Trick Williams Reveals How He Seized Crucial Opportunity from Shawn Michaels

Trick Williams has been on a roll in NXT for the past year and he ended up reaching the top of the mountain after beating Ilja Dragunov for the NXT Championship earlier this year. It appears none of this would have happened had he not bet on himself and directly seized an opportunity from Shawn Michaels.

Trick Williams has experienced a rapid ascent in NXT, transitioning from Carmelo Hayes’ second to becoming NXT Champion in his own right. He’s now the face of the brand, prominently featured throughout the weekly television show.

In an interview on Busted Open Radio, Trick reflected on his journey to seize his opportunity and the bold move he made by approaching Shawn Michaels directly, making it clear it was a sink-or-swim situation for him.

“When it comes to opportunities, shoutout to Shawn Michaels. We put something on TV that was the real deal. I went to Shawn Michaels office and asked him for an opportunity to show what I could do. Taking a chance on myself. ‘I enjoy working with the likes of Carmelo Hayes, he’s doing great things, but I want to see what Trick Williams can do.’ Shawn looked at me and said, ‘A lot of people come in my office and ask for an opportunity. A lot of times they aren’t ready for the opportunity. If I give you this opportunity and you’re not ready, you’ll be sitting on the bench.’ I was like, ‘That’s what I’m here to do. If I can’t do it, I don’t need to be here in the first place.’ That’s how it went. He gave me an opportunity, and all I can say is I’m fortunate and thankful for Shawn Michaels. He did extend trust towards me to show what I can do and I hope I’m making it worth everyone’s while.

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“Closed mouths don’t get fed. You can’t sit in the back and want an opportunity and no one knows it. Ain’t nobody a mind reader. My biggest fear is not being able to reach my potential. If I sat in the back and didn’t say a word and didn’t open my mouth the whole time and I didn’t get to where I wanted to by the end of my career, I couldn’t live with myself. I’m going to find out one way or another. I’m going to get out there and fail before I never get an opportunity.”

Ethan Page blindsided Trick Williams on the May 28th edition of WWE NXT, and it is expected he will challenge Williams for the NXT Championship at NXT Battleground on June 9th, so we’ll have to wait and see how they will establish the feud this week itself as Williams has a lot to prove to the world.

Do you believe Trick Williams is truly NXT’s biggest star now? Sound off in the comments section below!