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Can't Stand Hogan: Shawn Michaels
Why he can't stand Hogan: Feels disrespected and held back, Hogan refused to job to him.
Shawn Michaels was a man who no one ever pegged as a future world champion during his initial run in WWE as part of the Rockers with Marty Jannetty. This was mostly because he was on the smaller side for a pro wrestler, especially during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
However, the Heart Break Kid had turned many heads with his stellar performances. Roddy Piper once told Shawn Michaels that he would be a world champion someday. One man who did not agree with this assessment was Hulk Hogan. Hogan had Vince McMahon's ear, and if he didn't believe in a wrestler they would often not progress past the mid card.
But then Hogan left the WWE, first for Hollywood and then for WCW. Ted Turner's fledgling organization also snatched up the contracts of veteran performers like Randy Savage, Paul Orndorff, and others. WWE was suddenly bereft of big name talent. They had no choice but to build their own.
Shawn Michaels was elevated to top mid carder status, and then worked his way to the main event mostly by virtue of being such a great opponent for Bret Hart. The two men were quicker, more athletic, and more technically sound than Hogan's generation, and they carried the WWE from the New Generation era into the Attitude Era.
Of course, WCW went down in flames, and Hogan wound up in a working relationship with WWE once more. Vince McMahon wanted a program where Hogan and Michaels would face off, legend vs legend, Classic era vs. New Generation era. While Hogan initially went along with the angle, which was going to end with each man picking up a win over the other, he exercised his creative control clause and refused to job, or lose, to HBK.
HBK responded by over-selling in their match, and has since publicly dissed the Hulkster on several occasions. Given the grudge, we don't think Hogan will be invited to any of HBK's barbecues.
