In relation to the planned Shawn vs Bret Mania 13 main event. Before that fell apart, what was the thought on it being face vs face again? Was one set to turn before, that night or after?
Before. Shawn was definitely getting very heelish after dropping the title to Sid at Survivor Series, and they were doing test runs with him going to the dark side at house shows before abruptly dropping it at Rumble 97 when he went full on babyface again and then "retired" shortly after. Clearly the plan was going to be making him the heel after Rumble before that crippling knee injury derailed it.