8 Most Powerful Backstage Politicians In Wrestling History
8. Shawn Michaels
Vince McMahon loved Shawn Michaels. Even though this demonstrably was not the case - Michaels was a poor draw as World champion, and many adult males in the audience were not fans - Vince, on commentary, would sell for Shawn’s entrance as if it was Beatlemania.
Shawn Michaels knew how much Vince McMahon loved him, and what he was thus able to get away with. And that, generally, was everything.
If Shawn and his enablers in the powerful backstage faction the Kliq deemed a certain talent a dud - or competition for their spots, which of course they’d never let on - they were demoted or all but gone. Shawn, infamously, had a predilection for losing titles without losing in the ring. He used his sway to bury Vader, via mid-match tantrum, and the ‘Mastadon’ was never again treated as a true main event-level concern.
Shawn’s influence was such that he effectively berated Vince into launching the Attitude Era. His influence was so toxic that he managed to reverse the intended outcome of One Night Only 1997, resulting in a brutal home country loss for Davey Boy Smith, even though he had promised to win in honour of his dying sister. Shawn Michaels even tanked a WrestleMania main event, when few took his apparent knee injury too seriously, and Vince cast him as a departing hero deserving of our deepest sympathy. Shawn came out top in the Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels rivalry by gradually eroding Bret's worth in Vince's eyes.
Shawn was less successful in convincing Vince McMahon to ignore the talents of the Rock - but he tried.
Small pond stuff, you could argue - Shawn was at large when the WWF was low on star power - but you can only beat the competition in front of you…