by Craig Tello
DAY THREE: Saturday, April 2, 2011
29
HIGHWAY TO HALL, 9:52 a.m.
On October 16, 1984, Shawn Michaels could never have foreseen this forty-five-year-old version of himself sitting on a charter bus on the morning of his WWE Hall of Fame induction. With two children sleeping heavily in bed upon his departure, HBK is still busy minded on his journey to WrestleMania Axxess. For any man, let alone a Showstopper, it would be a lofty challenge to compact twenty-six years into the mere minutes he will have this evening during his induction speech. And as he continues to state in various conversations, he still isn’t quite sure exactly what he is going to say tonight.
30
MAKING HIMSELF AXXESS-IBLE, 10:19 a.m.
Roughly fifteen minutes away from the hotel containing the most important people in his life, HBK arrives at WrestleMania Axxess, passes through the building’s halls, effortlessly projects a crumpled napkin into a trash can (a perfect shot), then moves toward the entrance stage for a Q&A session.
The booming introduction by Justin Roberts draws the Showstopper through a curtain, down a mini-ramp and into the ring. Meanwhile, the lyrics of his widely recognized song haul in charging crowds from all sides of the venue to see Michaels. A brief pause in between HBK’s responses permits a front-row outcry, “We love you, Shawn!” The humbled (former) competitor is soon overwhelmed by a vigorous “One more match!” chant.
“I came back for one more match in 2002,” Shawn lightheartedly retorts, “and that was nine years ago. I don’t think I have another nine in me.”
The crowd disagrees. Their attention, however, is diverted across the venue to a booth where Michaels’s best friend, Triple H, acknowledges his buddy with a symbolic cross-armed DX signal.
31
TWO WORDS: SIGN IT!, 10:37 a.m.
Hours before The Game will have the distinguished honor of inducting his greatest friend, the King of Kings rests atop a different type of elevated seat at Axxess, one with a snaking line of eager WWE fans waiting to meet Triple H. Who’s suddenly cutting in line? The Showstopper.
Years and years of a friendship that’s more like a brotherhood are very apparent in their exchange. Michaels forces The Game to scribble his “H” trifecta on an autograph sheet—further personalized with a “S*CK IT! Shawn!”—then HBK hurls himself at his longtime ally for an exaggerated hug.
32
COMMON BOND, 10:44 a.m.
At the base of Triple H’s autograph station sits a strong-willed Floridian named Robin Dismuke, with her DX-green wheelchair parked and ready to meet Shawn Michaels.
Robin grips a copy of Michaels’s book, Heartbreak & Triumph, which HBK personalizes for her on the spot before slinging his arm around her for an intimate conversation. A few quick minutes will motivate Robin for miles.
“He’s the Showstopper, and you can tell he really cares about his fans,” she explains.“I was a surfer for twenty years until my injury, and I live by God, positive energy and a sense of humor. HBK has got that G-O-D in him and that’s what I like.”
“It’s a good code to live by,” she’s told by Michaels, a model example of this philosophy.
33
(HEARTS OF) GOLDEN TICKET, 11:11 a.m.
Just a little past eleven o’clock, Shawn Michaels rides away from the bustle of WrestleMania Axxess on one of its most crowded days. HBK just met hundreds of awestruck Showstopper fans, but the tempo changes when he shakes hands with Dantee and Damaris Benton.
The winners of HBK’s personal raffle and his special guests at WrestleMania XXVII in Atlanta, the couple earned their trip over countless others for the chance to sit down and share a very intimate, uninterrupted meet-and-greet session with the Showstopper. The small talk is not unlike that of friends catching up, simply due to Shawn’s impeccably easygoing attitude and the pleasant manner of Damaris and Dantee, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Quantico, Virginia.
For good reason, the couple encourage HBK to enjoy his big night and express their intent to participate in next year’s raffle, which benefits three very special causes: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Operation Homefront and Cross Trail Outfitters.
One last set of photos flash and Shawn reaches into his pocket for his cell phone, to read a message from another very special guest who’s here in Atlanta just for this momentous night in Michaels’s life.
34
LOOK WOOOOO’S HERE, 12:01 p.m.
HBK is killing time, waiting for the dearest of friends, when the room lights up with the stylin’, profilin’ arrival of the Nature Boy, Ric Flair—a sight that’s completely unexpected. Not seen on WWE turf since roughly three years ago, “Naitch” jet-flew to Atlanta for one reason: to watch Shawn Michaels join him in the WWE Hall of Fame.
Reminiscent of the tear-filled climax to their historic match at WrestleMania XXIV, the tenderness and mutual admiration between both Michaels and Flair—two incomparable ring legends—evoke grins from anyone within a few feet.
Flair vows to watch Michaels’s induction live tonight from inside the Philips Arena. The well-wishing culminates with the presentation of something special.
35
THE GIFT, 12:06 p.m.
Revealing a handheld wooden chest with Flair’s face on the lid, the Nature Boy presents the Showstopper with a token to commemorate his grand achievement, representative of their unbreakable professional and personal bond. Michaels opens the box to find a glistening, one-of-a-kind belt buckle and matching accessories. It’s a perfect gift for the “cowboy” who resides within HBK’s Texas-size heart.
Mr. WrestleMania is moved and beyond touched by the gesture, but more so just elated by his friend’s presence. A handshake turned strong embrace exposes Flair’s wrist, which bears a diamond-coated Rolex watch that’s identical to the one worn by HBK. According to Michaels, these treasures have been on their wrists since the night of WrestleMania XXIV, mere moments after their epic clash. A gift from Shawn, who defeated Flair that night and retired him from WWE, the timepieces each bear a glistening “24” on their faces. They also have equally meaningful inscriptions: Flair’s is engraved “To be The Man,” and Michaels’s bears the statement’s completion, “You’ve gotta beat The Man.”
This afternoon, Ric has reciprocated the thoughtfulness reverentially shown to him by HBK in 2008.
“You know what I was going to put on the back of the buckle, but it wouldn’t fit?” Flair says. “ ‘Being The Man and staying The Man are two different things,’ ” he jokes with an explosion of laughter.
The men share yet another hug and a humbled HBK makes plans to see “Naitch” later this evening, at which point Michaels, too, will be wearing the ring of an honored WWE Hall of Famer.
36
IT’S “HALL”-MOST TIME, 3:14 p.m.
Around the corner from some heavy foot traffic near the gathering area for Hall of Fame inductees, a refreshed Shawn Michaels is treated to some last-minute mane primping prior to departing for Philips Arena, the site of tonight’s induction ceremony, just twenty-four hours before WrestleMania XXVII.
“I’m more nervous now than I’ve ever been,” Michaels admits, in a much more anxious state than earlier in the week. He’s anything but verbose and much more reserved than he’s been in days. It’s sinking in.
37
McMAHON TO MAN, 4:44 p.m.
“If you have to cry, by all means cry. Don’t worry about it.” These are the words spoken by the WWE Chairman, Vince McMahon, in an address to Shawn Michaels and all WWE Hall of Fame inductees, hours prior to their individual immortalization onstage. McMahon, who’s known for his maniacal tenor when it comes to his signature exclamation, “You’re FIRED,” has a much less guttural gusto when he delivers his proud, compassionate talk-through of the evening.
“He mentioned c
rying because he knows I’ll probably cry,” Shawn states after a post-meeting, one-on-one run-in with his longtime boss, who’s been in both HBK’s corner and across the ring as his opposition at separate times over the years.
“Of course you’ll cry, why wouldn’t you? You were the absolute best at doing this job and you have every reason to cry,” McMahon tells HBK. “Enjoy your night. I want you to remember this forever.”
Their brief exchange ends with the tender encouragement bestowed by McMahon, who invites HBK to visit the CEO’s in-arena office for one final chat later on, just before showtime.
38
“KLIQ” HERE, 5:24 p.m.
Just when Shawn Michaels’s anxiety reaches its peak, he peers down the deep corridor in the alcove of Philips Arena to see a large, hulking individual moving in his direction. A grin instantly grows on HBK’s face at the sight of his seven-foot friend, Diesel (Kevin Nash). Not too far behind is Sean Waltman, or, as Michaels repeatedly refers to him, “Kid.” At last, the final piece for this scene arrives as a finely suited Triple H approaches his time-tested circle of friends.
They are the Kliq. And in the center of Atlanta on the eve of WrestleMania, they have reunited.
Brotherly embraces, conversations only they would understand, jokes about fanny packs and ensuing guffaws tell the tale of WWE’s most notorious locker-room crew. The Game, X-Pac (a.k.a. 1-2-3 Kid or just “Kid”) and the ever-towering Diesel engulf their celebrated comrade and pose for a snapshot, throwing up their trademark insignia. Call them a pack, though tonight, they’re more appropriately a pride.
“When I found out that Shawn was being inducted, it brought tears to my eyes. . . . We’d been through so much over the years,” says Waltman. “I get goosebumps talking about [our reunion today],” he continues, pausing to look at his arm while tears well up. “Today brought back a lot of memories. It was like we all saw each other yesterday.”
Waltman concludes, “I’m just really grateful to be here and to be a part of this. I couldn’t be happier for Shawn. Nobody deserves it more than he does. He’s a wonderful human being and a tremendous friend.”
39
“BIG DADDY COOL,” 5:49 p.m.
In the mid-1990s, there was perhaps no squared circle friendship as tightly knit as that of the Kliq, a group of backstage bros in Michaels, Triple H, Waltman, Scott Hall (a.k.a. Razor Ramon) and, of course, the biggest of them all: Kevin Nash.
Riding from state to state and flying around the globe, these men traveled and lived together, forging a family not of blood but rather a rare mix of shared sweat, tears and innate kinship. Together, the Kliq lived a personal pact that’s been time-tested all the way to the present day in Atlanta—ironically, the home of WCW, where Nash, Hall and Waltman were once whisked away from their peers who fulfilled their decorated careers in WWE. So many years later, Nash stands tall—characteristic of the seven-footer—beside his friends for the induction of a man who helped establish Diesel as a World Champion competitor in his own right.
“It kind of puts it into perspective—when one of your guys is going into the Hall of Fame. It’s like ‘Wow, we really are old-timers,’ ” bellows “Big Daddy Cool,” Kevin Nash. “The guy that brought me here is going into the Hall of Fame tonight. Shawn’s one of my best friends. Tonight’s a fitting end to an unbelievable career.
“Going out there later tonight, I’m just glad that this time it won’t cost Hunter three years of being in the doghouse,” laughs the pithy big man, referring to the last time the group stood together in WWE.
Just like in their first days as comrades-in-arms, Nash will strut out behind HBK and make a truly rare WWE appearance—indicative of the historic moment on the verge of being realized.
“I’ve always said Shawn was the Michael Jordan of wrestling,” Nash says. “There wasn’t anything before him and there won’t be anything like him after.”
40
MEETING WITH THE BOSS, 6:09 p.m.
Away from his Kliq cohorts, HBK heads for the private room reserved for WWE’s Chairman, Vince McMahon. After more than twenty years in the employ of the entertainment mastermind and an abundance of cherished (and contentious) moments, Shawn Michaels has no reservations about knocking on the door of the boss.
Inside the office of the man Michaels once clashed with on the Grandest Stage of Them All in 2006, HBK levels with the CEO, and after years of loyalty and impeccable performances at the spectacle McMahon devised, the esteem flows equally in both directions. More important, Shawn expresses his sincerest gratitude for the opportunity McMahon gave him to once again share a moment with his closest friends, the Kliq.
The Chairman—in between a multitude of ’Mania week loose ends—puts all business on hold to focus on Shawn, and he strongly encourages the notably restless HBK to truly enjoy his night and embrace each emotion that comes with it. As far as McMahon is concerned, tonight’s commemoration (and much more) is well deserved.
“I’m very happy about the relationship I have with Vince McMahon,” Michaels asserts after their encounter. “I drove him crazy for many years, but over that time, he and I grew very close. He knows the real me and I know the real him . . . he truly understands the validation I’ve gotten from this job and my career.”
41
RING MASTER, 6:45 p.m.
Along with fellow inductees including Road Warrior Animal and “Hacksaw” Jim Duggan, Shawn Michaels is summoned for a moment he’s been anxiously awaiting. HBK enters an undisturbed room that bears a table with a perfectly lined row of WWE logo–emblazoned Hall of Fame class rings.
In full tuxedo with tattoos that peek out from the sleeves each time he fretfully adjusts his hair, the Showstopper scans the perimeter and describes his gut feeling to a room full of camera crew members.
“In twenty years, you guys never made me nervous,” he discloses. “Now, I’m nervous. It’s a little too real for me.”
With that, the WWE Chairman enters the room for Michaels’s personal, one-on-one ring ceremony. Already affected by the weight of the scenario, McMahon gnaws back a clear swell of sentiment and simply tells Shawn, “Thank you.”
Camera flashes and bright lights further illuminate the poignant moment between individuals sharing a bond much richer than employee-employer, much deeper than friendship. During such a symbolic moment, their complex relationship expresses itself in a powerful hug and emotion-reddened eyes. The gold ring is slipped on, and its snugness alleviates the breath-holding moment as Shawn charmingly states, “Okay, I’m going to go find my wife and kids and cry some more.”
42
SHOOT INTERVIEW, 7:35 p.m.
Mr. WrestleMania is terribly close to taking the stage, and all he wants to do is see his family. On the hunt for his kin—for once, sans camo—Shawn finds Game all right, though just not the wild variety.
As if on a McMahon family marathon, HBK stumbles into Triple H and receives yet another shimmering gift that coincidentally matches the belt buckle given to him nearly eight hours earlier by Ric Flair.
“It’s so beautiful,” exclaims Michaels while opening a very personal token from his friend. “You know you’re a redneck when your best buddy gives you a revolver as a sentimental gift.”
His levity aside, the Showstopper is captivated by the Colt .45-caliber revolver he’s holding. HBK examines every aspect, from its sterling-silver body to the ivory hilt. For a recreational hunter like Michaels, this rare, never-been-fired classic firearm is genuinely meaningful and will find a suitably special place in his home.
43
LOST AND FOUND, 7:51 p.m.
Even with the pistol in his possession, the bravado begins to evaporate when HBK realizes his family is still absent from what’s about to be the most triumphant night in his career. Out through the curtain, the arena is near its largest capacity—filled with WWE
fans, Legends and Superstars, even his parents and siblings—but three people are missing. In his search, dips in and out of various rooms in the locker-room area are of no luck for Shawn. But then, one last hall peek reconnects the HB Clan, each of whom is fashionably attired, perfectly outfitted for their patriarch’s event. This is exactly what Michaels needed: a curiosity-piqued Cameron, sweet talk from Cheyenne and, finally, some sugar from the lips of his radiant wife, Rebecca.
A contented HBK escorts them to the porthole that leads out to their Philips Arena seats, which happen to be within earshot of WWE Champion The Miz, John Cena and countless others who hope to have careers as astounding as the Showstopper’s.
44
ARE YOU READY?, 10:13 p.m.
With his wife and children seated out on the arena floor, Shawn soon starts to feel the effects of his family’s absence again as it draws perilously nearer to his time. Michaels moves from available room to room in the Philips Arena locker room, pacing and fidgeting with his fingers, twisting and turning the new symbol of excellence on his right ring finger.
Drew Carey wraps up when Michaels is again joined by the Kliq, this time all in dapper tuxes. The foursome feel the immensity of the moment and express their time-tested affinity with few words, only a symbolic hand gesture that connects all of their hands, like a secret handshake for their exclusive club.
Michaels waits to cross through the curtain, and X-Pac empties a tissue box while watching the video compilation of HBK highlights. A moment later and the Cerebral Assassin takes the stage, putting Shawn in his crosshairs for several minutes in a roast of sorts.