On February 13, 1997, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) broadcast a special episode titled Thursday Raw Thursday from Lowell, Massachusetts. The show was intended to counter-program WCW and build momentum on the road to WrestleMania 13 . However, the night is not remembered for a match or a violent angle. It is remembered for a solitary figure standing in the center of the ring, wearing civilian clothes, delivering a monologue that would become one of the most infamous moments in the history of the business. Shawn Michaels, the WWF World Heavyweight Champion and the undeniable face of the “New Generation,” surrendered his title. He told the world that a severe knee injury had forced him into potential retirement and, in a line that has echoed through the decades, admitted that he ha
The Lost Smile: The Complete History Of Shawn Michaels Vacating The WWF Championship In 1997
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