Jim Ross says Shawn Michaels was volatile and polarizing

WWE Hall Of Famer Jim Ross has personal experience as to how Shawn Michaels used to behave backstage in WWE during his first run.

 


 

Michaels’ first run in WWE featured his popular promo where HBK said that he lost his smile, This happened when Michaels came to know that he would have to drop the WWE Title to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

Jim Ross talked about Michaels’ behavior from 1997 to 1998 on his Grilling JR podcast.

Ross revealed that he came to know Michaels was going to relinquish the title on Monday Night RAW instead of dropping it to Hart at WrestleMania on the same day as hiss promo.

Ross then said that Michaels was a very volatile and polarizing Superstar in WWE.

“I guess [I found out] earlier that day. He was volatile. He was polarizing and volatile so anything you heard about Shawn, it was not going to be a total shock. You kind of got used to it. But, surrendering the title, I don’t know if he lost his smile because he was injured or lost his smile because he couldn’t handle the pressure. He was influenced by outside sources that liked to poke gas on his fire. I don’t know…So once you get the message of what’s going to happen in the production meeting that morning, it was like, geez, that’s pretty extreme. Maybe you give him the benefit of the doubt. Maybe something is really wrong. We didn’t know. But I always thought his feelings were hurt more than his knee or his back or whatever, and I don’t know exactly why. He had a hard time handling and accepting the responsibility of being the top guy in the territory.”

Thankfully, HBK’s second run in WWE was received better by his peers.

Harrison Carter
Harrison Carter
Harrison Carter has been a huge pro wrestling fan since 2002, and it's been his first love ever since then. He has years of writing experience for all things pro wrestling. His interests outside of wrestling include films, books and soccer.

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