Shawn Michaels has recently engaged in a conversation with Sports Illustrated. During the interchanges, he reflected back on his classic ladder match with Razor Ramon that took place at SummerSlam 1995. According to Michaels, he feels this match is often overshadowed by their preceding match at WrestleMania X.
Here are some of the intriguing insights from his discussions:
Michaels takes us back, mentioning, “I was sorting through boxes containing my old gear a while back, and, sure enough, I stumbled across the blue gear from SummerSlam. It’s a favorite of both my wife and daughter. It is interesting to look back. Following our extraordinary match at WrestleMania, Scott and I had begun to realize that what we had created was unique. We had the urge to allow it to stand alone, to let its essence permeate through. Nevertheless, we received marching orders to come up with another one!”
Speaking about the stark contrast with the build-up of their WrestleMania match, Michaels asserts, “This one carried quite a different vibe. The narrative that led up to it was far from familiar, posing a challenge. However, let me clarify–Scott and I pulled out all stops to ensure it was unforgettable. And I believe we succeeded.”
He also feels the SummerSlam match does not get the recognition it deserves as compared to their WrestleMania clash. “Creating a sequel is always a daunting task, but I feel this one didn’t quite receive the acclaim it deserves. And the reason is pretty straightforward: it’s the second one. The first one is automatically etched in history. It marks a paradigm shift. Being the first is unique. I am still proud of it, but it’s not as distinctive since it’s not the initial one.”
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