10 Wrestling GOATs With ONE Fatal Flaw

8. Shawn Michaels

Bryan Danielson
WWE

GOAT credentials:

An undisputed North American in-ring great, nobody threw themselves around the ring like Shawn Michaels up to 1998. A sublime working heel, he was so electrifying but smug in there that it was easy to resent how great he was without ever once being bored. He radiated a sense of smugness in a dynamic, unique way. Where the heels of yore would show ass by getting blown away by a working punch, Michaels bumped to hysterical perfection. He was the Showstopper. As a heel, nobody made catharsis look quite as good. He was never as good as a babyface, and was still amazing in the role. His match against Mankind at In Your House: Mind Games was one of the best and most unique from-underneath performances ever. His 2002 return saw him evolve into a true fan favourite at long last...but...

Fatal flaw:

Michaels was corny between 2002 and 2010, but that is a subjective take. To many others, his emotive work was more elegant and rich than his physical prime. The objective take is that Michaels - in addition to being much too unreliable when he was actually needed - was not a draw. Business was dire when he was on top in the 1990s and, while he was a legend to the most dedicated WWE base, his 2002 return didn't arrest an alarming dip in popularity.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!