What Shawn Michaels Demanded From John Cena In Iconic WWE Match
Shawn Michaels has explained what he demanded from John Cena when the two WWE icons went toe-to-toe in the main event of WrestleMania 23.
At WrestleMania 23, Shawn Michaels and John Cena walked into the main event as World Tag Team Champions but Michaels had lived up to his treacherous reputation as he turned on Cena before they clashed for the WWE Title on the grandest stage of them all.
John Cena won his third WrestleMania WWE Title match in a row as he picked up the win over the Heartbreak Kid, but for Michaels, it wasn’t about winning or losing.
Shawn Michaels Needed A Top Performance From John Cena
Speaking to ESPN, Shawn Michaels discussed the match with Cena and explained what he expected from the man who would go on to become a 16-time world champion:
I just looked at it as a fantastic opportunity, to be one of the guys that would certainly continue to solidify John as our No. 1 guy, and the guy that was going to be carrying the company. There’s kind of two types of people that you’re working with [as the top guy] – the guys that would rather have that spot than you, and guys that support you. I was at a place in my career where I was 100% committed to having the best match with John that we possibly could.
I always tried to make sure that I was 100% prepared for any WrestleMania match that I had. At that time I was working with John, I had no idea what the years ahead had in store for me. You can’t call yourself Mr. WrestleMania and not get a reputation of having to perform at that level at that show. I had every intention of making sure John and I were going to work our butts off.
I mean this lovingly, I don’t care whatever level he was at. I needed him to reach a higher level that night – hopefully the highest level he’d ever met at that time – because that’s what I certainly expect for myself, and that’s what I expect from the guys that are in the ring with me.
I think John knew that, and that’s something I’ve always appreciated about him. I believe it is something that John took very seriously at the time; he wanted to be at his absolute best as well.
John Cena will headline another WrestleMania in Las Vegas when he challenges Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Championship.