WWE Hall of Famer and NXT executive Shawn Michaels spoke with ESPN. In the interview, he discussed various topics, including his goals for the WrestleMania 23 match against 16-time World Champion John Cena.
Michaels said, “I just looked at it as a fantastic opportunity, to be one of the guys that would certainly continue to solidify John as our No. 1 guy, and the guy that was going to be carrying the company. There’s kind of two types of people that you’re working with [as the top guy] — the guys that would rather have that spot than you, and guys that support you. I was at a place in my career where I was 100% committed to having the best match with John that we possibly could.”
On needing more from Cena:
“I always tried to make sure that I was 100% prepared for any WrestleMania match that I had. At that time I was working with John, I had no idea what the years ahead had in store for me. You can’t call yourself Mr. WrestleMania and not get a reputation of having to perform at that level at that show. I had every intention of making sure John and I were going to work our butts off. I mean this lovingly, I don’t care whatever level he was at. I needed him to reach a higher level that night — hopefully the highest level he’d ever met at that time — because that’s what I certainly expect for myself, and that’s what I expect from the guys that are in the ring with me. I think John knew that, and that’s something I’ve always appreciated about him. I believe it is something that John took very seriously at the time; he wanted to be at his absolute best as well.”
