Shawn Michaels A&E Biography Review

WWE returned to A&E with another Biography special. This time around, the focus was on Shawn Michaels.

Here are some thoughts on what stood out in the documentary:

• Give WWE credit, as it didn’t shy away from Michaels’ dark past. The knock on the Randy Savage documentary (my review) was that it went too far in one direction. That wasn’t the case here, though that’s not surprising given Michaels’ friendship with Triple H. Still, it was impossible to tell Michaels’ story without diving into the bad stuff. They did that, drugs and all.
• I thought Marty Jannetty added good insight life on the road for The Rockers. Jannetty has certainly had his issues, but he’s also played a significant role in Michaels’ career trajectory.
• Speaking of The Rockers, it’s still wild to think about how they got a second chance after being fired. Michaels and Jannetty recounting that story was interesting, as was the tale of the infamous Saturday Night’s Main Event match.
• Luckily, they didn’t spend much time on the Montreal Screwjob. Think that one has been addressed before? There’s so little to add to that story at this point that I’m glad they didn’t go for the low-hanging fruit. However, what was hilarious was Vince McMahon‘s reaction to Bret Hart knocking the hell out of him. Vince recalled it in a more lighthearted way than he had previously.
• The line of the documentary came from Triple H. His story of Michaels saying if he’d had overdosed after WrestleMania 10, he’d be remembered as a legend was pretty intense. That’s a quote I’d never heard before from either man.
• Michaels’ wife, Rebecca Hickenbottom, added a lot of context to his struggles and eventual turnaround. Michaels’ emotional story about vowing to change for his son was also a big part of the family aspect. There was also a focus on how he found faith and its role in pushing him further toward getting on track.
• One of the other lines that was particularly intriguing was Michaels’ mention of creativity. He said that he’s not sure he could’ve reached his creative peak without experiencing some of the darkness from the other part of his life. That’s a fascinating thought and one that many creative people can likely relate to.
• Considering the ups and downs of his career, it’s hard not to enjoy the footage of Michaels’ work in NXT. He seems genuinely happy in his coaching role. The playful jabs with Triple H while watching some of the matches showcased that.