>From the moment he struck the coffin in his match with The Undertaker at Royal Rumble 1998, WWF World Champion, Shawn Michaels was wrestling on borrowed time. The impact of 'The Heartbreak Kid's' lower back-first collision with the oversized casket left him with a herniated disc. Comming out of major surgery the following year, he was told by his doctor that he would never wrestle again.
For the longest Shawn's World title-dropping match with Steve Austin at WrestleMania XVI on March 29,1998, seemed destined to be his last stand. Rumours would sometimes surface that he was considering one final match, and, infact participated in a weapons bout on one of his own shows in Texas, in 2000. But while HBK remained on the WWF/WWE payroll and occasionally appeared in Commissioner-type rolls, the Attitude era came and went without any in-ring contribution from Shawn Michaels. In the meantime he started a family with former Nitro girl Rebecca 'Whisper' Curci and, famously, found God. By the time 2002 rolled around Michaels had not yet wrestled a proper match in nearly four years. All talk of his return was greeted with increasing scepticism.
But by the late spring things were a-changing. Michaels appeared on Confidentail and admitted that he did know in advance that Bret Hart would be double-crossed at Survivor Series 1997, and that all the histrionics afterwards (which included the statement "As God is my f__ing witness I had no idea!" to Hart's face) were fraudulent.
It was obvious that the WWE would not have dedicated an entire show to Michaels unless they had some plans for him, and - SHAZAM! - he returned on the June 10 Raw as a member of the New World Order.
Seeminly there to hang out with Sean 'XPac' Waltman, and his former tag team partner and long time pal, Kevin Nash, Michaels' role changed when 'Big Useless' tore his quadriceps muscle on the July 8 Raw.
The NWO was disbanded the following week (Forever we hope) and the troubled Waltman left the company and suddenly Michaels' return to the limelight was without meaning or direction. Yet, in the words of the 'prayer warrior' himself, Michaels had a dream.
Quite Literally.
Convinced in his slumber that the Good Lord himself wanted 'The Heartbreak Kid' to wrestle one more time, Michaels telephoned Vince McMahon and told him he wanted to face Mr. McMahon on pay-per-view.
Vinnie Mac had a better idea: why not wrestle Triple H instead at say, Summerslam?
Michaels had always wanted to tangel with his Protoge in a high-profile match and readily agreed to the proposal.
So the big angle was shot. First, Michaels and Hunter reunited at Vengence on July 21. Then, the following evening on Raw, the two came out wearing DX Tshirts. Moments later HHH flatteed Michaels with a pedigree. No one saw that comming.
One week later 'The Game' attacked Michaels again in the car park. To intensify the heat on HHH and build sympathy for Shawn. Hunter this time, threw him head first into a car window.
"i know I cant wrestle anymore!" a 'bruised' Michaels told HHH on Raw via a satalite link up, "But." he added, "i can still fight."
Goosebump stuff to be sure-but it also served to warm HBK's longtime fans not to expect the Shawn Michaels of 1996 to walk out at Summerslam on Agust 25. Everything Michaels said - not only on Raw but also in the promo packages & an interview with WWE.com - was designed to lower expectations for this non-sanctioned bout with HHH. Most took that as a sign that Michaels and the WWE weren't sure how much Shawn had left in the tank.....
Combacks after a prolonged absence in any sport or activity which requires physical exertion seldom boost the image of the athlete or participant. The sight of an aged, shattered Muhammed Ali being forced to quit on his stool after taking a thourough hammering from former sparring partner Larry Holmes in 1980 haunts every boxing fan who has witnessed it. Tennis great, John McEnroe, was wiped off the court when he continued to enter tournements years after his prime. And former Formular One World Champion, Nigel Mansell is still trying to live down the embarrassment of his much bally-hooed return to racing falling apart when he couldnt fit into the cockpit.
There was a feeling that Michaels - regarded as one of the top three workers in the the world from 1993 to 1997 - might disappoint his supporters, just like the old timers in wrestling and other sports did.
But he didnt - not even slightly. His match with Triple H was outstanding. The tables and weapons shortcuts were taken, of course, but the heart and soul of the match was a beautifully timed, believable story of an aging, wounded lion's last stand against a man who was prepared to exploit any and all of his foe's weaknesses in order to win. Power Slam readers voted the emotional, epic, Match Of The year.
Shawn's amazing in-ring performance, new-found easy-going attitude and popularity convinced Vince McMahon and his think tank to put the World Title around the part-timer's waist during the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series. Our boy outlasted Rob Van Dam, Booker T, Kane and Chris Jericho before he pinned Triple H to win the World Title.
But while the bout was the main event of a big four pay-per-view at Maddison Square Garden in New York City, Michaels' win came across as something less-than momentous. Though the near sell-out crowd of 17,930 fans cheered as the confetti rained down fromt he rafters, you could sense they would have reacted with considerably more enthusiasm under different circumstances.
The thing is, there had been no title chase, no 'journey' for HBK to make, no mountain to climb before he raised his fourth World singles title: indeed, during the build-up to his Summerslam return, Michaels had explicitly stated that he was no longer motivated by the prospect of winning title belts (in the story-line his motivation was revenge).
The sense of achievement was further undercut by the fact that Michaels' championship win was the fifth title change on the three hour show. what's more, the World title he captured was only a couple of months old.
It was probable, then, that most fans viewed Shawn's 'Indian summer' as exactly what it was: a transparent , one month caretaker reign to boost Triple H's ego and heel heat. A banged-up HBK dutifully dropped the belt back to his fomer bag-carrier (who could barely walk, much less wrestle due to his leg injury) in that spectacular dreadful effort known as 'The Three Stages Of Hell' at Armageddon on December 15.
Still, despite knocking out arguably the worst pay-per-view main event of 2002, Michaels' new found rep escaped completely unscathed. The entire blame for the 40 minute disaster was dumped on Triple H's shoulders, even though HBK had also phoned it in. It seemed Shawn could do no wrong in the eyes of the WWE faithful.
And their admiration for Michaels grew further when he once again stole the spotlight on a major show - this time at WrestleMania XIX on March 30 2003 - in a blinding battle with Chris jericho.
This Year, Shawn Michaels has become a regular WWE performer, and has even gone on the road and worked house shows on occasion. Although he complained of slight stiffness after his Summerslam 2002 match-up, it was clear from the start that Michaels' back could withstand the bumps.
There exists the chance, I dare say, that Michaels could have returned to wrestling within a year of his January 1999 back operation, if he was feeling that way inclined, and probably could have returned in time for WrestleMania XV, if he had gone under the knife immediatly after WM XIV as his doctors advised. Think aboout it: Chris benoit, Rhyno, Steve Austin and others returned to action within 12 months or so of serious spinal ops - why couldn't Shawn?
It appeared that Michaels was ready to work at Wrestlemania X-seven. Plans were in place for him to do something on the show - with none other than Triple H - in Houston on April 1, 2001, but the Shawn Michaels of old reared it's ugly head prior to the card, and he was sent home from a television taping when management found he was "in no condition to perform". whatever was penciled in was cancelled, and HHH ended up doing a job to The Undertaker at WM X-Seven instead.
Maybe Michaels - recognisiing that his glory days were over and that Austin and The Rock weere the future - felt that rushing back to be gradually moved down the card wasnt worth a year of the intensive physical rehabilitation. Perhaps Vince McMahon also suspected that was the case when he tried to coerce his former top man back into the ring. This happened several times during Michaels' hiatus. Shawn was even asked to take a pay cut since he was no longer a full-timer.
It is possible that we will never know how soon Michaels could have returned: we cant turn back the clock. We do know, though, that Shawn refused to take a cut in pay. And because he was under an iron-clad contract there wasnt a damn thing McMahon could do about it.
Whatever the case, it's safe to say that the 38 year old Michael Hickenbottom is having a whale of a time now. And why wouldnt he be? While so many former WWF headliners are ignored or even denigrated by the company, HBK is the organisations resident legend, and is treated as such. He is allowed to wrestle who he wants and when he wants.
Sure WWE is sometimes reminded of the obnoxious, two-faced braggart of 1995--1997.
For instance Michaels and Kevin Nash speant much of the summer tour of Australia slagging off Bill Goldberg because he 'refused' to replace the injured Triple H on the trip, only to reverse their stance and act all chummy with him days later when it came out that Goldberg had volunteered to fill-in for "The Game' at short notice, but was unable to do so because WWE had not obtained him a work Visa. Michaels also had a minor tantrum when his deam match against Ric Flair at bad Blood was not allocated what he felt was sufficient pay-per-view time.
But, for the most part,'the boy toy' has grown up. Wrestling is no longer the only thing in his life and even if it was, his outlook has changed since the bad old days.
Michaels is contenet to come to work and do his job (and even THE job if he has to). he has no fierce rivalry with anyone (like Bret Hart) any more. No Burning ambition to rule the roost, he's been there, seen it and done it. If this Shawn Michaels is planning on sticking around, then long may he stay.