Guest Report post Posted March 31, 2002 I just got my tape of the 97 Rumble, and Austin was the winner, and HBK was the champ at the time. But WM13, which would have been 2 months later, featured Undertaker vs. Sid for the belt, right? I also just noticed in the Rock's book where he mentioned Shawn refusing to put someone over, so he gave up the belt on Raw, when he wasnt supposed to. He said this happened in 97, so I figured that had somethin to do with Wrestlemania. So what was the story behind all that? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Anglesault Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Shawn refused to return the job to Bret at Mania. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest commish13 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 what i know is that austin was only the "winner" due to i believe coming back into the ring after being eliminated. there was a match at Final Four IYH in February Between Austin, Bret, and two others. It may have been taker and bulldog, but i dont remember. anyway, austin didn't win the match and then wrestled Bret at WM. i don't know the story about how HBK actually lost the title, but there's some background info. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyB Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Was that when Shawn "lost his smile"?? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Tony149 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Was that when Shawn "lost his smile"?? Yep. That's it. I think HBK was supposed to job to Sid on Thursday Raw Thursday, but said he knee was too hurt or something like that. He then cut the "I lost my smile" promo on that show. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 31, 2002 HBK didn't want to drop the belt and pulled out of Wrestlemania with a back injury. This pissed off Bret and the two of them had a huge backstage war during 97. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Isn't it true Austin was suppose to win the Final Four between him, Bret, Vader, and Taker, but his knee blew out during mid-match? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RickyB Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Isn't it true Austin was suppose to win the Final Four between him, Bret, Vader, and Taker, but his knee blew out during mid-match? That's a story i've heard somewhere. He then cut the "I lost my smile" promo on that show. Well I can explain that then from what i've read about it. Bret Hart was set to win the Title from Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania but then Shawn decided that he didn't want to do any jobs in "his territory", which was the States. So Vince wanted Shawn to drop the Title before WM so that Bret could win it off them at WM. Shawn then said that he had a back injury and he asked if they could just vacate the Title so they came up with the "Shawn lost his smile promo" and the Title was vacated. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 HBK's such a fucking dick. Bret jobbed to him CLEAN the previous year at Wrestlemania. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Risk Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Michaels is still highly paid for sitting on his ass, too. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted March 31, 2002 i'm so glad i don't have my favorite wrestler (who, by the way, is bret) mentioned in my log name, cause otherwise i'd just look like a dork whenever i pimped him. jimmy, dave meltzer wrote an INCREDIBLY detailed account of everything that happened from about spring 1996 to the screwjob in november 1997. the story of hbk & the belt is summed up nicely in there. it's also accounted in scott keith's "lazarus" rant. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest HartFan86 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Yeah, I have read that report. Really well done. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RetroRob215 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 I just remember Bret having to improvise the finish of the Final Four match. I don't remember any details though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Austin3164life Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Austin was supposed to win the title in Final Four, and lose it to Sid the next night, but Austin's knee popped, and Austin told Bret Hart to win it, then the next night Austin was booked to cost Bret the title, setting up Austin vs. Bret at WM..... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RetroRob215 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Maybe Austin is the smartest player in the game. It would have killed any momentum he had if he lost to Sid, so he had Bret take the fall. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest commish13 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 where can i find meltz's report on it? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest godthedog Report post Posted March 31, 2002 here you go Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Report post Posted March 31, 2002 http://www.angelfire.com/fl2/Spiritoholic/...oublecross.html I believe that this is the report that you guys are talking about... EDIT: Of course, I was beat to the punch, but that's life. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest commish13 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 thanks guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RetroRob215 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see any mention of the Final Four match. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest commish13 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 he does seem to skip over a good part of 1996, and i already knew most of what he wrote about the situation in 97. still a good read. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Mighty Damaramu Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Ok here's the whole story Jimmy the Gent. You saw what happened at Royal Rumble. Yay Austin/HBK right!? Well not quite. See Bret cut a promo on Raw about being screwed. Gorilla came out and said that the tainted victory would not stand! So they set up the Final Four. That involved the Final Four from the Rumble. Austin/Bret/Vader/Undertaker. Well Bret was supposed to have the WM title shot. So Shawn not wanting to job to Bret said that he had "lost his smile" and fabricated a BS knee injury to get out of the match. So the title went up for grabs during the match. Austin was supposed to win but he blew out his knee....making him the first one eliminated. Now he was only supposed to hold the belt for a night(job it to Sid the next night) so Bret instead got that job. Sid got UT at WM and Bret got Austin in the now famous double-turn bloody Austin match. Shawn got to....do commentart during the main event. However later that summer HBK sees how the Austin/Hart Foundation feud is taking off and wants a piece of the action. So he is suddenly "better" and him and Austin win the tag straps. Suddenly HBK is hurt again for unexplained reasons(meaning i don't know how he suddenly ended up hurt again...anyone know!?). So actually things may have turned out better this way because we got the famous WM13 match and Austin didn't have to waste his first title reign on a one day fluke making his win at WM14 more special. Wow who benefited from HBK losing his smile the most!? Austin. LOL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest humongous2002 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Well after HBK and Austin won the tag titles, Shawn got his ass kicked by Bret in a real argument backstage before KOR97(Bret was mad at HBK for cutting a promo about Bret having his Sunny days, it seems Bret and Sunny were more than friends:D )After that HBK being the bitch that he is left the WWF b/c he felt he couldn't work in such a dangerous environment. Vince had to make Bret and HBK kiss and make up because he needed Shawn back to make his "master plan" workout. Of course we are talking about THE SCREWJOB of 1997, but if anything just go and rent "WRESTLING WITH SHADOWS" and it'll make sense. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Metallica Report post Posted March 31, 2002 Here's a more detailed account of Shawn's missing smile courtesy of the awesome PWTorch ***** Torch Newsletter Archive By Wade Keller, Torch editor Headline: Michaels shocks WWF, forfeits belt on Raw Subheadline: Vacant title captured by Bret Hart at PPV, Sid beats Bret next night on Raw; Michaels future in question Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #428 Cover dated: February 22, 1997 Thursday night on live television, Shawn Michaels turned in his badge. With no prior notice, Michaels showed up in Lowell, Mass. for the Thursday Raw Thursday live special on USA Network and informed WWF officials and fellow wrestlers that he was in too much pain and decided to quit wrestling because of a knee injury. The WWF announced Michaels's decision at the start of Raw, saying the title would be vacated and the winner of Sunday's Final Four match would become the new WWF Champion. Michaels handed the belt over to Vince McMahon and Gorilla Monsoon after a moving speech. During his "resignation speech," Michaels didn't focus on his knee injury, but instead stressed the need to take time off. He said he needed to "fix himself" and "find his smile again." He walked out of the ring, perhaps never to return. That much is known. The rest of the story has been anything but easy to decipher. Fellow WWF wrestlers were skeptical of Michaels's claim regarding his knee, including Bret Hart on the air the following Sunday. Michaels wrestled the previous weekend, his last date being Sunday, Feb. 9 in East Rutherford, N.J. at Continental Arena when Sid & Bret Hart beat Michaels & Steve Austin when Bret pinned Michaels after his own partner Austin gave him a Stone Cold Stunner. He did not complain of a serious knee injury after the match, nor was he favoring it that weekend. He didn't wrestle again and showed up Thursday saying his knee was in too bad of shape to wrestle. Since then, the WWF has clarified that the problem with his knees was a cumulative injury that did not happen suddenly. It is well known Michaels has legitimate problems with his ACL and meniscuses in his knees and has worn knee braces on both knees for a couple of years. Lately they had been bothering him more than ever and surgery was considered. On the live Monday Night Raw, a taped interview aired with Dr. James Andrews who said Michaels doesn't necessarily need surgery, but he does need to rehabilitate his knee for about six weeks. At that point, a judgement will be made whether or not Michaels needs surgery or can wrestle right away again. There is not skepticism that Michaels actually has problems with his knee. But the timing of his decision has led to quite a bit of speculation. Among that speculation, as expected, were reports that Michaels, on his own at the urging of Vince McMahon, was headed into rehab for pain killers or other drugs. Sources say Michaels is not, in fact, going into drug rehab. Other speculation was that Michaels quit so he could immediately jump to WCW. Michaels, though, is locked into a five-year contract with the WWF which has several years remaining. It's conceivable Michaels would ask to buy his way out of his contract if he were unhappy in the WWF, but the WWF would have to be willing to let him go and absorb yet another major name jumping to WCW. Even though Michaels is still friends with fellow "Clique" members in WCW (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman), Eric Bischoff has told people behind the scenes he doesn't think as much of Michaels as others. Publicly, in an interview with Prodigy last month, he said: "I'm not sure Michaels would ever fit on our roster." If Michaels does eventually show up in WCW, it won't be anytime soon. The WWF wants Michaels to remain a presence on television, including being a guest referee or ring announcer at Wrestlemania. While Michaels's future in the WWF is in doubt - and some sources say the WWF is not 100 percent confident he will return soon, if at all - the WWF has more pressing matters to deal with, that being Wrestlemania. The WWF had to scramble to change its plans for Wrestlemania and that scrambling led to one of the more hectic five day periods in WWF history. Sunday night at the In Your House: Final Four pay-per-view, Bret Hart won the four-way match to capture the WWF Title when Steve Austin, Sid, and Undertaker were eliminated by being thrown over the top rope. The title reign was a short one as the next night on Raw, Sid pinned Bret Hart to capture the title. That set up a Wrestlemania main event totally different from the one everyone assumed was slated, that being Bret pinning Michaels to capture the WWF Title to even the Wrestlemania score between them at 1-1. Instead, it appears Bret will face Steve Austin in the secondary main event and it is confirmed Undertaker will face the WWF Champion, who in all likelihood will still be Sid. Sources indicate that Bret is very upset with several aspects of the weekend, including that he is being used once against as a "transition champion" and that he has been booted from the Wrestlemania main event. Some suspect Bret is upset that Michaels chose such a "convenient" time to declare himself incapacitated to wrestle given it came so close to Wrestlemania. It's possible Michaels would have lost the WWF Title to Sid on Thursday Raw Thursday and that was part of his motivation for taking a personal leave of absence at this time. It's possible Michaels would have kept the title through Wrestlemania and has now avoided doing the job to real-life rival Bret Hart. Michaels is financially secure due to a seven-figure inheritance he has (or is due to receive) and presumably does not need the guaranteed money remaining on his WWF contract. If he is as unhappy as he claimed to be during his live shoot-like interview on Thursday's Raw, he may not return to the WWF and Bret may not have a chance to get that rematch victory over Michaels, which even though it is a worked match personally means a lot to Bret. Michaels has put himself in a position similar to what Bret Hart did a year ago in that he is taking a personal leave of absence at the end (or, in Michaels's case, a bit before the planned end) of his run as a main eventer. If the WWF struggles without him, Michaels may end up in the same catbird seat that Bret was in last summer. Michaels also gets to, in a sense, one-up Bret by leaving Bret to be the top babyface in the promotion even before doing a job for him. Michaels made it very clear as he concluded his live interview on Thursday's Raw that the knee wasn't the only, or even the primary, motivation for his sudden departure. "What I'm going to do is go back home and see what's left for me whether it be in this ring or out of this ring," he said. "I know over the last several months I've lost a lot of things and one of them has been my smile. I know it doesn't mean a whole lot to everybody else, but it means a lot to me. I have to go back and fix myself and take care of myself and I have to go back and I have to find my smile because somewhere along the line I lost it. I don't care if it's unpopular, if people want to make fun of me because I'm an emotional guy, but this is all I've ever wanted to do and over the last year I've got to do it. Whether you like me or not, the last year was the most wonderful year of my life. If I never get to do it again, it'll be okay because I got to live one full year being the number one guy in this business. It was the single greatest year of my life. I have you to thank (looks at Vince McMahon) and I have everybody here to thank and it means a lot to me. I'm going to go home now, okay." Michaels hugged McMahon and Monsoon. He left the ring, and as he cried he took a final lap around the ring as fans grabbed at him and hugged him. As Michaels walked away, Jim Ross said it takes a "man's man to do what Michaels just did." Lawler broke from his heel persona and said he bet Michaels would be able to come back from this. Michaels began the speech by saying, "It seems like we've done this before." Two times in the past he has forfeited the Intercontinental Title, once due to a real life WWF suspension, the other time because of an angle built around the real life Syracuse. N.Y. beating. "This time unfortunately for me it's much more serious than it was last time," he said (although last time the storyline was the head injuries were career-threatening). I've never had a doctor look me in the face and say I may never be able to wrestle again. I was told that the other day. Of course, it's not something I believe, but the fact is it's something I have to deal with. Time has taken its toll on my body." Early during the moving speech by Michaels, fans in the arena chanted, "We Want Sid" loudly, clearly not understanding the gravity of the announcement Michaels was making. By the end, they caught on and were silent for him. "There's one thing about me and that is I can't do anything half way," he continued. "I come here tonight and I hear people chant Sid's name or Bret's name, they chant a lot of people's names. One thing's for sure, you're going to have a lot of that in the future. Despite what you may think about me, what I wanted for these people is for them to have a good time, to enjoy themselves. I've always tried to be the one to provide it whether it was on the good side or the bad side. What was always most important to me was the performance so that these people, each time they reached in their pocket to buy a WWF ticket they didn't regret it because when they saw my name on the card they could come and cheer or boo or do whatever they wanted as long as they had a good time." After losing the title to Sid last November, backstage in a corner in the locker room he openly cried. The crowd reaction, McMahon asking him to give up the title after such a successful year, and seeing the handwriting on the wall that Bret moved ahead of him again in the hierarchy took its toll on Michaels. Michaels had fun when Clique buddies Hall, Nash, and Waltman were around. When they left, he became a virtual recluse according to other wrestlers, hanging out almost exclusively with Hunter and otherwise being off-putting to other wrestlers and road agents. He had shown severe signs of mental and physical fatigue from various aspects of his lifestyle and schedule on the road. Said Michaels: "Over the last couple of months there's been a lot of talk of people having bad attitudes and a lot revolving around this belt. All I know tonight is one thing that's not going to revolve around this belt is Shawn Michaels. I don't know where I'm at right now. I have to have everything checked. I may be beyond reconstructive knee surgery. I may or may not be able to fix it, but if I can't come back and perform at the level I performed at before, I can't perform. I can't come out here and just go half-assed. I have to come out here and romp and stomp and have to get tossed around and toss people around and have fun. "The schedule over the last year I took on because I didn't feel I could say no. I felt I could do everything. I wanted to enjoy my life as the WWF Champion. I wanted to ride in leer jets and ride the limousines and be on TV shows and do autograph sessions. I got to do every bit of that. If nothing else I have all of that to take with me. I know right now we're in the middle of a time where toughness is really big here in the WWF. Unfortunately all I have for you right now is a lot of tears and sorrow and emotion. I don't have toughness for anybody. So I guess here you go, here's your belt." The WWF did not bad-mouth Michaels at all and in fact Vince McMahon, Jim Ross, and Jerry Lawler went out of their way to gush over what Michaels had done in the WWF the past year, talking hopefully that he would return. They said they would follow his progress during his rehabilitation of his knee. Michaels's indefinite leave of absence came at an inopportune time for the WWF since they just expanded Raw to two hours. Already under the gun due to a relatively thin roster, especially in the category of good-to-great workers who can carry longer bouts, the WWF now faces even more pressure to create some new stars out of wrestlers they already have or available free agents. Their premier event of the year now has a make-shift main event rather than a match that has been built up for over a year. ****** Torch Newsletter Archive By Wade Keller, Torch editor Below the Bottom Line feature editorial Headline: "The Shawn Michaels Decision" Originally published: Pro Wrestling Torch Weekly newsletter #428 Cover dated: February 22, 1997 For just a moment let's venture into the mind of Shawn Michaels and what, circumstances indicate, probably went into his decision to walk out on the WWF shortly before their biggest show of the year. Michaels is fed up, tired, frustrated, and beaten down. Who can blame him? He beat Bret Hart at Wrestlemania 12 and began what was supposed to be the most professionally satisfying year of his career. Bret, the timing no coincidence, left on a personal hiatus right after Wrestlemania, basically waiting for Michaels to self-destruct. Bret, in theory, would then return with the satisfaction of proving that he, not Michaels, should have been McMahon's pick to be champion for the rest of 1996. Michaels knew that, and proving Bret wrong may have been a driving motivation for Michaels in 1996. But Michaels had other motivations. The crowd responses for him were so strong, he was at times emotionally overwhelmed. He not only got great pops from crowds - which many babyfaces in recent years can lay claim to - but he drew more fans to the arena than any babyface since Hulk Hogan in the '80s. Michaels became the top drawing card on the road in this country in a decade. Michaels saw the circumstances and may have been dumbfounded that McMahon chose to shift the title belt back to Bret Hart. All Bret did was sit out while Michaels worked his ass off wrestling a full-time schedule, made tons of p.r. appearances for the WWF, and sacrificed any semblance of a social life outside of post-match "partying." And he did all of that while wrestling with two knee braces to protect his worn down knees. Not only did Bret increase his value by sitting out most of the year, but Michaels fell down the totem pole so much that he had to job to Sid in the interim. Rather than roll with Michaels until there were signs that his momentum at arenas was slowing down, McMahon shifted gears. Sid is perhaps the polar opposite of everything Michaels worked hard to become, and by losing to Sid, in theory, the WWF was reversing what Michaels proved the previous eight months - that a small man can lead the WWF. The Decision Now flash forward to last week. Michaels had won back the WWF Title, getting storyline redemption against Sid in San Antonio, Tex. Michaels entered Thursday Raw Thursday with knowledge of one of two things - either dropping the title to Sid that night, or dropping the title to Bret Hart at Wrestlemania (probably the former). Michaels's knee had legitimately been bothering him. He was being reduced to semi-main event status at Wrestlemania where he would have to do a job to Bret Hart. It added up to him making a tough, but perhaps, at least in his own mind, very justifiable decision: Look out only for himself. Rather than, in the span of six weeks, allow himself to be professionally reduced to a two-time loser to Sid and a Wrestlemania loser to Bret, while being trampled down from "top man in the business" to "one of the top five or six in the WWF" - all after having become the biggest single drawing card in wrestling in ten years - he decided to take time off and protect his knees. Get better, both physically and mentally. If Bret could do so, so should he. It took quite a set of circumstances for Michaels to put himself in a position to leave the WWF in such a tough spot at the most important time of the year for the company. It means the undying loyalty Michaels felt to Vince McMahon just a few months ago may be weakened or dead. A few months ago it seemed no one could criticize McMahon in front of Michaels without Michaels defending McMahon. With that loyalty waning, for all of the above stated reasons, it opened Michaels's mind to an alternative, that being WCW. The Atlanta Option Just 15 months ago the WWF was in turmoil behind the scenes because many members of the locker room believed The Clique had too much power. Meanwhile, The Clique didn't think they had enough. The Clique essentially threatened to strike unless they got their way. Michaels, with his real life buddies Scott Hall, Kevin Nash, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and Sean Waltman, were in a strong position. Together they reached a level of power in the WWF in relation to Vince McMahon only topped by Hulk Hogan during his peak run. But Kevin Nash was just dumped as WWF Champion after his run on top didn't draw as McMahon hoped. He was almost assuredly looking at a drop in pay in 1996 compared to '95. Hall's pay had already dropped in 1995 compared to 1994. Then WCW came along with mega-buck offers of $780,000 per year guaranteed with around half the dates as they were wrestling in the WWF. It was tough to leave the WWF, and to split up the Clique, but it was an easy decision given health, family, and financial reasons. With Waltman also gone, Michaels was left with only the more clean-cut, soft-spoken Hunter to hang out with. Flash forward to 1997. When Michaels talks on the phone or visits Hall and Nash during a rare off-stretch, all he hears about is how creatively fulfilling the NWO is, how popular they have become, how great their relationship is with Eric Bischoff, how Bischoff voluntarily reworked their contracts during the first year to pay them more in the last two years of their deals, how Hulk Hogan isn't that tough to deal with, how they have so much time to spend with their families, how much easier the travelling schedule is. Michaels hears that, and compares situations. He earns good money in the WWF, but with his inheritance, he is set financially, so that's not the main factor. He dislikes Bret Hart, yet Bret surpassed him in the hierarchy by sitting out and benefiting from a WCW bidding war. He doesn't respect Sid, yet has to lose the title to him - perhaps twice. He is not in the Wrestlemania main event for the first time in two years and will be having to lose to his real-life rival Bret in the semi-main event. He worked his ass off for the WWF fans all year only to be booed out of Madison Square Garden, and not in a match against Bret or Steve Austin or a buddy of his like Nash or Hall. He got booed against Sid! What did Sid ever do for the fans to earn their respect compared to what he had done month after month for years in New York? Michaels changes his character on TV, but he's not quite sure what direction to go in, and neither is the WWF. Bret goes on TV and points out every idiosyncrasy of Shawn, including the strip-teases which guys don't like. He just got over being sick while not missing even one scheduled appearance with no end in sight. He must have asked himself: Is it all worth it? Obviously, his answer was no. So he apparently surprised McMahon and told him he was through for now, needing to take time off to make sure he doesn't injure his knee beyond repair over the next few weeks. He went on TV and gave a gut-wrenching speech. He walked the fine line of spilling his guts, his hurt feelings, his frustrations, and his real life problems, while acknowledging what McMahon and the WWF fans - until the last few months - had given to him. WWF Perspective No matter how hard anyone works to try to see Michaels's side of what appears to be the story behind his decision, he did not put the WWF in a good position, and arguably could have done more to make the transition a bit easier. There is locker room sentiment that Michaels should have done the job to Sid on Thursday rather than not enter the ring. If it was indeed Michaels's decision not to wrestle and McMahon wanted him to at least drop the strap in the ring, there is reason for resentment of Michaels. All Michaels had to do was walk into the ring to defend the title against Sid and have Steve Austin charge the ring. Bret Hart could follow, and while the ref tried to get Bret out of the ring, Austin could clip Michaels from behind "injuring his knee." Sid could then cover Michaels and the ref could turn around and count to three. Instead Michaels handed the belt to McMahon, avoiding doing the job, but tainting the title. If the idea was to have the title held up so the belt could be at stake at IYH: Final Four, Gorilla Monsoon could have come out later on Thursday Raw Thursday and held up the belt due to Austin's interference, and the exact same scenario could have played out without Michaels's "forfeiture." The WWF knows Michaels was playing games even before Thursday. The previous Sunday Michaels showed up at the Continental Arena, his final house for the WWF before his hiatus, wearing an "Outsiders" t-shirt, posing for photographs for independent wrestling magazines, holding up the Clique's "wolf" hand sign. McMahon banned that months ago in part as a result of the unauthorized send-off ceremony the Clique held for themselves in the ring at MSG on Hall and Nash's final night. Michaels had become a rebel behind the scenes and, as he acknowledged in his interview, had shown signs of a "bad attitude." The locker room sentiment was that "bad attitude" peaked with the "photo stunt" in New Jersey. As much as Michaels's lifestyle on the road can be criticized, he virtually never missed a date or an appearance, which can't be said for others who were "more clear-headed." Michaels made management understand he was unwilling to change anything about the way he lived his life, and they feared he was a time-bomb who couldn't handle the schedule that being "the man" in the WWF demands. Status quo wasn't an option for either Michaels or the WWF. It would seem now both sides may be too far apart to ever come together, yet they may find there are no viable and better options available. ***** Shawn Finds Smile!! McMahon interviewed Shawn Michaels. Michaels said he found his smile at home in San Antonio and that from now on he would remember to bring it with him on the road. He said he would have his knee checked again in a few weeks and looked forward to returning to the ring down the line. He didn't mention the WWF Title or any wrestlers in particular during the interview. He did make reference to the new $600,000 house he is building in San Antonio. He thanked the fans for their "cards and letters," but said he had a bone to pick with Vince McMahon. He then said he was disappointed he wasn't invited to Wrestlemania. He then invited himself to do color commentary during the WWF Title match. He also invited himself to the Slammy Awards since he is up for several categories. The interview was upbeat, which is good since his last appearance was so gloomy. Even though his smile didn't come across as forced at all, both he and McMahon seemed a bit too giddy… If you don't know what happened after reading all that, you never will lol Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Metallica Report post Posted March 31, 2002 So did anyone else cry during his "I lost my smile" speach? No? No, me neither...I was erm...yeah, I was just checking erm..*coughs* Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RetroRob215 Report post Posted March 31, 2002 I teared, but didn't cry... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Metallica Report post Posted April 1, 2002 But I bet ya cried when he passed out during that match with Owen didn't you? That actually did make me tear up, I was a real mark and had no idea it was fake, the whole angle was very well done in my markish opinion Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Big McLargeHuge Report post Posted April 1, 2002 Jeez. That last part was a practical verbal blow job. I hope Shawn enjoyed it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest RetroRob215 Report post Posted April 1, 2002 Metallica, you're right about the Enziguri angle. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheMikeSC Report post Posted April 1, 2002 Jeez. That last part was a practical verbal blow job. I hope Shawn enjoyed it. >>> No different than the incessant virtual BJ's Bret has gotten because of the Montreal incident. -=Mike Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
