Shawn Michaels On What WWE Looks For At Tryouts, Why Pacific Islanders Do Well In WWE

WWE is holding tryouts in Hawaii next month, and Shawn Michaels recently weighed in on why people from the Pacific Islands tend to do well in WWE. The company is holding the tryouts when they come to Hawaii for live events on October 16th and 17th.

Michaels, the head of WWE NXT, spoke with KNON2 for a new interview and discussed the tryouts. You can see highlights below:

On What WWE Looks For in Prospective Talent:

“Well again, we always talk about that ‘IT’ factor. And you can’t really define that, because it is something very different for everybody. Whether it’s athletic ability, whether it’s natural charisma, or just a very outgoing personality. I mean, it really is different for each and every individual.”

On Why Pacific Islands Talent Do So Well In WWE:

“I have to be honest: if we knew the answer to that, we would have been there 24/7, nonstop. Look, I’ll tell you what. Certainly just from a personal standpoint, no matter who I was in the ring with, as you mentioned. Whether it was Yokozuna, Afa and Sika, Haku and Barbarian, the athletic ability, just the natural ability to adapt to what it is we do, was just amazing.

“And look, that’s what makes the Bloodline so huge in our industry, because it’s real. There is an authentic Bloodline there, and I’m telling you — I think everybody wishes they knew the answer to that, because it works every single time. And it’s just been huge, and had overall success in our industry. And I tell you what — again, I think that’s why everybody is so excited about this tryout. Because we really feel like that’s something tangible, that if we can get a hold of another one or two young individuals that have that in their pipeline, it’s just something that’s just turned out to be huge from a WWE standpoint and from a success standpoint.”

On the Authenticity Of Pacific Island Stars:

“There’s a genuineness there from a personality standpoint. There’s a very quiet, unbelievably humorous side to so many of the individuals that you mentioned. Again, you’re talking about real dynamic personalities that are so well-rounded. And look, I think it’s a beautiful, beautiful thing. And when we’re able to tap into that from a WWE standpoint — again, you can see the success on the brand as a whole with what it’s created. Obviously from a WWE standpoint, we’d love to have more of it.”

If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit KNON2 with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.