Now Bear With Me Here.

[The Roid Rage]

Finally The Game Rage has come back to the Wrestlezone Forums!!!!!!!

It's been a minute since I last posted here. I have been busier than normal on the streets and in the sheets, so it's been harder to find the time to come in and give you a quality post. Instead of just a decent post I thought it better to start a really good thread. This might seem like a hopeless wish and it may be but this thread is going to revolve around none other than The Show Stopper, The Main Event, Mr.Wrestlemania himself, The Heart Break Kid Shawn Michaels.


So, I was watching the latest edition of Smack Down and as most of you know there was an eight man match with Undertaker, John Cena, Triple H, and Shawn Michaels Versus Randy Orton, C.M. Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Ted DiBiase Jr. that not only delivered the goods but set up well for this Sunday's Hell in a Cell Pay-Per-View.

While watching the match I noticed that Shawn Michaels did little more than get his ass kicked, and I was pretty distraught as this recent realization came to me. I watched and waited for HBK to muster up some of the old Shawn Michaels and serve up some good old sweet chin music, or just possibly use some of his ring veteran-ship to out wrestle one of the younger competitors or something. Anything would have been better than just seeing The Heart Break Kid looking more like The Heart Broke Joke. I was even worse when he was getting teamed up on in the opponents' corner and was literally cowering in submission to them like a whipped puppy. I just had to think to myself "What the hell are you doing here if this is all that is going to be done with you?'

Now I know as many of you do, that few people take as ass beating better than Shawn. I mean half of his ability is in how well he sells and takes a lickin' but keeps on tickin'. But this is getting ridiculous isn't it folks? I realize he's no spring chicken anymore and more than likely at the end of his career, but given that reality shouldn't we be getting the best or the most out of him as a result? Shawn Michaels is one of my all time favorites as he is to a lot of you, and I just can't help but be a bit distraught over all of it.


I'm sure everyone has their ideas about how Shawn should go out, and some ideas will be better than others. However, I myself have had an idea in mind since about 2005 for Shawn that I think should happen for obvious reasons already stated. To it seems that Shawn Michaels hasn't really been HBK for quite some time now. The age is showing, the performance is slowing, the demeanor has changed, everything about him that made him who he was seems to be gone. I am calling for a revival of sorts.

A lot of us are very nostalgic. We always talk about our favorite stars from the past and how we'd like to see them come back and give us that old show again and be how they used to be one more time. Unfortunately most of those heroes past are gone. They've died, are injured beyond repair, can't do it anymore, are out of shape, won't come back, so on and so on. One of those people still remains that person being Shawn Michaels. He could still do it, he could still be the guy that once was. Maybe I am just lying to myself because it's something I'd like to see, but I believe he could still do it like he used to.

For years now we've all seen Shawn get older, slow down, take a back seat, and let his career wind down. He has changed, and the results of that change are more evident now than ever. I don't think that it is something irreversible, it would just take some work to get there. I believe that if he wanted to or was motivated somehow to do so, Shawn Michaels could truly be the Show Stopper, The Main Event, Mr. Wrestlemania, and the Heart Break Kid of old.

How? Let me explain. See, we all know that when he decides to Shawn Michaels can still do all the amazing things he used to do. Wrestlemania 25 was a prime example, so were Wrestlemania 24, and Wrestlemania 23. Shawn Michaels Match at Wrestlemania 23 with John Cena was one of the best matches I have ever seen. Shawn delivered the goods that night making John Cena look like a rookie with his show laces tied together, it was beautiful. At Wrestlemania 24 he also delivered with the match of the evening against Ric Flair, and he with The Undertaker stole the show at Wrestlemania 25. Obviously he's not really so broke down as he delivers 5 star matches on demand so what is the deal? Like I said it's the attitude, the look, and the general performance.

Shawn Michaels needs to go back to the way he was. A lot of it is his current appearance. He looks small, weak, and out of shape in a lot of ways. Now don't get me wrong, I wish I was in as good of shape as Shawn Michaels, but for Shawn Michaels he is out of shape. He looks so small compared to say Wrestlemania 12. Why can't he get back in that kind of shape? Hit the gym, work out real hard, and get big again. He already takes long stints off, why not take one of them to get back into the kind of shape he used to be in? It's not like he couldn't do it, it's only a matter of doing it. Build his chest back up, his arms and legs, his back, everything. A lot of other guys have done it, why not him?

The other part of the appearance is his ring attire. Cowboy hat, pants/chaps, and a t-shirt. What ever happened to the heartbreak kid tights with all the hearts on them and "Shawn Michaels" on the back and the TR or O'neal boots? Where are the elaborate flashy jackets and chaps, and the flashy entrances? I realize at Wrestlemania 25 he had the best entrance of the night, but he used to always have something big.

What happened to the dangly ear rings, and the dancing? Now all he does is walk down to the ring all somber like. What happened top the intensity, and excitement he used to bring with him to the ring? Age and the supposed toll on the body are not adequate explanations, this is a completely different character with "Shawn Michaels'" music, that's the only real similarity, oh yeah and I almost forgot the in ring pose. Can anyone really tell me that this is either a. impossible or b. a bad idea. I think it has been long overdue.

Why can't he go back to the way he was? Getting back in the kind of shape he was is probably the hardest part and that wouldn't even take so damn long. He could get there in 6-9 months easy. Does anyone remember the pre Wrestlemania 12 videos that were shown where they have Shawn Michaels training with Jose Lothario? What happened to that guy? He could get back into that kind of shape. So the hair isn't like it was, big deal. He could go get that taken care of too if he really wanted. I'm not even asking or suggesting that either though. I just want a Shawn Michaels like we used to have. Call it dreaming of the past, and wishful thinking but he really could do it. And, if this or the next year will be his last, why not go out in the best shape of your life, looking like your still in your prime?

There is something else too. Why hasn't this guy held a damn title in 7 years? I know, I know. He wants to put the younger talent over, and he doesn't want any titles yada yada yada. But seriously, why not? He can still do it, he'd be a great champion that everyone would get behind. I'm not saying the being a grand slam champion wasn't enough or anything. But one more title reign would be nice, ya know what I mean? I know the Heart Break Kid could give it one more go, and win, and I want to see it. Just once before he is gone for good. After he is gone the only ones left will be The Undertaker who will be gone not too long from now, Kane who will never do anything other than the occasional filler feud, and Triple H who most of you hate anyways. So why not give the last piece of the old WWF one last heroic, triumphant run before he is gone forever? I'd love to see it, most of you would love to see it, and I am sure some of the boys in the locker room wouldn't mind seeing Shawn back at his best, and on top of the world again for one last time.

 

[Superman]

I get your point and agree on some things but he has held a title in the past seven years he held the world tag team championships with john cena. If you meant world title I can understand where your coming from, I often ask that question about two people. HBK and Kane I mean really they could do it they just dont.

 

[ThePhenom8809]

HBK is getting older but he can still go (case in point WM25). Instead of being stuck in DX i would rather see him as a singles wrestler (or sports entertainer as WWE calls them). I love HBK but i think he is in the point of his career (as is Taker) where he needs to be used as putting over young guys while still looking strong. As for the appearance he has simply grown up to be more mature than when he was younger which I think is a good thing.

 

[Slam Master]

I agree, and have asked myself and other posts those exact same questions. When he gets time off it would make logical sense to hit the gym and get in the best-looking physical shape possible. I know he still works out, but pretty sure he sticks to cardio and light-lifting. I'd think at this point in his career he'd want to go out being remembered as a mid-40s wrestler in great physical shape. That would take only a few months to get the pump back. N-O explode or Nitric oxide with protein and a solid work out with take care of the look. Thats a personal decision.

With his hair; beliefs from religion probably puts him a state of mind that God made him look the way he wanted in his vision and his hair is a small part of the big picture. The earrings and strip tease are the HBK of the past. I think he's going for the more wholesome image. I do agree that he could put more pep in his step with the entrance. I don't like the chaps he wears, but I heard its because he wears knee braces underneath and he lighter than in the past and the tights slip off(my answer to that is get smaller tights).

He can still go, I think he chooses to go reserve on TV and save the big stuff for PPVs. He seems to hold back on the running in the ring; in the past I loved it when him and his opponent would do the running exchanges with ducks, leapfrogs, drop-downs, pinning combos, etc. Again, thats his personal choice on how much he wants to go in each match. As seen at WM25, 24, 23, etc. he can still do the high-flying moonsaults, cross-bodies, other moves of that nature. I'd like to see him whip out a hurricanrana occasionally. Another reason he's like this lately is maybe he's saving it for when he eventually leaves DX to to on the next singles run and is saving himself. Also I'm sure he thinks of his family and doesn't want to put himself in too many risky predicaments in every match. Overall, if he wanted to he could improve his physique and pick up the pace in matches, but he goes reserve from personal decisions and pulls out the stops when he feels necessary.

Yes, he likes to put the attention on the up-and-comers and try to make them look as good as possible, but he did look pathetic in the corner last night. He looked scared, weak, etc. which is something he should not and doesn't deserve to be putting out there. I have a feeling he will get a title when he leaves DX, but it will be to drop it to a younger guy. He should show equal dominance in the ring while taking an ass-whooping and mix up the offense. Its seems like all the wrestlers today stick to the same 3-4-5 moves in a match. With Shawn, its Flying forearm, inverted atomic drop or body slam, flying elbow, and SCM mixed with punches, kicks, and stomps. Occasionally he will throw in a submission, but adding more moves in his match would really improve it. He used to do so many different take downs and pinning combos so if he started adding offensive variation it would be great.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

This has gotta be one of the longest, most heartfelt, well-thought threads I have ever read. And I actually went through the entire thing.

I can totally understand where you're coming from. The biggest problem is, Shawn Michaels is not the type of person (anymore), who likes to live off the past and pretend like he's younger than he really is. He's accepted the fact that he is getting older, and he is letting his appearance mature as he matures. The entrance, the chaps, the charisma, all the flamboyant stuff, the whole 9 that made you love Shawn Michaels was there, but now it's gone. As much as we would have loved to see the old HBK again, we won't. We will have the take the positive with the negative. The positive being that HBK is still in the WWE period.

About Shawn Michael's size. He's been noticeably smaller since his return back in 2002. Compare HBK at Wrestlemania XIV to HBK at Summerslam 2002, and you'll see a big difference in size. Shawn Michaels was never a buff guy, which is good because chances are he's never taken steroids. All the injuries that he's suffered over the years is taking a toll on him, and could be part of the reason why he's not been working out and getting back into the shape he once was. HBK is not out of shape. He's just not the same, but that doesn't have to be a bad thing.

I have to agree with you on the whole Shawn Michaels championship conflict. I hear a lot of people say that some wrestlers don't want to be champion or they want to put the younger talent over. Being champion does not mean you are pushing younger talent back. It can be a bigger plus than a minus. What if a young star on Raw, such as The Miz, Jack Swagger, Chris Masters, Kofi Kingston, or Evan Bourne wrestled for the WWE Championship. Wouldn't it mean more to the young stars if they won the title from Shawn Michaels as opposed to a fellow young (but established) star like Randy Orton or John Cena? Being with DX should be a problem stopping HBK from competing for the WWE Championship. It's just that WWE might make it seem like being in a tag team will weaken his chances of being in the title scene. Hopefully, we will see just one more title reign out of HBK.

 

[Musiq]

i'm all up 4 a HBK title reign, but why put the strap on someone who's already going out?? Dropping it to an up & coming superstar sounds good to me, but isn't the whole point building up future superstars? So why would you give it to Shawn?

& he's just 1 of those superstars that's so good, he doesn't need a championship or need 2 be in the title picture. His match with Flair, Flair didn't have any gold. Match with Taker, Taker didn't have any gold. I enjoyed the storyline of JBL owning him on the way to said match as well. And @ Wrestlemania 23, HHH got hurt which forced HBK to become a singles competitor.

we all know he can still steal the show, but he just doesn't need to have the belt.
but i'd rather see him have it before HHH though, cuz i can't stand HHH @ all. NOT the king of kings 2 me, more like the Queen of Queens!!! haha

 

[XgringolocoX]

Maybe this is part of setting up the "I don't think I have it in me anymore" story line for HBK.
Using his age and personal stuff makes everyone invest in his matches. Flair did the "lose and you're ass is retired" angle....so could thing be the begining of Michaels's swang song?
Would make sense. Drag him down, build him way up, then drop the hammer and he's retired! Could be done nicely if given a bunch of time.

 

[Mantaur Rodeo Clown]

A few reasons why Shawn Michaels can't go back to the person he was before:

• His knees are in the process of being ground down into a powder the consistency of some sort of Colombian drug.
• He isn't pilled out of his mind most of the time
• Chaps, tights, outrageous jackets and other accessories are for young people with hair. See: Morrison
• The fact of the matter is, for most of his career, he's been getting his ass handed to him.

Watch any HBK match, he will spend a good proportion of it getting his ass kicked and making a comeback. Its the formula for most HBK matches, and he takes a beating like no other. It's all a build up to him getting one last burst of desperate momentum. One Kip Up, One Flying Elbow, one Superkick. This isn't just post 2002 HBK either. This has been the standby of most of his career. Watch his match at Summerslam 1996. The whole point was him getting ripped a new one by Vader and escaping. Actually, no that was Badd Blood 1996. Oh wait no, that was most of his career.

In terms of you saying he can deliver most 5 star matches on demand, I must argue. He delivers about once a year. Otherwise you have a pretty formulaic HBK match, which, granted, is head ans shoulders above some other wrestlers, but still predictable. He turns Mr. Wrestlemania on once a year. Guess where? It's not Backlash. not that any of that is his fault. He's probably in pain for most of his matches, hence the reduced schedule. He's going out of his way to do that for us, so we should be thankful. Thanks HBK. We appreciate it.

 

[TheFreshPrints]

I know how you feel, man. I grew up watching HBK as a kid. But he's human, he's aged. And sadly, he isn't the Shawn Michaels of old. I mean, I still get the same feeling now, as I did when I was a kid every time his music hits. But then I see the toll time has taken on him, and I realize his career is coming close to and end. Of course we all want to see the old HBK, and I do hope he gets the strap at least once more before he's gone. Will it happen though? I doubt it. He's at the point in his career now where he probably feels he's done all he can. And that's it's time for him to put over future stars. And that's fine. He can still make people look good (at least IMO). Even though I agree with what "Cool Guy" Jensen said, about how it could mean more to the younger talent if they won the title from Shawn Michaels.

Great thread though, man. One of the best I've read on here.