10 Amazing WWE SummerSlam Plans You Won't Believe Almost Happened

3. Shawn Michaels Originally Wanted To Wrestle Vince McMahon In His Comeback Match - SummerSlam 2002

According to Shawn Michaels' autobiography, 'Heartbreak And Triumph' the original plans for Michaels' in ring return at SummerSlam '02 was for him to wrestle Vince McMahon. Michaels suggests that he wanted to work one final match so that his son could witness him wrestle while he was still physically able to do so, but was worried that he was a step too slow to wrestle any active WWE wrestler. As such he approached McMahon with the idea to wrestle him in a gimmick match with lots of weapons so that he could work the match at his own pace and at least appear to fans that he still 'had it' in terms of in ring ability. McMahon declined to work the match but Triple H convinced HBK that he could walk with through one last "Unsanctioned" match to end his career. Even though Michaels and McMahon would wrestle years later at WrestleMania 22, it is worth noting that had Michaels wrestled McMahon at SummerSlam, Michaels may not have been convinced of his performance to persuade him to continue wrestling into the Autumn of 2002. After all Michaels has suggested that his SummerSlam match reassured him enough to wrestle a light schedule until WrestleMania 19 where his match with Chris Jericho confirmed to him that he could indeed return to wrestling nearly a full time schedule in both a physical and mental capacity. Perhaps with this in mind, it is fortunate that Triple H wrestled Michaels at SummerSlam, as it is unlikely that a return match with McMahon would have provided him with enough confidence to continue wrestling, depriving fans and indeed Michaels himself of what would prove to be his glorious second WWE run.