Shawn Michaels in 1996

[Perfect Timing]

Was this the best HBK?

Sure he had better opponents when he came back years later. This run though his matches had a lot of variety, he always put on a great match. It seems everyone thought he sucked as a face but to me as a kid I always liked him, and him turning face might of had it's cheesy moments but he was a true main eventer in front of decent midcard in 1996.

[Bub (BLM)]

Far from the best. 1996 was Shawn's "Big Dog" phase.

[Bang Bang Bart]

96 was probably the worst for Shawn being a backstage ego.

[Cry Me a Wiggle]

Somewhere in Connecticut, Vince McMahon looks longily at his bear skin rug, a hunger he hasn’t felt for years achingly reawakened.

[Deleted]

As an 8-9 year old kid I loved this version of HBK. This is when I really got into wrestling. He was the good guy, did awesome stuff that kids loved, kids wanted to be as cool as him, girls loved him, dude was badass flying around and everything. As a kid watching it and seeing him face guys like Mankind, Vader, Goldust, man you really wondered how HBK would get outta this. I'd say it's different from Roman these days though and that's mostly because the crowd was behind HBK. I don't know how it would be if the crowd booed him as much as they boo Roman. It would be crazy.

[segaz]

Sept 1, 2018 0:14:17 GMT -5 @kn said:

As an 8-9 year old kid I loved this version of HBK. This is when I really got into wrestling. He was the good guy, did awesome stuff that kids loved, kids wanted to be as cool as him, girls loved him, dude was badass flying around and everything. As a kid watching it and seeing him face guys like Mankind, Vader, Goldust, man you really wondered how HBK would get outta this. I'd say it's different from Roman these days though and that's mostly because the crowd was behind HBK. I don't know how it would be if the crowd booed him as much as they boo Roman. It would be crazy.

HBK was 80s Hogan to you?

[Pushed to the Moon]

I was obsessed with 96 HBK. I still probably am haha. He'll always be my favourite. I don't care about his backstage attitude or the shitty ratings or whatever. The Rockers got me into wrestling casually just renting videos of PPVs and 96 HBK got me into it as a "hardcore" fan who wanted to absorb everything and watch the weekly shows just to see what he was doing. People make fun of him being a stripper or girly or whatever but to me at the time I didn't even think about that and he was the coolest, toughest guy ever.

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2018 4:28:17 GMT -5 segaz said:

Sept 1, 2018 0:14:17 GMT -5 @kn said:

As an 8-9 year old kid I loved this version of HBK. This is when I really got into wrestling. He was the good guy, did awesome stuff that kids loved, kids wanted to be as cool as him, girls loved him, dude was badass flying around and everything. As a kid watching it and seeing him face guys like Mankind, Vader, Goldust, man you really wondered how HBK would get outta this. I'd say it's different from Roman these days though and that's mostly because the crowd was behind HBK. I don't know how it would be if the crowd booed him as much as they boo Roman. It would be crazy.

HBK was 80s Hogan to you?

Wasn't watching with Hogan but if he did the same then yeah.

[Deleted]

Aug 31, 2018 23:50:02 GMT -5 Bub (BLM) said:

Far from the best. 1996 was Shawn's "Big Dog" phase.

I was 4/5 at the time and absolutely loved Shawn, but looking back on it i can understand the hate. He was like Roman Reigns but with Seth Rollins' work rate, which on paper sounds great but his babyface shtick was completely insincere and it shows now when I go back and watch it. Plus, the lengths Sid had to go to beat him at Survivor Series 1996 is just ridiculous. lol

It's really interesting to think about how 1996 HBK would be received by 2018 FAN. Because while he more than delivered in the ring and on the mic, I could also see the board being really turned off by the character. There'd be a lot of "HBK needs a heel turn" threads I imagine.

[Baldobomb-22-OH-MAN!!!]

nah, Shawn Michaels pre-comeback was a locker room cancer and even then only looked good when he was feuding with guys who he couldn't just bury (Bret, Steve and Taker). and even then he probably would've buried them too if he could have.

[starscream76]

The main thing I remember about HBK from this period is that he lost his smile and they had that super cheesy video for him...lol  that was bad. That and I remember Vince having an orgasm on commentary during his matches. My God...I thought Corey Graves was bad during the Miz's matches but he's got nothing on Vince back in the 90's. I'm surprised he never called Cena's matches or Reigns matches now...he'd probably have death by orgasm

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2018 8:57:51 GMT -5 starscream76 said:

The main thing I remember about HBK from this period is that he lost his smile and they had that super cheesy video for him...lol  that was bad. That and I remember Vince having an orgasm on commentary during his matches. My God...I thought Corey Graves was bad during the Miz's matches but he's got nothing on Vince back in the 90's. I'm surprised he never called Cena's matches or Reigns matches now...he'd probably have death by orgasm

[Yacht Persona]

As far as in-ring ability, few could compare to Shawn at that time.

What do you think, Vader?(RIP)

[Toilet Paper Roll]

He might have been better in the 2000s than 90s

[Z-A Sandbaggin' Son of a b!%@h]

HBK was having the best matches of that era in 1996. Mankind. Vader. Bret. He was a douche backstage. But man he was the best in the ring back then.

[Citizen Snips Has Left]

Sept 1, 2018 7:07:29 GMT -5 @kn said:

Sept 1, 2018 4:28:17 GMT -5 segaz said:

HBK was 80s Hogan to you?

Wasn't watching with Hogan but if he did the same then yet.

Ring-style aside, it pretty much was. Whether it was an unbeatable foe like Andre, the pain of having his best friend go insane and turn on him in the Macho Man, or resisting the temptation of Ted DiBiase's dirty money, you were always concerned that THIS time, the Hulkster couldn't pull it out.

It's also interesting to note that while they had totally different styles, HBK and Hogan both were able to pull this off by selling their asses off in the ring. HBK would bump all over the place and Hogan would just sell simple offense like it was killing him (For you youngsters influenced by the Observer/Wrestlecrap's propaganda, WWF Hogan was a FAR cry from WCW Hogan. He sold Dino Bravo the same way he did Andre). Even though they'd always dig deep, pull off the huge adrenaline fueled/no-selling comeback and retain, they really made you buy into the fact that the title was in jeopardy no matter who they were facing.

[hassanchop]

He was great in the Rumble 96. I kinda marked when he got Vader and Yokozuna out:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Gxpvf1CmtM

On a side unrelated note, I thought Mr. Perfect was great on commentary

[Clutchhausen]

Sept 1, 2018 4:29:55 GMT -5 Pushed to the Moon said:

I was obsessed with 96 HBK. I still probably am haha. He'll always be my favourite. I don't care about his backstage attitude or the shitty ratings or whatever. The Rockers got me into wrestling casually just renting videos of PPVs and 96 HBK got me into it as a "hardcore" fan who wanted to absorb everything and watch the weekly shows just to see what he was doing. People make fun of him being a stripper or girly or whatever but to me at the time I didn't even think about that and he was the coolest, toughest guy ever.

This. I never gave a shit about the backstage stuff. It never affected me so why should I give a damn.

[grungesmurf]

Zzzz

[Deleted]

Sept 1, 2018 9:55:54 GMT -5 Citizen Snips Has Left said:

Sept 1, 2018 7:07:29 GMT -5 @kn said:

Wasn't watching with Hogan but if he did the same then yet.

Ring-style aside, it pretty much was. Whether it was an unbeatable foe like Andre, the pain of having his best friend go insane and turn on him in the Macho Man, or resisting the temptation of Ted DiBiase's dirty money, you were always concerned that THIS time, the Hulkster couldn't pull it out.

It's also interesting to note that while they had totally different styles, HBK and Hogan both were able to pull this off by selling their asses off in the ring. HBK would bump all over the place and Hogan would just sell simple offense like it was killing him (For you youngsters influenced by the Observer/Wrestlecrap's propaganda, WWF Hogan was a FAR cry from WCW Hogan. He sold Dino Bravo the same way he did Andre). Even though they'd always dig deep, pull off the huge adrenaline fueled/no-selling comeback and retain, they really made you buy into the fact that the title was in jeopardy no matter who they were facing.

That's pretty interesting. I started watching around the time where Bret was champ so I only saw the Hogan stuff on Superstars. When Shawn got the title that's really when I went full in. Me and my brother made fake titles out of newspaper and everything lol.