Vince McMahon wanted Shawn Michaels to return to the NWO, but others vetoed the idea. Michaels was in Toronto for WrestleMania and discussed a possible return to the WWF scene with McMahon. The plans were pretty much set, but then when Kevin Nash and Scott Hall were presented with the concept, they rejected it, arguing that he wouldn’t fit in with their current group on or off camera and if he returns, it should be as a babyface at first. Michaels, notoriously immature and abrasive, didn’t do himself any favors when he gave Triple H a cold shoulder backstage at Mania when Triple H said hello to him. Michaels was talking to someone else at the time and brushed off Triple H’s greeting. Observers say he looked a bit slim in the body and fat in the face with thinning hair at WrestleMania. The NWO threesome has made it clear they have no desire to have anyone join them at this time. Michaels image-wise might be a tough fit anyway, since his look is now Texas/Cowboy-oriented, although last time he was on TV regularly he was doing the DX gimmick which wouldn’t be a stretch to fit with the current NWO image. Michaels may still end up on the active roster, but not with the NWO. He can’t assure WWF management he’ll be able to wrestle regularly until he gives it a try, so any push he may get will be tentative until he works some matches.
In segments that followed, a storyline played out with the NWO (Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, X-Pac) and Kane. It led to Kane being unmasked. Bradshaw entered the mix, saving Kane from the NWO attack the resulted in Kane’s mask being ripped off his face (he was face-first on the mat).
