WWE's Biggest Booking DISASTER Every Year (1986-2026)
18. Shawn Michaels Is Skint…Honest! (2009)
WWE often tries to join in on current events happening in the real world. They did it with Sgt. Slaughter in 1991, and they tried it with the global recession in 2008-2009. On camera, multi-millionaire Shawn Michaels alleged that the recession had hit him hard and he'd therefore need to take up a one year employment contract with JBL.
Huh? Michaels was paid a fortune even before returning to the ring in 2002. He was set for life, so this was a hollow bid to capitalise on fears around the globe that people wouldn't be able to put food on the table.
Layfield poked and prodded HBK into doing his bidding or else he'd be potless. Nobody bought it, somewhat ironically. Here was someone who'd headlined WrestleManias and countless others pay-per-views for years/decades.
How on earth could Shawn bloody Michaels be struggling to pay the gas/electric bill, or to buy whatever he liked at the supermarket? It was preposterous, but WWE kept pushing that narrative as though Shawn was doomed if he didn't do everything Bradshaw told him to.
What a daft idea this was.
Michaels was coming out of a 'Best Of 2008' feud with Chris Jericho and had contested the World Title. Did he do that for free? Wasn't he under a high end WWE contract? This fooled no-one.
JBL did his best to act like a money-rich despot who could treat a legend poorly, but the only thing more insulting would've been Shawn rocking up to Raw wearing Gucci sweaters whilst bemoaning a pork and beans diet.