Anyone looking out for Michaels' health?

[valiens]

Everytime HBK makes his way down to the ring and runs around the squared circle I cringe. Watching him arch his back awkwardly, watching him wince and grimace his way through a speech--it's all painful to watch. Everytime he kips up I think he might collapse down.

Is anyone telling him enough is enough? Back problems aren't something you can work through for very long and his are of note. Now with HHH gone he's gotta step it up a notch, but at what price?

He's an amazing all-around talent and I'd hate to see him go, but prayer and pain pills aren't enough. Does ol' HBK wanna spend his retirement in a wheelchair? Maybe after WM23 it's time to hang up the tights.

Anyone disagree?

[acropolis619]

He's got a pretty light schedule. I mean he doesnt go to half of the houseshows and he's taken a couple of sabbaticals for his knee over the past few years.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

valiens said:

Everytime HBK makes his way down to the ring and runs around the squared circle I cringe. Watching him arch his back awkwardly, watching him wince and grimace his way through a speech--it's all painful to watch. Everytime he kips up I think he might collapse down.

Is anyone telling him enough is enough? Back problems aren't something you can work through for very long and his are of note. Now with HHH gone he's gotta step it up a notch, but at what price?

He's an amazing all-around talent and I'd hate to see him go, but prayer and pain pills aren't enough. Does ol' HBK wanna spend his retirement in a wheelchair? Maybe after WM23 it's time to hang up the tights.

Anyone disagree?

Last I remember hearing, his back was doing very well, but his knees are bothering him.

But he signed a multi-year contract for big bucks, as he thinks he can go a few years more.

I don't think he's anywhere close to what Angle was a few months back, but I'd be more careful if I was him.

[acropolis619]

Well angle refused to take time to heal. HBK doesnt seem to have that "problem".

[valiens]

It's weird because Angle never walked around clearly compensating for an injury. HBK looks like he's doing the funky chicken every time he walks. I find it hard to believe he's in better shape than Angle was.

[willywonka666]

From all the talk after he first left, I wasn;t sure if he'd be able to walk very well again, now since he's come back over 4 years ago, i keep forgetting anything was ever wrong with his back

[SparkyPlugg]

He wears heavy knee braces now. Thats the reason for his change of ring attire from WM21 onwards.

[Deleted]

I think that's more up to Michaels to worry about, I'm pretty sure that if we didn't read that Michaels has a knee problem we wouldn't even notice, he's the one dealing with the problem, if he feels comfortable working with it I'm not gonna worry, I assume he knows what he's doing.

[erik316wttn]

tull said:

valiens said:

Everytime HBK makes his way down to the ring and runs around the squared circle I cringe. Watching him arch his back awkwardly, watching him wince and grimace his way through a speech--it's all painful to watch. Everytime he kips up I think he might collapse down.

Is anyone telling him enough is enough? Back problems aren't something you can work through for very long and his are of note. Now with HHH gone he's gotta step it up a notch, but at what price?

He's an amazing all-around talent and I'd hate to see him go, but prayer and pain pills aren't enough. Does ol' HBK wanna spend his retirement in a wheelchair? Maybe after WM23 it's time to hang up the tights.

Anyone disagree?

Last I remember hearing, his back was doing very well, but his knees are bothering him.

But he signed a multi-year contract for big bucks, as he thinks he can go a few years more.

I don't think he's anywhere close to what Angle was a few months back, but I'd be more careful if I was him.

I'd quit doing that kick-up thing he does when he's flat on his back to get on his feet. That can't be good for his knees.

[catwoman]

nichotine said:

I think that's more up to Michaels to worry about, I'm pretty sure that if we didn't read that Michaels has a knee problem we wouldn't even notice, he's the one dealing with the problem, if he feels comfortable working with it I'm not gonna worry, I assume he knows what he's doing.

I agree. Like you, valiens, I watch him take the big bumps through tables/from the top rope/cage, etc and I do cringe, 'cause I remember how badly his back was screwed up but I think if he was in too bad of shape, he wouldn't be kipping up twice and three times a match per week. Sure, he's working a lot, but I think he's been in the biz long enough to know what he's doing by now.

I also remember in the Torch interview with Scott Hall where Hall talked about calling Shawn up and asking him why the heck he continued to take those heavy bumps, to which Michaels responded: "I can't help it; I'm still such a mark for the business. I love it too much."

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

catwoman said:

I also remember in the Torch interview with Scott Hall where Hall talked about calling Shawn up and asking him why the heck he continued to take those heavy bumps, to which Michaels responded: "I can't help it; I'm still such a mark for the business. I love it too much."

That's a fantastic quote.

And, not surprisingly, you can tell he still loves the business.

Nothing says that more than Taboo Tuesday 2004, where he wrestled with a torn meniscus and nearly won the WHC.

[Can you afford to pay me, Gah]

Ok there been nothing said about Michaels back for years. It seem to be not an issue anymore. Yes, HBK is working though knee problems which he as been doing Since last Wrestlemania. How bad I don't know. Then again Victoria has had a heavy brace on her knee since 2002. HBK is in way better shape then Angle. Because one HBK does not have two neck injuries to his credit and did suffer groin muscle problems either. HBK's Back has not been an issue for a long time.

The questions were when he returned which was why he worked a PPV match. Then wasn't sure. Then worked a second PPV match. Then slowly worked himself back in once he knew if his back is ok or not.

Hell Ric Flair spend all these years wrestling since breaking his back early in his career but nobody talks about that.

HBK looks fine out there and the way things been said about him backstage. He seems ok outside the ring too. HBK in the worst way is need it. Because with so many names gone like Angle, HHH, Mysterio, and JBL. These stars they had last year all of them are not there for this year. You look at them and outside of JBL they are known for the workrate and carrying the lesser talent in ringers.

HBK is one of those guys and with them having few of them around right now. They need him for that and his name value.

[catwoman]

tull said:

catwoman said:

I also remember in the Torch interview with Scott Hall where Hall talked about calling Shawn up and asking him why the heck he continued to take those heavy bumps, to which Michaels responded: "I can't help it; I'm still such a mark for the business. I love it too much."

That's a fantastic quote.

And, not surprisingly, you can tell he still loves the business.

Nothing says that more than Taboo Tuesday 2004, where he wrestled with a torn meniscus and nearly won the WHC.

Isn't that great? It's actually a hell of an interview but that quote really struck me. For someone to still be a mark after 20 years in the business (with lots of ups and downs along the way) is both wonderful and admirable. And yes, you definitely can tell that this is where his heart is; you can see it every time he wrestles. He's been quoted as saying that its still all about the performance and giving 150% no matter what he does: "keep them yelling the loudest, the longest".

Hell yeah.

[Doctor Tull-eus S. Venture]

catwoman said:

tull said:

That's a fantastic quote.

And, not surprisingly, you can tell he still loves the business.

Nothing says that more than Taboo Tuesday 2004, where he wrestled with a torn meniscus and nearly won the WHC.

Isn't that great? It's actually a hell of an interview but that quote really struck me. For someone to still be a mark after 20 years in the business (with lots of ups and downs along the way) is both wonderful and admirable. And yes, you definitely can tell that this is where his heart is; you can see it every time he wrestles. He's been quoted as saying that its still all about the performance and giving 150% no matter what he does: "keep them yelling the loudest, the longest".

Hell yeah.

There was also a great interview he did where he was asked why he wasn't booked to win a lot of matches (this was a few years ago), and he said something along the lines of "It's not really about that anymore. It's more about going out there and being able to perform at this level when everyone else said I was done."

And on the back issue, if you watch his matches carefully, there are a lot of spots he avoids. For example, anything remotely directed at his back is usually at his upper back, not the lower lumbar region that he had fused.

He doesn't even "skin the cat" anymore.

And during that Edge/HBK Street Fight last week, I suspected that they would reverse the setup on the turnbuckle so that Edge would hit the ladder, not HBK, so that his back could be protected.

[A Magician Named SHAKE]

As far as HBK getting through the pain with "prayers and pain pills", let me just throw this out there. Shawn Michaels is an addict. He's admitted it himself, and he says that he's kicked the habit. And judging by the way he looked before his supposed retirement, I think that if he was back on the pills we'd be able to tell right away.

[Bobafett]

I wonder if the knee braces are normal ones of big huge ones like Reys, his look like those kind big arm brace things guys like Lance Storm and Eddie have worn at some point in the WWE

as someone who suffers a problem with both my knees, it can make youre back worse if you try and compensate for youre sore knees, not I don't have back problems in particular but I do get sore up my leg and spine so imagine how he must be hurting

the fact is his injurys may not seem as bad as some other wrestlers, but they are not to be underestimated either