As disappointing as Bret was as Champion, Shawn Michaels was the much bigger failure. It's a shame, because Shawn was undoubtedly the far superior worker. He's the greatest pro wrestler of all time, with sublime in-ring skills and captivating promo ability. But that never translated into being a successful champion. He took the belt off Bret at WrestleMania 12 in March 1996, reigning as Champion until November of that year. But the business died on Shawn's watch, with attendance and viewing figures suffering serious stagnation. Michaels took it personally, making his already hostile attitude even more defensive. His issues were spiralling out of control, with the added pressure getting to him. His heavy work load was a physical and mental drain, which he later infamously described as "losing his smile." It was a surprising failure, as Michaels was a popular star if you listened to the crowd reactions. But getting over a gyrating pretty boy to the masses was always going to be a stretch. Shawn's character at that time was just too much for most fans to bear. He was the greatest WWE wrestler of all time, but a forgettable champion in his year as the number one guy.
