Backstage news on Shawn Michaels losing to John Cena at Mania

Despite the word that has made the rounds over the last week, The Pro Wrestling Torch is reporting that Shawn Michaels was not upset at all about being asked to lose to John Cena at WrestleMania 23. Many in the company felt Triple H set the tone by losing to Cena last year at WrestleMania 22. Plus, the general feeling was that wrestling fans in general wouldn't buy a 42 year old Michaels beating Cena for the WWE Title, let alone at the biggest show of the year.

While we are all familiar with the "Shawn Michaels of old" who wasn't a fan of putting many wrestlers over on the roster, since his return to the company in 2002 he hasn't had a problem putting over many and understands what is good for business. The only time Michaels has put up a fuss since his return was having to lose to Hulk Hogan at SummerSlam last year. Michaels felt that since Hogan was older than him and not a full-time or even part-time wrestler for WWE at the time; that he shouldn't have lost. Michaels went on Raw the following night and took a dig at both Hogan and Bret Hart in his promo, which were situations he didn't feel he should have jobbed in (Hogan was just making a special appearance and a rematch would have been more attractive if HBK would have won, while Michaels felt Hart wasn't in the right on anything since he was leaving the company anyways in 1997).

Of course, this is part of the "old Shawn" that many friends and close sources say is still part of the "new Shawn." It should be noted that while Michaels has completely stayed away from alcohol or drug abuse since his return to WWE, many in the company have noted that he still gets worked up over wrestling matters such as the situation with Hulk Hogan last year. Many feel that if Michaels doesn't get his way, he will instead take advantage of TV time by taking shots at people on the mic, which is his way of settling old scores since a response isn't likely from the people he is speaking about. It should also be noted that the superkick Michaels gave Cena on the last Raw before WrestleMania was his idea. Vince McMahon was said to be against it as he wanted neither man to have the "edge up" on each other so to speak heading into the event. In hindsight, McMahon may have been right considering the company didn't give either man mic time before the main event and not much focus was put on the superkick with the exception of a pre-match video package.

(Source: www.wrestleview.com)