The Showstoppa

Wrestlemania is fast approaching, and it got me thinking.  It will be sad to have the biggest event of the year without HBK wrestling.  Could he make a surprise appearance?  Yeah, probably, since he is being inducted into the Hall of Fame, but without him wrestling, Wrestlemania feels a tad incomplete. 

It was either '05 or '06 HBK started calling himself "Mr. Wrestlemania."  Some thought it was stupid, (because they thought that should be Undertaker's nickname, but unlike Taker, Shawn almost always delivers at Wrestlemania) but is there a more accurate nickname?  Out of Shawn's Wrestlemania matches only a slim minority are not the best match on the show.  Gee, maybe we can call him the "Showstoppa" because after his match is done, there really is no point in watching the rest of the card.  Oh, wait we already do.  (And "The Headliner," and "The Main Event" for good measure.) 

Who will stop the show this year?  I will debate that in a future Wrestlemania preview blog, as the time gets closer.  One thing is for sure, no one did it like HBK.  Let's look at HBK's Wrestlemania matches:

Wrestlemania 5: The Rockers vs. The Twin Towers.  I've never actually seen this match, but I'm sure it was OK, but probably not the best on the card. 

Wrestlemania 6: The Rockers vs. The Orient Express.  Again I've never seen this one, but I bet it was solid.  The Rockers were always entertaining, and tag team wrestling doesn't really pertain to the legacy of Mr. Wrestlemania anyway.

Wrestlemania 7: The Rockers vs. Barbarian and Haku.  I would guess that this match isn't very good.  Haku isn't exactly Steamboat, nor Barbarian the Hitman.  Either way the Rockers got their first Wrestlemania win.

Wrestlemania 8: HBK is flyin' solo here against Tito Santana in a great technical matchup in Shawn's first singles match at Wrestlemania.

Wrestlemania 9: Shawn vs. Tatanka for the IC championship.  Another solid outing here, with Shawn losing by count out, but still retains the championship.

Wrestlemania 10: Here's where his legacy truly comes into play.  The first ladder match vs. Razor Ramon for the IC championship.  I first saw this match after the first couple TLC matches had happened, so I thought it seemed a little weak.  However after repeated viewing, I enjoy it more and more.  The psychology is fantastic, and sets the pace for how good ladder matches would become in the future.

Wrestlemania 11: HBK vs. Diesel for the WWE championship.  A good match, to later be topped by their no holds barred match a year later.  Shawn got his first of many main events here.  Even in a losing effort, he quickly turned babyface and was the top draw in the company for the next 2 years.  

Wrestlemania 12: The mother of all main events.  Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart Iron Man.  This match is flawless.  I would personally not change a thing about it.  It's over an hour long, and doesn't feel anywhere near that long.  Fantastic match that builds to a fever pitch with HBK winning his first WWE championship.

Wrestlemania 14: HBK vs. Stone Cold isn't the greatest main event in history, but it's very exciting match, which is really impressive considering how injured Shawn was at the time.  From a historical standpoint, this is one of the most important matches in WWE history because it ushers in the Austin era, and the pivotal moment beginning the Attitude Era.

Wrestlemania 19: After his apparent retirement came to an end at the previous Summerslam, Shawn geared up for his first Wrestlemania match in five years.  This was the first big "dream" match during Shawn's comeback vs. Chris Jericho.  Superb wrestling contest with Shawn getting the win.

Wrestlemania 20: Sadly, this match will never be viewed on WWE television again due to Chris Benoit being in the matchup.  However this triple threat match for the World Heavyweight Championship also including HHH, is a great match.  Many would say it was the best on the card; I say it was Angle vs. Guerrero, but still the second best match on the card for sure.  

Wrestlemania 21: Yet again another dream matchup here.  HBK vs. Angle, who is the greatest in-ring competitor of all-time?  HBK tapped, but not before putting on arguably the best Wrestlemania match of all-time.  (Probably second to the iron man match.)

Wrestlemania 22: HBK had a garbarge match against Vince in a dumb angle to begin with.  It was OK, but nothing to write home about.  However it was Vince' best match ever, which just goes to show you that Shawn can bring out the best in anyone.  (Minor rant: The fact this got match of the year in PWI is sickening.  Just goes to show how dumb fans can be at times.  The match of the year at least in WWE was probably Foley vs. Edge at the same Wrestlemania.  Not to mention this was TNA in it's heyday, and had probably a 100 matches that were better than this, and ROH who had probably a 1000 matches that were better than this.)

Wrestlemania 23: Shawn is back in the main event against John Cena.  Cena is a sports-entertainer, not a wrestler.  Shawn made Cena look great in this match.   Probably Cena's best match.  Again another notch in the belt of Shawn as the greatest worker of all-time. 

Wrestlemania 24: Shawn faces his hero Ric Flair in a retirement match.  Pretty good storyline here.  I'm not a Flair fan, but this was a good match.  Definitely his best in his last stint in WWE, and probably his best match since the late '80s.

Wrestlemania 25: Can he break the streak?  Nope, but he did have a match of the year against the Undertaker.  Is it worth the hype?  Yes, is it the greatest 'Mania match ever?  Probably not, but still an excellent matchup between two legends.  (Spoiler: I marked out when HBK kicked out of the tombstone.  Seriously who has done that since Kane in '98?)

Wrestlemania 26: A rematch from the previous year.  Not quite as good, but still a fun match to watch.  Shawn vowed to retire should he lose to Taker, and that he did, forever leaving a void in the WWE and the future Wrestlemania legacy that may never be filled entirely. 

So since his comeback at 'Mania 19, and with the exception of Wrestlemania 22, he has had the first or second best match on every show.  Who else can make that claim?  No one but the Heartbreak Kid.  And that doesn't even included the Iron Man or Ladder match, two of this three most famous matches ever!  Greatest ever, ABSOLUTELY! 

Anyone thirsty for some HBK matches now?  Here are his DVD's to wet your appetite.