The best and worst of Shawn Michaels are on full display once again.
On Tuesday, WWE Vault released a rare house show match from October 1997, featuring Michaels and Triple H — with Chyna — in the early days of D-Generation X, taking on the Legion of Doom at Nassau Coliseum before 9,500 fans.
For those who don’t remember — or never knew — just how much of a heat magnet “The Heartbreak Kid” was, this
is essential viewing. It captures both his unprofessional antics and undeniable brilliance.
In 1996, Michaels became WWE Champion and the face of the company. But by year’s end, tension with fans began to show. When he was booed at Survivor Series in Madison Square Garden, his demeanor noticeably soured.
By late 1997, Michaels had fully turned heel. The frustrations he barely contained as a babyface now spilled out freely — often in crude, confrontational ways.
Moments into the match, a heckler shouted, “Hey Shawn Michaels, how tall are you? 5’2″?”
Michaels shot back, “That depends. When I’m standing on my wallet, I’m 10 foot tall. Suck it!”
Later, he showed off the kind of exaggerated selling that would become infamous at SummerSlam in 2005, taking a dramatic bump from an Animal clothesline on the floor.
Near the end of the match, another staple of Michaels’ poor attitude came to the forefront as he had a mini-tantrum after a blown spot.
As Hawk peppered Triple H with punches, the two wrestlers and referee Earl Hebner were clearly looking around for Michaels. Chyna then distracted Hebner as Hawk went for a roll-up. But Michaels hit him with an awkwardly-timed kick that missed its mark.
Frustrated, Michaels slammed his hands on the canvas after the apparent misfire. And so the teams ran it back. This time, Michaels hit Hawk with a title belt, allowing Triple H to score the pin and D-X to be declared tag team champions.
The decision was ultimately overturned and the match was restarted. But Michaels’ fit brought back memories of SummerSlam in 1996. Then, in a match against Vader, Michaels lost his cool after Vader failed to move out of the way. Hot, Michaels yelled for all to hear, “Move,” before stomping Vader’s face.
The clear break in kayfabe in front of fans and viewers was a no-no that Michaels defiantly broke. Reflecting on that moment, Vader remarked years later, “I thought it was unprofessional.” He pointed out that everyone forgets things, even Michaels, and that it’s important to let it go and move on.
While his outburst here wasn’t as extreme as the Vader incident, it showed how easily Michaels got upset by small mistakes.
Despite his antics — and even years removed from The Rockers — Michaels still showed the instincts of a top-tier tag wrestler. After Triple H stopped an Animal press slam, he hit the 300-pounder with a clothesline while Michaels took out Animal’s legs.
Later, they combined for a classic Midnight Express spot: Triple H delivered a drop toe hold, and Michaels followed with an elbow drop off the ropes. He also showed his athleticism in a drop-down leapfrog spot before selling the effects of a bear hug.
At just under 20 minutes, the Vault’s latest offering is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It’s not a five-star classic, but a fun reminder of why fans either loved or hated HBK.
