Shawn Michaels' Activities During His Four-Year Retirement From WWE

In early 1998, Shawn Michaels was wrapping up his initial WWE career. His Casket Match against The Undertaker at the 1998 Royal Rumble resulted in a severe back injury, drastically altering his professional path. After losing the WWE Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania 14, Michaels stepped away from in-ring competition.

Though he returned to WWE in 2002, Michaels remained visible in the company during his four-year absence. In the summer of 1998, he appeared on multiple episodes of WWE Raw and WWE Sunday Night Heat as a guest commentator and participated in various non-wrestling segments. By years end, he had assumed the role of WWE Commissioner, succeeding Sgt. Slaughter, and briefly joined Vince McMahons Corporation.

At the start of 1999, Michaels briefly reunited with D-Generation X before undergoing the long-delayed back surgery, leading to the stables temporary dissolution. He also served as a special guest referee on the second episode of WWE SmackDown in 1999, assisting Triple H in retaining the WWE Championship against The Rock. In 2000, he returned to officiate the famous 60-minute Iron Man match between Triple H and The Rock at Judgment Day, coinciding with The Undertakers American Badass debut. After passing on his Commissioner responsibilities to Mick Foley, Michaels stepped away from television by the end of 2000.

Reports indicated that Michaels earned approximately $750,000 annually during his non-wrestling tenure. Despite this, he faced personal struggles, including a notorious incident backstage at the March 26, 2001, episode of Raw involving substance abuse, which created a temporary rift with Triple H.

Life Beyond WWE

Outside WWE, Michaels remained connected to wrestling. He appeared as a special guest referee for Japans FMW promotion, overseeing the main event of their 10th-anniversary show in November 1999. Though FMW was associated with ECW, Michaels never appeared for the American promotion. In April 2000, he briefly came out of retirement to win the Texas Wrestling Alliance Heavyweight Championship in a Bunkhouse Brawl, vacating the title immediately afterward.

Michaels also co-founded the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in 1999 alongside Rudy Boy Gonzalez. The school trained future stars like Raquel Rodriguez, Paul London, and Bryan Danielson, though Danielson credits most of his education to William Regal. The school continues today as the Texas Wrestling Academy, under Gonzalezs ownership after Michaels returned to WWE in 2002.

Personal Challenges and Transformation

During his hiatus, Michaels faced severe personal battles. Years of substance abuse, compounded by his back injury, nearly derailed him entirely. His wife Rebecca described witnessing Michaels struggle to read to their young son while under the influence, illustrating the depth of his struggles.

In April 2002, Michaels experienced a profound personal change, becoming a born-again Christian and committing to sobriety. This transformation allowed him to prioritize his family and health. Later that year, after medical clearance, he returned to WWE at SummerSlam 2002, facing Triple H in an Unsanctioned match, marking the beginning of a highly acclaimed second chapter in his career.

Author: Harper Simmons