The Heartbreak Kid wrestled for the WWF from 1988 until retiring from in-ring competition for the first time in 1998, mostly due to what was considered to be a career-ending back injury caused in a casket match with the Undertaker. Hed make a triumphant return to the ring in 2002, and never really looked back. If the Shawn Michaels of the old days the bad old days of drug addiction, the Kliq, the Montreal Screwjob and self-destructive selfishness was a fantastic worker, then the Heartbreak Kid that returned, sober, happy, consistent and selfless, was a whole new ball game. His long, epic feud with Triple H upon returning was magnificent, a tour de force on the part of both men. The less said about his 2006 with Triple H, the better the PG comedy stylings of D-Generation X burying the younger talent all year isnt either mans finest hour. He carried John Cena to his best ever Wrestlemania match in 2007. His match at Wrestlemania XXIV retiring Ric Flair is a masterpiece in carefully working around Flairs limitations while providing a dramatic, if sentimental climax. His work with Chris Jericho in 2008 remains just about the best thing that Jerichos ever been involved in. Theres a case to be made that both of his matches with the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, including his own retirement match, are in the top five of all time. For those whove forgotten, heres that Wrestlemania 23 match versus John Cena: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xw7mnd_wwe-wrestlemania-23-john-cena-vs-shawn-michaels-hq-wwe-championship-full-match-promo_sport Who would you have included in this article? Let us know in the comments, and well see about writing a further list in the near future and if you disagree with the eras weve chosen, tell us about it!
Professional writer, punk werewolf and nesting place for starfish. Obsessed with squid, spirals and story. I publish short weird fiction online at desincarne.com, and tweet nonsense under the name Jack The Bodiless. You can follow me all you like, just don't touch my stuff.