A big change in the WWE Performance Center is going down, and it involves WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels.
According to Jason Solomon, Michaels has joined the coaching staff at the WWE Performance Center. Michaels is relocating to Orlando, and is taking over the “finishing class” previously run by Terry Taylor. Taylor recently had neck surgery and was unable to continue coaching the class as he recovered.
It is also reported that NXT coaches Sara Del Rey and Adam Pearce will be leaving their positions at the WWE Performance Center, as they will be taking producer positions with the main roster. WWE will now be looking to add to the Performance Center staff. They recently brought in Scotty Too Hotty and Stevie Richards for guest coaching spots. That is how Adam Pearce got his job with the company when he signed a contract to become a full-time trainer in 2015.
This isn't the first time Shawn Michaels has been a wrestling coach before. He opened the Texas Wrestling Academy (formerly known as The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy) in 1998 and trained guys like Daniel Bryan, Brian Kendrick, Lance Cade, and more. Michaels retired from in-ring competition back in 2010 after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26. Michaels’ last WWE appearance came at WrestleMania 32 when he, Mick Foley, and “Stone Cold” Steve Austin showed up after The New Day's match with The League of Nations ended.
Del Rey had been working as a trainer in NXT since 2012 and got promoted to assistant head coach in 2015.