Shawn Michaels’s return to WWE TV and joining of the NWO did not occur because he has made plans to return to the ring. In fact, as of this time, Michaels does not intend to return to the ring anytime soon, but he is considering it as an option. He remains concerned about whether he can live up to his past reputation in the ring and whether his back will hold up to bumps. The rings in WWE have changed drastically since his last match four years ago, as new rings were designed which are much softer on the back when taking flat back bumps. That may influence him toward a decision to return to in-ring action. Although he appears to be a “changed man” according to those who were around him last week at Raw, he is not preaching or making a big deal of his turn to religion, so even skeptics don’t see Michaels as just partaking in an “attention seeking stunt.” Friends say he has undergone a remarkable transformation that began a few months ago when he began going to church. He was drinking non-alcoholic beer at the hotel bar after Raw last Monday and is not taking any drugs. He also is better able to deliver his promos. He had suffered from major short-term memory deficiencies when he was taking drugs, which caused him to obviously lose his train of thought during promos.
