10 More Wrestling Facts You Probably Didn't Know
7. Shawn Michaels’ Cousin Was A TNA Star
Debuting in 1999 as Michael Shane, having trained at the Texas Wrestling Academy (formerly the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy), Matt Bentley went on to work in ECW before it closed its doors and did some time in Ring Of Honor before heading to Japan to work for FMW and Zero-One.
In 2003, he joined the fledgeling TNA, winning the X Division Championship in the first ever Ultimate X match and holding it for 140 days, the longest reign so far. He’d go on to hold the title again briefly, before giving up the Michael Shane name in 2005 following a cease-and-desist from WWE, who’d already trademarked ‘Mike Shane’, one half of the useless Gymini tag team.
Going by his own name from then on, Bentley settled into the midcard and finally left TNA in 2007. Why is any of this important? Well, Matt Bentley wasn’t just trained by Shawn Michaels - they’re cousins.
‘Michael Shane’ was Bentley’s tribute to his more famous relative. The irony of the 'Heartbreak Kid’s employers ending his use of the name because they already had a Michael Shane on the payroll isn’t lost on anyone.