-the doctor says that 1 week after the surgery, shawn is better than most and is having a better recovery.

-the doc says shawn is going to rest for a week or so and then start physical therapy and an exercise program.

-shawn says it is kind of difficult for him to sit still since he is usually active.

-shawn says when you see 4 bolts and a titanium plate in your back, that it is easier to listen after never having been through anything like that.

-shawn says they tried to solve the back problems way before the surgery with physical therapy which made it feel better but it was still not healing.

-shawn says he will do whatever the doc tells him to do.

-the doc says that shawn's muscles are stronger and he is in better physical condition than most so he will be able to do more earlier.

-shawn says that a friend called him after the surgery to see how he was doing and the friend says he could remember shawn complaing about his back 5 years ago.

-shawn says he was always getting chiropracticwork done. he says after the January match he woke up 3 days later and couldn't move. he met his doc who did the surgery on a stretcher in the hospital.

-the doc described the surgery.

-the doc says for shawn not to wrestle.

-shawn says he was done wrestling even before the surgery. he says it was an easy decision with the circumstances that came with it.

-shawn says that there is hardly any pain right now, and he feels great.

-he says he 's been waiting forever to put his spurs season tickets to use, go to malls, movies, eat out-things he's missed in the last 14 years.

-shawn says he'll come back to be the commishioner when the doc says it's ok. shawn is comfortable right now with what's going on.

-shawn says that he was on the net reading that his back surgery was a failure and that he was paralyzed and this was 1 week before the surgery.

-shawn says he hasn't talked to marty for a year and a half now, but he gave his new number to a mutual friend to give to marty. shawn thinks that doing something together with marty would be "fun to do."

-shawn explained how they left on not good terms but now they are friends after marty called him and they talked a while back.

-shawn has several deals for acting and after he is healed, he is going to LA to talk to some people.

-shawn says he is "computer friendly" and has his own personal email and likes to hop on the net and browse.

-shawn says that fake is never an appropriate term for wrestling.

-he says the story lines are fake, but the physical aspect is real.

-he went on to mention that they told Rodman and Malone that they do this over 200 days a year and they said no way because it was very physical and tiring.

-he says he's not going to have some big hoopla retirement on tv because he's not leaving the sport, just active wrestling.

-he talked about how a lot of wrestler's have to worry if they get put out of active wrestling because of finances but he is fortunate enough to be pretty well off.

-he didn't really openly say what would happen with D-X when he came back, just that he would do things as a commish that a lot of people would like and a lot wouldn't.

-he says that with the corp. from a tv standpoint, he's going to make things as tough on them as possible when he comes back.

-he says that him and Vince are very good friends and have been very loyal to each other for the past 10 years.

-he went on to say that vince even offered him an extension on his contract before he went into surgery just to put his mind at ease so he wouldn't be worried about being out of a job.

-he talked about how he won't be worth as much if he can't wrestle and he's aware of that but he likes the fact that Vince offered.

-he says he didn't take the contract extension because he doesn't know what he'll want to do in 2 years with the opening of his school and all. (obviously he only has 2 years left in his current contract)

-he says the wrestling school is set to open April 1st and wwf.com will post something on it with a 800 number to call and such. the school will be for wrestlers, managers and they have already had a girl call about the school.

-the location will be in San Antonio and will hopefully have a wwf backing.

-hopefully in march his website will be up to know about the school and him (he jokingly adds after that if anybody still wants to know anything about him.)

-Jose Lothario will be 2nd in charge (head trainer).

-he says Jose taught him how to handle yourself and hold yourself up more than about wrestling.

-shawn said that wrestling was a people's sport and that they've always said it's sports entertainment.

-he said they have a Melrose Place storyline and even had a writer jump from fox tv to write for them.

-he was asked what kind of fan in particular he notices and he said that he chuckles at the "closet fan". the guy who watches wrestling from the time he wakes up and and then sees him in a mall and says, i don't know who you are but can i have your autograph for a friend." and shawn says, and i'm like you don't know who i am but you can pick me out of a crowd of 100 or so people?

-on the subject of WCW, shawn talks about how raw has been kicking nitro's butt in the ratings and how wrestler's don't care who's winning, it's the people in the offices that care.

-shawn told how Kevin Nash called him the other day and told him how Eric Bishoff told him he wanted Nash to start taking shots at the WWF and Nash said I don't know, you write me out big enough check and I'll see what i can do.

-he says his point is that wrestler's don't want to say anything about the other company, because they might want to work there in the future.

-the doc says to please hurry with the questions, he has to take another x-ray of shawn's back and he also doesn't want shawn getting too tired.

-the interviewer asks shawn if he has a personal message for the fans and shawn says yes, definetly. he says, i've wrestled for you for 14 years and that it is nice that everyone has written in, sent to the wwf, and to my parents house, and to the San Antionio Express. I'm glad to see it. I was always concerned with what wrestling fans thought of me and it was very, very nice that everyone appreciates it and i can just step out. the fans were always there to support me through everything. As long as I'm cared for and loved by them, that's all that matters."

During a stellar World Wrestling Federation career that ranks him as the only superstar to achieve Grand Slam status, the Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels is ready to give back that knowledge to athletes looking to make it in the sport.

The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, which begins classes on April 1, is a new venture by HBK and longtime mentor Jose Lothario based out of San Antonio, Texas. Joining Shawn and Jose as trainers will be Rudy Gonzalez and longtime veteran Ken Johnson, who helped Lothario train Michaels in the early 80s.

"You must be 18 years or older and have the burn in your heart to make it in this business in order to succeed at the school," Shawn told us in a phone interview on Tuesday afternoon. "Students will be able to choose from a full-time three month course or part-time six month course," he added.

According to the acting Commissioner, the setting for the school will be the facility Shawn trained at for his WrestleMania XII "Iron Man" match. As you might recall, this is the same location Shawn and Jose were featured in during several vignettes shot prior the Pay-Per-View.

For athletes looking to get information on how to enter the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, HBK told us that he is finalizing a P.O. Box address as well as a 1-900 line that will both have full details on how to join. WWF.COM will post that information for the internet community as soon as we get it from Shawn.

As far as his condition following surgery, Michaels told WWF.COM writer Lou Gianfriddo on Tuesday that he's "feeling like a new man" and currently has no pain in his back. He is also currently taking part in swimming and light aerobics, and is awaiting doctor's permission to begin light weight training.

Michaels and Lothario are also currently running several wrestling shows in the Lone Star State under the banner of the Texas Wrestling Alliance, with the following shows running February 17-21:

February 17 Seguin, TX (8 PM) 18 Beeville, TX (8 PM) 19 San Antonio, TX 20 Harlington, TX 21 McAllen, TX (2 PM)

Local talent appearing on the above cards include Kaientai member Sho Funaki, Pete Lothario (son of Jose). 7-foot South African newcomer Big Mack, Judge Doom, Handsome Halfbreed and "Mad Dog" Johnson. Prior to each show, Shawn Michaels will be signing autographs!

Transcript from Shawn Michaels' appearance on 4 San Antonio Living 2-10-99. Tanji Patton is the host of the morning show here in San Antonio. Show starts with video clip of Shawn Michaels wrestling in WWF with voice over by Tanji Patton.

TP: Up next on Living a ring side rumble. Wrestling is big business now and one of wrestling's biggest stars ever will join us live. And yes ladies, he's single.

TP: Good Morning everyone, take a look at this.( Holding up a WCW doll of Diamond Dallas Page, presses a button to hear him talk) Can you hear it? Latest toy craze from toy biz, and wrestling is big right now. This is a bashing brawler. We're gonna talk wrestling a little bit this morning with one of it's biggest stars. He's just retired, Shawn Michaels the Heart Break Kid is here live. He'll talk to us and take your phone calls. And we have a surprise phone call from one of the biggest names in the entire sport of wrestling. We'll find out who that is, our mystery caller in just a few minutes.

TP: Ladies you know, they call him the Heart Break Kid, he's tall, single, and says he has a sensitive side. Very different from how the world sees him in the ring. Look at this. (video of Shawn's opening music with him wrestling Goldust, the building being demolished, posing with HHH and Chyna...etc)

TP: Join me in welcoming Shawn Michaels to the show. He's going to take your phone calls. You may have questions about what it's really like in the ring.... When you see that of yourself prancing around and dancing in the ring, is that really you?

HBK: I love that Steve Michaels. I mean Shawn Michaels. Here I am in my home town, we got competition's dolls on the table, we got a guy calling me Steve (the weather man earlier had called Shawn, Steve Michaels), I gotta be the most popular guy in town.

TP: Well, I know you are, well we're giving away toys later, but I didn't know you have a toy. You have a toy too, show us yours. (Shawn reaches in his coat pocket and pulls out his HBK figure and hold it up.)

HBK: This is mine, actually, I have a wrestling buddy. We have all sorts of these toys. Mine's the one that always wins. Mines's the one that's on top.

TP: Now you recently retired. Back surgery.

HBK: Yes

TP: And is that from all the tossing and tumbling? It has to be.

HBK: Yes, that is from 15 years of having 300 pound guys just toss me from one side of the ring to the other. For a business that everyone is sure that they know all the answers to, (Shawn's name appeared on the screen spelled as SEAN) it is the most grueling thing that I've ever been through. So it was a wonderful, wonderful career. But, uh, 200 plus days, you know, a year, on the road at different live events all over the world, and it takes its toll on your body.

TP: Look, we've got some pictures I want to show you....while we're talking to Shawn. Because, everyone talks about wrestling as being, and they gets onto me for bringing up this word, FAKE, call it what ever you want , you have got to be an unbelievable athlete to get in the ring and do the thing you guys do.

HBK: Yeah, it's again, we're geared towards sports entertainment. That's something now the World Wrestling Federation makes no bones about. We tell people we're sports entertainment... But anyone who knows anything about athletics or any professional sport knows that this is not something that just any guy off the street can do. It takes, you know, specially trained athletes to do this.

TP: Well you can see why you had back problems. All the guys, I would imagine it is a fairly common affliction.

HBK: Yeah, backs, backs and knees are the first things to go. Then of course your neck is right after that. It is, I mean, you're getting tossed around, on a mat, you know, like I said, 200 plus days a year. A lot of people are under the impression that when they see us on TV or they see us at the PPV, that those are the only times that we wrestle. And that's not exactly the case. The World Wrestling Federation and its Superstars are on the road two hundred and fifty some odd days a year. Putting up live events plus personal appearances, your body gets tired, and of course it gets tossed around, and it is gonna hurt.

TP: We've already got a caller on the line. A lot of women probably calling in. Go ahead.

Caller: Hello?, I just basically wanted to know, I know he's been out for a while, he's been injured and uh, I just really hope that sometime he will return in any way shape or form to the WWF. I do see him alot locally, on TV and we just always enjoyed his shows. He's a great entertainer, I mean everybody at the WWF. It's good entertainment. We just really enjoyed every Monday night. I don't even cook, we order a pizza or pick up burgers and basically we have a good time. And it's basically brought the family together.

TP: You know we were talking about that, Shawn, a minute ago...and that being the core audience of this thing if you go to the wrestling matches.... there are family people there.

HBK: Yes

TP: And yet the sport takes a little bit of criticism, the profession, because it's kind of going in the direction .... the women hardly wearing anything, the language has gotten kind of rough.... Do you think they are going to snap and say, you know, if the families are our audience we're going to tone it down or do you think it's going to go more Springerish?

HBK: Well, they will certainly go where the fans takes them and to be perfectly honest, the direction of the World Wrestling Federation is going is where the fans HAVE taken it. And I don't know whether people want to call it raunchy or not appropriate, I mean, at this date, the family gets together, they watch, because I think the people understand we are out there having fun. I think the last thing people should do is take myself and the World Wrestling Federation too seriously. I mean, I would never tell someone, let Shawn Michaels or Steve Austin or the Undertaker raise your children. But certainly let them enjoy us for what we are doing and that is what we are doing. We're out there entertaining and having fun. You let your children watch Clint Eastwood, Clint Eastwood isn't really Dirty Harry. And I wish to God I got as many girls in real life as the Heart Break Kid does, but it doesn't happen.

TP: Do you have a girlfriend now?

HBK: NO, no, I actually, I can't seem to keep em.

TP: Well, I'm sure we have some volunteers... Rebecca's on the phone right now and I think she has a question.

Caller: First of all, I think you're such a Babe.

HBK: Oh, well, thank you.

Caller: And second, are you really commissioner from the WWF?

HBK: Yes, yes I am the commissioner. I'm still the commissioner. I went out with back surgery, but I believe that Sunday or Monday I will be coming back. I'm the commissioner, I'm the only guy in the World Wrestling Federation that Vince McMahon, my boss, has no control over.

TP: Ahhhh!!!! Wait a minute Shawn.

HBK: That is like a dream come true... I don't have to listen to my boss....And of course Steve Austin, now Steve is supposed to, but, you can't tell Steve what to do. So....

TP: Hey, we've got someone that's gonna differ with you right now. I think Vince McMahon is on the phone with us live.

HBK: Who??? Who?

TP: Your boss!

Vince: You remember Mr. McMahon don't you Shawn?

HBK: Does not ring a bell.....Now I got "Vin-Man", yeah, I got "Vin-Man"...

Vince: Yeah, we'll go by that name.

HBK: OK

Vince: I'll accept "Vin-Man", if you'll accept "Steve" (reference to the weather man calling Shawn by the wrong name earlier).

HBK: If I'll accept "Steve". (laughing) All right McMahon, that's it!

Vince: Who was that yo-yo restaurant reviewer anyhow?

HBK: That's Mike Hernandez (the weatherman), Vince, and here I am, I'm from this town, and whats he do? He calls me Steve.

Vince: Oh my God.

TP: Hey Vince, you've got something, your differences with Shawn aside, you've got a big thing, is it coming up this weekend Shawn?

HBK: This Sunday, St.Valentines Day Massacre. And I don't want to say anything, but, I think my boss is gonna get massacred.

Vince: You know, you had a hand in this.

HBK: A little.

Vince: Yeah, a little, yeah, alot. But I think even you are gonna be surprised, Mr.Michaels, as to the outcome of this event. Because there are gonna be alot of surprises.

HBK: Well, the thing is, what's gonna happen is, Stone Cold Steve Austin is gonna have my boss, all the Superstars' boss, inside a steel cage, and Steve is gonna do what every employee in the world wants to do. And that is take their boss and thrash him from one side of the ring to the other and I.......

TP: An employees' dream.

HBK: An employees' dream, and poor Vin-Man is gonna be left there in a lump on PPV this weekend

TP: Vince, before you respond, I think that weather guy you were talking about wants to say something to Shawn, and I would bet it's an apology. Mike.....

MH: Let me tell you what happened Shawn. I went to, I was passing by Tanji's desk, and I saw Stone Cold Steve Austin, the name, written on there, and we said at the beginning of the show that we were gonna have a mystery caller, so that name stuck in my head when I started talking. You know how live television is.

HBK: Exactly....

MH: But in any case, I'm a big fan and I've watched the WWF for years and I am disturbed about some of the changes like we were just talking about earlier. Kinda going away from the family fun. But I watched during the Hulk Hogan years, my kids grew up watching, I've watched you through the years, so I really appreciate all you've done for the sport. I've seen it since I was a kid. We used to have what we call the wrestlethon in San Antonio, and my uncle was a referee there, so the time I was 5 or 6 we would go and watch the wrestlers, we got to meet them all, Bearcat Wright, Toru Tanaka, all those guys.

TP: OK, you've made up Mike..... I want to thank Vince McMahon and remind everyone, the wrestling fans....but before we let you go, I did want to talk about, you've got a new project.

HBK: Yes

TP: You want kids who want to do wrestling to have a place to learn how to do it.

HBK: Well, when I was 18, after I graduated high school, this was my dream. My aspiration to become a professional wrestler, and there was no one that I could go to, no place that I could go to learn how to do this. So, the man that took the time to train me was Jose Lothario, he is a legend here in south Texas. And he took the time to train me and get me started in professional wrestling. And now Jose and myself wanna do the same for other people that have the same dreams and aspirations that I had. So Jose and I are gonna be starting the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy here in San Antonio Texas. Hopefully on April 1st we'll have everything under way, and maybe we can come back here and give you the 900 number and the p.o. box and all that kind of stuff so that we can give people the chance that I didn't have when I was wanting to learn.

TP: And on the video we were just looking at , you and Randy Beamer spent some time together yesterday, and we are going to see more about your gym on "Beamers World" tomorrow night on News 4 San Antonio at 10pm

HBK: Yes.

TP: And I want you to come back. And we're gonna put an address up for you, if anyone is interested in the Wrestling Academy. Shawn Michaels's Wrestling Academy P.O.Box 461348 San Antonio, Tx 78249. Now Shawn, can wanna be girlfriends drop you at line to that number as well?

HBK: Well, I mean, who would I be to say no?

TP: Well, we've all seen the video of you gyrating across the ring.....

HBK: Oh yeah, my mom loves that.(Shawn rolls his eyes and grins)

TP: I'm sure she does.. Thank you so much, best of luck to you, and I hope you'll come back when the gym is futher along.

HBK: I certainly will.

TP: We'll follow the progress of that. Now the WWF is the big wrestling match on Sunday.

(During the whole interview Shawn was playing with a rubber band)

The Commissioner of the WWF, Shawn Michaels called into Byte This. He said that his back feels very good. He has been exercising a lot lately, and he feels like a new man. HBK said that he felt instant relief from the pain off his back after the surgery. HBK said if Mankind gets enough names on the petitions, he will consider him being the 2nd referee in the main event at WrestleMania XV. He joked and said now he is in L.A. having a great time and shagging this lady everytime he gets. HBK said that he has even more respect now for Vince McMahon has a promoter. Michaels is part of the booking team for the Texas Wrestling Alliance, and he said that its a unique challenge, and he has had a lot of fun so far. HBK said that his Showstopper promotion made around 30,000 in its first week. On March 19, he will be opening up a new building in San Antonio, Texas, for his promotion. Michaels said that from time to time there will be some WWF guys, coming down to wrestle his guys. Shawn Michaels kept on dissing Lucas throughout his interview. Shawn then talked about his wrestling academy. He said that orientation starts on April 1st., and classes start on the 4th. His school will be training both men and women, and training them for any kind of position they want like wrestler, referee, etc He will open up, 1-900-32-TRAIN, next week, for information on his wrestling school. HBK also mentioned that unlike any other wrestling school, Vince McMahon will be taking a first-hand look at all the students. They will also have a chance to perform in-front of live audiences. He might also be trying to find the "next" Shawn Michaels, since he is definitly not like he use to be. He mentioned that as a booker for the T.W.A. will try and not lose his temper that much as he use too he said that Vince McMahon very little lost his temper and kept his cool when dealing with Shawn, and all the other wrestlers.HBK said that WrestleMania 10 and 12 are the ones that stick out in his mind, but they are all very special. He said probably one of the most important things to a pro wrestler is being part in a WrestleMania. Caller asked HBK which wrestlers in the WWF that remind of him of himself. HBK said that Billy Gunn and Road Dogg have a lot of potential, but there is a huge list of wrestlers. HBK also said that there is this one guy who he hopes comes to the WWF, since he will become a huge star, and that guy is Chris Jericho. (Wow, Chris Jericho has been mentioned on every Byte This, someway or another for the past month.) Michaels said that he respects the Hardy Boys, and they are very similar to way The Rockers were. Shawn Michaels thinks there are a ton of wrestlers who are doing very well standing on their own. HBK said he is always interested in going into acting however everytime he wants to do something like that, there always something bigger that he is more interested in doing. He said that after he gets the promotion running smoothly, and he feels he is ready, he might think about getting into acting. The the interview was over. He was on for about 20 minutes.

The 1-900 # will open the first week in March. The # is 1-900-32-TRAIN.

For a $5.00 fee (check or money order)sent to Shawn's wrestling school you will get brochures and other litature on the school.

Shawn Articles Part 4 Go to part 4 of HBK articles

Shawn Articles Part 2 Back to part 2 of HBK articles

Shawn Articles Part 1 Back to part 1 of HBK articles

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