HBK has high praise for Vince (Credit: WWE)

Shawn Michaels has spent over 30 years working for Vince McMahon, so it’s fair to say he knows the WWE boss after three decades.

The Heartbreak Kid clashed with the chairman in the ring a lot over his career, but none were more violent than their iconic WrestleMania 22 brawl in 2002 – and that match is the perfect example of McMahon’s commitment to the industry.

Shawn exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘No matter how many times you tell that man to put his hands up when you’re coming with a ladder to his head – he won’t do it!

‘He’s gonna take it. It’s hard to not appreciate someone that does that when clearly you don’t have to.’




The match itself ended with Vince – battered and bloodied – sent through a table with a trash can over his head as Michaels dived off a huge ladder and crashed into his boss down below.

It’s high praise indeed from the former world champion, who earned the nickname Mr. WrestleMania for his own performances on the grandest stage – although he acknowledged some people might see the chairman a little differently.

Shawn said Vince would do anything (Credit: WWE Network)

‘Well look – everybody accuses me of being a company man and I guess I am,’ he laughed. ‘But I will say one of the reasons I am is because for 40 plus years, I’ve watched him.

‘He never, ever asked someone to do something he wasn’t willing to do. You have to respect that.’

While others might point to his ruthless nature, the occasional creative misstep despite his overall genius and moments like publicly calling out Cesaro during an interview, HBK understands there are many sides to Mr. McMahon and insisted he’s never met anyone with a greater work ethic.

‘There’s not a harder worker that I’ve met in my entire life than Vince,’ he added.

Michaels now works for the NXT and NXT UK brands (Credit: WWE)

‘I recognise and understand and appreciate and respect everyone’s feelings, but at the same time, I hope you can understand mine! [laughs]’

The company continues to adjust to cope during such a difficult time with the world dealing with the coronavrus pandemic, and WWE has made roster and staff cuts due to the financial implications of the health crisis

The sports entertainment giant also continues to innovate as the annual Money In The Bank Ladder Matches will be held on top of WWE HQ next month as the crew find exciting ways to refresh their flagship events.

Reflecting on the way the ladder match has evolved, even Shawn – who appeared in the earliest iterations of the bout against the likes of Bret Hart and Razor Ramon – couldn’t have predicted the way things have panned out.

‘You’re proud that you had something to do with that,’ he admitted.

‘Certainly you knew that it was special and that it went well, but I don’t think you can ever envisage it morphing into this standalone entity that it’s become.’



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