10 Twisted Times WWE Rewarded A Wrestler For Being A D*ck
9. Shawn Michaels (1994-1998)
When Shawn Michaels was forced to retire in 1998, may suggested it wasn't the coffin lid that clipped his back at the Royal Rumble, but karma.
Notorious amongst colleagues for an attitude that added a toxic ingredient to WWE locker rooms for much of the decade, 'HBK' was dangerous because he was so good. "Follow that, mother f*ckers" wasn't a verbal slap on the a*s to his colleagues but an obnoxious reality check for the various rank-and-files that simply weren't in his league.
As a Vince McMahon favourite even beyond the sway of The Kliq, Michaels often found himself on the right end of the booking in spite of all his wrong-headedness. In 1993, he failed a steroid test that he vehemently denies the legitimacy of to this day, in 1994 he stopped wrestling on television between March and July whilst in 1995 he did the same in April and May before losing yet more time to an infamous Syracuse sh*tkicking in October. It was during this spell he was pushed relentlessly, arguing the toss with his icomparable talent and finesse.
It was at the root of Bret Hart's disdain for him - he acknowledged how good Michaels was, but hated how he abused that privilege.