The Real Reason Why Pam Anderson Was Awkward With Shawn Michaels

Everything was not as it seemed at the 1995 Royal Rumble...

Diesel Pamela Anderson WrestleMania XI

Back in 1995, The Wrestling Observer wrote that Baywatch star Pamela Anderson looked disinterested in the WWF product and unsure of how to act in front of the live crowd at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view.

On Bruce Prichard's 'Something To Wrestle With', co-host Conrad Thompson read out Dave Meltzer's report and then asked his partner why Pam was so awkward. Bruce chuckled then revealed that Anderson was supposed to appear awkward.

She was working, and the WWF had asked that she be a little coy around the sleazy, still-heel Shawn Michaels as he celebrated in-ring. That's why, come WrestleMania XI, Pam was booked to accompany babyface Diesel to the ring instead of Shawn.

Advertisement

Prichard also used this info as another chance to have a dig at the Observer.

He said that Anderson was nothing less than professional when she showed up for the Rumble. She was happy to do whatever the company asked, and found it entertaining that she'd be so uncomfortable around the prancing, arrogant HBK.

Advertisement

Another note of interest from the pod is that Prichard said Pamela had changed slightly by the time they reached 'Mania. He credits her real-life relationship with Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee for that.

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.