10 shocking moments from WWE 2002

#6 Shawn Michaels joins the NWO

New Order.

While WCW and the NWO were busy scoring consecutive ratings victories over the WWF throughout 1996-1998, Vince McMahon's company was reliant on certain competitors, tasked with the job of not allowing the WWF to go completely out of business.

Before Rock and Austin turned up, WWF placed almost all their eggs in the Shawn Michaels basket. The Heartbreak Kid was raced to the top of the billing after two Royal Rumble victories and a defeat of Bret Hart in a 60-minute Iron Man Match at Wrestlemania 12. For better or worse, Shawn was the guy to carry the company through its darkest hour.

In 2002, fans were treated to bizarre scenes when Michaels, after being away from WWE TV for over a year, came to the ring wearing the shirt of the faction he had previously tried so hard to counter. With Hogan now babyface and free from the black and white brand, Kevin Nash needed to bring in more faces. At his time of need, he turned to his former Kliq buddy and gave his faction a brand new look.

Shawn, to this day, is the only NWO member to have never wrestled for WCW. This in itself is a further indication of how dominant WWF's victory over WCW was. Their once greatest asset was now but the plaything of Vince McMahon and the WWF roster.

Shawn might not have accomplished much as an NWO member, but it did help temporarily revive the fortunes of the faction and gave Vince an excuse to bring Michaels back into the fold.