10 Times WWE Wrestlers Went Into Business For Themselves
5. Shawn Michaels Makes A Mockery Of SummerSlam 2005's Main Event
The 2005 edition of WWE SummerSlam was headlined by a 'first time ever' bout that would see two legends do battle as Shawn Michaels faced Hulk Hogan.
Given Hogan's age and mobility at that point in time, not much was expected from the match itself, but the build to said bout got people absolutely pumped for this clash. That build had seen Shawn loosely turn heel, then begin to mock the Hulkster at every turn.
Michaels had long been famed for being one of those rare talents who could get a solid match out of the proverbial broom, and so there was at least some semblance of hope that the Heartbreak Kid could get a good match out of the then-52-year-old Hogan.
This match was meant to be about two icons squaring off, with the best match possible being put on, and with Hulk Hogan getting the victory.
For Shawn, he instead decided SummerSlam was more about him being able to make a mockery of the bout and a mockery of Hogan by ludicrously overselling Hulk's offense - to the point that that is all that is talked about to this day, nearly 16 years later.
By all accounts, the original plan was for Hogan to emerge victorious here, Michaels to win a rematch, then a rubber match be on the table for somewhere down the line. Shortly before the SummerSlam contest, Hulk claimed he could only do the one match - y'know, the one he was going to win - and thus a pissed off HBK decided to purposely turn this offering into a farce.