Shawn Michaels: Stipulation Tester

[Billie Jean]

Like said, HBK was always in these types of matches because during the nineties and beyond on some extent i suppose, he was not just any performer, he was thee performer. Hell, he even had a reputation of pushing himself, just to out do someone else. That's dedication for you. I also think that a lot of it has to to with his guts. Obviously, the cell and the ladder were new back then, and I am certain that a lot of the guys backstage would have been overly scared off falling off it, or anything of that capibility that could put your body in absolute danger.

I think Blue Chipper said this best.

originally posted by Blue Chipper

I don't think this is just a mere coincidence; I see a clear pattern. The pattern is WWE hand-picking Shawn Micheals to frequently participate in unheard of, original gimmick matches. Like you said, WWE specifically chose HBK to be the first participant in HIAC, EC, ladder, and iron man match. For what reasons?

Credibility and versitility

Shawn Micheals has a unique wrestling style in that it allows him to conceivably slug it with the top brawlers, whilst fly with the jumping-bean cruiserweights. HBK is incredibly well-rounded. He performs well in a variety of stats. He can do spots well, he can brawl well, and he can perform well in nearly any enviornment. He always delivers, and gives it his all. The WWE thinks "Shawn can do something with this gimmick, he can bring instant credibility to it with his versitile wrestling style, and he can make you want to see this gimmick match again". It could've started with the ladder match, and then the WWE caught on to his unique style that magnifies the goods of the particular gimmick.

Over time, HBK's clearly embodied certain gimmick matches because he's stamped his finger print on them. WWE rightfully chose him to participate in first matches.

In conclusion, HBK's unique, versitile wrestling style intensifies gimmick matches and the WWE has caught on, and thought it would give the gimmick instant credibility that would make fans want to see more of the said stip. match.

I think this is a very good post as it shows how good HBK relay is. He is not just one style of wrestling, as many have witnessed during his long tenure in wrestling, he can be great technician, but also, he did, in my opinion, revolutionize high flying wrestling in the nineties. Without him, then i do not think the fundamentals would be there for the Rey Mysterios, Eddie Guerrio(sorry for the spelling), ect.

He, also, was just in the right place at the right time for some off these matches to happen. But correct me if I am wrong on these, the whole situation that got the Wrestlemaina ladder match started was because he got suspended. Even through it was Bret Harts original idea to bring this match to the WWE. The iron man match, I think he was just reaching his peak, and the WWE was very skeptical about having an hour long ppv match as Vince thought it was too long, he went with it and it was a susses. The HIAC, I feel that although he was probably going to be the one to face Taker anyway, that there may have been another option of using Hart. But obviously Hart was the champion, so they decided to make it a No.1 contenders match, with the introduction of Kane. The Elimination Chamber I think it is just complete coincidence that he was just back form injury and the WWE made a great capitalization by giving the title to HBK.

I do, entirely feel, that he may not be the king of stipulation matches, but he sure as hell helped revolutionize them.

 

[Tastycles]

You have to remember that those matches you mentioned were mostly taken from elsewhere and then reused by the WWF, so it is hardly a case of him being used to test the water. I actually think most of it is circumstansial. Yes, he was by far best suited to the ladder match of the midcarders and above of the time, but the other two, I'm not so sure about.

It was the wrestling ability of Hart that carried the iron man match, and while Michaels was the most sensical opponent, it could have feasibly been somebody else, or it could have been if the WWE didn't have such a pisspoor roster. The HIAC was definitely a case of right place right time. That match was all about The Undertaker and Kane, and it was just the fact that Michaels was the main eventer du jour that he was picked.

In short, these matches all debuted in the mid 90s when Michaels was on top, so that's why he was in them. It is for precisely the same reason that The Undertaker was in the first matches of a particular types towards the end of the decade, and why HHH was in the first match types of the early 21st century.

 

[UseYourBrain]

HBK at his worst is better than most wrestlers at their best. Aside from a Dog Kennel Match, he could make most matches watchable and that's why he's the go-to guy for new stipulations or experimental settings.