15 Biggest Political Power Plays By WWE Talents
10. Shawn Michaels Wins The European Championship
Of all the WWE superstars known for being backstage political powerhouses, pre-2002 Shawn Michaels is arguably at the top of the list. One of the more egregious examples of Michaels' moves came at the One Night Only UK-only pay-per-view in September 1997.
The main event featured hometown hero, Davey Boy Smith, defending his European Championship against Hart Foundation arch-rival Shawn Michaels. All along in the lead up to the event, plans had been for Davey to retain the title, sending the UK faithful home happy. Knowing this, Smith went so far as to dedicate the match to his cancer-stricken sister.
The day of the event, however, plans changed when Shawn Michaels convinced Vince McMahon to switch the title over to the Heartbreak Kid.
The argument was that the hometown hero always left victorious in WWE, especially when it came to the British Bulldog in the United Kingdom. By having Bulldog lose the title, it would ensure a level of heel heat that had never been seen before. Considering Michaels' real-life rivalry with the Hart Foundation, once the finish played out, many talents questioned Shawn's true motivation.
As expected, fans peppered WWE's first Grand Slam Champion with garbage and debris as they left the NEC Arena disgusted with the outcome they had witnessed.