As a smaller and quicker type of wrestler, Shawn Michaels helped to redefine the WWF main event scene in the mid 90's. His athletic style helped to open up the door for the next generation of smaller main eventers, men like Chris Jericho or Eddie Guerrero. The best thing about Michaels success in the 90's and 2000's was just the sheer quality of his matches. Few performers can generate the level of excitement that HBK can through in-ring work. As such, he's pretty much regarded as the greatest pro wrestler ever to step foot in WWE. His 2010 match with The Undertaker is regarded as the best match ever. That's a huge legacy to leave behind and the quality of his work will be influencing the industry for years to come. It's also worth pointing out that Michaels was one of the key architects of The Attitude Era. It was Michaels' sense of humour and edginess that influenced Vince McMahon to take the WWF in a more adult direction. Michaels was in Vince's ear with numerous creative ideas, including D Generation X.
