:: Gazmission

Welcome to the 8th edition of Gazmission written for Wrestling Envy by Gary Griffiths.

A Tribute

Shawn Michaels is the Greatest. There is no doubt in my mind at all. He is my favourite wrestler ever, and he is without a doubt my idol in life. So in this edition of Gazmission, in a true homage to the HBKid I am going to write a very special tribute to him, which I feel will hopefull be my best ever work. By the way for the best of HBK around, I highly recommend you visit my website http://www.hbkworld.cjb.net.
In this column I will include a Title History, Why I personally like him, and anwsers to the Critics of HBK.
To start with though, a short recap of his great career will be written....

Michael Hikkenbottom

HBK was born on July 22, 1965 in Scottsdale, Arizona at Williams Air Force Base under the name Michael Shawn Hickenbottom. He is 6'0" 234lbs (although in real life he is probably nearer 5'11) and made his pro wrestling debut on October 16, 1984. He has spent his entire wrestling career in the big two using the name Shawn Michaels and has only wrestled as a part of the WWF. He trained under former pro wrestler Jose Lothario in San Antonio after his parents gave him their blessing so that he could realize his dream of becoming a pro wrestler.

The Career of HBK

Shawn Michaels began his wrestling career in the AWA, where he teamed with Marty Jannetty to form "The Rockers". In 1988 The Rockers joined WWF, but after learning a tough business lesson, left the company shortly after.
Vince, noticing this young teams talent re'hired them in the Winter of 1989, and they made there debut at that years Surivor Series.
The Rockers won the Tag Titles in a house show off the Hart Foundation, but due the  ropes being lose they were stripped of the belts.
Marty and Shawn split in 1992 after Shawn turned heel byt throwing M.J through a glass window.
Shawn Michaels then became the cocky and arrogant HeartBreak Kid. The fans hated him for his egomatic attitude and he was soon one of the top heels in the company. His first singles title run came in October 1992 when he defeated the British Bulldog for the Intercontinental Title.
Michaels held the belt for 7 months before dropping the strap to a returning Marty Jannetty in a superb match.
HBK won the title back a month later and continued to fued with Jannetty untill the end of 1993, until he got suspended for not agreeing a new contract.
Michaels and Vince sorted out there differences and HBK returned in 1994 to fued with Razor for the IC Title, whcih culminated at WrestleMania X with there famous ladder match.
HBK was stuck in meaningless fueds towards then end of 1994, and a Tag Team Title victory with Diesel (Kevin Nash) was the main high spot. But at the beginning of 1995 the WWF's intentions to push HBK became clear as he won the Royal Rumble eliminating Bulldog last. Keeping in the tradition of whoever wins the Royal Rumble faces the champ at WrestleMania, HBK faced Diesel in 1995's biggest event. This, in my view was the match of the night as Diesel looked awsomely powerful, and HBK was his usual dynamic self. Diesel won the match, but throughout cheers in the direction of HBK could be heard, and this alerted Vinnie Mac to turn HBK face. In the summer of 1995 Michaels had a bearable fued with Jeff Jarrett that led to an incredible match at In Your House 2. But no matter how good this match was, it was topped the following month at SummerSlam when HBK beat Razor Ramon in there return ladder match.
In October 1995 disaster struck. HBK was famously beaten up for real outside a night club in Scycrause. Although I am not certain, here is what I believe to have happened that night.
HBK (Hikkenbottom), X-Pac (Waltham) and Bulldog (Smith) were at a bar. They had a few drinks (not enough to get drunk) and Shawn went out to there car, where he decided to take a nap. He was interupted by some men (Now known to be soldiers). There were around  7 of them, and as they held back Waltham and Smith, they kicked hell into Shawn Michaels, probably becuase he was the most weel known of the 3.
Michaels was injured from this and was forced to forfeit the IC Title.
1996, like 1995 started out very well when HBK won the Royal Rumble, eliminating former freind Diesel last. HBK thenwent on to capture the World Title at WrestleMania XII in a gruelling Iron Man Match against Bret Hart.
HBK spent most of 1996 squasing meaningless Heels, and having some great matches with Mankind (Mind Games) and Diesel (Good Friends, Better Enemies). At the Survivor Series, Michaels lost the gold, but regained 2 months later in his home state of San Antonio against Sid at the Royal Rumble.
In February 1997 HBK infamously "lost his smile". This was when Michaels forfeited the belt in a shoot interview on Raw. His reason for forfeiting the belt was a knee injury. But it is highly speculated that it was really because he was getting forced to lose the World Title to Bret at WrestleMania XIII.
HBK spent the best part of 1997 in non title fueds, except for when he and Stone Cold Steve Austin won the tag straps. In late 1997 HBK was feuding with The Undertaker, and that fued culminated with, in my view one of the greatest matches ever, The Badd Blood, Hell in a Cell match.
In January 1998 HBK suffered a back injury with The Undertaker in a casket match, and 3 months later at WrestleMania XIV, he wrestled his last ever match in the WWF.........That is of course, assuming he doesn't return.

Why I like The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels

HBK is the greatest. Hes got charisma, he's got in ring talent, hes got everything you need to be a world class wrestler.
Whatever people say about Shawn being an a**hole backstage, I don't listen to. As I don't know him myself I can't judge him like that.
Shawn Michaels had the best in ring phycollogy ever, he could put crowds through every emotion possible, and if you ask Sid, Mick Foley, Bret Hart, The Undertaker, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and most other wrestlers who theer greatest match is against, most of them would say Michaels.
HBK generates electricity in the ring that only Hulk Hogan and The Rock have been able to match, and that is really saying something.
But now I will move onto the next section of this column, my answers to the critics....

Anwsers to the Critics

Here are some of the things the HB-Haters say about the Showstopper......
"He was the top guy when the WWF was at it's lowest"
Well in regards to that you can either look at it 2 ways.
1> He was on top when WWF was at its lowest.
2> He kept the WWF alive.
Id go for the latter. If it wasn't for HBK in 1996/1997 then the WWF would have gone under. Undertaker and Bret excluded, WWF had no one that was over enough to carry the company. Michaels is the reason WWF survived, there is no doubt in my mind about that.

"He refused to lose to Bret at WM 13"

Well if you look at the facts here, HBK only did this because Bret refused to lose to him at Survivor Series 1996.

"HBK refuses to lose to people and is an a**hole backstage"
Shawn Michaels is cast out as being someone who constantly refused to lie down for people, well look at it like this. All the most sucsessful WWF Champions of the past 17 years have done the same. Hogan, HHH, SCSA, Rocky, Diesel and many many more.
In regards to "HBK is an ass backstage", ask yourself this.....Do you personally know Shawn???
If the anwser is "no", which I'm sure it is then how the hell do you know he's an ass backstage, you've never met him. All you are goin on is the word of Bret Hart, who incidentally was called an a** backstge himself.
Also HBK did the clean job to Austin at WrestleMania XIV, therefore putting over the younger star with a future.


Title History

Three Time WWF Heavyweight Champ
- Defeated Bret Hart on April 31, 1996 at WrestleMania XII
- Defeated Sid on January 19, 1997 at the Royal Rumble
- Defeated Bret Hart on November 9, 1997 at Survivor Series
Three Time Intercontinental Champion
- Defeated British Bulldog on October 27, 1992
- Defeated Marty Jannetty on June 6, 1993
- Defeated Jeff Jarrett on July 23, 1995 at In Your House 2

Three Time Tag Team Champion
- With Diesel defeated The Headshrinkers on August 28, 1994
- With Diesel defeated Owen Hart & Yokozuna on September 24, 1995 at In Your House 3
- With Steve Austin def. Owen Hart & British Bulldog on May 25, 1997

One time European Champion
- Defeated British Bulldog on September 20, 1997 at the UK PPV One Night Only



The Last Word

Shawn Michaels, The HeartBreak Kid, The Showstopper, The Headliner, The Main Event, The Icon, San Anotnios Favourite Son, THE GREATEST!
Yes folks, thats Shawn Michaels, he is the greatest, his matches are brillaint, his promos are exceptional, his charisma is second to none, and his fan base is huge.
If you remember one thing from this column, remmeber this:
Shawn Michaels is the greatest wrestler ever to grace God's green earth.


Thanks for reading
Gary Griffiths

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