I first saw Shawn wrestle in Memphis, TN, where I was born and raised. I can't remember the exact date, but it had to have been late 87/early 88. Memphis has always been a hot bed for wrestling, and back then we had a Saturday morning show and live wrestling every Monday night at the Mid-South Coliseum. I never missed one. I guess you could say I grew up ringside lol. Anyway, to say I was impressed with Shawn that first night would be an understatement. So I talked to some people I knew behind the scenes and learned a little more about him. From then on I followed his career, and when he and Marty finally made it into the WWF I was over the moon lol.

There was just something about him from the beginning. Nothing I could have explained at the time; just this feeling I got watching him. Seeing his character develop through the years has been a pleasure and a priviledge. I kinda feel like I grew up with him. It's almost impossible now for me to remember a time when wrestling and Shawn Michaels weren't synonymous in my mind.

So there's a very brief background on how I became a fan. I guess I should explain that to me, wrestling is more than just a form of entertainment. It's been more of a life-long passion. I never stopped watching, even during the rough years when it was almost painful to watch :\ Shawn was always there, and that was enough for me.

To this day, I remember Wrestlemania 14 as if it just happened. As I watched that match, even though it hadn't been made official, I knew in my heart I was watching Shawn take his final bow. I can still hear some of the so-called 'fans' talking about what a shame it was that Shawn's final match ended with him flat on his back. Some said it was the worse possible ending to an unequaled career, and it was one of his saddest moments. I beg to differ...

From the second he came through that curtain, the emotion he was feeling was written all over his face. He knew this was it, and despite a near-debilitating injury, he went out there and gutted it out and wrestled a match that a lot of today's superstars will never even come close to. He made Steve look good, and he proved, once again, that he's all heart.

Was this the way he would have preferred to end a 15 year legacy? I doubt it. But he played the hand he was dealt, and in my eyes he came out the winner, no matter that he left that arena without the title. Considering his injuries, he could have forfeited that belt and walked away, and no one could have faulted him for it. But he didn't. He understand that the WWF was at a crossroads, and he knew that Steve was the immediate future for the company. So instead of allowing him to become champion by default, which definitely would have slowed some of the momentum he'd gained, he put himself on the line. He went out there and fought the good fight, and he passed the torch. I'm not ashamed to admit I cried my eyes out that night, and I still to this day can't watch that match without getting choked up. No, it wasn't a sad end to a legend in my eyes. If anything I always saw it as one of his finest moments. Simply put, he sacrificed himself for the good of the company and the business he loved so dearly. The next night on Raw, Shawn was a memory as the company moved on without him. And while I continued to watch, it was never really the same for me again.

On June 3, 2002, I was listening to Raw with half an ear as I sat here in front of my computer. They'd been talking about the newest member of the nWo. Like always when some sort of surprise or mystery person was brought up, I thought wouldn't it be awesome if it were Shawn. I immediately dismissed the thought; no point in getting my hopes up again for nothing. Then Kev came out and within minutes that music hit. Let me tell ya, I just about killed myself getting out of this chair and across the den lol. Still, I wouldn't allow myslef to hope he was really back to stay. He'd been back off and on over the years since that fateful night, but never for long. I decided to just enjoy every second and be thankful that he was giving us more memories.

And now I sit here a year later (almost to the day lol) and I'm still in awe of him; probably more than ever. He was always perfection to me, but the man he has become is so much more than that. I've had the priviledge of watching him go from a young rookie with fire in his eyes and a dream in his heart to the humble and gracious man he is today. He's a family man with his heart in the right place, yet he still finds time to be our hero, too. He came back when he had absolutely nothing left to prove to himself or anyone else. And even though he's grown as a man and seems to be much happier with his life now, there's still a bit of the old Heartbreak Kid in him that'll never die. You can see it in his eyes and feel it in the air every time he hits that ring. He's found that middle ground that eluded him for so many years, and he's at peace with himself and his life.

So now I've rambled on and probably gotten way off track. I can't seem to talk about Shawn without doing that, though. But maybe now you'll understand a little better how profoundly being a fan of Shawn Michaels has touched me. He has no equal; not now and not ever. That's what this site is all about. After his return, I searched high and low and found very few sites dedicated to him that were still active and updated regularly. I already had a domain dedicated to the Clique collectively, and in February of this year (2003) I purchased this domain. My mission with this site is to offer to other HBK fans as much information and multi-media as I can, and to create a haven for fans like myself to pay tribute to our hero. I cannot put into words what an inspiration Shawn has been to me through the years, and I know there are countless others out there that feel the same way. This site is dedicated to you as much as it is to Shawn.

In closing, I'd like to thank each and every person who has visited this site and/or contributed to it in some way. And above all, thank you Michael Shawn Hickenbottom for being the athlete and the man you are. We could never repay you for all you've given to us over the years, but we can offer our undying support and devotion. You've always had, and always will have that.