Shane McMahon’s 10 Most Ridiculous Ego Trips
5. EnTitled
There are select ways to justify putting the European Title on Shane McMahon, and fewer but no less rational reasons for suggesting he retain it at a WrestleMania, but his eventual mistreatment of the token prize was completely unforgivable.
In December 1997, Shawn Michaels and Triple H made a mockery of the European Title when they staged a Raw main event to ensure safe transition of the prize without 'HBK' having to take a real loss. It was ironically a different DXer that helped restore credibility to the belt a year after British Bulldog and Owen Hart contested one of the organisation's best ever matches just to be the inaugural champion.
X-Pac's robust consistency in title feuds with D'Lo Brown, Owen Hart and others restored pride to the title, so much so that when he lost it to Shane just weeks before WrestleMania, there existed a sense of genuine anger and injustice.
Their 'Show Of Shows' rematch was absolutely spectacular. Working out of his skin, X-Pac put in another sterling effort, undone by best friend Triple H has he confirmed a heel turn alongside Chyna with a Pedigree that won the contest for the 'Boy Wonder'.
When the match wasn't a complete disaster, fans eagerly awaited the eventual switch back to X-Pac, or perhaps another deserving midcarder. It wasn't to be. Keen to be an undefeated Champion (because it's not like his family business is about winners and losers), Shane simply retired the belt, then unretired it and gave it to Mideon. Everybody looked like losers, except him.