There might not have been much to strike fear into the heart of Shawn Michaels, but one WWE icon managed it with astonishing triumph.
The Heartbreak Kid, now helping guide the future of the next generation of WWE wrestlers as the de facto ‘boss’ of NXT, its developmental brand, is one of the finest performers of all time.
He’s also generally regarded as one of the most controversial. Never shy of an opinion or two – or the need to express it – Michaels was a fiery figure in his WWE prime as well as being one of the most insanely talented grapplers of his time.
He wasn’t always quite so cocksure, however. Back in his formative years in what was Vince McMahon’s company, Michaels was left in fear of one man in particular: Andre The Giant.
Andre was billed at being over eight feet tall during his wrestling career and commanded respect wherever he went, his stature earning him the nickname ‘boss’ backstage.
In his book, ‘Heartbreak and Triumph’, Michaels recalled that he had actually won over the towering giant far earlier than he realised, as Andre decided to have a little fun at his expense.
“[Backstage], everyone would come to him and shake his hand,” wrote Michaels, detailing the Frenchman’s aura. “Even the big stars, like Hulk Hogan, Randy Savage, Jake Roberts, and the Million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase, would pay their respects to Andre.
“Hogan may have been the main event guy on TV, but Andre was the main event in the locker room.
“Everyone would come by, saying, “How you doing, boss?” and extend their hand. He’d look up and shake their hands. It was almost like a Mafia don greeting line. I thought it was very cool.”
Back in 1987, Michaels and Rockers tag team partner Marty Jannetty lasted just two weeks in WWE before being fired following an incident in a bar that HBK claimed resulted in him smashing a glass over his own head.
McMahon chose to give the pair a second chance, however, and rehired them a short time later – British legend The Dynamite Kid swiftly giving the upstarts a lecture on the need to introducing themselves to their colleagues and shaking hands.
Of trying that on with Andre, Michaels didn’t fare too well, adding: “We didn’t want to mess this up. So, we went to him, stuck our hands out, and said, ‘How are you doing, boss?’ He wouldn’t even look up. We just shuffled off with our heads down like sad puppies.
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“For almost two years, I came up to him at every show we worked together, stuck my hand out, and said: ‘How are you doing, boss?’ Not once did he acknowledge my existence.”
Jannetty apparently gave up trying to win favour with the big man, but, likely realising the importance of keeping such an influential and respected figure on side,” Michaels persisted – staggeringly, for over a year.
Eventually, his efforts paid off. Paired in a tag team match with the man who briefly held the WWE championship, he took his shot again – and got an unexpected response.
The Texan went on: “After the match everyone was shaking hands, as is the custom. Those guys said: “Thank you, boss,’ and he shook their hands. Now it was our turn. Andre stuck his hand out! What a relief that was.
“Later that night, I saw him at the hotel bar. He waved me over. ‘Have a beer,’ he said.
“I sort of whispered: ‘I know you don’t like us.’ [He replied:] “When you first came in, I didn’t like you. But after that you’re okay.’
The future star, who went on to enjoy multiple reigns as Intercontinental and WWE Champion, insisted: ‘But you never shook our hands?’, before Andre is said to have admitted: ‘After that, I was just ribbing you then.’”
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Michaels added: ‘For a year?’ He just laughed and went back to his beer.”
Andre the Giant died of a heart attack in 1993 having long since wound down his wrestling career.
He was the very first inductee into the WWE Hall of Fame, the company still including him in its annual video game and holding the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal around WrestleMania season in his memory.