10 Most Notorious Shawn Michaels Urban Legends

5. He Won The European Title From British Bulldog To Upset Bret Hart

Story: Michaels didn't need the European Title in 1997. He was a main eventer that was going to headline a PPV with The Undertaker (the first Hell in a Cell match) and then Bret Hart. At the UK only PPV called One Night Only on September 20, 1997, the British Bulldog (Davey Boy Smith) defended the European Title against Michaels. The story that's been told about the match would have seen the British Bulldog, who was the babyface in his home country, retaining the title. Instead, Michaels used his backstage power to get plans changed and leave as the champion. Michaels won with a Figure Four Leglock as the British Bulldog gave up. What was there to gain by Michaels winning the title? Maybe they could have a rematch the next time they were in England and put it back on Bulldog, but that didn't happen. It was a power play by Michaels to stick it to Bret Hart, who was the brother-in-law of Bulldog. Michaels held the European title for 82 days, defended it once (a draw with Owen Hart) and lost it in a joke match to his buddy Triple H. Why People Believe It: He was clearly above the European Title in terms of his status, so why would he need to hold it? That's why people believe that he only held it in order to upset Bret. Should We Believe It: Yes. He might not want to admit it now because he was ashamed of it, but it sounds like he really lobbied for the title change and got it as a way to anger Bret as well as his family. The fact that he didn't lose it to Bulldog or to anybody that it would have benefited in a real match shows there was no plan for it.