The greatest faces in WWE history - No. 7

Continuing with our series of the greatest “good guys” in the WWE, today we come down to number seven, and this performer wasn’t just one of the best “faces” in the WWE, but at a point was the most hated man in professional wrestling! If you had to pick out the most controversial superstar in the history of the WWF/E, odds are that his name will be the top pick. This performer is adored by many, and respected by all. Although he had a bad first phase in the WWE, his second run with the company saw him win everyone’s heart, thus wiping his slate clean. Other than the fact that he is regarded as perhaps the greatest in – ring competitor of all time, he is also known by many nicknames. Some call him ‘The Showstopper’, others call him ‘The Icon’. He is known to everyone as ‘The Heart Break Kid’, Shawn Michaels.

Shawn Michaels isn’t new to wrestling fans, and neither to controversy. In his star studded career, Shawn Michaels experienced his fair share of ups and downs. They say greatness can’t be replaced, nor can it be replicated. There is nothing that hasn’t been said about Shawn Michaels, and in a career which spanned for more than two and a half decades, Shawn Michaels accomplished everything there is to accomplish in professional wrestling. Starting out as a kid with a dream to make it big in the industry to becoming one of the greatest names to ever lace a pair of boots, Shawn Michaels has achieved everything anyone can possibly dream of.

After starting out as a tag-team specialist in the wrestling circuit, Shawn Michaels and his partner, Marty Jannetty made their way into the World Wrestling Federation. Although they were released soon, they were brought back and were inserted into a feud with the Hart Foundation, and their rivalry quickly caught fire, and at one point, ending the show! This was considered an honour during that time, as only the top talent received that opportunity. Shawn Michaels was destined for greatness, and that was evident since the very beginning. Vince realized that, and soon put Michaels in singles division, giving him Sensational Sherri as his manager, starting the ‘Boy Toy’ gimmick.

Shawn Michaels had many memorable matches, starting with the classic ladder match at WrestleMana 10, which revolutionized the business against Razor Ramon for the prestigious Intercontinental championship. But perhaps, no other match of his was fueled by personal animosity as much as his matches with Bret Hart were, which became a stuff of legends. Their rivalry transcended the scripted world of professional wrestling and brew into a personal rivalry. Soon, Shawn and Bret were engaged in what was seen as the most popular and controversial feud of all time! Shawn Michaels won the prestigious WWF championship at WrestleMania in 1996, leading to the now famous lines of Vince McMahon saying “The boyhood dream has come true for Shawn Michaels!” and soon, the entire locker room turned against Shawn Michaels.

Bret and Shawn locked horns once again at Survivor Series ’97, which is probably the most famous wrestling match of all time, but for all the wrong reasons. In what was dubbed as “The Montreal Screwjob”, Shawn and Vince double crossed Bret. Shawn would retire a year later due to a serious back injury, but made his return to professional wrestling after 4 years, still performing at an exceptionally superior level. Shawn came back a changed man, and this was when perhaps the greatest “good guy” was born. Shawn Michaels had amazing, five-star matches against the likes of Kurt Angle, and Chris Jericho, but perhaps none more important than his iconic matches against The Undertaker.

After Michaels defeated Ric Flair and forced him into retirement at WrestleMania, Michaels set on a journey which would “define” his career, which was breaking the legendary streak at WrestleMania. In words of Michaels himself, he had “no career” if he couldn’t beat The Undertaker, and Michaels went toe to toe with the Undertaker and put on two five-star calibre matches at consecutive WrestleManias, and lost both of them, out of which the last one with his career on the line. Michaels retired after losing to the Undertaker at WrestleMania, and received one of the greatest send-offs the next night on RAW.

They say that legends are born and can’t be made. The legacy of ‘The Heart Break Kid’ Shawn Michaels will live on in the annals of professional wrestling for a long time to come. There have been many greats and legends in professional wrestling, and many more will find themselves in that section in the future. But there are only a few legends who can be put alongside Shawn Michaels, which earns him the number 7 spot on our list of the greatest faces in WWE history.

Read other articles in the series here: Greatest Faces in WWE history