4. Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels is considered perhaps the greatest in-ring performer in WWE history, with both the fan and co-worker support to constantly back him up and make that argument. HBK wasn’t always quite as popular as he is today, however, especially considering how terrible he himself admits he was when under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Michaels’ substance abuse problems during his first few WWE World Championship reigns are legendary, and caused some seriously strained relationships between himself and almost everyone else in the wrestling world. Namely, he didn’t have the best rapport with the person he was supposed to lose the Championship to in his final match, Steve Austin.
Decades after the fact, Michaels has left drugs behind, found religion, and buried the hatchet with Stone Cold and the many other wrestlers he used to beef with. Austin and Michaels are now good friends, often talking about their shared interests in hunting and Texas wildlife. Austin may not have been as close to Michaels for as long as some of the other superstars on this list, but they’re still growing closer than ever before. Michaels cites friendships like Austin’s as one of the greatest aspects of his reformation, noting he never believed he’d be such good friends with some of the people he may even have tried to hurt during his darkest days.
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