2022 has been the year of the wrestling comeback. Ric Flair and Steve Austin both wrestled one more time, and even Vince McMahon had a ‘match’ at WrestleMania. But it appears that one man who won’t be lacing up his boots again is Shawn Michaels.
After successfully getting Steve Austin to end his 19-year retirement at WrestleMania 38, it was recently reported that Kevin Owens set about trying to repeat the trick. On this occasion he not only said he would be interested in facing Shawn Michaels, he actually offered HBK a match. However, the two-time WWE Hall of Famer turned him down.
“I’ve Had That Final Match” – Shawn Michaels
It now appears that Michaels won’t ever be back, after he commented in a new interview that “father time waits for no man.”
Appearing on Culture State, Michaels said that he was happy with his career, adding that it was now time for the next generation to flourish.
“I’ve had that final match. No, no. Father time waits on no man. I’m good. I’m unbelievably happy with my career and it is now time to watch the next generation flourish,”
Shawn Michaels hasn’t wrestled since November 2018 when he teamed with Triple H to take on The Undertaker and Kane at WWE Crown Jewel. The match was widely panned by fans and critics, and even Michaels himself has admitted that it shouldn’t have taken place.
Prior to that Michaels had been out of the ring for eight years after being retired by The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26.
Shawn Michaels currently serves as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. In this role the former World Champion heads up NXT and is in charge of helping bring through the next generation of WWE Superstars. Michaels assumed this position on a permanent basis following the management reshuffle caused by Vince McMahon’s retirement as WWE Chairman in July.
H/t to Fightful