As the legend goes, if Shawn Michaels didn't drop the WWF Championship to Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14, he would have had a problem with The Undertaker.
Michaels was in a "rough place" mentally and physically at the time and some worried that he wouldn't "do business" on that night.
Joining Austin on Broken Skull Sessions, Undertaker discussed his presence backstage that night and what was going through his mind as people worried about Shawn's mindset.
"Shawn was not in a good place mentally or physically. I don't think he was excited because you were on fire. Rumor has it, we didn't know if Shawn was going to do business. I'd been there [in WWE] a long time. I came in when business was good and I suffered through when business was bad. I determined, 'what if he decides to do something silly.' I worked with Kane that night, but this was foremost on my mind. It was a vital part of our success story; the transfer of the title because he was going away. I sat in Gorilla, watched the whole match. It sounds over the top, but I had taped my hands up. If Shawn had not done business, there would have been an appearance by the Undertaker that night. Somehow or another, that belt was going to get switched and I was going to do what I had to do to make sure that happened because there was so much riding on that. If it meant me 'thumping him up' and throwing him back in the ring, that's what was going to happen," he said.
Though Undertaker didn't care for Michaels in the 90s, the two have become closer over the years. Michaels actually approached Taker about the "taped fists" story and Taker had to lie to him to spare their friendship.
"Shawn and I are close now and he approached me about that story, and I felt bad because our relationship had progressed so far and he's somebody that I have a tremendous amount of professional history with. He asked me about the story, 'Were you really going to beat me up?' I was like, 'Nahhhh.' I blew it off. He goes, 'I didn't think so, it didn't sound like you, to go through the theatrics of wrapping your fists and everything.' I totally lied through my teeth to him because I felt bad. I care so much for him now, but that night, I was going to do what needed to be done to make sure you walked out with the title," said Undertaker.
Fortunately for Michaels, he did not have to get "thumped up" by Undertaker as he dropped the title to Austin, kicking off the Austin Era in WWF.
Elsewhere during the interview, Undertaker told the story of taking Teddy Long to wrestler's court over selling viagra. You can find that story by clicking here.
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