Given the insanely high standard of Michaels' second WWE run, it's hard to believe that it was said that The Heartbreak Kid was, at one point, never going to wrestle again. Michaels was one of the top stars of the 1990's and he, along with Bret Hart, changed people's perceptions about what a headliner should be. He was the showstopper, the man who effortlessly had great matches with everybody. Unfortunately, these great matches caused Michaels back to rapidly deteriorate and in 1998 he was advised by specialists to retire. After dropping the WWF Championship to the white-hot Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV, it looked like Michaels was done as an in-ring competitor. He had some brief runs as the commissioner and was the special referee in one or two matches but that was about it. There were rumblings of a proper return many times between 1998 and 2002, but Michaels' 'personal problems' made sure that it didn't happen. Then in 2002 something changed. Michaels became a born-again Christian and was feeling good physically as well as spiritually. Michaels had sorted out a lot of his personal issues and felt good about doing one more match. The match, a non-sanctioned street fight against Triple H at Summer Slam 2002, tore the house down. It was an amazing performance by HBK, who looked like he'd never been out of the ring for day. Michaels gradually returned to the WWE full time and the rest, as they say, is history. One of the most spectacular and unlikely comebacks in wrestling history.
