My Word this is a good thread!
For me folks its TRIPLE H!
Although my conclusion to this outcome is quite contradicting...
in ring ability: i would say HBK. Like many, ive never seen a bad Shawn Michaels match EVER, even in his jobber days on Superstars tv show etc he entertained me to the max. Triple H holds the ability of working the crowd better, (I dont mean creating heat, i mean keeping them involved in every punch/move) turning the momentum at the right moment from the heel to the face and when to hit the big signature moves (knee-to-face smash, running high knee, spinebuster). But, with Shawn indeed being 'Mr Wrestlemania' and add the matches with Jericho, Bret, Austin, Taker and HHH himself, he takes this accolade. But then again, if i were to visit my collection of matches i would pick a HHH match over a HBK match.
Most memorable in ring ability example:
HBK vs 'Taker HIAC
HHH vs Austin 3 stages of hell
Finishing move: HBK has the better finisher because of the impact of the sweet chin as it can come at any moment, The pedigree is abit more static and you can see it comin, bit more predictable.
Heel: Triple H wins the better heel category. The heel heat he generated in 2000 was unreal, the same goes in his Evolution days too. From sept 2002-mid 2005 Triple H WAS Monday night RAW!!
Face: HBK wins this category. His title run in 96' was indeed 'the boyhood dream' and he played the underdog role mostly in his defences in this year, and his comeback title win in 2002 was the biggest crowd reaction ive heard for a title win (through the tv anyway).
Theme music: Triple H has had many themes, but using his current 'The Game' theme as the example, it gets me as a viewer pumped up for a match better than 'sexy boy' fyi Sherri version was the best!!!
Group leader: Triple H wins! probably because he's lead more stables with his own version of DX(post manai 14), McMahon-helmsely faction and Evolution (two man power trip and 'New' D-X i'd say were both leaders) HBK the leader of orig D-X was the top guy in the company at the time, and clearly was years ahead of HHH in terms of in ring ability and mic skills, even his 'look' was much better than a podgy HHH. He was also funnier that Trips at that time.
Mic Skills: i could easily say a tie between the two but HBK just pips this one. I think there is more emotion in a HBK promo. mite be because of circumstance i.e. retirement matches, genuine heat with Bret, but he jus comes across more as a man who ad-libs his promos, whereas Triple H is abit more robotic and rehearsed.
Student of the game (pun): Triple H is the man i would choose as the one who always wanted to be a wrestler, i know he's pro body-building also and could of easily went in that direction but you can see how much being in the ring means to him. And over his career how his ring work has changed, how his physique has changed to compinsate, always trying to better himself and not become stale as a performer.
Title reigns: dont think title amounts matter imo (although Flair's 16 shouldnt be topped jus because he's ric flair), 16times champ also means 16times loser! if you take a step back and understand what the person being champion's job is then neither man need the strap. They're big enough draws as they are. Titles in Triple's era did change more often. there is more to it than giving the belt to someone because its there turn say, its more to do with ppv buyrates and merchandise sales and gate receipts than creating shock tv. times change, and back in HBK original active wrestler run it was the norm to keep the belt for many months and when he returned, he didnt need it, also i think champs represent the company and must attend house shows, from what ive read HBK didnt do many house shows upon his return so that could be the reason.
Entertainment value: HBk's matches have entertained me more because you know your about to watch a 5 star match soon as he steps through the curtain, HHH's feuds have kept more interested though, as a heel, he is just the best there is.
i dont think anything is obvious when it comes to comparing these two legends. its all a matter of opinion and how you watch a wrestling match. If you're looking for a match to put on a kick back to then its the entertainment factor of a match you are after and then you're gonna choose HBK because of his 5* match ability, if you look at a wrestling match and break it down into stages of heat creating, timing, routine, storytelling and impact then choose a Triple H match.
Triple H wins for me because of his ring general skills, the above mentioned storytelling etc and his impact of being the main superstar on RAW for many years and the head of the best factions, the best heel in the business and a rather entertaining face. Both came in at the bottom of the ladder and worked there way up, not jus because a booker chose them to but because of crowd reaction and natural ability. Anyone who says Triple H is where he is because of 'kissing-@sses' need a quick history lesson, and i would say HBK has kissed Vince @ss more and even admitting to doing "anything" for Vince. HHH was already on his way up the company before him and Steph started courting, it was the best move for business to have them become the heel faction they were and his in ring ability did the rest!
