Is Shawn Michaels the Best at Providing Us With Shock Moments?'

[Mitch Henessey]

There have been plenty moments in wrestling that made our jaws drop. Stephanie turning on Vince at Armageddon '99, Stone Cold and Vince working together at Mania 17, or Batista turning on Rey a little while ago. When it comes to who's the best at providing us with these shock moments, I think there's one man who stands out among everyone else.....Shawn Michaels.

HBK has provided us with many jaw-droppers throughout the years. At Summerslam '97, he whacked Taker with a chair, when he was the special guest ref for the WWF championship match between Taker and Bret Hart. Shawn of course was aiming for Bret, but accidentally struck the Deadman. During the early days of DX, Shawn also had some shock moments. Most of them came against The Reformed Hart Foundation. Now let's fast forward to 2005, when HBK delivered the Superkick that shocked us all. I'm talking about the one he gave Hogan after a tag match on Raw. It was so unexpected. There Hogan and Shawn were in the middle of the ring celebrating, and out of no where, HBK hits sweet chin music on arguably the biggest name in the business ever....classic.

Shawn can also shock us with his words. Who can forget the infamous "Old Yeller" analogy he used on Ric Flair before their match at Mania 24. It was one of those, "I can't believe he actually just said that!" moments. Flair also did a great job of going nuts after he said it. Last year's Summerslam segment between HBK and Jericho was another shocker. I'm not talking about Jericho clocking Shawn's wife, but what Shawn said to him before he did it. Jericho kept pressing Shawn to say he was the one who forced him to retire, and that Michaels should go home and tell this to his family. HBK then told Jericho, he wanted him to go home and tell his family that he will never be like Shawn Michaels(meaning he'll never be on the level he's on as far as wrestling goes). It was the perfect comeback.

When HBK shocks us, he is able to make the audience feel it. After he superkicked Hogan, he just stood there, and stared at him with this cold emotionless look. He was able to do the same thing with Rowdy Piper a week later. Everyone knew HBK was going to turn on Cena prior to their match at Mania 23. HBK even said it himself. But when he actually did it, the superkick came so quick, it caught everyone by surprise. HBK gave Cena some crotch chops afterwards.

Shawn's body language, and facial expressions are so great. He makes you hate him or go numb because you can't believe what he just did.

Do you think HBK is the best when it comes to providing us with shock moments? What are your thoughts?

 

[ipewrestling.com]

IMO, Shawn Michaels is not only the best at providing us shock moments, but probably the best in the game, dare I say ever? Has there ever been anyone as consistent as Michaels in every category for so long? Great matches? How about every time he's in the ring. Hell, he even pulled a good match out of Hogan, even if he did oversell a little. Promos? As stated earlier, the Flair promo before Wrestlemania. Incredible. Hell, even a few weeks ago at the slammys when he called out 'Taker. Instant excitement.Longevity? The only person in Michaels' league is the Undertaker. From the Rockers, where he gave us a shock moment by throwing Marty Janetty through a plate glass window, to the Wrestlemania X ladder match, to the kick to the back of the head from Owen, to the "boyhood dream" angle,to the infamous "Montreal Screw Job," to the original DX, to the match with Austin at Mania XIV, to his return, to the 'Mania XXIV match with Flair, to the 'Mania XXV match with 'Taker, there is absolutely NOONE better than Michaels at providing shock moments, and I honestly don't know if there is anyone better than Michaels. Period.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

From the Rockers, where he gave us a shock moment by throwing Marty Janetty through a plate glass window

Wow, shame on me for leaving this one out. Along with the superkick to Hogan, this is probably his best shock moment. Michaels turning on Janetty was definitely a moment to remember. He looked like a true villain when he did this, and then him tearing the picture of him and Janetty in half was the icing on the cake.

 

[iamcountrymusic]

He's the best. It seems like he's a pro blader too because every ppv in the past i would see with him he'd be bleeding.

He obviously cares about putting on a good match if he's able to continue jumping off ladders and through tables or HIAC at his age.

He and Triple H with their early feuds always made for great matches.

 

[Ferbian]

not to forget the time when shawn michaels made his return at randy orton's "celebration" and superkicking him and then dancing around on stage, that also made my jaw like "woot" and the time with dx where he was guided to the ring by fake druids and triple H standing hurt in the ring.. or the time where he popped up in taker gear and taker music, and then dx music hits and he starts throwing off the gear! hilarious.. yes shawn is definatly the man at shocking us, the man period!

 

[XgringolocoX]

I answer the question, I agree. Time after time HBK makes the moment and sets the bar which usually no one else can reach.

I loved the "White/Good Taker" entrance he did on RAW just prior to WM. However, I thought it was wasted as had it been kept for WM it would have been a bigger moment. None the less it was cool.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Do you think HBK is the best when it comes to providing us with shock moments? What are your thoughts?

Oh yeah! HBK is one of the best at providing shocking moments. Ironically, many of them involving his superkick. Jannetty, Hogan, Cena, and Triple H are the victims of it that come to my mind as the most shocking, and most entertaining too!

The Jannetty kick needs no introduction. Every tag team's eventual splitting up will always be compared to this, it set the standard for turning on a partner.

The Hogan kick was great, few people would have expected it and it was a truly shocking moment. I remember thinking it was really cool and wanted HBK to win their upcoming match even though Hogan was the face.

The Cena kick, we all KNEW it was coming since HBK even said he was going to. He still pulled off doing this one when we weren't exactly expecting it, and a great set up to their amazing match at Wrestlemania 23.

Finally, the Triple H kick. Come on, did ANYONE think that was going to be how Survivor Series 2009's WWE title match would begin? What a surprising moment.

HBK has been involved in shocking moments that didn't involve superkicking an ally (Bret Hart screwjob, to name one....) but those were the ones that stick out the most to me. He is one of the best at providing shocking moments because he has been involved with so many that were both shocking AND entertaining.

 

[Mitch Henessey]

Finally, the Triple H kick. Come on, did ANYONE think that was going to be how Survivor Series 2009's WWE title match would begin? What a surprising moment.

I really should've made a list. HBK popping HHH with the superkick was another shocker by Shawn. Everyone was probably expecting Triple H and Shawn to gang up on Cena as soon as the match started. I loved how he came out the next night on Raw, and told HHH that it was for the WWE championship. It was an awkward moment, but funny as hell at the same time.

 

[Dagger Dias]

I really should've made a list. HBK popping HHH with the superkick was another shocker by Shawn. Everyone was probably expecting Triple H and Shawn to gang up on Cena as soon as the match started. I loved how he came out the next night on Raw, and told HHH that it was for the WWE championship. It was an awkward moment, but funny as hell at the same time.

Yeah, it was a really great moment because it was such a surprise. I think that if/when they feud (hopefully for Wrestlemania!) then it will easily be traced back to that superkick. I don't think we have seen the end of HHH asking HBK about that kick because it wouldn't make sense for them to just let that go, I'd bet they will bring it up again to start their Wrestlemania feud, or at least I hope so. Perhaps we will see more shocking moments from Shawn on the way between then and now because he truly is one of the best at providing us with moments like that!

 

[Ytoojae]

The Triple H superkick at Survivor Series for me was the most shocking moment of the year in WWE. I know that it didn't win the slammy and while I thought that at some point in the match DX would have to fight each other I thought it'd be after they had essentially eliminated Cena from the match and that they would portray it as HBK Vs HHH for the belt (even if Cena recovered and ended up retaining somehow).

For it to come out of nowhere at the very start of the match was a complete mark out moment. It's rare for me these days for my whole body to shake in excitement at a single event in a match or a promo but that there did it for me. It made the entire match a much better experience than it could have been otherwise.

Yes, Shawn Michaels is the best at providing shocking moments. I also echo the sentiment by Ipewrestling.com -- there may be nobody better than Michaels in the history of this business. Other icons and legends have grown stale at times during their careers (including Austin and Hogan) but Shawn has always kept me excited when he comes through that curtain.

 

[Dr. Stinger A. Zoidberg]

Yes he is, Any 'shock' moments that Vince want other superstars to perform, usually are very predictable. We all knew Orton was gonna beat up Vince before he fired him. We all knew that Batista was going to be drafted to SD! in 05 after Cena was drafted to Raw.

However, With HBK, its a different story. Did anyone expect him to superkick Triple H right away at SS? Did anyone expect him to throw out a challenge to Taker at the Slammy's? Did anyone expect him to superkick Hogan? Did anyone expect him to join the nWo upon his return? The list goes on and on. But the answer to the question is a big fat NO! Michaels is the king of shock moments, Nobody will ever be able to provide us with shock moments the way Michaels did.