Shawn Michaels Taught Early Lesson To Former WWE NXT Champion

A rising WWE star learned a valuable lesson from Shawn Michaels early in her career.

Roxanne Perez started her training as a pro wrestler when she was just 16 years old. If you are a regular NXT viewer then you have heard NXT announcer Booker T mention that a few dozen times over the years since he was one of the people who trained her.

When Perez signed with WWE in March 2022, she was only 20 years old, but she had more experience than some of the women in NXT who had no pro wrestling background before they got signed.

Shawn Michaels is a two-time WWE Hall of Famer who oversees the NXT brand as the main booker during Perez’s entire run. Michaels is also WWE’s “Senior Vice President of Talent Development, Creative” and a man who can relate to the talent very well because he is one of the best performers in WWE history.

Sometimes a wrestling legend like Michaels may have a tough time relating to younger talent, but clearly, he’s fit for the job since the NXT brand has been thriving under Michaels’ leadership.

Shawn Michaels Told Roxanne Perez To Sink Or Swim

While speaking to Fightful about her upcoming WWE Elimination Chamber match, Roxanne Perez recalled how the time of her first WWE match changed and Shawn Michaels advised her that it’s something she could learn from.

“My very first match in WWE, I wrestled Jacy Jayne, and we got time cut in that match. It was my debut for NXT and I remember Shawn Michaels telling me, ‘We’re throwing you in the deep end, you can either sink or swim.’ I think I swam and swam pretty well.

Ever since then, I think that I realized that I feel comfortable and I can’t wait to do this for the rest of my life.”

During her NXT career, Perez has been a two-time NXT Women’s Champion as both a babyface and a heel. Since she did so well in the Royal Rumble and is in the Women’s Elimination Chamber match, she may become a main roster superstar sooner rather than later.