10 Controversial WWE Attitude Era Moments You Totally Forgot About

6. Steven Regal Gets Pissed

Shawn Michaels Sunny
WWE

The WWF had piss-poor form, during the Attitude Era, of simply allowing its roster to perform, even if they were in no condition to do so.

I'M STILL PAYING THEM, GODDAMNIT!

It's galling, when every Shawn Michaels feel-good comeback doc recounts all those times he was a a mess on television. "Yeah his personal life was out of control..." Triple H will say, as footage is shown of Michaels slurring his speech and making sexual innuendos at the commentary table. They'll all shake their hands, dismayed at the state Michaels found himself in.

You booked him, you daft f*ckers!

Steven Regal was much the same. He was in a dire headspace in late 1998, but he could still just about stand upright, so they sent him out there to earn his f*cking wedge, regardless. On November 2, he issued an open challenge, hic, to anybody who was man enough. He almost dropped the mic, and his words tumbled out just as inelegantly. He cut a sad and stark figure in contrast to the dignified legend we see on Wednesdays.

He shouldn't have been allowed in the ring, realistically, but Vince had already paid for the vignettes, so...

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!