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Shawn Michaels Handshake Refused By New WWE Champion

By Lyle Kilbane • Published 5th March 2025
NXT boss Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels has been cast aside by WWE’s newest champion who refused to shake the WWE Hall of Famer’s hand.

Since joining WWE once again Shawn Spears has sought to build a group of hungry young stars that he can mould in his own image. Niko Vance and Brooks Jensen joined his ranks before Izzi Dame betrayed Tony D’Angelo to do the same.

Now with a group of his own to combat The Family on the March 4 edition of NXT, Spears challenged Tony D’Angelo for the NXT North American Championship. Shawn Spears managed to defeat D’Angelo thanks to D’Angelo’s storyline back injury playing up allowing Spears to hook him and pick up the win. This is the first title win in Spears’ long career in a major company after three stints with WWE and one with AEW.

Shawn Spears Ignores Shawn Michaels

Given that Spears has sought to manipulate younger, more inexperienced minds into doing his dirty work while now taking the glory for himself, it’s perhaps no wonder Shawn Michaels wanted to congratulate his new champion. But the Canadian star wasn’t interested.

In a video shared by WWE on social media, Shawn Spears wanted nothing to do with Shawn Michaels, refusing his handshake offer before celebrating with the rest of his group.

Shawn Spears is now the latest ex-AEW star to win WWE gold since joining the company. Ethan Page is a former NXT Champion while Lexis King is the current holder of the Heritage Cup.