I do what I want. The WWF frowns on that because I'm not some pawn or puppet on a string." - Shawn Michaels
There aren't wrestlers one can enjoy watching while at the same time despising their attitude. Shawn Michaels is one of the few. Egotistical, full of himself, obnoxious...all these words and their synonyms describe Michaels. The native of San Antonio, Texas, considers himself a gift to wrestling, and to women. At least as far as wrestling is concerned, the man lives up to his boasts. He's not blessed with overpowering size, but he certainly ranks pound -for- pound among the best wrestlers around. Michaels has great technical skill and good speed, plus one characteristic that can't be developed in the gym-charisma. The "Heartbreak Kid" clearly enjoys wrestling, and transmits that enthusiasm to the crowd, even if they aren't always on his side. His "Heartbreak Hotel" segment on the WWF telecasts is controversial-but watched. The two-time WWF Intercontinental champion hasn't worn the belt for nearly a year, but-publicly at least-he says he is pleased to see his protege Diesel as the current champion. What's next on Michaels' horizon? Does he expect to one day battle his seven-foot friend? Will he pursue the WWF World title? Will he ever be humbled to the point where he'll change his attitude? "He's cocky, and you don't want to like him, but you do anyway," says Senior Editor Bill Apter, who conducted this interview. "Shawn is certainly among the top wrestlers of our day, and a colorful personality to boot, plus he's got plenty of years ahead of him. Who knows how far he could go?"
APTER: First of all, Shawn, let's go back to WrestleMania. The ladder match between you and Razor Ramon, in my opinion, has all it takes to become Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Match Of The Year. We weren't in the ring with you. Tell us what was you were feeling throughout the match.
MICHAELS: Well, without a doubt, it was one of the toughest matches that I've ever been through. But you're talking about WrestleMania X, and in my opinion, it was one of the biggest events in my career and in all of professional wrestling. That particular day, I was psyched and ready to go. And it's amazing that you go into the ring with Razor Ramon and have a match that will go down in history. For the first time I didn't care if I won or I lost.
APTER: Why?
MICHAELS: Because I came out of that ring and I knew that for the first time ever I had given the wrestling fans, the wrestling world, myself and my opponent the greatest match an athlete can give in his respective field. I felt that was enough of an accomplishment on my part. The fact that a guy climbed a ladder faster than I did means absolutely nothing. I've never been pinned by Razor Ramon. I've never been pinned by any athletes in the World Wrestling Federation. So, in my opinion WrestleMania X was nothing but a success for me, Shawn Michaels, and, of course, Razor Ramon.
APTER: A lot of talk has been going around the wrestling industry about tension between you and Diesel. A lot of people said that you couldn't beat Razor Ramon, so that's why you sent Diesel after him. What's your opinion on this? And will you step in and wrestle Diesel eventually?
MICHAELS: Well, every time you got two guys who hang around together and are buddies, the wrestling world and the press have a tendency to cause problems or make a mountain out of a molehill when there is absolutely nothing wrong. I mean, Diesel and I are just like any other two guys. We agree and we disagree. Name two friends who don't. But to say there is a problem in the camp of the "Heartbreak Kid"...
APTER: During the Royal Rumble there was a incident on TV...
MICHAELS: See!? Everybody keeps talking about that Royal Rumble!
APTER: ...where Diesel said that he wouldn't protect you and he wanted to win the thing himself.
MICHAELS: Exactly. That's understandable. Diesel made one thing perfectly clear to me: He's not a bodyguard anymore. He's now a legitimate athlete, a legitimate superstar in the World Wrestling Federation. I mean, there was a rough transition there from bodyguard to wrestler that caused a little friction between us, but once he made it clear to me that he wanted to be a wrestler, he wanted me to help him become a superstar in the World Wrestling Federation. I felt like it was no problem. The guy's got a lot of talent, and he can be something someday, as long as he listens to the "Heartbreak Kid."
APTER: With his size it appears his potential is limitless.
MICHAELS: As you know, Bill, size doesn't win professional wrestling matches. I'm one of the best athletes in the world of wrestling and I'm not as big as they come. But when you're better than everybody else, you don't need to be big. But Diesel has the opportunity to be bigger than everybody else and have the knowledge that Shawn Michaels has in his head, given to him by me if I choose to do so. He's at a point in his life and his career where he can definitely be a force in professional wrestling and in the World Wrestling Federation. But, let's face it, he's got to have me to get there.
APTER: Well, then, do you plan to challenge him for the Intercontinental belt?
MICHAELS: No, my interest is no longer in the Intercontinental championship. My interests now are my "Heartbreak Hotel," which, of course, has sent the ratings for the WWF through the roof.
APTER: I understand that, but why not the belt?
MICHAELS: Well, there are other aspects of wrestling that Shawn Michaels wants to know. I mean, if you are going to completely dominate this sport, there's more to wrestling than what is going on in the ring. Let's face it, I am a ring general. There isn't anybody in the world of wrestling that can teach me something I don't already know. I am the greatest wrestler around. There's other aspects that I want to learn, and, not that the Intercontinental championship isn't important, but I've been there twice. Maybe it is time for the highest goal that an athlete can achieve in our business, that being the WWF World title.
APTER: Now, haven't you backed off a little bit? You have this "Heartbreak Hotel" segment, and you haven't been wrestling regularly. Why?
MICHAELS: Because I want a vacation. I put my heart and soul into this business. I've given it everything, and the people know now that when they see Shawn Michaels' name on the marquee, they know they're going to see an athlete who goes out and gives 100 percent of himself, and make his opponent give 100 percent of himself, thus giving the fans the greatest wrestling match they can ever see. And I've done that. But now, I want to take a rest, take a vacation, and I want to learn other aspects of the business, because it is a business and I am a businessman. I am an athlete first and foremost, but like I said this is a complex business and it behooves you to know more than just the wrestling. And the "Heartbreak Kid" wants to dominate this sport inside and out, so I'm learning every aspect there is.
APTER: What would be your ring strategy against Bret Hart?
MICHAELS: Well, I really don't have ring strategy against anybody. I've wrestled every superstar in the World Wrestling Federation. I've been there. I know their strengths and weaknesses.
APTER: So why haven't you been WWF World champion?
MICHAELS: Well, let's face it, I've been given one shot at the, and that was a couple of years ago at the Survivor Series when I first won the Intercontinental title. Championship matches were new to me at the time, but since that time, I was never given a WWF championship match. And frankly, most people do not want to see a guy like me representing their company. Why? Because I go against the rules. But eventually, when I do come back and wrestle, they are going to acknowledge the fact that I am a number-one contender. I'm a contender fro every belt in the world, and eventually they're going to have to give me that chance.
APTER: Tell me, was the "Heartbreak Hotel" segment your idea?
MICHAELS: Yes, it was. Everything from my singles career up until now has been my idea. Everything I do are my own projects and are things that I feel I want to do. I'm very in control of my career. This isn't a day of sitting back and asking "What have you done for me lately?" I do ... for me. I don't expect anything from anybody. But I demand respect. I've done it. I've gone to the show. I've filled up Madison Square Garden and had them on their feet. I've been to Tokyo, Japan, and had them on their feet. I've been in Wembley Stadium and had them on their feet. And now, the wrestling world has to get used to the fact that a man of 28 that knows he is the greatest is going to run this profession, whether anybody likes it or not.
APTER: You have been compared to the legendary Ric Flair. Does this flatter you or...
MICHAELS: Sure it flatter me. Ric Flair is one of the greatest of all time. It flatters me to be compared to anybody of the past. But the fact of the matter is, as time goes on, things improve. Larry Bird was great, Michael Jordan was better. Ric Flair was great, Shawn Michaels is better.
APTER: Last question. What ever happened with Marty Jannetty? Did you guys patch things up or...
MICHAELS: No, not really. Not a lot of people knew what to think of the situation between Marty and me. But it's a simple fact that you get two guys who where around each other everyday fro a long time, one has different needs, the other doesn't. Marty was satisfied with his career and I wasn't. I'm a little more hungrier and a little more possessive, and that's something that's never going to change. Marty was happy being Marty, Shawn isn't happy unless he's the life of the party.
APTER: And you certainly believe you are. Thank you, Shawn.
MICHAELS: A pleasure for you, Bill ,I'm sure.
WHY HE WAS INTERVIEWED: His former bodyguard, Diesel, held the Intercontinental title, a championship Michaels valued greatly...would he go after his best friend-or challenge WWF World champion Bret Hart?
POSITION IN RATINGS: Unranked
AFTER THE INTERVIEW: Attacked by Diesel in the dressing room area at Survivor Series '94... Diesel defeated Bob Backlund for the WWF World title three days later...Michaels went after his best friend and challenged him for the WWF title at WrestleMania XI...He lost...Went on to win the title on three occasions.
CURRENT STATUS: Retired from active competition because of two injured disks in his back...Serving as WWF Commissioner.
INTERVIEWER'S COMMENT: "There's nothing like the experience of chatting with Michaels one-on-one. Michaels spoke of his respect for Ric Flair during the interview, and they remind me of each other in many respects. Flair was criticized in the late-'70s for being too arrogant, just like Michaels in the '90s. They both lived up to their boasts."
LOOKING BACK, THE INTERVIEWEE SAYS: "As much as I like chillin' out with Bill Apter, I can't say I miss his bland fashion sense and all his mundane questions. He's Dick Cavett reincarnated, I think. HBK said he'd make the Earth shake and he was right, wasn't he?"