5 times WWE used a Superstar's real-life issues in a storyline

#1 The entire Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart feud

Back in the mid-90s, Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart were two of the biggest Superstars in WWE. Both were excellent wrestlers and carried the company on their backs for the better part of the 90s. Hart and Michaels fought over the WWE title on various occasions, most notably at WrestleMania 12.

The Heartbreak Kid came out victorious in the end, winning the WWE title in the process. A rematch was scheduled for next year's WrestleMania, but Michaels "losing his smile" sent the plans down the drain. Hart faced Stone Cold Steve Austin instead, in one of the greatest matches in WrestleMania history.

Michaels and Hart had major real-life issues with each other, and it showed whenever these two Superstars faced each other on TV. Michaels and Hart weren't fond of each other and this real-life feud made sure that their on-screen rivalry would become one of the most memorable feuds of all time.

The insulting promos the two cut on each other were a reflection of what they actually felt about each other in real life. Hart and Michaels would settle their differences years later, and WWE went on to produce a DVD chronicling their real-life issues as well as their on-screen rivalry.

About the author

Abhilash Mendhe is a pro wrestling journalist at Sportskeeda with nearly five years of experience. He completed his MBA from the Symbiosis Institute of Telecom Management in 2016 and worked with multiple banking institutions, including Tech Mahindra. While he started writing WWE articles for Sportskeeda in 2019 as a hobby, it eventually became a significant part of his professional journey.

Abhilash checks his articles thrice before sending them to the editing team, ensuring his work is highly accurate and reliable.

He has interviewed prominent pro wrestling personalities like Noam Dar, Angry Miz Girl, Brendan Cobbina, and Jesse Lambert. Abhilash is a big fan of AEW star Orange Cassidy, as he believes the former International Champion’s on-screen gimmick of an extremely lazy guy resonates with him.

Given the opportunity to script WWE’s next big storyline, Abhilash would treat fans to the second installment of The Bloodline Civil War. He would book Roman Reigns to re-form The Bloodline with The Usos and Sami Zayn upon his comeback. The angle would see The Tribal Chief-led group go head-to-head with The Rock, Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, and Jacob Fatu in a blockbuster family feud.

When not reporting on pro wrestling, Abhilash likes to work out, go on walks, read, and explore new eateries.

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Edited by Nishant Jayaram