Shawn Michaels and Triple H are unquestionably two of the biggest names in professional wrestling, having been involved in a whole host of the biggest names, winning 18 world championships between them and main eventing multiple Wrestlemanias.



The DX stablemates, who produced gripping work as friends and foes in WWE, have achieved so much in the squared circle.

But these days, though Triple H does occasionally return the ring, the pair's predominant focus is behind the scenes and producing the show.

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The Game, real name Paul Levesque is WWE's Executive Vice President Talent, Live Events & Creative and his long-time tag team partner and close friend HBK is a coach and vital cog in his NXT machine.

Michaels is viewed by many as the greatest performer to ever step foot in a ring, regularly putting on show-stealing performances in the 90's and 2000's.

However, in his new role, he gets a different type of joy from seeing talents down in NXT, and in the newly announced UK brand, grow as performers and watch their stock rise.

NXT UK, a new UK series featuring the greatest competitors from the UK and Ireland. The UK Championship title, plus two new Championships - the UK Women's Championship title and UK Tag Team Championship titles - will be on the line. #NXTUK pic.twitter.com/Uehw7B6U2j - WWE UK (@WWEUK) June 18, 2018

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Asked how much satisfaction he and Triple H get from seeing shows like we saw over the incredible two days of action at Royal Albert Hall, Michaels told SPORTbible:

"Tonnes. It's funny because I'm less comfortable out there than I've ever been, I look at it and I think to myself, 'My goodness, the WWE and wrestling business as a whole are in such good hands' - I am thrilled with the talent coming through.

"It's awesome to go out there and tear the house down, especially to do it with your buddies - but taking a role and watching someone else - and you know very well it's their dream too because you felt the same thing, come back after they've tore the house down and see them hugging each other - we're like two giddy schoolkids at those Takeovers sitting at the back!

"We're popping and jumping up and down in our seats because it's just so fantastic. It's hard to beat."

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Ever since calling time on his career after a classic match with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania 26, the 52-year old has regularly been asked whether he would consider a return to the ring if the right opportunity came about.

Image: WWE

But during a rare press conference in London ahead of the second night of the WWE United Kingdom Championship tournament event, Michaels poured cold water on the talk and said he simply wouldn't be able to wrestle like he did in his peak years.

"To put me in a Singles Match at WrestleMania, I was always thrilled to do it but it's very strenuous, it's very anxious, there's a lot that goes into it; the anxiety," he explained.

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"Once you get in there, and especially when you're done, it's phenomenal but the getting ready for it is 100 per cent work and I don't want to put myself or my family through that to go out there and try to steal the show at 52 for God's sakes.

"So let's just say I did it and the match was phenomenal, the reality is this hairline is still what it is. It's all out and it's sweaty.

"You're still gonna bust my chops because I've got no way not to expose to you that I'm 52. I don't mean it in a bad way, but you want me to nip up and have everything look as if it was 1996 or '97 - and that's never going to happen, because Father Time waits on no man.