for us. He wants to pass it on to the next generation and echoes a lot of what we say. That’s a huge help and comfort to everyone in WWE. You know the business is in good hands moving into the future.”
Michaels never had the chance to wrestle for WWE on ESPN. But he is incredibly excited to see the current crop of stars make a lasting impression on a network synonymous with professional sports.
“This is ‘The Worldwide Leader in Sports’,” said Michaels. “Now WWE is part of it.”
This past week…
It’s a breath of fresh air to have AJ Lee back, and she’ll team with CM Punk against Becky Lynch and Seth Rollins in a battle of married couples at Wrestlepalooza.
I don’t envision Jey Uso turning heel any time soon, but it’s a nice wrinkle to see his issues with LA Knight–even though they both have conflict with The Vision. And Jey will team with Jimmy Uso at Wrestlepalooza against The Vision’s Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed.
AJ Styles appears to be adding some edge to his work on the microphone. We’ll see how it develops.
John Cena’s farewell run is down to its final seven dates.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s sudden weight loss is due to a role in an upcoming movie. He has another film coming out, The Smashing Machine, that looks phenomenal.
Does anyone else think Jon Moxley will turn babyface after his All Out match against Darby Allin? Perhaps Daniel Garcia will take over The Death Riders.
Deepest condolences to friends and loved ones of indie wrestler Jonathan “JAKA” Echevarria.
Bryan Danielson joining the AEW commentary team is more significant than it sounds
Later tonight, Bryan Danielson officially joins the Dynamite broadcast team.
This is outstanding news for AEW, as it keeps Danielson visible and around the talent. He knows the product exceptionally well, possesses the ability to communicate the key aspects of a match, and remains extremely passionate about what he is watching. That is all a recipe for success.
Plus, the possibility exists for one of the heels to antagonize Danielson, which will be a lot easier to do now that he is sitting ringside. Even if it doesn’t lead to a return of his in-ring career (though Danielson certainly falls into the Terry Funk style of retirement, meaning he’ll be back), the move to commentary keeps him around.
That keeps Danielson’s feud with Jon Moxley relevant–and perhaps the two resolve their issues if Moxley turns face. It also means that we’ll be treated to Danielson’s unique sense of humor every week, as well as his distinct outlook on life.
When you have a star the caliber of Bryan Danielson on your roster, you find a way to keep him involved. Fortunately, that is exactly what is happening in AEW.
Tweet of the Week
Congrats to Maxwell J. Friedman and Alicia Atout, who were married over the weekend.