Why was HBK Heel after SummerSlam 97,

[Professor Chaos]

Bret spits in his face, he takes a swing at Bret who ducks and he hits Taker by accident. I never got why he got booed the next night.

[TheDieselTrain]

If Bret lost he'd never wrestle in the states again. HBK caused Bret to win.

[TheSchattenjager]

Goalies are killed sometimes because their team loses a big game. People took their hatred out on Shawn, and Shawn got pissed, because it was an accident. It was pretty simple, really.

[Professor Chaos]

Apr 17, 2014 4:54:59 GMT -5 TheDieselTrain said:

If Bret lost he'd never wrestle in the states again. HBK caused Bret to win.

If HBK didn't call it down the middle he'd never wrestle in the United States either. He only made the 3 count cause he had to.

[TheSchattenjager]

Apr 17, 2014 5:04:31 GMT -5 Professor Chaos said:

Apr 17, 2014 4:54:59 GMT -5 TheDieselTrain said:

If Bret lost he'd never wrestle in the states again. HBK caused Bret to win.

If HBK didn't call it down the middle he'd never wrestle in the United States either. He only made the 3 count cause he had to.

Exactly. It was a classic heel turn because the fans were morons, and the heel was right. The fans had no right to boo Jericho in 2008, either.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

He wasn't a heel immediately after Summerslam 97, but his reaction to his screwup involved him intentionally beating the crap out of Taker and bloodying him with a chair. THAT made him a heel.

[rnrk supports BLM]

It was counting the pin that made the difference, IMO. If he'd had any integrity, Shawn would've called for the bell after realizing he'd been goaded into KOing Undertaker and declared the match a no contest or the like, even knowing he was going to lose his career over it. HBK screwed up and either him or 'Taker would take the fall for it, and Michaels chose to look out for #1.

[nisidhe]

Apr 17, 2014 5:20:57 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

It was counting the pin that made the difference, IMO. If he'd had any integrity, Shawn would've called for the bell after realizing he'd been goaded into KOing Undertaker and declared the match a no contest or the like, even knowing he was going to lose his career over it. HBK screwed up and either him or 'Taker would take the fall for it, and Michaels chose to look out for #1.

In some respects, it was brilliant heel work on Bret's part: he put Shawn in a position in which he had to choose between his career and his integrity. Shawn's choice, as impetuous as it appeared, made him appear less than the hero the world thought he was. From that point forward, Shawn's downfall as hero was near-inevitable.

[Deleted]

Because it was 1997?


I went back and watched some 1997 last year and keeping track of who was meant to be Face and Heel was ridiculous.

[Woo]

Because he cost the more popular wrestler the championship and helped the least popular guy win it.

1997 was such a superb year in the WWE. Bret, Shawn, Undertaker, Austin, Owen, Pillman, Bulldog, Goldust, Foley, Vader, Sid, Paul Bearer and Kane were such fascinating characters.

[Hit Girl]

1997 was incredible. So much heat from the crowd. That USA vs Canada/UK/The World feud was spectacular.

[Amazing Kitsune]

Because life isn't fair...who ever said it would be?

[Dean-o]

I suppose he could have just DQ'ed Bret after he spat on him, and that would be considered calling it down the middle, as well as prevent Bret from ever wrestling in the USA again.

[gbo86]

Apr 17, 2014 12:53:40 GMT -5 Amazing Kitsune said:

Because life isn't fair...who ever said it would be?

[thegame415]

He was tired of being an arch?

[Bang Bang Bart]

Apr 17, 2014 5:08:00 GMT -5 Oh Cry Me a Screwball said:

He wasn't a heel immediately after Summerslam 97, but his reaction to his screwup involved him intentionally beating the crap out of Taker and bloodying him with a chair. THAT made him a heel.

Not to mention affiliating himself with Hunter Hearst Helmsley and Chyna, who were heels at the time.

[Todd Pettengill]

Apr 17, 2014 12:16:26 GMT -5 @graant said:

Because it was 1997?


I went back and watched some 1997 last year and keeping track of who was meant to be Face and Heel was ridiculous.

Yeah, a lot of people point to 1998 as the year "Attitude" began. But, it really started in '97.

[The Ichi]

Because he was unapologetic the next night and basically goaded Taker over it.

[CM Parish]

Apr 17, 2014 11:35:54 GMT -5 nisidhe said:

Apr 17, 2014 5:20:57 GMT -5 rnrk supports BLM said:

It was counting the pin that made the difference, IMO. If he'd had any integrity, Shawn would've called for the bell after realizing he'd been goaded into KOing Undertaker and declared the match a no contest or the like, even knowing he was going to lose his career over it. HBK screwed up and either him or 'Taker would take the fall for it, and Michaels chose to look out for #1.

In some respects, it was brilliant heel work on Bret's part: he put Shawn in a position in which he had to choose between his career and his integrity.

In one swift move, he made him choose both - first his integrity by making him swing to protect it, and then his career by then realising he had to make the count. Brilliant by Bret.

[Woo]

I was just thinking that you always hear that having "shades of grey" in relation to people being face/heel simply does not work, but 1997 is really the one year where everybody seemed to straddle that line perfectly.