Shawn Michaels appeared on today’s episode of Games with Names hosted by NFL veteran, 3x Super Bowl Champion and Super Bowl LIII MVP, Julian Edelman with comedian and lifelong sports fan, Sam Morril. The following was sent to us:
In this week’s episode, Julian and Sam sit down with the 4x WWE World Champion, 2x Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, Shawn Michaels. Shawn unpacks his iconic 1996 WrestleMania XII – the first televised Iron Man match in WWE history – including where things stand between him and his opponent Bret Hart today. He also shares his views on Hulk Hogan and The Rock vs. more classic “Wrestler’s Wrestlers” and the more performative aspect of his illustrious wrestling career.
EPISODE LINK: “Iron Man Match” with Shawn Michaels | Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels
[00:13:30] JULIAN REMEMBERS BELICHICK RETELLING THE STORY OF WHEN THE BROWNS LEFT CLEVELAND
“I just always remember [Bill] Belichik referencing this whole thing and how it all went down – it was such a sh–t show. They literally moved in the middle of the night, in the middle of the season they tell everyone they are going to go to Baltimore… They were saying that when they were driving in to work for practice, people were picketing, throwing shit at the car – like it was their fault, because they were so mad to lose the team.”
[00:30:55] JULIAN PRAISES SHAWN MICHAELS’ PLAYGIRL SPREAD; SAYS HE WOULD NOT DO PLAYGIRL
“Shawn did the “Playgirl” spread…I did the body issue for ESPN – I wouldn’t do “Playgirl” though.”
[00:41:00] JULIAN USED TO GO OUT WITH MOJO RAWLEY AND GRONKOWSKI IN MIAMI, SAYING “THESE GUYS ARE MANIACS”
“I used to hang out with Gronk’s boy, Mojo. This was before he was in the actual league…We used to go out in Miami together – these guys are maniacs.”
[00:46:00] SHAWN COMPARES HIS DRUG USE AND PARTYING IN WWE TO “A ROCKSTAR LIFESTYLE”
“We made time for that! The one thing is that there was always after the show. Clearly at this point in my career, I was at least good at waiting until after the show. I would get to a point where it was anytime of day, if I felt like it. It was a rockstar lifestyle! It could be a lot of fun and you could be the life of the party, a pretty popular guy – it was not a bad gig.”
[00:51:50] SHAWN PROUDLY SAYS HE HAS NEVER SHAVED HIS BODY, AFTER JULIAN AND SAM PRAISE HIS HAIRY CHEST
“I’ve never shaved my legs, my chest – thank goodness, my wife does my back now. I was never a bodybuilder.”
[00:52:15] SHAWN SAYS HE COPIED KEVIN NASH AND SCOTT HALL’S DIET AND EXERCISE
“I never knew much about diet and training, I just hung out with the guys, I ate the same thing they ate, and I’d train around the same time and with them. I can remember one time getting really big and heavy and Kevin Nash and Scott Hall used to look at me and say ‘Hey Shawn, we’re 280-290, you can’t match us meal for meal and beer for beer. You’re 215, you can’t eat that much!’ I can eat – I have a repressed fat kid living inside of me that I’ve tried to keep slim over the years. I never knew that much about it. I wasn’t as bright in the gym as the other guys were – I was never a gym rat.”
[00:56:50] SHAWN SAYS WWE’S PERFORMANCE ELEMENT TURNED HIM FROM A MACHO WRESTLER INTO THIS DUDE WEARING ASSLESS CHAPS; THE MORE HE DID IT, THE BETTER IT FELT
“When I was going through this process of the song [“Sexy Boy”], and my character, and everything else – in the theater in your mind, you’re picturing yourself a bit more manly. I figured it would be more of kind of a rougher tougher ass-kicking-type guy. Then all of a sudden, I turned into this dude wearing assless chaps and shaking my ass and dancing and half-stripteasing and stuff like that. The more I did it, the more natural and the better it felt. I could unleash and be whatever I wanted, but I never imagined it would be that way.”
[00:58:45] SHAWN AND BRET HART COMPLETED THE IRON MAN MATCH IN 1996 TO GAIN A BADGE OF HONOR WITH THE OLDER WRESTLERS
“I know that this was something that Pat Patterson wanted – to have an iron man match. Brett and I felt like we were the two guys that could do it, but at that time in the business, having an hour match on pay per view is a huge ask. Can you keep them interested for an hour?…From the old school guys, there was always a badge of honor that you wore if you could go out here and do an hour. Growing up in the business, you would hear stories from guys, Flair, Harley Race, Jack Brisco… It was one of those things you wanted to be able to say in 1996.”
[01:03:13] SHAWN ANSWERS WHETHER HE RESPECTS A “WRESTLER’S WRESTLER” LIKE BRET HART OVER HULK HOGAN
“At that time, you do because you’re into that version of wrestling. Over time I have come to understand and appreciate what it is to draw money – period. This business doesn’t get where it’s at now without guys like Hulk Hogan, Steve Austin, and The Rock. I think there’s a number of us – that was a time where we felt that it was more about work rate than it was just being a big name.”
[01:06:45] JULIAN AGREES WITH SHAWN THAT PLAYING ON THE ROAD AND BEING THE “BAD GUY” IS MORE FUN
“Everyone always asked me if I loved playing at Foxborough. I loved playing on the road! You go play at New York and these fans are throwing dildos on the field – that’s the kind of sh–t I used to love… I would embrace my inner superstar wrestler mentality and put myself in a mindset, like I’m a villain.”
[01:22:00] SHAWN’S RELATIONSHIP WITH BRET IS IN A ‘FANTASTIC SPOT’ AFTER YEARS OF FEUDING
“We saw each other at WrestleMania and it was unbelievably nice – very pleasant. We are both in a great place in my life. I think he knows how important it is for us to be where we’re at. Bret’s always had a very calming presence about him and he always pats me on the shoulder and very quietly says, ‘We’re good Shawn, we’re good.’ And I know that he means that…Personally and professionally, I think we’re at a fantastic spot, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”
About Julian Edelman
Former New England Patriot and Super Bowl LIII MVP, Julian has continued his success off the field as a producer, content creator, TV personality, and co-founder of Coast Productions. Having played in some of the most iconic games of the last decade, Julian will bring an unmatched level of experience and a motivated social media audience.
About Sam Morril
Sam’s an OG New Yorker and one of the fastest-rising stand up comics in the game. His latest hour standup special Same Time Tomorrow premieres on Netflix September 1st and he recently appeared on the streamer’s hit series That’s My Time with David Letterman, where the iconic latenight host invited some of the hottest new stand-up stars to perform a set and sit down for a chat. Sam’s last three standup specials (I Got This, Up on the Roof, Full Capacity) collectively have over 13 Million YouTube views. Paste Magazine declared I Got This one of the best specials of the year and The New York Times included Up On The Roof in their list of “Best Comedy of 2020.” CNN praised it as “one of the very best and most creative standup shows to come out of the coronavirus pandemic.” In addition to his standup work, Morril hosted his own show on MSG called People Talking Sports, which ran for two seasons and received an NY Emmy® nomination for Best Interviewer. So what if he didn’t hoop past JCC ball? He’s hilarious. As a comedian, podcast veteran, lifelong sports fan, and Knicks lifer, Sam brings a die-hard perspective and plenty of humor.
About Coast Productions
Founded in 2017 by NFL veteran Julian Edelman and creative director Assaf Swissa, Coast came to life with the mission of creating a unique counterculture that paired athletes with great storytelling. Since bringing the feature documentary, 100%: Julian Edelman to Showtime, Coast has focused on developing film, television, and podcasts within their first look deal with Paramount Global.
About Superdigital
Superdigital™ is an independent creative company that delivers award winning, social first, integrated campaigns to our global clients. We work with consumer brands, athletes, influencers, and other fun and famous types, developing innovative content that engages audiences.
