Kayfabe Killer

HBK- The Missing Years

Think back to 1998. Shawn Michaels is World Wrestling Federation champion after beating Bret 'Hitman' Hart in the infamous Montreal screw job during The Survivor Series main event. Wrestling, and more importantly WWF, is about to explode into a new dimension of popularity not seen since the genesis of Hulkamania.

At this point and time Shawn Michaels was a 3 time WWF Champion, 3 time Intercontinental Champion, 3 time Tag Team champion, and European Champion making him the first ever grand slam champion in WWF history.

The Heart Break Kid inside the ring was unmatched in the business. He could brawl with Mankind, mat wrestle with Bret Hart, and put on entertaining matches with the likes of Sid, Diesel and Vader. On top of it all was his ultra charismatic personality and the uncanny ability to succeed as either face or heel. There was nothing he couldn't do. Well maybe one thing.

When thinking of the all time great wrestlers you try and include every facet of the wrestling business. Charisma, mic work, in ring ability, drawing power etc. Shawn Michaels had it all except he was not a top draw for the company while World Champion. During Shawn's time on top WWF was at an all time low do to the serge of popularity by Ted Turner's World Championship Wrestling. Ric Flair drew money in the south for years. Hulk Hogan drew money on a national scale once in WWF and again in WCW. HBK didn't.

Which brings us to that gap in the illustrious career of Shawn Michaels. That void could have separated Shawn Michaels from the group of all time wrestling greats into a class of his own. What Ric Flair refers to as 'The Man'. We're in 1998 and instead of Shawn Micheals being apart of this wrestling rebirth into popular culture he instead is forced into retirement. No hot rematch with Stone Cold for the title. No feud with up and coming superstar The Rock. He couldn't even ride the wave of D-Generation X, the stable he created, just as it was about to pick up momentum. Everything clicked for WWF in 1998. And it clicked without Shawn Michaels.

Imagine if Shawn Michaels kept his pace going after 1997 strong into 1998. His breathtaking performances happening on pay-per-views where people were actually watching. His hilarious interviews while Raw would draw a 5.7 rating instead of a 2.1. Four years Shawn Michaels missed where business was booming. Four years in wrestling is a very long time. No off season, no repeat episodes, four years of showstopping and main eventing was taken away from the fans and from HBK's legacy.

But there is a flip side to that very coin. Shawn Michaels was considered the very best in the ring because he nearly killed himself to put on the match of the night. Casket matches, Ladder matches, Hell in a Cell matches, Shawn Michaels bumped his way to the top of the industry. The main reason Shawn Michaels was the best was the same exact reason he was forced into retirement. He thought he was superman and performed like it. Unfortunately, he burnt out.

So where does Shawn Michaels stand right now?

It's 2007 and he is still stealing the shows in the main event even at the age of 42. He's not #1 in my opinion, but because he can even be considered so...should say plenty about his spot in the record books. If only it wasn't for those missing years...