WWE star Shawn Michaels was interviewed by Bill Simmons of ESPN.com. The following are among the highlights of the 50-minute interview. You can listen to the full interview at ESPN.com.

Michaels on his favorite opponent: "Man, I have absolutely zero ability into narrowing absolutely any of my favorites into just one, but I have to say, I gotta go between Undertaker and Triple H. Other than all the obvious reasons, but the biggest one for me, those are the only two guys, I could make a mistake and it would be okay. I could put the trust of the match, the story, and absolutely everything into their hands and let go of my control. I'm a control freak (laughs). Those are the only two guys I can let drive and take my hands off the steering wheel."

Michaels on the three wrestlers who excite him most from today's generation: "For me, number one, Randy Orton. Randy is as talented as the day is long. One of the things he and I have in common, there's a deepness to him to where he almost takes the job to seriously, and I did the same thing. And I don't think that's a bad thing. It can get you into trouble, sure, but once you get a handle on it, like I think he has, the sky is the limit."

"Another guy and he's not new, I'll take a John Cena on my team any day simply if for no other reason, work ethic. You will not find a guy that will work harder than John." Simmons changed the subject before Michaels could identify a third wrestler.

Michaels on where Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson's career would be if he hadn't left WWE. "I don't know. My guess is anywhere he wanted it to. I don't know him that well. I don't know that there was a love and a passion in him quite like the rest of us. And I only say this because when you do move on, and you can move on... I only know what I'm told because I honestly didn't know him that well. I wasn't there when he was having his unbelievable success. But to leave and have no problems with it, I think that's why he's good at what he's doing now and will stay there. I think that's where his true passion is and there's nothing wrong with that."

Powell's POV: I'm sure this will be perceived as Michaels bashing Johnson, but I think it's a fair assessment. Rock certainly had a passion for the industry, but he obviously had other aspirations. It's a shame we never got a chance to see them have a classic program together. I'm also disappointed that we didn't get to hear Shawn's third wrestler on his current stars list. Overall, though, an excellent interview. There's still one more round of quotes to come.

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