Wrestling With Life 3: The Search for the Next Shawn Michaels

[Andre_Almighty]

Hello all welcome to the third edition of Wrestling with Life. I’m your humble host Andre Almighty. I want to thank everyone for reading my last piece. I believe more than ever that Extreme Rules proved my point about Evolution. A seven minute Steel Cage in which the WWE Championship changed hands. WOW. Although I’m glad it was kept short. Well enough with the negativity, on to some positive stuff.

Today’s topic is a little personal for me. I hope you guys reading can relate to this in some kind of way.

My search for the Next Shawn Micheals

I’ve been a fan of the WWE for longer than I can really remember. I grew up watching it in the 80’s, but I mostly connected with it in the 90’s. Things were different then. It was a given that if a young superstar wanted to be successful they HAD to start off in a tag team. Once the team broke up they HAD to win the Intercontinental title. Only then would they be accepted as a main eventer and contend for the WWF Championship. My favorite wrestler followed that formula on his path to success. The Heartbreak Kid Shawn Michaels.

From the beginning, when the Rockers first showed up in the WWF, I favored Shawn. Clearly the more flashy of the two, Michaels had the “it” factor that I always found his matches amazing. When others would be glad to see Hogan or Warrior and other main event superstars, I found the most joy in watching a young Shawn and Marty do their thing. In 1992, when Shawn did his classic heel turn, I found myself facing a very hard decision (mind you I was 8 at the time). Shawn did a very harsh thing to Marty, do I side with my guy, or do I go with what is "right"? Ultimately, I chose to ride with Shawn and it was one of the best choices of my life.

From 1992 until his back injury in 1998, nobody had a more thrilling ride to the top than HBK. His run with the Intercontinental Championship was the best ever. He dominated that scene for 2 years. Rather his opponent was Max Moon or Bret Hart; you were getting the best match of the night from your IC champion. When Shawn got the call up to the main event picture, he only got better. He was forced to work very little and make the best of it. He did a masterful job with it too. He didn’t need gimmick matches or swerves to make his matches interesting. Every main event bout he was in from 1996 to 1998 was a least a 4 out of 5 star match. Vince McMahon himself will tell you that Michaels kept the WWF alive when WCW was kicking his ass for that stretch.

WrestleMania 14 was dreadful for me. Going into the match, I knew HBK was going to drop the title. What I didn’t know however was how much pain he was in. The match was almost too hard to watch, move after unbearable move, I watched my hero give his all in a wonderful performance. When the smoke was cleared and I found out the night after, that more than likely that was HBK’s last match, and I didn’t know what to do. I was like a lost puppy, I still watched wrestling but it was with an empty feeling. I latched on to Triple H sometime in 1999, he had grown to me, and after all he was a founding father of DX. I enjoyed HBK’s occasional runs as Commissioner or whatever, but it was nothing like having THE HBK doing his thing.

Where This Gets Personal For Me

In the summer of 2001, my senior year in high school, I was evolved in a car accident. I had just pledged to join the U.S. Marine Corps, a life long dream of mine. The car accident severally injured my back. I wasn’t crippled or anything like that, but during strenuous physical activities my lower back was in chronic pain. I had two options, I could have surgery and risk the chance of not being medically cleared to join or I could go to physical therapy and build up a tolerance for the pain. I took the hard path and for a grueling year I rehabbed my back. Before each session I would recite Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” That passage got me through some tough times. With prayer and a lot of determination, I was cleared for boot camp for July 2002. Two weeks before I shipped off, I just happened to be watching Raw, when to my surprise HBK returned as a member of the NWO. I remember thinking to myself that was cool, and I wish I could be around to see it. When I went to the hell known as Parris Island, my best friend told me in a letter that Shawn Michaels would be returning to fight Triple H at SummerSlam. That fuel was more motivation for me to face the troubles I was having at boot camp. I graduated October 4th 2002, and I got to watch the match the next day. Ladies (if you’re reading) and gentlemen I shit you not that I was in tears when HBK made his entrance wearing a t shirt with Philippians 4:13. The best part of it all was that the match was classic HBK; he looked as if he didn’t miss a beat. For me to have to fight through my pain to achieve my goals and for my hero to do the same, to this day is unbelievable.

There’s no way I would know that Shawn Michaels would be THAT good. The man has an incredible resume. Four World Championships, Two back to back Royal Rumble victories, countless classic matches. He has set the bar so high it’s almost impossible to accomplish what this man has done. So where does this leave me as a fan? Its rumored that WrestleMania 26 will be HBK’s last match (which means hell or high water I will be in Arizona to see it) if it is, I need a reason to continue to watch wrestling; I need somebody to get behind. Like I said before I already went through this once in 1998. Triple H was there, but with him already established there’s no way I can get behind the guy now. Kurt Angle has always been a close second of mine to Shawn Michaels, he may return to the WWE this year, but he’s no long term solution.

The New Guys

Three wrestlers have really my interest as of late. The first is MVP. Since MVP arrived in the WWE he had a swagger that you couldn’t ignore. He played the overconfident, cocky gimmick to a “T”. He reminds me of The Rock, in how he’s not that GREAT in ring wise, but he’s improving. He is effective as a face and heel; he has been a solid U.S. Champion and can work a story line (as proven with his wonderful feud with Matt Hardy). And while others may think his “Power Ranger” suit is goofy, I actually think it’s pretty cool. The only beef I have with Mr. Porter is his finisher. The playmaker isn’t one of those moves like the RKO or Sweet Chin Music where you can hit out of nowhere, and it doesn’t have the impactful of the Pedigree or The Last Ride. This year will tell us a lot about MVP. He has handled the star power of Monday Night Raw very well since his change of scenery. He owned the WWE Champion and his lackeys on his first night on the show. I hope he fights his way into the title picture on Monday as he hinted this past Raw. With a show that has Triple H, John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista and Shawn Michaels; for MVP to break out will be truly amazing. I’m pulling for the guy.

The next wrestler is the most similar to HBK as far a looks and his wrestling style. John Morrison. Like MVP, I saw star potential from the start with him as Johnny Nitro. He has been in two very successful tag-teams and a good run with the ECW Championship. I enjoy his matches right now almost as much as I do HBK’s. The only draw back to Morrison is he’s not as charismatic on the mic. For him to be MY guy(no homo), he has to have it all. He has improved and like I said with MVP, I think this year will be pivotal for him. I’m not predicting a World Championship this year, but I think sometime next year he will be in the title hunt.

Last on my list, but probably my overall favorite is Kofi Kingston. He’s young, athletic, and a very cool guy. He has been successful as Intercontinental Champion and will be as the current U.S. Champ. From every interview I’ve seen him in, he can hold his own. He also is over with the new young crowd that the WWE is trying to please now and days. I love Trouble in Paradise as a finisher, and his entrance music is very catchy (and I hate Reggae music). However, I do not know how he would fare as a heel. Like Rey Mysterio, he has a face that I just couldn’t take serious as a bad guy (but I felt that way about Edge when he was in 20’s too). In the long run I hope that doesn’t matter when it comes time for him to move up the ladder. I don’t want his push to stall out like Shelton Benjamin’s did.

My Dark Horse

One wrestler who has been growing on me in the past couple of weeks is The Miz. At first I couldn’t stand the guy, and thought he was a waist of time. He teamed with John Morrison and formed a solid tag team. It was the Dirt Sheet however that really put him on the map for me. I thought he would suffer when he was drafted to Raw, but he hasn’t. He’s in the biggest storyline of his career and his passing with flying colors. The thing I like most about The Miz, is that he seems like he’s one of us. You can tell the man has a passion for this business and really wants to leave his mark. The intensity that he shows during his segments leave me to believe that he deserves more credit than he’s getting and going to get. He’s more deserving than of spotlight Cody Rhodes or Ted Dibiase in my book. The way he comes at John Cena in his interviews sounds a lot like some of the people on this web site. He’s not great in the ring, but neither was JBL or Hulk Hogan and they were two of the best WWE Champions of all time (YES I said it, JBL had a hell of a title run). My hat goes off to The Miz, I hope him success.

In closing, I realize for myself that there will never be another HBK. From a physical, charismatic and personal stand point for me, nobody has impacted my life more than Shawn Michaels. Even in matches that I knew he wasn’t going to win (i.e. WrestleMania 25) HBK has always pulled emotion out of me, and that‘s very hard to do. I am banking that one of these new talented superstars in the WWE will capture my heart (NO HOMO!) the way HBK did. I only hope that they don’t get boggled down with the politics of wrestling that we have seen hold so many others from competing at the World Championship level. Only time will tell.

Casual Thoughts

-I’m kind of mad I missed Extreme Rules for Game 2 of the Finals because my Magic lost and Jeff Hardy and Edge put one hell of a show, I also missed Umaga’s last match.
-WTF with WWE letting Umaga go. He was a very talented big man, I was happy for his return, he wrestles for a month and they release him. When Punk won the title I was hoping that it would bring the big man up to main event status again. I’m very disappointed with that one.
-2009 Santino Marella = 2005 Eugene. It’s old and it needs to stop.
-Michael Cole, Shut the Fuck UP!
-Intresting to see what’s going to happen with C.M. Punk, will the kiddies be mad at him for taking advantage of Jeff Hardy?
-I really don’t like the way the WWE has been treating Vickie Guerrero. By all means the woman is ugly, but did they really have to put her out there like that. Then again, Stephanie has been treated pretty badly in the past. If a McMahon going to get treated like shit, what do you expect for an outsider.
-Triple H is back, let the good times role.

Diamond in the Ruff Match of the Week:

If you didn’t read my last column let me enlighten you, these are matches that weren’t exactly classics, but they are 4.5 stars and you should check them out.

Kurt Angle vs. Brock Lesnar Iron Man Match for the WWE Championship: Smackdown 2003

The finale of the Lesnar vs. Angle trilogy happened on an episode of Smackdown. With Lesnar playing the heel, he took advantage early by hitting Angle with a steal chair and scoring 2 quick wins to start the match off. This came into play in this hard hitting wrestling clinic put on by two world class athletes.

Well thank you for letting me share my thoughts with you, I hope to see you next time.

Feedback please, that's the only way I will get better.

[Code Of Silence]

Great column. I caught a couple of spelling mistakes here and there, but overall a captivating read.

Thanks for commenting on my column as well. I'm looking forward to your next column.

[Creeping Death]

I liked this. I felt it was just the right length. It wasn't too short, and it didn't drag on. I didn't catch any spelling errors, but there were quite a few grammar errors. Proofread once, then do another quick run threw. Chances are, you'll catch those mistakes.

As for actual feedback, out of those that you mentioned, I think MVP has the most potential. I don't really care for Kofi, and Morrison is pretty good. I just like MVP more.

And I agree on the point that there will never be another Shawn Michaels. There is only one Hulk Hogan, only one Ric Flair, and only one Shawn Michaels.

Read ya next time.

[MyLeeCyrus]

This was a good read, well written and I agree with those above, it was a perfect length. I'm also in favour of any column which tells me how great Shawn Michaels is!

The personal touch was nice as well; it didn't seem like you were trying to grab sympathy, just putting things into context, and it came off very well.

Bravo!

[Kano]

Well done man, I have also said myself Morrison will be the HBK of this generation. Kingston seems to be getting a lot of attetion in the past year which is awesome for him.

Liked the personal bit to man, worked really well.

Read you next time

[HBKRKO]

Real good column man.

I also am a big big fan of Shawn Michaels and so found your column very interesting.
I certainly agree with Morrison as being the next HBK, but the others I just don't think are good enough in the ring. By the way MVP is 35, so I don't think he can be considered as a long term replacement.

Read you next time

[Andre_Almighty]

I want to thank everyone read this.

I did find my grammar mistakes after a re-read. I'll do better next time.

@HBKRKO, You don't think Kofi is good enough in the ring? I think he's just as gifted as Morrison. Morrison is however the closest incarnation of HBK. And with MVP, I just really like his hard work. At 35, he may not be the long term guy though. I'll enjoy him while he last. Thanks for reading.

[Leonard]

Hi Andre. When I read the title, I figured this would be a love-fest for John Morrison. While you did speak about him, I was pleasantly surprised that this was mostly a personal story mixed in with some wrestling opinion. It was really cool to find out a bit about the guy behind the keyboard here...good work there. As for the "next Shawn Michaels," your three choices are pretty common, and somewhat likely (less so for MVP, for reasons stated above). I've been sold on The Miz, though, since he started on RAW. Top stuff here, man. Read you next time.

--Leonard

[Super Chrisss]

I'm with Leonard on this one; I totally thought this column would be dedicated to John Morrison, but you fooled me! Nice going, and your story had a really nice meaning to it and was well-told. Good for you man.

Another solid column man. Keep it going!

[thepsychic]

Greetings, Psychic here. I see that you know what you are talking about, for the most part, and I agree with most of the things you say. If MVP isn't the next big thing, then there is no bright future star for WWE now that Kennedy is gone. And you're absolutely right, it's high time he got himself a powerslam or piledriver as a finisher instead of the crappy Playmaker. Nice personal touch that you added to the story. As you said, there will never be another Shawn Michaels.

Catch me and the Seer at the Crystal Ball! We post every couple of weeks or so.

Remember, we make tomorrow happen TODAY.