Happy Birthday, HBKShawn Michaels is an indelible name in the history of sports entertainment. He was not just a great character, he was a great professional wrestler. He’s one of those few wrestlers who can compete with a broom and still churn out a classic match. From 1988 till 2010, with brief breaks in between, he’s devoted considerable time to a full time wrestling career and made it all memorable. And till now, continues to grace us with his presence once in a while only to make everyone want to see him come out of retirement for one more match which fans do believe he has it in him.Today, he turns 50. Here are the 5 greatest moments from his time in the WWE
#5 Superkicks Marty Jannetty
From 1988 to 1992, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty were a tag team called The Rockers in the World Wrestling Federation. They became friends years before that, though. Their break up is what propelled a lot about Michaels’ image in the 90s. Their split was a result of many backstage disputes about financial issues with the company. Both Jannetty and Michaels had different versions of the events that transpired.
This was one of the first of many instances when Michaels’ became controversy’s favorite child . But mainly, by super-kicking Jannetty and then ramming him through the ‘Barber Shop’ window led to one of the most violent and indelible moments in the WWE. This began the ‘Hearbreak Kid’ gimmick and was the beginning of a glorious singles journey.
#4 Retirement
No,this is not about his last retirement which happened on his on terms. This is about that retirement which took place in 1998, which took 4 years out of his glorious wrestling career. His back injury led him to pass the baton to the biggest face in the history of WWE- Stone Cold Steve Austin. At the Royal Rumble of that Year, Michaels suffered two herniated disks in his back in a Casket Match against The Undertaker. He fought with all that in his Wrestlemania match against Stone Cold. He was forced to retire soon after, only to make occasional appearances in the following years.
Until 2002, when he returned as a surprise new member of the NWO. That fizzled out soon but what had begun was a rivalry between two best friends- him and Triple H. It was a violent, emotionally high rivalry which led Michaels to his last World Championship win at the inaugural Elimination Chamber match.
He came back as a born again Christian and that may be the reason why he mellowed down on the controversy part of his career
#3 D Generation X
The pinnacle of Michaels’ controversial days may be seen in him leading D-Generation X - one of the edgiest, most controversial tag team in WWE history. It had him join forces with his real life best friend and Kliq member Triple H. This just highlights Michaels’ star power backstage, leading the pack skill. Michaels was the undeniable king when it came to backstage politics and his alliance with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall made it quite apparent.
DX have had many reunions over the years and him teaming up with Triple H has provided for one of the funniest and awesome moments later on in the WWE.
#2 Rivalry with Bret Hart
Shawn Michaels has had many great matches and many great rivalries. This has been oft repeated but none of them come as close to the legendary status his rivalry with Breat Hart has acquired over the many years since it all started. So many controversies, matches and a reunion later, it’s still one of WWE’s most celebrated feuds. Back when HBK was a brat and his boyhood dream came true, he was at loggerheads with the greatest technician in the WWE at the time- Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart.
He’s made comments about Hart having ‘Sunny Days’ over his alleged affair with WWE Diva Sunny, the Montreal Screwjob was the last straw. For years, Michaels was the most hated wrestler in Canada. He may have been playing abyface everywhere else. Remember in 2005, how he played heel to a hot crowd in Montreal when Hart’s music played out of the blue to send the fans in a manic frenzy, only for everything to be a farce and a show put up by Michaels?
This is the defining feud of the 90s before the Attitude Era kicked in.
#1 Wrestlemania
He is the one and only Mr. Wrestlemania.Nobody actually comes close.Not Hulk Hogan,not Cena, not Stone Cold, not the Rock, not even The Undertaker. Sure, his matches with The Undertaker were remarkable but they were just a part of a whole storied career that has had many memorable Wrestlemania matches.
Be it the triple threat match where Chris Benoit finally got his first World Championship or where he tapped out to Kurt Angle or that awesome match with Chris Jericho or that time he and Razor Ramon gave us the original ladder match or where his boyhood dream came true or where he put Austin over and that propelled the Rattlesnake’s glorious singles’ career. Be it the time his heart was breaking moments before he superkicked Ric Flair which indicated the Nature Boy’s retirement or be it the moment he, himself, finally hung his boots already destroying a part of himself by so desperately seeking to break the Undertaker’s streak.
Or the time, he made that awesome, unmatched entrance at Wrestlemania XII.
