Rob Van Dam confronted Shawn Michaels when the latter returned to WWE in 2002, and he lately recalled his experiences with HBK and extra. RVD talked concerning the match on his 1 Of a Type podcast, and you’ll see some highlights under (per Wrestling Inc):
On treating the match like another bout: “I bear in mind particularly, a dialog with Stephanie McMahon and it was after all people had picked my mind to see how I felt … She stated, ‘Is that this a dream match for you? Do you will have dream matches?’ I felt I had sufficient of a relationship together with her that I may open up and speak and I stated, ‘I don’t get it, why is all people coming as much as me, asking me this? I’m a competitor right here. Have you ever seen the matches I’ve had for the previous 12, 18 months?’ I used to be questioning about how this match is gonna be. If the match wasn’t nice that’s on him. He’s the one with the dangerous again … I didn’t get it. Admittedly, now as I say that, it sounds somewhat bit disrespectful on my half.”
On Michaels’ unfavourable repute on the time: “I really feel like I’ve heard [Shawn talk about his reputation]. I didn’t know him earlier than ’98 to match however … after I was there, he wasn’t that horrible, sh*tty individual that he was rumored to have been earlier than, so I are likely to consider he did develop.”