12 WWE Flashpoints That Led To The Montreal Screwjob

3. Michaels' Influence On McMahon

The 1990s saw Michaels' influence on his boss and the overall direction of the company increase tremendously. First, it came as part of the Kliq, a backstage group of friends whose objective was to get management to make decisions that were in the best interest of the business. After all, if business was good, they all benefited from larger paychecks. In their minds, however, what was best for business was the Kliq on top. It led to a great deal of disdain from the other wrestlers on the roster. At the same time, Michaels gained the confidence and trust of McMahon. That trust would lead to a seemingly unbreakable bond between boss and employee. one that led McMahon to give in to his top star far more often then he should have, regardless of whether Michaels' ideas or solutions were valid or not. It was that influence that Michaels had that allowed McMahon to feel comfortable sitting down in a room with him and Triple H days out from Survivor Series and discuss what to do in the event that Hart did not change his mind about dropping the title to HBK at Survivor Series. It was in that room that the plan to screw Hart over in front of an international viewing audience was formulated, a plan that would ultimately vilify Michaels more than he could have ever imagined and change the face of professional wrestling forever.