10 Times WWE Ripped Up The Script After WrestleMania

Royal Rumble 1998 turned into an unforgettable event for Shawn Michaels as the back injury he sustained during his Casket Match against The Undertaker cost him four years of his career. Michaels took a back body drop from The Undertaker to the outside of the ring and hit his lower back on the casket, which caused him to herniate two discs in his spine and crush one completely.

However, Michaels found the strength to compete at WrestleMania 14 and dropped the WWE Championship to "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at the event. But the injury became too severe, resulting in his retirement the following night.

With a big star like Michaels out of the picture, WWE had to find a suitable opponent for the new WWE Champion, Steve Austin, and WWE gave that spot to Mick Foley in his Dude Love Persona, who feuded with Austin over the next two months.

Fortunately, it wasn't the end for Shawn Michaels, as he stayed on the sidelines for four years before getting cleared once again and returned to the ring in 2002. He continued to compete in the ring until his second retirement in 2010 before returning for one last match in 2018.