5 Booking options for Shawn Michaels if he returns to the WWE ring

If Shawn Michaels makes a return to WWE, who besides AJ Styles could be an opponent?

It has been six years since Michaels was in a WWE ring as a competitor. Aside from cameo appearances, guest referee spots and the occasional yuk-up with Ric Flair and other former WWE superstars, he has led a non-wrestling existence.

Until this year. Michaels has begun working with WWE’s Performance Center, as Anthony DiMoro wrote in an August 17 story on Forbes.com.

While it would appear that he was adding his name to the vast array of talented trainers and the professionals on staff, there has always been a tease of sorts with him about whether he would get back in the ring for “one more match.”

Just so everyone knows, WWE has not commented on the picture on Twitter or the rumours that have flown around the world like the Road Runner on steroids. This may all be a tease once again, with Styles making the claim he would love to face one of the greatest to ever wrestle.

Also read: WWE News: Jim Ross comments on AJ Styles vs Shawn Michaels Rumours

Michaels did, however, say that if he returned to the ring, he would love to face Styles one-on-one.

Since all we have here is speculation and a lot of wishful thinking, maybe there is a chance to have a little bit of fun with this. If Michaels returned to the ring, besides Styles, who would be an ideal opponent? Here are five names to consider.


#1 Triple H

Best friends and enemies, would a match with Triple H make perfect sense?

Best friends in and out of the ring and two of the best workers to ever set foot in a WWE ring. Triple H isn’t retired, but there is growing sentiment that the angle with Seth Rollins will never happen, and fans wouldn't like another angle going to waste.

The potential of this match is intriguing because while they are best friends, there is still a brooding rivalry between the two. Who is the better performer? Who can go the distance? Fans must be salivating at the chance to see this kind of a match – much like one between Triple H and Undertaker.

#2 Seth Rollins

Seth Rollins could be in line for a meeting with Michaels

This is the one match I would love to see. Rollins is in one of those states of purgatory where he can win on Sunday night and lose at the same time. I’d love to see an angle where Michaels is the one who confronts the former WWE World Champion instead of Triple H – leading to a match at WrestleMania 34.

Rollins has been pushed around like a lost child in a holiday mall, but he worked well with Sting before the Icon was hurt at Night of Champions last year. While Rollins has been compared to Edge, there are similarities between him and Shawn Michaels as well.

#3 Finn Balor

Finn Balor’s return to the ring is a few months away

Balor is going to be a wanted man once he returns to the ring. How does WWE book the Demon King? The company’s first Universal Heavyweight Champion should be in line to face the wrestler with the strap once he is cleared to compete.

Could he be back for the Royal Rumble? It’s possible. Balor is such a fan favourite, seeing him jump into a program with Michaels would certainly be a passing-of-the-torch type event.

My only fear with this kind of match is the fact that Balor is still a bit green in terms of being on the main roster, and being thrust into such a feud might be a bit overwhelming for him.

#4 Chris Jericho

Michaels’ feud with Chris Jericho is one of the greatest of all time

PLEASE YES! The feud between Jericho and Michaels in 2008 was exactly what both wrestlers needed to prove to the wrestling world just how great they were and what a feud should look like.

I have watched rivalries like Jack Brisco and Dory Funk Jr, Ric Flair and Ricky Steamboat and The Rock and Steve Austin. This one was just as good.

Jericho is doing some of his best work in and out of the ring right now. A return by Michaels could ramp up the hatred between these two all over again.

Make this happen! It has been called one of the best feuds of professional wrestling for a good reason.

#5 Shinsuke Nakamura

I personally like the idea of a match with Shinsuke Nakamura

This might be the biggest stretch of all of these potential opponents. How would the international star and the former NXT Champion fare in a match like this – given that he would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire?

Also read: Is an AJ Styles vs Shawn Michaels match really the best thing for Royal Rumble?

Nakamura has a chance to be the biggest international star WWE has had in decades, and he could be in line for a WWE World title shot now that he has made the jump.to the main roster. The move by WWE to bring up unused talent to enhance the roster of both Raw and SmackDown Line has been successful.

Would Nakamura join this list and would a match with Michaels define his career? One can only hope.


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