[Editor's note:Before Shawn Michaels reliquished the WWF World title because of a severe knee injury,everything was seemingly wonderful in his life.This artical penned exlusively for Wrestling Superstars,is a stunning contrast to his tearful announcement on national TV just a couple of weeks later]

I have always done things my way,and because of that my life is very good.Maybe over the years I've been a little too brash and upset some people,particularly Bret Hart,but Bret has never lived up to the standards he brags about.You call taking eight months off to look at other career options being a noble leader?But enough about the "Hitman".

This is about me and I don't care what other people think of me.But when you're "The Heartbreak Kid" your life seems to revolve around everyone else and everything else.I can't be myself for two minutes without having someone complain that my actions aren't good for the WWF or for Bret Hart or the fans.You know I never asked to be the ambassador for the WWF.All I asked for was a shot at the title,and God knows I had to battle for that."He's too wild" my critics said."He's a ladies man,he's rude,he's this and that." I herd it all before I became champ.and I've herd it all since.

But believe me,there's a lot more good about being me than bad.Like the feeling I get when I use that"sweet chin music" on Bret or "Psycho" Sid,or anyone really.I barely hear the fans screaming and cheering when that happens.It's like it happens in slow motion,and I feel the impact of my foot on his chin through my whole body.It's like I feel the adrenaline surging though every vein.Sure you see a lot of swagger from me after I win a match,but that is just me.I am having a good time,because this is fun,and winning is fun.I've always been a winner,even during those crappy times when I was not champ.I have always been a winner because I'm not a phony.Those tears that poured down my face at Wrestlemania XII were real.When the bell rang after I beat Bret Hart for the WWF title,I thought about the night I had collasped in the ring.I thought about how my career almost ended that night in Virginia.I don't know why,but that's what happend.

People used to hate me for being me.Then they decided to like me for being me.Now,some fans like me,some hate me,it doesn't matter.Sure,when I came out for my match with Sid at Survivor Series last year,I herd a lot of boos for the first time in a long time,and that gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.Every muscle in my body tightend up.My jaw clenched.For one night,it killed me,but boos will never bother me again.I forgot all about those boos that night when Sid hit Jose Lotherio.All I could do was react.I barely remember it happening,and I don't remember getting pinned.It's like my mind is blocking out most of that memory.But I do remember the look on Jose's face when I reached him.I have nightmares about that.It was one of the lowest moments of my life.I guess that stuff happens.What can you do...You move on and look for the high points,like when I return to my hometown of San Antonio to a hero's welcome.Everyone there knows I'm the real thing.

What gets me going? Sure,the women,the glamour,the glory are nice,but I love looking into a crowd and picking out one or two faces and studing those people's eyes.To see the emotion in those eyes,the joy i'm bringing to those people---it gives me such a rush.When I got all those Slammys last year----same feeling.I felt the same rush when I was posing for Playgirl,Just the knowing that my face and a lot of my body where going to be seen by so many women in that issue----man,what a feeling.Everytime the flash on the camera went off,it was great.

Of course,none of these feelings compare to the rush you get when you win.It killed me to see my former bodyguard,Diesel,as WWF champ.I'd been wrestling for about 10 years and never reached that plateau.In one year in the WWF,he became champion.That's the way it goes sometimes.Everytime I saw him hold that belt up and soak in the cheers,I'd think back to the day I got started in this business and promised myself I'd be a world champion someday.But I got my chance.I earned my chance.And I had the best teacher in the world in Jose.

You still wondering who I am?What makes me tick? You should know by watching me.The Shawn Michaels you see in the ring is the same Shawn Michaels in San Antonio,in Boston,in Beirut.What I am most is the best damn wrestler in the world.The best technician with the best stamina,with the strongest drive.No one can bounce back from near-defeat to rebound as smoothly as I can.No one in the world combines power with grace,balance,and skill the way I do.There are a lot of great wrestlers out there,but no one is the complete package.No one except me,Not Bret Hart,not Steve Austin.But populartiy isn't necessarily about winning.It's about giving the people what they want.Helen and Stu Hart certainly made that clear to Bret.Look at Owen;he's true to himself,but he is hated by most of the fans.

My parents always told me as a kid to be me,even if it meant being alone.Jose always told me that any gold belt is meaningless if the wrestler wearing it is a phony.So excuse me if I don't fit the mold of champion Bret Hart would like.I'm too busy living up to my own standards.They're the only standards that matter to me.

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