Ahead of NXT’s No Mercy event this Saturday (Sept. 30), Shawn Michaels, the mastermind behind NXT, engaged with the media, addressing several queries and making noteworthy announcements.
Michaels commenced the call with the revelation of the date and venue for NXT’s upcoming premium live event, Deadline, scheduled for December:
“We are thrilled to announce that Deadline, which received tremendous success last year, is returning to the NXT universe on December 9th, at the Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport, Connecticut, live on Peacock.”
Following this announcement, the conversation swiftly turned towards the potential of newly-acquired Jade Cargill joining the black-and-gold brand before her transition to Raw or SmackDown.
Expressing his admiration for Jade, Michaels conveyed his enthusiasm to feature her on NXT:
“Jade is truly an extraordinary talent with a distinctive presence. She embodies what WWE stands for, and I foresee a bright future for her here. While I would be ecstatic to have her on NXT, I am confident that regardless of where she lands, she is destined for greatness.”
The dialogue then shifted to the prospect of free agent CM Punk joining NXT. Michaels was unequivocal in his support for this idea but acknowledged that such a decision rested with higher authorities:
“CM Punk is undeniably a valuable asset, and we would be thrilled to have him in NXT. I have always had a good rapport with him, and despite his unconventional approach, I believe he brings a lot to the table. However, the final call is not mine to make, but from a business perspective, it’s a consideration worth making.”
Michaels humorously added that while he would love to have Punk on NXT, it would be improbable for the higher-ups to allow it:
“It would be fantastic to feature him on NXT, but realistically, I doubt that would be the chosen path for him.”
He concluded by emphasizing the significance of a star like Punk, leaving fans speculating on WWE’s next move:
“A star of Punk’s caliber is not someone you easily turn away.”
Given Michaels’ close relationship with Triple H, his eagerness for Punk’s return to WWE is intriguing. Does this openness from Michaels indicate a higher possibility of CM Punk signing with WWE? Share your thoughts, Cagesiders, in the comments below.
