50 Ruthless Aggression Era Superstars Ranked From Worst To Best

Pros:

1. Still an amazing wrestler, despite a 4-year absence

2. Apparently, being born again led to a huge change in personality (in a good way)

3. Did. Not. Have. Bad. Matches. Period.

Cons:

1. D-X vs. the McMahons was a weird feud

2. Wore weird brown tights at one point

3. Umm…he retired Ric Flair

When HBK returned in 2002, it was thought that he’d be nothing more than a shell of his former shelf after being inactive for four years. Thankfully, those thought were put to rest, as HBK experienced an unbelievable career renaissance that complemented his religious re-birth in virtually every respect.

Shawn demonstrated very little ring rust, if any, and proceeded to put on outstanding matches on a regular basis. His Unsanctioned Match with Triple H was an instant classic, as was his World Heavyweight Championship victory later that year, and he put on an outstanding match with Kurt angle at WrestleMania 21.

Then, of course, was his ‘Mania match with Ric Flair. That was a match of a different calibre, one so emotional that it brought tears to fans’ eyes. It has been said that Shawn Michaels is one of, if not the best storyteller to ever lace up a pair of wrestling boots. Considering how well he wrestled after a four-year hiatus, and how few his actual troubles were during the Ruthless Aggression era, that claim might actually be 100% accurate.

Final Rating: ****3/4