Shawn Michaels Gives Randy Orton Credit For Unique Sweet Chin Music Sell

Shawn Michaels built his legacy around Sweet Chin Music, but even he admits that one WWE superstar brought something special to how the move was sold.

While answering fan-style questions in a recent interview with Adrian Hernandez on Unlikely, Michaels was asked who delivered the best reaction to his iconic finishing move. Shelton Benjamin was mentioned as a standout, but Michaels quickly shifted attention to Randy Orton, explaining that Orton brought a completely different style to taking the move. According to Michaels, what made Orton stand out wasn’t just how he sold the kick—it was how he made each moment feel different from the last.

“Well, look, I will say this. He took it like a champ. But I will say one of the people that I always thought sold it and, you know, maybe not as special, but in such a unique way was Randy. Honestly, Randy would take it almost differently every time because so many people would take a snapback and Randy could almost crumble down in a very unique way. So, I have to give Randy a lot of credit for just bringing a whole different look to selling Sweet Chin Music on a number of occasions.”

Sweet Chin Music remains one of the most recognizable finishers in wrestling history, and moments like these help explain why certain reactions stood out more than others. Orton’s ability to adapt his selling style helped keep the move feeling fresh, even after years of being used across countless matches.

Hearing Michaels single out Orton also adds to the respect shared between generations of WWE talent, especially when it comes to mastering the small details that make wrestling moments memorable.