Rumors have been swirling for several weeks about a possible match between Shawn Michaels and AJ Styles at the Royal Rumble, but that won't happen if Seth Rollins has to say anything about it.
Appearing on an episode of The Gorilla Position podcast earlier this week, Rollins said that he also wanted a match with Michaels if the Heartbreak Kid was going to come out of retirement. Furthermore, Rollins did not think the Royal Rumble -- which takes place in Michaels' hometown of San Antonio -- was the right place for an HBK return match.
“If he’s ever coming out of retirement it better be at WrestleMania. Kudos to AJ for giving it a shot but he can take a backseat,” Rollins said. "I would like that match before he gets his hands on Shawn. A lot of people would pay good money to see Shawn and AJ .Me and AJ might have to fight it out. Winner gets Shawn.”
Rollins also was asked if he considered himself similar to Michaels.
"I’ve always fancied myself as the guy who can do it all pretty well,” Rollins admitted. “I don’t see myself in the ring as a high flyer or brawler or technical guy, but I feel I can do everything, work with everybody, and bring out the best in different people. “I would never compare myself to him, but like a Shawn Michaels, a guy who can do everything. I’ve always prided myself on doing different types of matches with different opponents.”
Michaels has not wrestled since March of 2010, when he lost to the Undertaker in the main event of WrestleMania XXVI in a career vs. streak match. Since then, Michaels has remained adamant about staying retired, although he did referee a Hell in a Cell match between Triple H and Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVIII two years later and, last spring, appeared at WrestleMania XXXII with Mick Foley and Steve Austin during an in-ring confrontation with the League of Nations.
Michaels has moved to Orlando and has been working at the WWE Performance Center for a couple of months.
