7 Most Infuriating Last Minute WWE PPV Changes

4. Savio Vega Replaces Shawn Michaels - In Your House: No Way Out Of Texas 1998

Big Show Wwe Title
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Shawn Michaels' back injury necessitated his exit from the eight-man tag team main event, which was booked in part to allow fans a mouth-watering glimpse at the impending WrestleMania XIV main event.

His replacement was Savio Vega. Austin and Vega had assembled a quietly gripping midcard feud in 1996, but that was ancient history by '98.

The WWF's approach to this change was mixed. While they should have known not to weave a show-long mystery out of it - the tease only doubled down on the disappointment - they at least had the sense to add a No Disqualification stipulation as something of an equaliser. The match just about made up for in excitement what it lacked in star power.

In truth, there were very few candidates who could adequately deputise. The Undertaker was still selling his storyline incineration. Elsewhere, the WWF's roster was wafer thin in early 1998, as indicated by some of the names they had to drag out in the preceding month's Royal Rumble match - including Tom Brandi and the Honky Tonk Man.

Michaels' withdrawal from the match underlines further just how gritty his performance was at 'Mania XIV. If he couldn't take a few bumps in a multi-man just a month earlier, he must have been in searing pain at the Fleet Center in Boston.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!