The Undertaker will be saying his farewell during WWE’s Survivor Series this upcoming Sunday, which marks the 30th anniversary since his debut at the event, and everyone in the industry is celebrating the career of the sure-fire Hall of Famer.
Easily one of the Undertaker’s greatest rivals, Shawn Michaels has had many battles with the Undertaker throughout their respective careers, including arguably the greatest match of all-time at WrestleMania 25. However, they didn’t always get along.
Taker discussed how he didn’t care for Michaels at first, despite the two becoming close friends over the years.
“Early on in my career and when Shawn was there, I didn’t care for Shawn personally,” Undertaker said, during an interview with the New York Post. “I thought he was an arrogant little s–t. That being said, still no one I would rather get in the ring with it and work [with]. That’s just how good he is.”
Michaels will always remembered as one of the best of all-time, but also remembered for the infamous Montreal Screwjob. Following that incident, Michaels was set to drop the title to a rising star in ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14, but there were concerns that Michaels wasn’t going to do his job, and in that event, Taker was ready to take matters into his own hands — literally.
“Shawn, everyone knows the story, is supposed to drop the belt to Steve. Shawn was being Shawn in my opinion and like I didn’t know if he was gonna do it,” Taker said. “My intention was to make sure one way or another business was done that night.”
Taker didn’t tell Michaels of his intentions for a number of years, and the two became good friends during that time.
“I felt so bad because our relationship had changed so much that he goes, ‘Were you really gonna beat me up?’ I was like, ‘No man that’s just all rumor. Taping my hands up and everything, come on.’ He goes, ‘I didn’t think so. I mean that really didn’t sound like you,'” Taker said.
“The whole time in my head I’m like, ‘I was gonna smash you if you didn’t drop that belt to Steve.’ But yeah, he’s a completely different person, I love him to death now. But, yeah, that’s the story. I was sitting there hands taped ready to do whatever I needed to be done.”
