AAA duties reportedly played a role in his season three absence
Summary
– Shawn Michaels hinted that The Undertaker’s AAA responsibilities led to his WWE LFG absence
– Kevin Owens and Natalya replaced Undertaker and Michelle McCool for season three
– Undertaker had served as head coach during the first two seasons of the series
The Undertaker’s absence from season three of WWE Legends and Future Greats surprised many fans, and Shawn Michaels has now given insight into why the WWE legend stepped away from the show.
During the first episode of the new season, Michaels suggested that Undertaker’s growing responsibilities with Lucha Libre AAA played a major role in his decision not to return as a coach.
The Undertaker had been one of the central mentors during the first two seasons of WWE LFG, helping guide Performance Center recruits as they worked toward earning opportunities in NXT and eventually the main roster.
He served as head coach and mentored talents such as Shiloh Hill and Tyra Mae Steele during his run on the series.
Hill officially transitioned to NXT in December 2025, while Steele was recently included among the latest WWE roster cuts announced last weekend.
For season three, Undertaker and Michelle McCool were replaced by Kevin Owens and Natalya, creating a major shift in the show’s coaching lineup.
Owens embraced the opportunity while recovering from neck surgery and admitted he was eager to stay involved because being away from in-ring competition had become frustrating for him.
He said he was losing his mind during recovery and saw WWE LFG as a chance to stay connected to the business while he worked toward his return.
Owens had originally been scheduled to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania before announcing he needed neck surgery, which forced him off the card.
He later underwent another procedure in July and was seen training at the WWE Performance Center toward the end of 2025, though there has still been no official update on his in-ring return.
Meanwhile, Undertaker has become heavily involved with Lucha Libre AAA since WWE acquired the promotion in 2025.
His role reportedly includes helping with booking, mentoring talent, and contributing to the promotion’s overall creative direction.
Michaels also mentioned changes to the LFG format, explaining that future participants could now be called directly to NXT, making the transition smoother for rising talent.
