Shawn Michaels is open to the possibility of outside talent coming to the WWE NXT brand in the future.
As many of you know by now, TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace made an appearance in the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match. Mickie James has also appeared for WWE while working with TNA Wrestling in the past.
Speaking on Thursday’s WWE NXT: Vengeance Day media call, Michaels said he’d be asking his bosses about the possibility of working with some outside talents.
You can check out some highlights from the media call below:
On Grace appearing in the Royal Rumble: “Well look, I’ll say this, and it’s one of those things where the friendship with Hunter and I gets tough to balance because I’ve always sort of seen her from afar and I’ve always wondered if she’d be interested in coming to NXT or coming to the WWE. My fault for never reaching out because I assume if you’re with another company, that’s not allowed, right? [laughs] It was great to see that door possible open and I don’t know, think about.”
On the possibility of that happening more often: “I think some things that probably we were never even allowed to consider or look at in the past, is at least something that we can begin to look at and think about in the future. I for one am very excited about that, again, those are things on a corporate level that I don’t get the say so in. Very excited about that possibility. To your point, just to be able to — Look, there’s a number of different talent out there in different places like TNA, in Japan, in AAA, things of that nature to where it’d be great to get some of those really experienced people to swing by NXT for a little bit.
“But again, above my pay grade to answer, but I’ll tell you this much, I’m really interested in the possibilities and it certainly looks like — everytime I get mad at Hunter, I go, ‘Oh so it’s okay for you, but it’s not okay for us?’ That’s not a real corporate angle really, but I try to use that as often as I can to see if I can get my way down here. It’s something I’m going to ask about in the not too distant future.”
Shawn Michaels Open to the Possibility of Outside Talent in WWE NXT
In a recent media call for WWE NXT: Vengeance Day, Shawn Michaels expressed his openness to the idea of outside talent joining the WWE NXT brand in the future. This comes after TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace made an appearance in the 2024 women’s Royal Rumble match, and Mickie James, who has previously worked with TNA Wrestling, has also appeared for WWE.
Michaels, known for his legendary career in professional wrestling, mentioned that he would be discussing this possibility with his superiors. He admitted that he had always wondered if Grace would be interested in joining NXT or WWE but had never reached out due to assuming that it was not allowed for talent from other companies.
Regarding the potential for more outside talent to be featured in WWE NXT, Michaels expressed his excitement. He mentioned that there may have been limitations in the past but now it is something they can consider and explore. Michaels emphasized that the decision ultimately lies with the corporate level and is above his pay grade. However, he stated that he is genuinely interested in the possibilities and would be asking about it in the near future.
Michaels also highlighted the value of bringing in experienced talent from different promotions such as TNA, Japan, and AAA. He believes that having these individuals make appearances in NXT would be beneficial for both the talent and the brand. However, he reiterated that he does not have the authority to make such decisions but would use playful banter with his colleague Triple H to advocate for it.
The potential inclusion of outside talent in WWE NXT could bring fresh faces and new dynamics to the brand. It would provide opportunities for talented individuals from different promotions to showcase their skills on a larger platform. Additionally, it could create exciting crossover storylines and matches that fans have been eagerly anticipating.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, Michaels’ openness to the idea is a positive sign. It shows that WWE is considering new approaches to talent acquisition and is willing to collaborate with other promotions. This could lead to a more diverse and competitive wrestling landscape, benefiting both the performers and the fans.
As fans eagerly await further updates on this matter, it is clear that the wrestling industry is evolving. The potential integration of outside talent into WWE NXT could be a game-changer, opening doors for new possibilities and creating a more interconnected wrestling community.