Shawn Michaels Explains Why He Took Full Creative Control Of Iconic WrestleMania Match

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels has revealed why he took complete creative control of his iconic WrestleMania 24 match against Ric Flair, which was billed as Flair’s retirement bout at the time.

In a 2018 interview on CBS Sports’ In This Corner Podcast, Shawn Michaels explained his decision to oversee every detail of the match, ensuring it properly honoured both Flair’s legacy and their long-standing friendship.

“Truth be told, when it came to that kind of stuff, I am a bit of a control freak,” Michaels admitted. “Emotionally, I just knew where I wanted, especially with that match. That might quite honestly be my ‘love letter’ to Ric Flair, my way of trying to show him, not only the friendship that we have, but also the impact that he had on a 15-year-old me, and trying to convey that to him through a wrestling match.”

Flair had been involved in a high-stakes retirement storyline beginning in late 2007, when WWE Chairman Vince McMahon declared that he would be forced to retire after his next loss. Flair then embarked on an impressive winning streak, overcoming opponents such as Randy Orton, Umaga, and even McMahon himself. However, at WrestleMania 24, his legendary career seemingly came to an end when he faced Michaels.

In an emotional conclusion to the match, Michaels delivered his signature Sweet Chin Music to secure the pinfall victory, marking the end of Flair’s WWE career. Reflecting on the moment, Michaels acknowledged the deep connection the audience felt.

“You hope that the other 80,000 fans out there get that, and clearly, everyone did, and the millions at home did.”

Thanks to Michaels’ creative vision, the match remains one of the most emotional and unforgettable moments in WrestleMania history.

Which Iconic WWE Moment Did Shawn Michaels Say He Improvised?

Shawn Spears spoke about an iconic Shawn Michaels moment that he says he completely improvised. The moment in question was when Michaels delivered his Sweet Chin Music to a producer and followed up by delivering more Superkicks to other people backstage in a fit of frustration after being told by Triple H that he wasn’t controversial enough. After Micheals kicked the first producer, who was being portrayed by a young Spears, Michaels turned back to Triple H and uttered “I just kicked Stan” which Spears recalled was completely made up by Michaels on the spot.

H/t to WrestlingInc.com