10 Wrestlers Labelled "The Next Shawn Michaels"
Blood ties or not, we haven't included Matt Bentley on this list.
Regarded by many as the number one performer in pro wrestling history, Shawn Michaels was one of the very first to break the mould of body-builder world champions, and - together with Bret Hart - helped pave the way for a generation of streamlined stars to make it to the top.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and several of those who followed in his footsteps, whether they knew it or not, have stolen a page or two from the Heartbreak Kid's handbook en route - both in terms of appearance, promo delivery, and in-ring style.
Being compared to Shawn Michaels in the early part of your career is no guarantee of success, and some who attracted the label barely scratched the surface of what HBK managed to achieve over the course of his career. One or two were more worthy of the accolade, though, and some fans have even dared to suggest they may have eclipsed the great man himself.
Here are 10 wrestlers once labelled the next Shawn Michaels.
10. Dolph Ziggler
It's 2016, and Ziggler is still diligently playing the role of a hard-luck mid-carder who can never quite grasp the brass ring (in fact, if recent weeks are anything to go by, he's struggling to get his hands on the steel ring).
No longer a young upstart, it's probably safe to say that he isn't going to match Shawn Michaels in terms of accolades, but that doesn't mean those early comparisons were totally wide of the mark.
Like HBK, Ziggler is a slick performer between the ropes, with selling ability unlike anyone else on the roster. He's not exactly short of charisma either, and it's only the absence of opportunity that has prevented him from reaching the same heights as others on this list.