Shawn Michaels Calls Top WWE NXT Talent “The Epitome Of What You Want Here”

Shawn Michaels says no one works harder than one WWE NXT star who’s earned a chance to shine at No Mercy.

Dominik Mysterio was originally scheduled to face Mustafa Ali at NXT No Mercy on September 30th. Plans changed, however, when Ali was released from his WWE contract on September 21st, causing the need for a quick creative shift.

In the wake of Ali’s release, it was announced that a triple threat match would take place between Dragon Lee, Tyler Bate, and Axiom to determine a new number one contender for Dominik Mysterio’s North American Championship. However, following his victory over Joe Gacy on the same episode, Trick Williams asked to be added to the match so he could pursue gold apart from his longtime ally Carmelo Hayes. In the end, Williams was victorious in fatal four way action, securing his spot at No Mercy.

Speaking on a media call ahead of this weekend’s PLE, Shawn Michaels had high praise for Williams, saying:

“He’s the epitome of what you want here. He comes in a former college athlete, focused, does well in his role of being a sidekick of Carmelo Hayes. But you won’t find a guy who works harder than Trick. And he’s everything you want. Again, he really is. He’s a fantastic young man. He’s in extra ring every day.”

“He’s A Grinder” – Shawn Michaels On Trick Williams

Continuing, Shawn Michaels praised Williams for working extra hard to improve his in-ring skills when he’s already so talented on the microphone. According to Michaels, no one works harder, and Trick Williams wants to prove himself as a singles act in NXT.

“He’s a guy, he comes to me, ‘I’m happy with what I’m doing. But I want more Shawn, I feel like I came here to be a man to you know, to be my own man. And to be on top.’ A lot of what we are doing on television with Trick is Trick Williams’ real life. Because he wants to be his own man. He wants to stand on his own. He is willing to earn it.

“He is easily, honest, he’s easily one of the top two or three hardest workers in this place right now. He is a grinder. He’s doing everything he can. He’s soaking it in every chance he gets. He’s asking for more. When he stumbles, or he falls, you can tell him and he adjusts. He takes it like a man and doesn’t get angry. He doesn’t get his feelings hurt. He writes it down, and he never does it again.

“It’s just, he really is, I can’t say enough about his progression here. And I say that, I guess, because he’s easily a guy that could get comfortable in his role. Because he’s he’s got a gift of gab, and it’s there, and he doesn’t even have to try to do that. But the in the ring aspect of this is an area that he knew he needed to improve on. And you know, he’s just, he’s self accountable. You know what I mean? And I don’t know, I just I admire him, I think the world with him. And he’s doing fantastic.

“That’s why he’s getting this opportunity this weekend is, you know, this is Tricks first time in the big spotlight. And, you know, I’m thrilled for him, I’m excited for him. I hope he knocks it out of the park. But Trick Williams is easily one of the good guys, and one of the really good stories, and one of the reasons that I love doing this.

“He is again, I am going on about it, but it is because he’s everything that’s good in this job and makes you feel good about doing it.”

If you use any quotes from this transcription, please link back to this article with a h/t to TJR Wrestling.