10 Controversial WWE Attitude Era Moments You Totally Forgot About

5. On The Subject Of Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels Sunny
WWE Network

The Heartbreak Kid's impact on the Attitude Era was minimal; he appeared on the show sporadically, even regularly as the Commissioner for a time, but he wasn't essential. He was kept on in various onscreen capacities as a favour, almost, to keep him on the rails. He needs to be with his WWF family to give him some purpose in life, was the mentality.

That purpose was racially abusing Kaientai on commentary.

Michaels has changed for the better - reports broke out over TakeOver: In Your House weekend that Michaels was hot at the pig shiznit ignorance of a certain Producer colleague - but the position he changed from was not so good.

On the July 13, 1998 RAW, Michaels, thought forever retired young and miserable as a result, did what he did a lot in the late '90s: he projected his misery outwards, and this time, it was uglier. This was no flex that doubled as something perversely entertaining, like a jibe aimed at Bret Hart.

Michaels, joking with Jerry Lawler at the desk, chortled at the "nip-ups" performed by Kaientai in their match with Taka Michinoku and Too Much.

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!