11 Wrestlers Who Would Rather Do Nothing Than Work For WWE
5. Shawn Michaels
Kevin Nash often joked in shoot interviews that Shawn Michaels used to enjoy "taking summers off" during their mid-90s stint together in WWE, and closer inspection paints quite the picture of Michaels' master manipulation of Vince McMahon.
A 1993 suspension sent him packing in the Autumn, but his comeback only lasted until WrestleMania X the following March. After the iconic ladder battle with Razor Ramon, 'HBK' slotted into a role as Diesel's manager, affording him ample recovery time without his character suffering the damage of an extended absence. In 1995, his babyface turn was confirmed the night after WrestleMania XI when Sid attacked him. Selling the injuries kept him out for months yet again. "Losing his smile" in February 1997 freed him up to rehab a bum knee until a June return, and even that was pointedly brief thanks to a real fight backstage with Bret Hart.
Shawn wasn't exactly doing "nothing" during the absent spells, but he probably wouldn't be able to recall what he was up to back then if odd DVD appearances discussing the period are anything to go by. Defined eventually as the 'Showstopper', there were plenty of cards back then he didn't even bother starting up for.