The Night Shawn Michaels Found His Smile

by Michael Sidgwick
Shawn Michaels Ric Flair Wrestlemania
WWE.com

Many believe that second long WWE run to be better than the first. This isn't an opinion shared by your writer, but Michaels created such unbearable anxiety over the state of the back he sold so perfectly, and to illustrate that greatness, years and years after playing the same trick, everybody still bought it every time.

It's easy and, informed by that history, quite fun to dunk on Shawn Michaels nowadays. Find somebody who looks at you the way Shawn Michaels looks at Johnny Gargano looking at his hands, that sort of thing. And he still shouldn't kill small animals for sport, even if he says "I'm sorry; I love you" before pulling the trigger. See, it's fun.

But Shawn Michaels proved that even the worst of us can change. Per rumours that stemmed from TakeOver: In Your House, he's demanding it from others, too. Michaels was never a huge draw, nor a zeitgeist performer.

But if there's ever a time to take inspiration from him, it's now.

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Contributor
Contributor

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!