Shawn Michaels recently discussed the appeal of D-Generation X (DX) and emphasized how the faction resonated with people.
DX is one of the most legendary stables in wrestling history; it was one of the most prominent acts throughout the Attitude Era, and it remains heavily influential today. The group was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2019.
In an interview with Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, Michaels reflected on the faction’s rapid rise and noted that, though it began as a group of heels, fans embraced them because they tapped into the “inherent smart-ass” in people. He noted that DX got to say and do things others could of dream of.
“At first, they felt like we were doing it to them — and their favorite superstars — and they booed us,” Michaels said. “But after awhile they found it amusing because some of the things we said were true and resonated. Nothing seemed to bother us. We always had a witty comment for someone else.
“It just got to be so sophomoric and juvenile that it tapped into the inherent smart-ass in all of us that thinks a lot of stuff in their head — but never actually says it because they want to be cordial or professional or polite. We just started saying a lot of those things that went through our heads to authority figures and people started to relate to that and found it quite amusing.”
Likewise, he looked back on the group’s early days and noted it felt natural because they were friends in real life, and that’s how they acted on-screen.
“From a television standpoint, as we started to do DX, it just felt kind of natural,” Michaels said. “A lot of things that we did on TV as DX were things we were doing as friends behind the scenes long before we ever brought it to TV.”
DX is set to celebrate its 25th anniversary on the October 10 episode of WWE RAW.
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