10 Most Influential Moments That Were Precursors To The WWE Attitude Era
4. Shawn Michaels Collapses Mid-Match During RAW After Survivor Series 1995
One of the staples of the Attitude Era was the company's repeated use of worked shoots. In essence, a "worked shoot" is an angle that is meant to come across as being "real" when, in reality, it has been planned all along and often times uses legitimate situations or real-life occurrences as a foundation.
During the post-Survivor Series RAW in 1995, Shawn Michaels wrestled Owen Hart in the main event. Shawn had just returned to action the night before after suffering legit injuries stemming from a Syracuse bar fight in October. The backstory was that Shawn may have been pushing it by returning to the ring so soon.
Roughly 9 minutes into the match, Shawn suddenly collapsed in the middle of the ring. The match was immediately stopped and the ring soon filled up with WWF officials, paramedics, and EMTs. The live broadcast continued but without any commentary as both announcers, Vince McMahon and Jerry Lawler, left the booth to check on the fallen superstar.
It turned out to be an elaborate work concocted by Michaels, even working the hospital that he was taken to in order to protect the angle. The commitment was extraordinary and the presentation as being "real" was a tactic that would be relied on quite heavily just a few years later.