Shawn Michaels Downplays Feud Rumors With The Rock

WWE executive says issues between the two have been 'blown out of proportion'

Apr. 6, 2026 at 7:07pm

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In a recent podcast interview, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative Shawn Michaels addressed long-standing rumors of backstage tension and political maneuvering between himself, Triple H, and The Rock during their active wrestling careers. Michaels insisted the issues have been 'way blown out of proportion' and that he and The Rock get along well today, even as The Rock's Hollywood stardom took him away from regular WWE appearances by the time Michaels returned to the company.

Why it matters

The relationship between top WWE stars is always a source of fascination for fans, as any perceived backstage drama or power struggles can impact on-screen storylines and character development. Michaels and The Rock were two of the biggest names in WWE during the Attitude Era, so shedding light on the truth behind their alleged feud provides valuable context about that pivotal period in wrestling history.

The details

Michaels acknowledged that The Rock 'didn't like' him when he was younger, likely due to locker room ribbing over the initial negative fan reaction to Rocky Maivia's babyface character. However, Michaels said the two have gotten along well in more recent years, even as The Rock's Hollywood success took him away from regular WWE appearances by the time Michaels returned to the company.

  • Michaels made these comments on the '7PM in Brooklyn' podcast in April 2026.

The players

Shawn Michaels

A WWE Hall of Famer and current Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative, known for his successful wrestling career in the 1990s and 2000s.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson

A former WWE champion and one of the biggest movie stars in the world, known for his transition from the 'Rocky Maivia' character to the more popular 'The Rock' persona in the late 1990s.

Paul Levesque

Also known as Triple H, a former WWE champion and current Executive Vice President of Global Talent Strategy & Development, who was rumored to have political backstage dealings with Michaels.

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What they’re saying

“'Thinking about it, the guy didn't like me. He didn't like me,'”

— Shawn Michaels, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative

“'No, I'll say this again. I think, over the years, there's been a big kerfuffle in the wrestling business about me and Hunter doing things to him and being mean and stuff like that. All of it is way blown out of proportion. None of it is even accurate.'”

— Shawn Michaels, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative

“'But, again, later on, and to this day, like, we get along and we talk about stuff. That's one I think everybody would have liked to have seen.'”

— Shawn Michaels, WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative

The takeaway

Michaels' comments provide a more nuanced perspective on the relationship between two of WWE's biggest stars during the Attitude Era, suggesting that any backstage tensions were likely overblown and that the two have since reconciled their differences, even if their paths didn't cross as much in Michaels' later career due to The Rock's Hollywood success.