12 Things You Learn Binge Watching Every WWE Raw From 2005
7. Hulk & HBK Could’ve Been One Hell Of A Team
Privately, Shawn and Hulk got along until they...didn't get along. They were reportedly set to work a 3 match series as rivals, but SummerSlam 2005 would wind up being their only pay-per-view showdown. Egos ran wild, brothers got to brothering, brother, and Michaels didn't really fancy finding out if he could gel with the red and yellow after all anyway.
That's a pity. Y'know what else is a shame? The fact that Shawn and Hogan only worked 3 televised matches as tag-team partners: They beat Muhammad Hassan and Daivari at Backlash, teamed with John Cena vs. Chris Jericho, Christian and Tyson Tomko on the 27 June Raw, then beat Carlito and Kurt Angle on the 4 July episode.
The latter match there showed the full extent of their potential as a double act.
Imagine how good a sustained run could’ve been had egos not got in the way. Sure, WWE wanted to book them as rivals for SummerSlam and beyond, but man - we missed out on an all-timer of a tag title run there. 'The Heartbreak Hulkamaniacs' could’ve been special had they been able to stay on the same page behind the curtain and had creative pressed pause on their plans for a while.
All going well, Hulk and Shawn could've worked as tag partners before splitting around Royal Rumble time then readying themselves for a blowoff at WrestleMania 22. That would've meant that Michaels vs. Vince McMahon in a 'No Holds Barred' encounter would've been delayed too, but that wouldn't have been a massive problem.
'Prayers N' Vitamins', baby. Picture it. Right, this writer will stop talking like Jimmy Hart now.