It's common knowledge these days that Shawn Michaels never used to be the easiest guy to get along with in the locker room, and he's even admitted that himself in recent years. But back before the turn of the century, the 'Heartbreak Kid' was lapping up the boos alongside best buddy Triple H, in the early days of infamous faction D-Generation X. Michaels would do anything for heat. Whether he was prancing around the ring in skimpy underwear, wiping his nose the Canadian flag or crotch chopping anybody that got in his way, Michaels was the most hated in the business back in late 1997, and he still is in Canada. Who could ever forget the part he played in Montreal in that fateful Survivor Series night? Michaels found it tough to deal with the backstage issues surrounding that time but he always did something to irk the crowd. Stone Cold Steve Austin's popularity was growing and the pair were on a collision course for Wrestlemania 14, where the passing of the torch was eventually completed (despite Michaels' reported reluctance). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgW2G5QoHFY But HBK, as unstable as he was outside of the ring at that time, would never let his performance drop between the ropes. Four years removed from retirement, Shawn was always willing to sell a move or a story to make his opponents look good. That's why he's one of the greatest of all time.
Football writer (predominantly) with work previously published by Mail Online, Manchester Evening News, Daily Mirror, USA Today and Chelsea FC. Regular contributor for Huffington Post, who holds tempestuous relationships with WWE and FIFA 15.
