Bret Or Shawn?

[Seanny One Ball]

Who did you prefer?

Bret by a fucking mile.

[Seanny One Ball]

If my last few years of reading any and all wrestling history have taught me anything, it's that Bret is the wrestlers pick in terms of skill but as a pure spectacle Shawn had much more to offer.

I don't care, Bret Hart had better matches more regularly.
Shawn Michaels is credited as some sort of genius but he never made anyone look good. That is a myth.

[Bad News Gertner]

Shawn Michaels over Canadian Jeff Jarrett

[Seanny One Ball]

Jeff Jarrett is also better than Shawn Michaels.

[teamXtremist]

Always choose bret

[Curtis]

I'm gonna say we let Scott Steiner decide,

He is after all, a man who has wrestled a lot of countries.

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Tough call here. On one hand we have the king of Mexico North and on the other, Shawn Michaels who should compete for the intergender intercontinental championship and wrestles women.

Tough call, I'm gonna have to go with the big bad booty daddy Scott Steiner.

[Sepholio]

Shawn for me. Always found Bret to be boring.

Jericho is better than both of them though.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Shawn Michaels over Canadian Jeff Jarrett

I know what you're doing, you fuck.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

People who don't appreciate Bret probably prefer Michael Bay-style films over the Godfather.

[Seanny One Ball]

Atta boy

[Seanny One Ball]

Shawn Michaels has no believable matches beyond Bret Hart or his tag career.
Every other match is just watching him Bury everyone, even their finishers.

If you spring up after 5 seconds on an outside powerbomb, it ruins Sid.

[Seanny One Ball]

And he's a piece of shit

[BobbyHeenanJR]

Bret Hart's father was to my father as Bret Hart was to me.

Completely unrelated.

But what a technician!

[McLegend]

I love Bret Hart.

Shawn Michaels is better all around though. Especially when you look at HBK when he came back from his injury. He was able to evolve and grow despite his physical setbacks.

So maybe pre WM 14 you go Bret(maybe). HBK second part of his career separates him from Bret and other wrestlers as well.

[Seanny One Ball]

Why, Shawn Michaels never even had a good match

[Seanny One Ball]

Bitch

[Mr. Nerfect]

I've grown to really love Bret Hart. Maybe that fresher appreciation is what pushes him over for me? Shawn probably had the better spikes, but I just think of Bret being more consistent. Dunno.

[Bad News Gertner]

Bret is the human sleeping pill. He's the Canadian Jeff Jarrett because he's a giant bore who wasn't a draw, had boring matches and was the best of a bad situation like Jeff was in WCW 2000.

Realistically Bret is like a Steve Blackman level of wrestler. Nice opening match guy, good hand in the ring who warms the crowd up for the actual talent.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Sir.

[slik]

HBK is a better wrestler and better on the mic.

[xrodmuc316]

I get the debate on in ring ability. But Shawn on the mic by a lot, no comparison there.

Shawn gets the win because of that easily in my book.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

he wasn't really that great on the mic.

[teamXtremist]

Bret was great as a heel and far superior in ring worker. Shawn has more personality and better seller

[Sepholio]

Bret is the human sleeping pill. He's the Canadian Jeff Jarrett because he's a giant bore who wasn't a draw, had boring matches and was the best of a bad situation like Jeff was in WCW 2000.

Realistically Bret is like a Steve Blackman level of wrestler. Nice opening match guy, good hand in the ring who warms the crowd up for the actual talent.

Quoted for the truth.

[teamXtremist]

On the mic, hbk is just entertaining, not the best, but always fun to watch. Is he the GOAT in general? probably not, but he is, no doubt, the most entertaining wrestling figure in a while

[Bad News Gertner]

Quoted for the truth.

See Dale, I'm only saying what's painfully obvious.

[Emperor Smeat]

HBK and mainly because that 2nd run he had catapulted him from being very good to all-time great status.

Take away that 2nd run and I'd lean a lot more towards Bret between the two.

[Seanny One Ball]

Shawn Michaels is a druggo

[Lock Jaw]

I'm beginning to doubt Gertner is Canadian.

[Droford]

HBK

[teamXtremist]

True story

Me and my hs friend went to church a few times with hbk down in san antone. Hes a really cool guy but pushes the bible stuff pretty hard

[GD]

God is in his tag team partner, brother brother.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Bret was great as a heel and far superior in ring worker. Shawn has more personality and better seller

Bret was one of the best sellers of all time - way better than Shawn in that regard. That is the one thing everybody talks about when bringing up Bret's work.

[James Steele]

Shawn Michaels and it isn’t even close. HBK’s run from 2002-2010 alone is better than all of Bret’s career.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

the words of someone with poor taste.

[XL]

I was a HUUUUUGE Bret mark as a kid, and missed the ascension of HBK to main eventer as I stopped watching/following in ‘95, but objectively Michaels is better/has had the better career.

If his career ended in ‘98 it could be a different story, but that second run gets him over the line.

[drave]

Bret screwed Bret

[Bad News Gertner]

Remember that time Bret beat Shawn at Wreatlemania?

Oh wait he didn't.

HBK>Bret

[drave]

Honestly one of my most memorable Bret Hart feuds was with Jerry Lawler. Lawler was too god damn funny through it all and honestly made the feud worthwhile.


Lawler > Hart

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I mean you can argue Lawler is better than both Michaels and Hart.

[Jordan]

As an adult I pick Bret. I cannot lie though, HBK was essentially my heartbeat in wrestling until he retired. That was the first time I felt like I could quit wrestling. But... I didn't :)

Looking back, there is nobody who's library of matches I prefer to watch than Bret Hart. From Stampede to Montreal I love it all. My favorite foes of The Hitman include.... Diesel and Owen. I feel that Bret and HBK while they were a natural rivalry, never really hit the peak of match quality that we would've expected. Looking back is possilbe that Montreal is actuall their best match together.

Also on the point....

I don't think there is a wrestler with a better library of matches than HBK. From his tag wars in AWA to opening the card in WWF with fun and high flyin, to the heel turn and subsequent heel run that lead him to the top... HBK's career came into untouchable status when he returned from "injury" after 4 years and absolutley topped everything he did before. Angle, Jericho (multiples), HHH, McMahon, Orton, Benoit, Taker... So many amazing PPV matches after the back injury.


Biggest regret for HBK... no match with The Rock.
Biggest regret for Hitman ... no match with Kurt Angle

[Jordan]

I mean you can argue Lawler is better than both Michaels and Hart.

You can argue and you'd have a point sure Lawler is a legend. But match by match there is no comparrison.

[drave]

I mean you can argue Lawler is better than both Michaels and Hart.




One of those has already been proven false.

[Bad News Gertner]

Lol "Canadian Jeff Jarrett"

[thekrow]

Realistically Bret is like a Steve Blackman level of wrestler. Nice opening match guy, good hand in the ring who warms the crowd up for the actual talent.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFOQbIN7Jmw/U1mZAX8QySI/AAAAAAAAADo/rBujcO2oS9k/s640/blogger-image-222326041.jpg

I would say this reminds me of former CHW star The Devastator. Like you said, Devastator was a great opening match talent to fire up the crowd but would put them to sleep with a long match. Devastator's CHW Pro match was one of the longest in his time in CHW and definetely riled up the live crowd but if Devastator was in the main event, it would've put them to sleep. Like you said about Steve Blackman, Devastator also depended alot on Kendo sticks as you can see in his match




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Also another fun fact is that Bret became popular due to being in a great tag team with his brother Owen. Similarly, Devastator got over during his time as one half of team FUCK THE WORLD along with Innovator.
And like Bret Hart, Devastator broke up with the promotion after uprofessional conduct.

[Seanny One Ball]

Hahahaha

[McLegend]

Greatest wrestling forum post of all time?

[teamXtremist]

Bret was one of the best sellers of all time - way better than Shawn in that regard. That is the one thing everybody talks about when bringing up Bret's work.


No doubt bret was practically flawless but hbk could def bump his ass off

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Shawn was definitely a better bumper than Bret. Not even close.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Were Bret or Shawn really draws? I've always understood it that from Bret to Diesel to Shawn were the worst drawing periods in company history and that Austin was the first big babyface title run since Hogan that made them money.

That being said, I've always been mark for Bret. I started watching wrestling as he was making his run towards Mania 10. Michaels is the better athlete and talker but I'll always prefer Bret.

[Lock Jaw]

Shawn was definitely a better bumper than Bret. Not even close.

https://i.imgur.com/aMVjcNZ.gif

https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lu7tkoINdZ1r5y36co1_400.gif

https://media.tenor.com/images/b1c8b5e0bb6b505fcfb6b9e35a5c9f27/tenor.gif

[Bad News Gertner]

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-mFOQbIN7Jmw/U1mZAX8QySI/AAAAAAAAADo/rBujcO2oS9k/s640/blogger-image-222326041.jpg

I would say this reminds me of former CHW star The Devastator. Like you said, Devastator was a great opening match talent to fire up the crowd but would put them to sleep with a long match. Devastator's CHW Pro match was one of the longest in his time in CHW and definetely riled up the live crowd but if Devastator was in the main event, it would've put them to sleep. Like you said about Steve Blackman, Devastator also depended alot on Kendo sticks as you can see in his match




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Also another fun fact is that Bret became popular due to being in a great tag team with his brother Owen. Similarly, Devastator got over during his time as one half of team FUCK THE WORLD along with Innovator.
And like Bret Hart, Devastator broke up with the promotion after uprofessional conduct.

That is about as solid a comparison as any. Bret Hart is definitely a poor man's Devastator

[Black Widow]

I had a crush on both as a kid.

Since I'm not a super nerd though and don't care about backstage stuff that doesn't effect my opinion on either.


Would choose Shawn over Bret.

[rez]

Always disliked Shawn

[ozzman6669]

If it's only by the first run I would put Shawn and Bret at the same level, but with the second run Shawn is first and it's not even close !!

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Bret really the victim of awful luck. Had he not gotten hurt and have his health fall off a cliff he likely getsan in ring return and some kind of run. And we may have gotten the HBK v Hart rematch. Pity, really.

[Seanny One Ball]

Were Bret or Shawn really draws? I've always understood it that from Bret to Diesel to Shawn were the worst drawing periods in company history and that Austin was the first big babyface title run since Hogan that made them money.


Diesel was the lowest drawing but Bret and Shawn weren't far behind.
I think a lot of that has to do with the product stagnating on the whole. Who wants to watch Diesel if you have to sit through The Godwinns, Mantaur and Sal Sincere first?

[teamXtremist]

Bret really the victim of awful luck. Had he not gotten hurt and have his health fall off a cliff he likely getsan in ring return and some kind of run. And we may have gotten the HBK v Hart rematch. Pity, really.


If bret never left wwe he would of been the goat. Wcw killed him,tbh

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Only to get to watch Diesel wrestle fucking Mabel in the main event

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

Bret's back-breaker, 2nd rope pinpoint elbow, and sternum turnbuckle bump are better than anything HBK ever did.

[Bad News Gertner]

It's the only moves Bret had

[teamXtremist]

It's the only moves Bret had
Bsck drop suplex?
Atomic Drop?
Plancha?
Elbow drop?
Sharshooter?
Suplex?
Bodyslam? Etcetc

[Seanny One Ball]

Shawn Michaels didn't have a particularly great move set either.
Bret at least presented his moves as a precisely developed routine for getting the Sharpshooter on. Shawn Michaels stamps in the corner for a while then lands a kick that Yokozuna did ten times better.

What's so great about that?!

[Seanny One Ball]

He never even lost a hair match so they could call him Shorn Michaels ffs, the guy gave nothing back

[Bad News Gertner]

I fell asleep for about 45 minutes just typing about Bret Hart. Oh no. I typed Bret Hart again! Good night everyone.

[#1-norm-fan]

HBK was a way better overall performer than Bret. And I’m not even a Bret hater. Michaels was out of this fucking world good.

[Ol Dirty Dastard]

I can't actually begrudge people for choosing Shawn over Bret. In his prime, he was such a stud. But comparing them in some ways is like comparing apples and oranges. Two completely different styles and approaches.

Currently, I enjoy Bret's matches way more for rewatching. His offense is so much crisper and his attention to detail with selling, for instance, is on another level. Shawn undoubtedly had a more explosive style - and I'm not going to sleep on his attention to detail or his selling - but it definitely was nowhere close to as believable as the Hitman. I'd say Bret also brought more intensity.

Where Bret can't touch him is with athleticism and flashiness. On that front, Shawn could do things Bret couldn't even dream of. But when it comes to the basics, Hart could get more out of a punch or leg drop than Shawn could get out of some of his more hard-hitting offense.

Part of that is because HBK focused more on eye-catching bumps than he did on bone-crunching offense. He was good with the "catch as catch can" stuff as he grew in his 2nd run, but it was nowhere near as believable as Bret.

[Jordan]

Were Bret or Shawn really draws? I've always understood it that from Bret to Diesel to Shawn were the worst drawing periods in company history and that Austin was the first big babyface title run since Hogan that made them money.

That being said, I've always been mark for Bret. I started watching wrestling as he was making his run towards Mania 10. Michaels is the better athlete and talker but I'll always prefer Bret.

Bret was certainly a draw. Perhaps more for attendance than PPV, I'm not sure. I think the opposite for HBK, likely better daw for PPV than live gates.

I could be totally wrong that's just what I think based on what I know.

[Jordan]

I can't actually begrudge people for choosing Shawn over Bret. In his prime, he was such a stud. But comparing them in some ways is like comparing apples and oranges. Two completely different styles and approaches.

Currently, I enjoy Bret's matches way more for rewatching. His offense is so much crisper and his attention to detail with selling, for instance, is on another level. Shawn undoubtedly had a more explosive style - and I'm not going to sleep on his attention to detail or his selling - but it definitely was nowhere close to as believable as the Hitman. I'd say Bret also brought more intensity.

Where Bret can't touch him is with athleticism and flashiness. On that front, Shawn could do things Bret couldn't even dream of. But when it comes to the basics, Hart could get more out of a punch or leg drop than Shawn could get out of some of his more hard-hitting offense.

Part of that is because HBK focused more on eye-catching bumps than he did on bone-crunching offense. He was good with the "catch as catch can" stuff as he grew in his 2nd run, but it was nowhere near as believable as Bret.

All correct. Another issue is that HBK phoned in a lot of matches. Bret treated every match in WWF like it was real, and important.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

Looking up ppv HBK nor Bret drew that well but HBK had better house show numbers, which used to be the company's bread and butter.

Neither were ideal draws, tho. They get the dubious honor of being top guys at the company's lowest point. Specifically, Michaels was getting his shit kicked in while WCW was hammering them in ratings.

[Jordan]

Shawn Michaels didn't have a particularly great move set either.
Bret at least presented his moves as a precisely developed routine for getting the Sharpshooter on. Shawn Michaels stamps in the corner for a while then lands a kick that Yokozuna did ten times better.

What's so great about that?!

Bret's offensive moves were all excellently executed and looked painful.

Shawn had no moves other than the super kick, elbow and dives. Sometimes he'd trade holds or hit a suplex but that's pretty much it. Shawn was great because of his charachter and acting or selling abilities.

However we shouldn't knock Bret, when he was taking a beating it was also a work of art. How else did he get 4 excellent matches out of Big Daddy Cool, and make matches with Kamala, Zombie Taker and other galutes of the time, work.

I'll take Bret's buckle bump over Shawn's Flair rip anyday.

[Jordan]

Looking up ppv HBK nor Bret drew that well but HBK had better house show numbers, which used to be the company's bread and butter.

Neither were ideal draws, tho. They get the dubious honor of being top guys at the company's lowest point. Specifically, Michaels was getting his shit kicked in while WCW was hammering them in ratings.

:y::y:

It's tough to hear that. Both of them were THE GUYS for me when I was a kid. So they were both draws for me 100%.

[Damian Rey 2.0]

:y::y:

It's tough to hear that. Both of them were THE GUYS for me when I was a kid. So they were both draws for me 100%.

Bret was my first fave rassler. It sucked realizing he was a top guy in maybe the company's worst run lol

[Jordan]

Bret was my first fave rassler. It sucked realizing he was a top guy in maybe the company's worst run lol

But tops pops man. Nobody got those kids to pop like Bret did.