10 Best Second Runs In WWE History

3. Shawn Michaels (2002 - 2010)

Shawn Michaels is sad
WWE.com

It sounds a bit ridiculous to call a time that saw HBK win three World Championships, two Royal Rumbles, and have WWE's first ever five-star match his "inferior run". But just look at what happened afterwards.

Despite his in-ring success from 1988 to 1998, Shawn Michaels was less than successful in his personal life due to a rotten attitude and heavy substance abuse.

All this changed when HBK suffered a career-ending back injury at the 1998 Royal Rumble. At least, it was career-ending at the time...

After four years out of the ring and a lot of soul-searching, Michaels made his triumphant return at SummerSlam 2002. His match with Triple H was outstanding, one of the best in the event's history, and it kickstarted a remarkable rebirth for The Showstopper.

Whilst he wouldn't win as many championships as the first time around, Michaels' second stint in the WWE produced some of the greatest matches in the promotion's history with the likes of Kurt Angle, Ric Flair, and (of course) The Undertaker.

Shawn Michaels' journey back to wrestling is truly astounding. He overcame so many obstacles in his life to not only return to the sport he loved, but to claim his rightful place as one of the best ever.

Contributor
Contributor

Jacob Simmons has a great many passions, including rock music, giving acclaimed films three-and-a-half stars, watching random clips from The Simpsons on YouTube at 3am, and writing about himself in the third person.