Shawn Michaels explains why he TURNED DOWN chances to become WWE champion after final title run in 2002 and reveals Kevin Owens, Johnny Gargano, Edge and even The Undertaker have attempted to get him out of retirement

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Shawn Michaels has insisted that it was his own decision not to win a world title in WWE after 2002.

Michaels returned to the promotion in the early 20th century after a period of time away, but never won a major title despite being one of the hottest acts in the company.

Many questioned why, but Michaels, speaking exclusively to Sportsmail's Alex McCarthy, explained how it was his call not to hold a belt because of how he felt about the titles and his own career.

He went onto retire in 2010 before being inducted inducted into the Hall of Fame twice - just one of eight wrestlers to have been so.

'HBK' still works with the promotion, heading developmental brand NXT.

Shawn Michaels has revealed that it was his own decision not to win a major WWE championship after 2002

Michaels returned to the company after a brief retirement but dint' hold a major title in eight years

'There were times where the offer was there, but when I came back, one I didn’t feel like I needed it and two I'd done that role and I understand that,' Michaels said.

'In my opinion you have to be somebody that’s willing to make every live event and do every show and make every appearance and at the time that wasn’t a sacrifice I wanted to make and I didn’t think it was fair to the championship.'

Michaels was and is a well-respected in-ring performer and member of the WWE backstage.

His second run with the company was still a historic one, despite never holding major gold.

Michaels insisted that he wasn't afraid to speak up for what he wanted or believed in to WWE higher-ups, but that winning a major title simple wasn't on his agenda. 

Michaels has been inducted into the Hall of Fame twice - one of eight wrestlers to have been so

'I had no problem asking for the things that I wanted but I never held anybody over a barrel,' he said.

'I never asked for what I hadn’t earned and I guess that was thing with the championship, I feel like somebody willing to give the 250-365 days a year needed to win the championship and I knew that was something going in when I came back in 2002 that was not something I wanted to do, I was going to put my family first and do it differently the second time.

'So I guess it was more an understanding with me. Every now and again it would come up and I would say, "Look, I don’t think I need it and its unfair for my position if I ask for everything", so after saying it a couple of times everyone understood it.'

HBK called it a day eight years after his return but has regularly appeared in segments on WWE television.

He lost a retirement match to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 28, but returned for one final outing in 2018 when he and Triple H beat Undertaker and Kane at Crown Jewel.

Michaels said Kevin Owens (right) tried to get him out of retirement for one more match

Edge also discussed facing Michaels in the modern era, but it's unlikely he'll compete in the ring again

There is little to no chance he'll be in the ring competing again, however, with the 57-year-old revealing he has rebuffed several offers for one more fight. 

'The latest one was Kevin Owens when he came down to NXT,' Michaels said. 'The times before AJ (Styles) and other people, Johnny (Gargano), Adam (Edge), even Taker and I, it’s all sort of been more in passing, I don’t know if I had anybody try and sit down and talk to me and out right ask like Kevin did. I just thought it was funny.

'It’s the same people I guess everyone knows about. It’s flattering when you get up there in age and people in the business say "I know you can still go" and you say, "I appreciate that", but at the same time I choose not to. But it’s always very flattering when people make that offer.'

NXT Stand & Deliver streams live on Saturday April 1 ahead of WrestleMania 39 on Peacock in the US and WWE Network in the UK.