{"id":224609,"date":"2026-11-03T11:48:38","date_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:48:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=224609"},"modified":"2026-11-03T11:48:38","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:48:38","slug":"parkss-take-the-initial-pros-and-cons-of-possible-candidates-to-succeed-shawn-michaels-as-head-of-nxt-when-that-day-comes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/11\/03\/parkss-take-the-initial-pros-and-cons-of-possible-candidates-to-succeed-shawn-michaels-as-head-of-nxt-when-that-day-comes\/","title":{"rendered":"PARKS&#8217;S TAKE: The initial pros and cons of possible candidates to succeed Shawn Michaels as head of NXT when that day comes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-3276166262\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Longtime WWE creative lieutenant Bruce Prichard is expected to retire from his full-time executive director gig after Wrestlemania 2027.<\/p>\n<p>While reports are that he will stay on in a consultant capacity, his role will need to be filled. Mike Johnson at PWInsider reported that Shawn Michaels would replace him in that role (a report that Wade Keller clarified in his <a href=\"https:\/\/vip.pwtorch.com\/2026\/10\/29\/vip-podcast-10-29-wkh-the-news-taz-upset-over-announce-desk-bump-latest-on-crown-jewel-location-is-shawn-michaels-really-replacing-bruce-prichard-nxt-leadership-succession-plans-more-20-min\/\">Oct. 29 Wade Keller News Hotline<\/a> last week, including why Prichard kept his position unexpectedly after Vince McMahon&#8217;s departure, what he actually does, who already replaces him when he misses TV dates, why he&#8217;s retiring from his post, and perspective on the Michaels situation).<\/p>\n<p>If Michaels moves to the main roster, he would be leaving NXT behind for a main roster role working closely with his longtime friend, Paul Levesque. That would require someone to head NXT creative to replace Michaels. A couple of current and former WWE talent have been suggested as either replacing Michaels or gaining influence behind the scenes in NXT when Michaels leaves. Here&#8217;s a look at the top contenders, based on reporting:<\/p>\n<p>-A.J. Styles: Since his retirement, Styles has been a frequent guest of NXT as well as a scout of prospective talent. Styles&#8217;s creative chops haven&#8217;t been tested in any significant way, so this would be a lot of responsibility so soon after leaving the ring. If this was happening five years into the future, I could see Styles potentially replacing Michaels. Doing so in just a few months time seems like a lot to ask.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Raw: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/wwe-raw-post-show-11-2-keller-machado-talk-liv-vs-becky-sami-vs-je-von-mitb-cash-in-teases-cena-gable-vs-ethan-for-ic-title--76147892\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"WWE RAW POST-SHOW (11\/2): Keller &amp; Machado talk Liv vs. Becky, Sami vs. Je'Von, MITB cash-in teases, Cena, Gable vs. Ethan for IC Title\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=76147892&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>-Bayley: It feels like Bayley&#8217;s best days as a performer are behind her, although she is still a valuable member of the main roster. Would she be ready to take a step back from that to gain increased power behind the scenes in NXT? Given how many women are rostered in NXT, it wouldn&#8217;t be a bad idea to have a woman in a position of creative power, something we haven&#8217;t seen a lot of inside the walls of WWE without the name &#8220;McMahon&#8221; attached. Bayley has shown a keen interest in training talent with her Lodestone camps, so even if she doesn&#8217;t get HBK&#8217;s spot, she&#8217;s likely to have some role in NXT down the line.<\/p>\n<p>-C.M. Punk: Punk actually seems like the best choice out of the bunch given the timeframe we&#8217;re talking. Like with Bayley, this would require Punk to significantly scale back his in-ring career. And like Bayley, it&#8217;s unclear if he&#8217;s ready to take that step. What is clear is that Punk has been active behind the scenes in NXT since his return to WWE and has publicly expressed a desire for a role like this. The question is the timing. Also, it&#8217;s fair to wonder how Punk will deal with what amounts to a corporate position and having to listen to people above his head (without the wrestling background he has) perhaps trying to tell him how to operate NXT. Will that be something he can handle? Creatively, would NXT change much with him in charge? Punk is old-school and I&#8217;d imagine a lot of what we see on NXT TV would be the kind of thing Punk would detest. Would he be given the rope to color outside the lines or are there strict guidelines about what WWE and The CW want to see out of the product?<\/p>\n<p>What&#8217;s notable from this list is that no one currently a coach or major player within NXT seems to be &#8220;up&#8221; for a promotion into Michaels&#8217; role. I&#8217;m not making any judgments one way or the other on that; it&#8217;s just interesting that all of the candidates we&#8217;ve heard about would be considered somewhat &#8220;outsiders.&#8221;<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3975267215\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>(For thorough reporting by Wade Keller on this topic, check out the 10\/29 and 10\/30 editions of the Wade Keller News Hotlines <a href=\"https:\/\/vip.pwtorch.com\/category\/vipexclusives\/vipaudioshows\/wadekellerhotlines\/wkhnews\/\">HERE<\/a>. If you aren&#8217;t a VIP member, gain access to VIP podasts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/govip\/\">HERE<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"yFa7pleCez\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/govip\/\">PWTORCH VIP BENEFITS AND SIGN-UP INFO &#8211; For the ardent pro wrestling fan looking for a trusted, independent source of in-depth, daily news and analysis<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"\u201cPWTORCH VIP BENEFITS AND SIGN-UP INFO \u2013 For the ardent pro wrestling fan looking for a trusted, independent source of in-depth, daily news and analysis\u201d \u2014 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/govip\/embed\/#?secret=fv3x3eM9uZ#?secret=yFa7pleCez\" data-secret=\"yFa7pleCez\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-305652231\"><div id=\"pwtor-3742282375\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Advertisements\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Longtime WWE creative lieutenant Bruce Prichard is expected to retire from his full-time executive director gig after Wrestlemania 2027. While reports are that he will stay on in a consultant capacity, his role will need <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/11\/03\/parkss-take-the-initial-pros-and-cons-of-possible-candidates-to-succeed-shawn-michaels-as-head-of-nxt-when-that-day-comes\/\" title=\"PARKS&#8217;S TAKE: The initial pros and cons of possible candidates to succeed Shawn Michaels as head of NXT when that day comes\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":202084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,57,53],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-224609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-takes_parks","category-opinion_stafftakes"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/08\/Screenshot-2025-08-01-at-2.08.21-PM-e1789536153597.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=224609"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224609\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":224610,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/224609\/revisions\/224610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/202084"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=224609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=224609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=224609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}