What was HBK's best match after his return?

[CM Steel]

WWE hall of famer Shawn Michaels made his in-ring return to the WWE in 2002 at Summerslam in a street fight-type match against his friend Triple H. Shawn Michaels looked as good as Michael Jordan did after his first retirement. Like a fish in water. But from 2002 to 2010, what was HBK's best match after his return?

Personally I'm going to go with his match with Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania 21 in L.A. That was the first meeting between Michaels & Angle. That match stole the show that night of the card. Most of you might say the infamous match with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 25. But the one at WM21 was a tad bit better to me.

But in your honest opinion. What was HBK's best match after his return?

 

[HBsam31]

His Mania match with Jericho deserves mention as well. His matches with Cena are up there too. For best match though I have to go with Taker Mania 25. What a masterpiece. A true edge of your seat match that had absolutely everything. I felt the streak was in jeopardy a few times during that match. He has had many great ones since his return, but the match at Mania 25 was just that much better.

 

[theBusiness]

It's pretty close to call between his two matches with Undertaker and his WrestleMania match with Kurt. On a personal level, I think his last match was his best match ever, post-2002. I know many would say his first match with Taker at WM25 was better, but I just feel there was a much better story told in their WM26 match, and A LOT more psychology was involved. I'd rank his post-2002 matches as follows:

1. Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)
2. Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)
3. Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)
4. Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 19)
5. John Cena (Raw 4/23/07)
6. Triple H (SummerSlam 2002)
7. Chris Jericho (No Mercy 2008)
8. Kurt Angle (Vengeance 2005)
9. Shelton Benjamin (Raw 5/2/05)
10. Triple H (Raw 12/29/03)

 

[MasterDebator]

I'm going to be "that guy" and say that, as a collection, my favorite Shawn Michaels matches were all part of his epic, severely underrated feud with Chris Jericho that began with one of the more vicious modern heel-turns during the Highlight Reel. This feud was so hot that the WWE found a way to place it on their main stage and involve the title in it. This was Jericho at his finest and Michaels at his VERY BEST as a sympathetic face with a score to settle and a personal vendetta. LOVED every minute of it. The highlight, I think, was the ladder match at No Mercy (I think it was No Mercy). It was inventive, exciting, and ultimately very satisfying.

Close, close seconds include his Wrestlemania matches with the Undertaker (big surprise there). Their first encounter, maybe because of the sheer exhilaration of it all, centered around some genuine unpredictability, stands out the most. The second, which was a near-classic, lost some points for me in terms of being relatively predictable, but fuck (!), most UT matches at WM fall into that category now that the streak is on a Dimaggio level.

Growing up, I never loved HBK. Allow me to sling a cliche out there: Don't know what you got til' its gone. HBK was incredible. Truly an amazing performer. Talking about it now only makes you miss it even more. I also hope he avoids the ring for good.

 

[Lewis617]

I don't remember the PPV but it would have to be the 3 stages of hell with HHH (Street fight, Cage match, then Ladder match). Even though HBK didn't win, he shined in that one, and that was the match that let you know that not only was he back, but he was back for the long haul and was gonna be around for years after that, not months.

 

[rokuma]

I agree with most of the suggestions, but I'll throw out a darkhorse: Triple H vs HBK at the Royal Rumble 2004 - Last Man Standing. Just a fabulous and brutal match. I loved it. Also, his 30-Minute Iron Man Match with Kurt Angle on Raw is highly underrated as well.

If I had to pick one match though that was his best, it has to be Wrestlemania 25 against the Undertaker. That match was of the Savage/Steamboat Wrestlemania 3 variety. Simply one of the greatest matches of all-time.

 

[TBT]

It is hard to pick just one when it comes to Shawn Michaels. He is one of the all time greats, in a league of his own. I can't just list one match so I will list a top 10 like theBusiness did earlier:

1.) vs Kurt Angle (WrestleMania 21)
2.) vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 25)
3.) vs John Cena (Raw, April 2007)
4.) vs Triple H (SummerSlam 2002)
5.) vs The Undertaker (WrestleMania 26)
6.) vs Chris Jericho (WrestleMania 19)
7.) vs Ric Flair (WrestleMania 24)
8.) vs Triple H (Royal Rumble 2004)
9.) vs Chris Jericho (No Mercy 2008)
10.) vs Randy Orton (Survivor Series 2007)

On a side note, I did not include non-singles matches on this list like his phenomenal performance at the 2003 Survivor Series as a part of Team Austin, or that special moment when he won the elimination chamber match at Survivor Series 2002 to win his first World Heavyweight Championship.

 

[jeritroll94]

Shawn was easily one of the best and I can't pick a best but there are a lot of memorable matches for me for all kinds of reasons. The 10 that stand out more to me are:

- HBK vs Triple H Bad Blood 2004
- HBK vs Jericho Wrestlemania 19
- HBK vs Jericho No Mercy 2008
- HBK vs Undertaker Wrestlemania 25
- HBK vs Triple H Summerslam 2002
- HBK vs Kurt Angle Wrestlemania 21
- HBK vs Triple H vs Kane vs RVD vs Jericho vs Booker T Survivor Series 2002
- HBK vs Triple H vs Benoit Wrestlemania 20
- HBK vs John Cena Wrestlemania 23
- HBK vs Shane McMahon SNME 2006

 

[Loveless]

I'll take HBK Vs Angle at Wrestlemania 21 which was flawless from beginning to end and really the purest angle the WWE have run in a long time. No streaks, stipulations or careers needed, just 2 guys trying to prove who's best and putting each other over in the process.

 

[sdelfin]

It's pretty close to call between his two matches with Undertaker and his WrestleMania match with Kurt. On a personal level, I think his last match was his best match ever, post-2002. I know many would say his first match with Taker at WM25 was better, but I just feel there was a much better story told in their WM26 match, and A LOT more psychology was involved. I'd rank his post-2002 matches as follows:

Can't fault you for preferring 26 over 25. Both were amazing matches. I prefer 25 because it was more about simple, in-ring story telling, not carrying over from a previous encounter like 26. Their match at 25 told a story, but it was self contained, beginning at the opening bell and ending at the closing bell. Expectations were lower the first time. Still, even with high expectations, their second Wrestlemania match was tremendous.

 

[Coco]

I'll take HBK Vs Angle at Wrestlemania 21 which was flawless from beginning to end

It really wasn't flawless though, was it? During the over-long headlock portion of the match, the ref counted when only one shoulder was on the mat. That is a flaw. A glaring flaw. Angle done fucked up.

Anyhow, I'll take Michaels vs Taker. Because they got me to buy a count-out spot in a major WrestleMania match. You go, girls.

 

[Judah's Lion]

Wrestlemania 25, HBK/Taker. so many words to describe this match, but they all add up to EPIC. absolutely-freaking-epic.

storyline, history, in ring psychology, story telling, movesets, finish... everything about this match was amazing. i especially loved HBK coming out in white as a stark contrast to Taker's usual black attire.

i never thought prior to this match that the Streak was ever in jeopardy. never since. but this was the match that suspended my pre-conceived notions. i wasn't caught off guard by the kick outs of the top rope elbow drop, choke slam or first sweet chin music. but the kick outs from the second sweet chin music and the tombstone were picture perfect. the moonsault-turned-tombstone was pure magic.

HBK had very memorable matches during his return. in fact, his first match against Triple H at Summerslam was awesome. his whole feud with Triple H was awesome. Elimination Chamber at Survivor Series, last man standing at Royal Rumble, hell in a cell at Badd Blood. all his chamber showings were memorable, as was his other cell match with the McMahons and Big Show. i loved his feuds with Angle and Jericho. Mania 21 and No Mercy ladder match stand out. his mania matches with Flair and McMahon also come to mind. his one-hour match with Cena on Raw in London, his Gold Rush tournament match with Shelton Benjamin as well.

he's had so many great encounters since 2002. but ultimately it goes to Wrestlemania 25 for me against Taker. hands down one of the best matches of all time.

 

[robinkom]

Definitely not his best but I was tickled by his SummerSlam 2005 match against Hulk Hogan where he allegedly oversold everything because he was unhappy with having to job to Hulk.

In all seriousness though, I think I liked most his first return match against Triple H in a Street Fight. For as long as he was gone, that was such a huge deal and that place popped big time. It was that kind of moment where you 're watching and you're legitimately thinking, "Can he still go? Nevermind a normal match, they booked this as a Street Fight, he might do some high risk shit and actually jeopardize his health." It was just... goosebumps. It captured your full attention.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Shawn Michaels VS Undertaker at Wrestlemania 25.

Shawn's match against the Undertaker at Wrestlemania 25 was his best match not only after his return, but of his entire career. It's regarded as one of the best matches in pro wrestling history for a reason. It had everything you could possibly ask for in a match. An epic build leading up to it, huge awesome entrances capturing the heaven VS hell theme for the match, two legends facing each other at the biggest show of the year, tons of near-falls keeping the fans guessing, and a 30 minute match showcasing the entire arsenal of both legends. Seriously, it doesn't get any better than that and it's easily HBK's best match of his whole career let alone after his return.

Second place goes to his final match the follwing year, a rematch at Wrestlemania 26. Others include his matches with Jericho in 2008, their match at Wrestlemania 19, the triple threat at Wrestlemania 20 that Vince pretends "never happened", Angle at Wrestlemania 21, when he faced Cena on Raw right after Wrestlemania 23, and many more. His return was a fantastic run filled with amazing matches although none even come close to the epic level of awesomeness of HBK VS Taker at Wrestlemania 25. It might never be topped, it was a perfect match.

 

[jsmitty94]

His RAW match with John Cena, both WM matches against Undertaker, and Wrestlemania XX against Trips and (________) are definitely my tops, Mania 20 was my first I saw and that match just hooked me into wrestling.

 

[d_henderson1810]

I agree with most of the suggestions, but I'll throw out a darkhorse: Triple H vs HBK at the Royal Rumble 2004 - Last Man Standing. Just a fabulous and brutal match. I loved it. Also, his 30-Minute Iron Man Match with Kurt Angle on Raw is highly underrated as well.

If I had to pick one match though that was his best, it has to be Wrestlemania 25 against the Undertaker. That match was of the Savage/Steamboat Wrestlemania 3 variety. Simply one of the greatest matches of all-time.

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You mention Steamboat/Savage. Too bad, they were in a different era, because a HBK match against either Steamboat or Savage in their prime, (or even in Steamboat's form at WM25), would be very good to classic matches.

In answering the question, I loved his WM19 match with Jericho, and his series with Jericho in 2008. Both men are so entertaining, they had the best PPV in-ring promo ever (the one where Jericho decked HBK's wife).

Also, there was a match that main-evented Raw between Shawn Michaels vs Chris Benoit, which was very good as well. There were many other great HBK matches as well.

 

[Pedigree1]

Wow this is a super tough one! But if i had to pick and trust me this is not an easy one,it is the WM21 matchup! That match great buildup! Remember at the RR Angle attacked Shawn and slapped on the Ankle Lock! But their WM encounter was,just two guys going out there and wrestling one hell of a match. 5 Star IMO!

No special match stips,just two guys going out there trying to prove who is the best and that match had counter hold for counter hold in it. Truly an amazing match. Great Great in ring ability,an amazing in ring story those two brought it that night. Most of the time we as fans are treated to a ok match average at best! But sometimes we as fans,are treated to something rather special and nothing can make us ever forget the match we saw.

Shawm Michaels throughout his career,has brought us more than one of those matches!

 

[ZUMBOdriver]

I'll take Michaels vs Angle. Sorry, I need some unpredictability in the outcome of a match and Undertaker WM matches just do not have that. Does not mean they are not fun to watch. Does not mean they are not some of HBK's best. They are great matches that I look forward to every year but I'll pick Angle/Michaels over either of the Taker/Michaels matches due to the predictability of the outcomes of Undertaker's WM matches.

 

[stavros241000]

Y2J vs HBK, WM 19. My favorite match of all time. Even the ending was epic, and the promo Jericho cut before the match made it just that much better, not to mention his epic heel turn. Here is my order though:

1. Y2J v HBK WM 19 2. HBK v HHH v Benoit WM XX 3. HBK v Taker WM 26 4. HBK v Taker WM 25 5. HBK v Angle WM 21

 

[Wolf Pac]

This is a toughie. It's a tie between Angle & HBK at Wrestlemania 21 and Taker & HBK at Wrestlemania 25, but I think I lean a bit more towards Angle vs. HBK.

Like some other posters mentioned, it wasn't about streaks, careers, titles or anything. It was just two guys who wanted to fight each other and see who was the better man to come out of 1996 since they had both rose to stardom in 96 with Angle winning his gold medal and Shawn winning his first WWF Title. It was a true dream matchup, which made it a bit more exciting than Taker/Shawn for me. The build up was awesome with some stars from Shawn's past being brought back to intensify the rivalry and make it personal, and it was funny at one point with Kurt singing HBK's theme song on Smackdown. Both men tore the house down and looked like warriors who would never quit with great storytelling, great in ring ability, great in ring psychology, great counters, and a great ending with HBK refusing to tap to the Ankle Lock for about 2 minutes and trying his damndest to break out but Kurt holding on tight, so he doesn't, eventually making HBK tap out. It was truly a masterpiece. This was the match where Shawn first wore his new tights.

Taker vs. HBK was pretty much the same though. It was just as amazing as Angle vs. HBK was, I mean even the botches in their match looked good, and the heaven & hell entrances were genius.

 

[TheHorndogSays]

When I think of someone's personal best match, I also think of what they had to work with and what they brought out of their opponent. With that in mind, I have to go against all the masses and say his raw match with Cena. Jericho, Angle, Flair, and HHH were all known for their fantastic matches. Cena has never been known for his "great" matches, at least not at the caliber of the others. HBK led Cena through a fantastic hour long match that lost no steam. The timing and psychology were excellent.

 

[Dr.Shades]

HBK wears the sparkly chaps of a dancer, but he never truly learned to DANCE!

Santa Christ looks upon you and smiles my friend.

As for the match, HBK's match up with Taker at WM25 is by far his best. everyone (except our dancing friend) has said such great matches and its so hard to think of a bad hbk match. Good thread man, Good thread.

 

[FlairFan2003]

Dont 4get his 2002 matches vs Triple H or WM 24 Vs Flair, or his matches vs Jericho. Michaels had plenty of good matches in his comeback to chose from.

 

[HBKperfect23]

This is near impossible to pick. His matches vs. Jericho, Taker, and Angle can all be argued as the best matches in WM history. His match with Cena is the greatest match in RAW history. The return match at Summerslam and numerous others with Triple H were incredible.

That being said, I think it all comes down to personal preference. Ill take Michaels vs. Angle at WM21 simply due to the fact that I prefer that style of a match. Although I prefer this match, I wouldn't argue any of the above choices.