18 Things WWE Wants You To Forget About Shawn Michaels
14. He Wasn't A Great Teacher
After retiring from active competition in 1998, Shawn Michaels decided to try his hand at training the next generation of stars. In April of 1999, Michaels opened up the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, which has since achieved legendary status.
In reality, the legend was more of a myth. Though Michaels's first class contained three future WWE superstars (Lance Cade, Brian Kendrick, and WWE World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan), "The Heartbreak Kid" was never cut out for teaching. He had a difficult time explaining the techniques he had mastered, and before long, Rudy Boy Gonzalez took over training duties at the school. It was Gonzalez who taught future graduates Paul London and Hernandez.
Even Bryan, who will always stand as Michaels's most successful pupil, has credited most of his success to William Regal. At only 18 years of age, Bryan - at Michaels's behest - was signed to a WWE contract. While working in developmental territory Memphis Championship Wrestling, Regal took "The American Dragon" under his wing and continued the youngster's education. One only need watch a single Bryan match to see that there's more of a William Regal influence to his style than one from Michaels.