Summary

Shawn Michaels says he never expected Sexyy Red to play a part in keeping him relevant this late in his life.

While speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Michaels reflected on how his "HBK" swagger from the 1990s still seems to connect with fans today. The WWE Hall of Famer said that was never something he fully appreciated while he was living it in real time, and he admitted it still surprises him now at 60, with his 61st birthday approaching.

Michaels also contrasted the version of himself fans saw during his original run with the person he became after returning in 2002, describing himself as more of a dad and far less chaotic than the version of HBK that became a star.

Quote from Shawn Michaels

Speaking on the Club 520 Podcast, Michaels said:

"I would have never imagined at 60, going on 61, that somebody like a Sexyy Red would make me relevant this late in my life. Again, I'm an old man and I had some swagger and some aura back in the 90s, but I was an absolute train wreck and i was a menace. That played well on television thankfully, but I came back in 2002 and I'm a nerd, I'm a dad, I'm boring, I'm all of those things. The idea that he's still cool, that character is still cool all of these years later and sometimes arguably, maybe even cooler. It's amazing to me, I have to be honest, I didn't realize that HBK and that swagger and that cockiness and that confidence resonated so well to so many people. I guess when you're in it, you're sort of in this bubble and you don't have the opportunity to see beyond that. Now, I'm at least able to take the time to see that and notice that. You think to yourself, damn, that's pretty cool."

What it means for Shawn Michaels and NXT

Shawn Michaels remaining culturally visible matters for NXT because he is still one of the brand's clearest public faces, even in a different role than his in-ring peak. His comments also fit with his belief that criticism of NXT 2.0 helped the brand grow, which points to how much he values staying connected to the current audience.

If Michaels still reads as cool to younger fans through moments like the Sexyy Red crossover, that gives NXT another bridge between longtime WWE viewers and the newer crowd that follows viral personalities.

Sources

Shawn Michaels on the Club 520 Podcast