10 Things Fans Forgot About Shawn Michaels' Time As WWE Commissioner

Shawn Michaels was made the WWE Commissioner by Vince McMahon, replacing Sergeant Slaughter seven months after Wrestlemania 14. It was a great choice to get HBK back on screens after time away, in a non-wrestling capacity due to his back injury. It kept him fresh while under contract, capitalizing on his notoriety and history during the early Attitude Era. His tenure lasted about 18 months from November 1998 to the summer of 2000.

Most of his appearances were concentrated on a mini-arc over December and January at the turn of the year 1999 involving The Corporation and his previous faction DX. This extended story lasted for the entire duration of Shawn’s run as Commissioner, ending at the Judgement Day PPV. There is a lot that fans forget about his run as WWE Commissioner.

10 Debut Crotch Chops on the Entrance Ramp

At Survivor Series 1998, The Rock won his first WWE Championship and The Corporation was formed as a heel stable. One week later on Raw a new "Independent Commissioner" was revealed to be Shawn Michaels. Lawler openly questioned McMahon, stating that Shawn was “the most independent superstar of them all".

Shawn claimed a "New Sheriff" was in town wearing his ten-gallon black cowboy hat. He soon made a WWE Championship match with his Kliq buddy X-Pac, enraging The Corporation. The swerve went down as a chair shot for The Rock landed on X-Pac, and Shawn joined the Corporate Team, celebrating with DX crotch chops on the entranceway.

9 Unexpected Triple H Return

After being called out to the ring by X-Pac for last week's betrayal, Shawn said "he was not an active competitor anymore". Looking to make an example of the "DX brat" for insolence, Shamrock vs. X-Pac for the latter's European Title was set. Shawn reminded everyone "he was DX before DX was cool", then left by saying "hit my music" as the DX tune played.

A returning Triple H appeared suddenly in the match, as he kicked Shamrock, saving X-Pac from the ankle lock. This was a big moment as HBK and Hunter had their first interaction since Wrestlemania 14, as Triple H gave him a crotch chop from the stage.

8 HBK v Triple H Verbal Battle

Shawn and the Outlaws walked to the ring, as earlier in the night they joined The Corporation, complete in Armani suits. HBK and Triple H went on the mic in a bit of a classic, bringing up all their history. HBK initially accused Triple H of "gimmick infringement", all of DX "for riding on his coattails" and turning Triple H into "somebody when he was a nobody".

There was a lot of back and forth before The Outlaws swerved the Corporation, as Triple H and X-Pac faced Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock. Shawn inserted a chair and Billy Gunn smashed Shamrock instead, as all of DX celebrated, leaving HBK livid.

7 Corporation Parody and Debut of Test

The infamous parody of the Corporation - Jason Sensation played HBK with a basketball, dropping it multiple times in a visual reference to Shawn's Wrestlemania 14 defeat. Waltman was the "world's most dangerous man". Road Dogg was Vince, Billy was silver-spooned Shane, and Chyna was Boss Man, menacingly twirling her nightstick.

The Rock was goaded into a title match as Triple H impersonated him again. Chyna ended up low-blowing The Rock, and HBK attacked Triple H with the belt in return. Test arrived, looking like the "second coming of Diesel" and helped The Rock to the win, as Shawn distracted the referee.

6 The Corporate Christmas Bonus

Vince took the night off to train for the Royal Rumble leaving Shane in charge, promising a "Corporate Christmas Bonus" on his return. HBK made several matches - Gunn v Shamrock, plus Road Dogg v Boss Man, in revenge for their "Corporate Betrayal". Triple H and X-Pac faced off against The Rock and Test.

The bonus arrived at the end of the night as Kane joined the Corporation. After going through the entirety of DX, HBK saved The Rock from being choke slammed by mistake. During Shane v Mankind earlier, HBK prevented the Corporation from interfering, causing Shane to be beaten down. This would have ramifications for Michaels next week.

5 HBK Gets Fired

Mr. McMahon had a message for Shawn that there was "a little DX left in the commissioner", accusing him of "biting the hand that fed him". Lawler thought he was going to see HBK dragged to the ring by Vince's "huge pythons". McMahon wanted to handle this one personally, calling him out to the ring.

Pre-Wrestlemania 14 footage played with Shawn saying "McMahon needs him to show up in Boston" holding his company hostage. Vince said, "he gave Shawn a second chance as he was a great WWE superstar, but as a Commissioner he sucked". Vince then fired him and ate a Sweet Chin Music for his troubles and HBK absconded.

4 Tribute Video Interruption and DX Reunion

In one of the best cold openings to Raw ever, an indulgent career retrospect of Shawn Michaels aired, filled with all the schmaltz of the "Boyhood Dream" era, emotional music, and goodbyes to HBK's decade long career. Vince stormed the stage and told technicians to "turn off that sentimental crap."

It all ended up with Shawn rejoining DX on stage as the former leader. He then revealed his "ironclad contract" as Commissioner made by McMahon himself. The DX theme played as the segment came to an end.

3 Stone Cold Surprise

Shawn was given the wrong car keys on leaving to go and get his "Stone Cold Surprise", and was locked out of the arena. The cameraman was pushed to the ground, as Boss Man, Shamrock and Test rushed him. After the break, Michaels was next shown with a bloodied face through a car windshield, placed in an ambulance and written off the show.

Waltman's words on leaving were "what goes around comes around", so it looked like both factions were sticking it to HBK for his previous actions.

2 Corporate Ministry Mayhem

Shawn took a break for some real-life back surgery but returned in the midst of the Corporate Ministry storyline in May 1999. Pretending to be on the TitanTron in San Antonio, he made eight matches to help the Union and punish the Ministry. He then made Vince the second referee in the Over the Edge PPV main event.

What followed was madness - Vince had his ankle broken (in kayfabe) and could not perform his duties. Pat Patterson and Gerald Briscoe both showed up as refs at different points to ensure Shane couldn't help 'Taker, but were both taken out by The Deadman. Eventually, Shane performed a fast count to give 'Taker the WWE Championship.

1 Judgment Day Ironman Match

After an appearance on the first episode of SmackDown, Shawn played off his famous Ironman match from Wrestlemania 12, by becoming the referee for the Triple H/Rock match.

It was an eventful match compared to Shawn's own Ironman with eleven falls in the end, caused by multiple methods both legitimate and dubious. The return of the Undertaker went down as HBK was forced to give Triple H a DQ win and the deciding fall to the anger of the crowd. He handed Triple H the belt and pointed at Undertaker with accusations, but his time as Commissioner was drawing to a close.