Shawn Michaels - Wrestler of the 90s?
Shawn Michaels - the self proclaimed 'wrestler of the 1990s'. Wrestler of the 90s? That's a pretty important title to be giving one person. Is Shawn Michaels the man to take the biscuit? I think so.
Shawn began his pro-wrestling career training with his his mentor, Jose Lothario. In the late 1980s, he made his wrestling debut in the Mid South Wrestling promotion, where he stunned crowds with his unique style of wrestling. He quickly established himself as a young, upcoming superstar and even in these early years it was apparent to most that Shawn Michaels had what it took to make it big.
He wrestled successfully in Mid South Wrestling, even winning the Tag Titles with Paul Diamond. It was at this time when Shawn met Marty Jannetty and the two began tagging together as the Rockers - a spin off of NWA Tag Champions, the Rock n Roll Express. The likeness between the two teams was obvious as Michaels and Jannetty successfully emulated the style of Morton and Gibson to great effect. Shawn and Marty were hungry for national exposure, and so in 1989 the 'Rockers' signed with Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation. The Rockers fitted in perfectly with the WWF's already impressive tag team division. The two young superstars possessed the uncanny ability to draw a fantastic match out of the lamest of opponents, as demonstrated at their Wrestlemania V match with the Twin 'Oh-So-Cumbersome' Towers. An otherwise mediocre WWF card suddenly became cool if the Rockers were scheduled for a match. The Rockers revolutionised tag team wrestling for the WWF, and by 1992, they were two of the most popular superstars on the roster. Oddly enough, the Rockers never snared the WWF Tag Team gold, although the pair came close to it during a bout with the Hart Foundation.
By 1991, however, things were changing and changing fast. Tag Teams have a tendency to have a short life span, and the Rockers were no exception. The WWF had no intention of loosing two of its most promising young athletes, though, and so the Rockers needed to be repackaged as solo artists. It was decided that the team would violently split up, sparking a heel-face feud between the two wrestlers. Shawn agreed to take the heel turn, and during an instalment of Brutus 'The Barber' Beefcake's 'Barber Shop', Shawn tossed Marty Jannetty through a window. Shawn transformed into the a cocky, flamboyant Boy Toy managed by Sensational Sherrie. This was not the Shawn Michaels we had known and loved before. This was the newly improved HeartBreak Kid and we loved him more than ever.
Shawn used his feud with Marty Jannetty to promote his singles career and the two worked several breath taking matches throughout 1991 and 1992. He quickly established himself as a flashy mid-carder - winning the hearts of female wrestling fans across the world. On the 27/10/92 edition of Saturday Night's Main Event, Shawn lifted the WWF Intercontinental Title by defeating The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith. Shawn and Jannetty feuded over the title throughout early 1993, with Shawn lastly defeating Marty for the title on 6/6/93.
After two successful Intercontinental Title reigns, HBK's singles career was blossoming and he showed no signs of slowing down when he brought the seven-foot monster Diesel into the WWF as his bodyguard. It was at this time that HBK formed a relationship with Diesel, Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid and Hunter Heart Helmsley. Nowadays, we know this union as the Kliq, but back then it was just a group of good friends looking out for each other - a rare occurrence in the wrestling world.
Shawn and 'Big Daddy Cool' Diesel (Kevin Nash) had two Tag Title reigns - firstly winning the titles from the Head Shrinkers and secondly defeating Yokozuna and Davey Boy Smith. The HBK - Diesel team came to an end at the 1994 Survivor Series after HBK superkicked Diesel for the second time. It was this that made Diesel a major face and allowed him to get over enough to become the WWF champion. Shawn remained the heel, this time bring the seven-foot monster Sid into the WWF as his new bodyguard.
Shawn's singles career was rejuvenated at the 1995 Royal Rumble when he entered the 30-man Battle Royal main event at no.1 and still went on to win, thusly earning himself a World Title shot at Wrestlemania XI. Shawn lost the title shot, and took a major face turn immediately afterwards. Shawn was now more popular than ever. The male fans began to really love him (they had always respected him) and the female fans still really loved him! Shawn added another IC Title reign to his growing trophy cabinet and later became the second man in history to win a Royal Rumble twice, consecutively. This time, his title shot was at Wrestlemania XII against Bret Hart in an Iron Man Match. The match went back and forward with both men giving it their all. Eventually Shawn came out on top with the World Title around his waist. HBK had fulfilled his childhood dream. He was ontop of the mountain.
HBK was the no. 1 face in the WWF until February 1997 when a knee injury forced him to take time off. He returned to the WWF as a heel, feuding with the Undertaker. HBK's feud with the Man From The Dark Side was perhaps his most graphic to date. The two had fearsome matches at IYH: Ground Zero, IYH: Badd Blood and Royal Rumble 98. Fate once again denied Shawn his destiny as a career-ending back injury threatened HBK with retirement. Our man soldiered on though, and did the job to Steve Austin as Wrestlemania XIV. Shawn has garnered a lot of respect for the way he conducted himself during the last month of his in-ring career.
In conclusion. There is little else Shawn Michaels could achieve. He has been loved by fans and hated by fans: both of which are good reactions. He is the most decorated man in WWF history having won all four major WWF titles. Shawn has even won two Royal Rumbles. His success as a tag team wrestler has been well documented, as has his superb wrestling skill. He founded The Kliq and D-Generation X. Love him or loathe him, Shawn Michaels IS the wrestler of the 1990s...
By
HBKUk
