Better Wrestler #99 *Hall of Fame Round*

[Supreme Olajuwon]

http://i180.photobucket.com/albums/x310/The_Ultimate_Wrestling_Gallery/Shawn%20Michaels/ShawnMichaels034.jpg
"The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels


VS


http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n56/Brandon_Finegold/wrestling/rock.jpg
The Rock



3 days.

<select><option selected="selected">Better Wrestler History</option><option>#1.RVD vs CM Punk (34-19)</option><option>#2.RVD vs Santino Marella (36-4)</option><option>#3.RVD vs "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig (15-23)</option><option>#4."Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs Tully Blanchard (30-5)</option><option>#5."Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs Chris Jericho (15-23)</option><option>#6.Chris Jericho vs Brock Lesnar (34-10)</option><option>#7.Chris Jericho vs William Regal (38-14)</option><option>#8.Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero (21-23)</option><option>#9.Eddie Guerrero vs Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat (26-7)</option><option>#10.Eddie Geurrero vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage (26-19)</option><option>#11.Eddie Guerrero vs Diamond Dallas Page (39-8)</option><option>#12.Eddie Guerrero vs "Stone Cold" Steve Austin(19-28)</option><option>#13."Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Chris Benoit (32-13)</option><option>#14."Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts (29-10)</option><option>#15."Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Sting (36-16)</option><option>#16."Stone Cold" Steve Austin vs Bret "The Hitman" Hart (32-31)</option><option>#17.Hulk Hogan vs John Cena (15-24)</option><option>#18.John Cena vs Lex Luger (32-6)</option><option>#19.John Cena vs Ultimate Warrior (29-18)</option><option>#20.John Cena vs Dean Malenko (9-40)</option><option>#21.Dean Malenko vs Billy Kidman (31-7)</option><option>#22.Dean Malenko vs Ultimo Dragon (22-15)</option><option>#23.Dean Malenko vs Taz (15-17)</option><option>#24.Taz vs Sabu (38-2)</option><option>#25.Taz vs Jeff Hardy (25-16)</option><option>#26.Taz vs Bam Bam Bigelow (26-12)</option><option>#27.Taz vs Triple H (24-22)</option><option>#28.Edge vs Christian Cage (22-23)</option><option>#29.Christian Cage vs Raven (23-22)</option><option>#30.Christian vs Matt Hardy (22-19)</option><option>#31.Christian vs Ted Dibiase (24-25)</option><option>#32.Ted Dibiase vs "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (16-19)</option><option>#33."Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith (25-19)</option><option>#34."Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs Bob Backlund (26-6)</option><option>#35."Rowdy" Roddy Piper vs The Dynamite Kid (26-13)</option><option>#36."Rowdy Roddy Piper vs Ric Flair (16-19)</option><option>#37.Ric Flair vs Bret "The Hitman" Hart (19-17)</option><option>#38.Ric Flair vs Andre "The Giant" (28-5)</option><option>#39.Ric Flair vs Triple H (26-11)</option><option>#40.Ric Flair vs Shawn Michaels (20-26)</option><option>#41.Shawn Michaels vs Jushin "Thunder" Lyger (26-15)</option><option>#42.Shawn Michaels vs Perry Saturn (36-12)</option><option>#43.Shawn Michaels vs The Undertaker (29-11)</option><option>#44.Shawn Michaels vs The Rock (28-30)</option><option>#45.The Rock vs Trish Stratus (21-16)</option><option>#46.The Rock vs Lance Storm (22-19)</option><option>#47.The Rock vs Owen Hart (18-12)</option><option>#48.The Rock vs Kurt Angle (5-24)</option><option>#49.Kurt Angle vs Ken Shamrock (36-5)</option><option>#50.Kurt Angle vs Rob Van Dam (23-13)</option><option>#51.Kurt Angle vs "King Kong" Bruiser Brody (20-10)</option><option>#52.Kurt Angle vs Mick Foley (31-6)</option><option>#53.John Morrison vs Braden Walker (36-11)</option><option>#54.John Morrison vs Kofi Kingston (34-5)</option><option>#55.John Morrison vs CM Punk (14-28)</option><option>#56.CM Punk vs Tajiri (28-20)</option><option>#57.CM Punk vs Booker T (24-23)</option><option>#58.CM Punk vs Samoa Joe (53-4)</option><option>#59.CM Punk vs "Macho Man" Randy Savage (19-36)</option><option>#60."Macho Man" Randy Savage vs "Adorable" Adrian Adonis (47-2)</option><option>#61."Macho Man" Randy Savage vs Goldberg (49-4)</option><option>#62."Macho Man" Randy Savage vs "Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig (31-38)</option><option>#63."Mr.Perfect" Curt Hennig vs "Diamond" Dallas Page (51-17)</option><option>#64."Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs William Regal (37-18)</option><option>#65."Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs Brock Lesnar (48-4)</option><option>#66."Mr. Perfect" Curt Hennig vs Eddie Guerrero (39-40)</option><option>#67. Eddie Guerrero vs Arn Anderson (33-22)</option><option>#68. Eddie Guerrero vs Jake "The Snake" Roberts (37-36)</option><option>#69. Eddie Guerrero vs Sting (41-16)</option><option>#70. Chris Jericho vs Eddie Guerrero (45-18)</option><option>#71. Chris Jericho vs Rey Mysterio (63-3)</option><option>#72. Chris Jericho vs Kevin Nash (54-12)</option><option>#73. Chris Jericho vs Dean Malenko (39-9)</option><option>#74. Chris Jericho vs Ricky Steamboat (41-30)</option><option>#75. Masato Tanaka vs Mike Awesome (24-18)</option><option>#76. Masato Tanaka vs X-Pac (34-16)</option><option>#77. Masato Tanaka vs Rikishi (36-13)</option><option>#78. Brian Pillman vs Masato Tanaka (31-13)</option><option>#79. Brian Pillman vs Road Dogg (44-7)</option><option>#80. Ultimo Dragon vs Brian Pillman (29-28)</option><option>#81. Ultimo Dragon vs Goldust (35-19)</option><option>#82. Ultimo Dragon vs Barry Windham (36-9)</option><option>#83. Ultimo Dragon vs Randy Orton (35-34)</option><option>#84. Edge vs Ultimo Dragon (48-8)</option><option>#85. Edge vs Jeff Hardy (54-5)</option><option>#86. Edge vs Razor Ramon</option><option>#87. Ted Dibiase vs Edge (39-33)</option><option>#88. Ted Dibiase vs Doink the Clown (59-4)</option><option>#89. Ted Dibiase vs Rick Rude (34-20)</option><option>#90. Ted Dibiase vs. Christian (39-32)</option><option>#91. Ted Dibiase vs. Bret Hart (24-55)</option><option>#92. Bret Hart vs. Scott Steiner (56-8)</option><option>#93. Bret Hart vs. Christopher Daniels (47-15)</option><option>#94. Bret Hart vs. Triple H (40-22)</option><option>#95. Bret Hart vs. Shawn Michaels (26-47)</option><option>#96. Shawn Michaels vs. Marty Jannetty (54-7)</option><option>#97. Shawn Michaels vs. Bryan Danielson (36-12)</option><option>#98. Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Benoit (38-33)</option></select>

<select><option selected="selected">Better Wrestler Hall of Fame</option><option>"Stone Cold" Steve Austin</option><option>Taz</option><option>Kurt Angle</option><option>Chris Jericho</option></select>

[Supreme Olajuwon]

dusting off an old chestnut

[Arashi Kage]

First vote, cool.

As much as I want to vote for the Rock out of spite because Bret didn't win the HoF round against HBM, I gotta go with Hickenbottom here.

Michaels is all around better than the Rock:

- Rock is good on the mic, but his style gets old, Michaels is always entertaining on the mic throughout all his time post-rockers.

- For myself personally, HBK is more memorable in my mind, more memorable matches.

- Overall, more entertaining in and out of ring than the Rock

[Arashi Kage]

I'll rest my case for HBK on this video, Michaels is so awesome here:

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[KYR]

Oh come on now Supreme!!!!

:mad:

[Xero]

Shawn is going in. Obviously.

[Savio]

Rock > HBK

[DarKCentaur]

The Rock. HBK may be the better wrestler, but Rock is second only to Hogan in terms of absolutely captivating an audience, whether he be a heel or face.

[Juan]

Hmmm. If HBK is better than Bret Hart due to longevity, then surely HBK is better than the Rock.

[El Fangel]

Reps for Rock votes :shifty:

[Ruien]

Rock vote. He is a childhood hero easily.

[CWK]

The Rock, easily.

[mike adamle]

The Rock. HBK may be the BETTER WRESTLER, but Rock is second only to Hogan in terms of absolutely captivating an audience, whether he be a heel or face.

What's the name of this poll?

[Jannettyzilla]

The Rock. HBK may be the better wrestler, but Rock is second only to Hogan in terms of absolutely captivating an audience, whether he be a heel or face.

This. Except for the better wrestler part on Michaels.

[CWK]

Come on Rock, win this shit

[Emperor Smeat]

The Rock. Him vs Stone Cold during the Intercontinental Title phase is one of my favorite feuds of all time. Not to mention he has a show named after one of his catch-phrases.

Apparently this matchup occurred before around Round 43/44.

[Nark Order]

Ok, replace the HBK picture. THIS ISN'T FAIR

-edit- Seriously broken link on HBK pic. I'm spazzing the fuck oout. Gonna kill somebody. Fucking epic picture of The Rock and broken HBK link. AHHHHHH!! MODS!! WTF!!!

[Nark Order]

Alright, so if the Rock gets voted it's just going to go another 3 rounds and he'll get voted off by some IWC fav here so let's do the logical thing and get HBK into the Hall of Fame because he belongs there. LET'S NOT REPEAT HISTORY.

[Ermaximus]

What's the name of this poll?

Well said. That being said, I couldn't decide on this legit, so I flipped for it and The Rock won. :-\ Why must you do this to us Supreme!?!

[The Jayman]

The Rock, easily.

[redoneja]

HBK, as I never really got into The Rock. Kinda weird since I voted against HBK last round but Beniot was one of my all time favorites

[4 knuckles up]

The Rock. Solid "A" in the ring. The best on the mic "A+".
verses: Shawn "A+" in the ring and "B" on the mic.

[Rammsteinmad]

Shawn Michaels.

[CSL]

The Rock. Solid "A" in the ring. The best on the mic "A+".
verses: Shawn "A+" in the ring and "B" on the mic.

The differential between the mic skills of Rock and HBK in the favour of The Rock is about the same as the differention of in-ring ability in favour of HBK. Both are pretty much the best ever in the respective fields

[Loose Cannon]

Rock. I did it for the Bret

[Ermaximus]

So this'll come down to a single vote I am sure.

[The Gold Standard]

I have a feeling this will turn out the same way it did last time.

[The Mackem]

The Rock for me, he rose to the top during the hottest period.

[Inadequacy]

I like the idea of HBK being stuck in a perpetual loop of losing to the Rock in these things.

[Tazz Dan]

HBK.

The Rock may be the great one, but he's not the showstopper, the main event, or Mr. Wrestlemania.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

That picture of The Rock is about as badass as you can get. Good job whoever chose it.

[The Mackem]

Thanks Supreme, I try my best.

[Theo Dious]

I can't beleive my vote tied this, :nono:

[XCaliber]

I'd have to say that both of these guys were the complete package as far as wrestlers go but no one can cut a promo better than The Rock.

[Juan]

TPWW Wrestling forum showing it's age again.

[thedamndest]

Has the Rock gotten better in his absence?

[Nicky Fives]

just broke the tie.... now 28-27 HBK.... The Rock is great..... probably the best ever on the mic and if he continued to wrestle instead of going to Hollywood, he wouls have had a very decent shot of being better than Shawn. But he didn't. That's why HBK is better. Welcome to The H.O.F. (I, hope)

[What Would Kevin Do?]

Shawn, without a doubt. Yes, the Rock was better on the mic, but he could never touch HBK in the ring. Plus, HBK has been around a hell of a lot longer than Rocky, and has been consistently better.

[Nark Order]

TPWW Wrestling forum showing it's age again.

lol

[CSL]

Shawn, without a doubt. Yes, the Rock was better on the mic, but he could never touch HBK in the ring. Plus, HBK has been around a hell of a lot longer than Rocky, and has been consistently better.

ftr

[Lock Jaw]

Shawn, without a doubt. Yes, the Rock was better on the mic, but he could never touch HBK in the ring. Plus, HBK has been around a hell of a lot longer than Rocky, and has been consistently better.

Quoted once again.

[El Fangel]

I have 31 people to neg and 28 to rep, only so many reps per day though.

[Tb1]

That picture of The Rock is about as badass as you can get. Good job whoever chose it.

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/bodaciousbob2755/?action=view&current=rock2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/bodaciousbob2755/rock2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Testicle]

The Rock. He was much more over as a face and a heel during the hottest time in the history of pro wrestling.

Quite possibly the greatest heel of all time, in 1997 he had fans chanting for his death and by 1998 he had them chanting his name.

His heel work in 2003 was out of this world.

He was more popular (face and heel), sold more tickets, and IMO a better worker than the heart break kid.

[Testicle]

Honestly the WWF was at its peak when he was on top, it was near its bottom when HBK was on top.

[Testicle]

Plus he has the greatest entrance themes ever.

[Heros Welcome]

Come on TPDUB! I can't sit here and possible watch HBK lose again to The Rock! And yes I know The Rock was no slouch in the ring, and he handled a mic pretty damn good as well. One of the many greats I could say I witnessed his entire career. But HBK IS the greatest ever! (IMO of course)

HBK gets the check mark without even thinking twice.

[Jannettyzilla]

Honestly the WWF was at its peak when he was on top, it was near its bottom when HBK was on top.
Was thinking this too. :y:

[CSL]

Was thinking this too. :y:

That has a lot more to do with the state of the business at the time than the two wrestlers being discussed

[Nark Order]

Honestly the WWF was at its peak when he was on top, it was near its bottom when HBK was on top.

I'm sure it being at its peak had nothing to do with a guy by the name of Stone Cold Steve Austin?

Also, comparing the two time periods is a little unfair. The business was at a low when Michaels was on top for many other reasons. And if you really want to get technical here, who helped usher in the ever-popular Attitude era? Shawn Michaels.

[Nicky Fives]

Honestly the WWF was at its peak when he was on top, it was near its bottom when HBK was on top.

The Rock also had a little known man named "Stone" Cold Steve Austin to help him to get WWE to its peak.

[Jannettyzilla]

The Austin being there argument doesn't work for me. Fact is Michaels was big fish in a small pond, and Rock was one of the two biggest fish in the ocean.

And, were Michaels as good as people think, the business would have been better. Rock became a crossover star that most of the world knew about. Michaels remains a hero to a small crowd.

None of this really matters if you're just sticking to the wrestling part, but I'd say that any comparison of their star power is totally ridiculous.

[thedamndest]

How relevant is star power to a Better Wrestler competition? Are you factoring in the Scorpion King when you weigh it against HBK's Iron Man match?

[Nark Order]

Saying that he was a big fish in a small pond is a bit of an exaggeration. I suppose that claim could be made for a short time after WCW raped a bunch of talent away but even then you had The Undertaker, Bret Hart, Owen Hart, British Bulldog, Sid, Vader, Mankind, Ahmed Johnson, The Nation of Domination, etc. All of those guys were fairly big names at the time.

And even if you could somehow justify that argument, what about now? I guess he's in a small pond now as well? I mean he's one of the top performers in the company now as we speak in a talent pool consisting of Orton, Trips, UT, CM Punk, Bats, Rey, Edge, Christian, Jericho, Show, etc. I think you're embellishing your point a bit. He's one of the greatest wrestling performers ever in every era he's been apart of.

[ron the dial]

i've decided through this entire run of HBK's that i don't think i'd put anybody over HBK in Better Wrestler. there's just nobody i can think of that compares. yes, the rock was amazing at what he did, one of the best. but not the best.

[Zen v.W.o.]

I'll rest my case for HBK on this video, Michaels is so awesome here:

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That was all Bret Hart, right there.

[shadowfoxrz]

HBK

[Jannettyzilla]

How relevant is star power to a Better Wrestler competition? Are you factoring in the Scorpion King when you weigh it against HBK's Iron Man match?

Ask Vince McMahon.

Either way, I think Rock's an all around better wrestler, better entertainer, and better WWF Superstar.

[Nark Order]

Well, I'm not going to dispute your opinion of The Rock being an overall better wrestler than HBK. It's not like you're comparing HBK to Kung Fu Naki or anything. They are two of the all time greats.

In my opinion though, Michaels wins this. He was a staple of the WWF when he was on top back in the day and has been a staple ever since his return in 2000. I say he beats The Rock out in terms of in-ring performance and in terms of longevity. Of course it's all up to interpretation but that's my two cents.

[Lock Jaw]

Interesting. The last time we did this match I voted for The Rock... yet this time I voted for HBK! How ironic.

[Nark Order]

That was all Bret Hart, right there.

LOL. Hardly. HBK wound them all up into an absolute frenzy. Look at them, they are all spiteful, raging messes because of that promo. It was brilliant to face it all head on like that and HBK gave one hell of a promo. Once again, just a bitter Hart mark trying to downplay the greatness of HBK. That's all.

[Zen v.W.o.]

LOL. Hardly. HBK wound them all up into an absolute frenzy. Look at them, they are all spiteful, raging messes because of that promo. It was brilliant to face it all head on like that and HBK gave one hell of a promo. Once again, just a bitter Hart mark trying to downplay the greatness of HBK. That's all.

Dude, people were chanting for Bret that night well before the show went on air. If you recall, this happened after Bret and Vince shook hands together for his dvd. There was a lot of speculation going on that maybe Bret would show up. It doesnt take much to get a Montreal crowd to chant for Bret. And because of what happened years ago to Bret, in front of that very crowd, it wouldnt take much effort for Shawn to get major heat, which is what he got from the get go. He didnt have to say anything, he already had that reaction.
If anything, it's the crowd forcing shawn to go in this direction. It's not like he played the crowd. The crowd was already reacting this way, chanting these things no matter what HBK did or didnt do.

[Nark Order]

I'm not saying that the Canadian fans aren't naturally ridiculously bitter because they are. Shawn just got them worked up out of their minds. To say it wasn't a great promo would be pretty dense.

Not gonna turn this into a HBK vs Bret war. That already happened.

[Nark Order]

Also, if the Rock doesn't win here I think Round 100 should involve 2 IWC powerhouse right off the bat. No dilly dallying around. Death match first round. BOOM.

[Theo Dious]

I agree. London vs Kendrick, straightaway.

[The Gold Standard]

Rock. I did it for the Bret

[Verbose Minch]

I'm not saying that the Canadian fans aren't naturally ridiculously bitter because they are. Shawn just got them worked up out of their minds. To say it wasn't a great promo would be pretty dense.

Not gonna turn this into a HBK vs Bret war. That already happened.

To say all Canadian fans are ridiculously bitter is also being very dense. Canadian fans chant for Bret and boo Shawn because it's more of a tradition now than anything. Besides, Vince and HBK just use it as a cheap source of heat now anyways.

[Nicky Fives]

To say all Canadian fans are ridiculously bitter is also being very dense. Canadian fans chant for Bret and boo Shawn because it's more of a tradition now than anything. Besides, Vince and HBK just use it as a cheap source of heat now anyways.

Being Canadian, I completely agree...... only I like HBK then and still do, but I loved booing the fuck out of Earl Hebner

[Nark Order]

Forgive me for not personally interviewing every Canadian fan that was at the event that night. Whether they were all bitter or all just pretending to be bitter (Which you have to understand is pretty confusing), my point remains the same. HBK gave a great promo and got ridiculous heat for it.

[El Fangel]

Your wrong Narc, I just dont care.

[Sixx]

<a href="http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/bodaciousbob2755/?action=view&current=rock2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y231/bodaciousbob2755/rock2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

He looks like a mean, gay, latino waiter in this one.

[El Fangel]

Lawl

[Juan]

you're*

[Verbose Minch]

Forgive me for not personally interviewing every Canadian fan that was at the event that night. Whether they were all bitter or all just pretending to be bitter (Which you have to understand is pretty confusing), my point remains the same. HBK gave a great promo and got cheap heat for it.

Fixed that for you. It's really tough to work the crowd when you screwed over Canada's most famous wrestler and continuously bring it up. :roll:

[Nark Order]

As much as I'd love to get into another generic cookie cutter Bret vs Shawn argument that's been repeated 1000 times, this thread has nothing to do with Bret Hart. It's Shawn Michaels vs The Rock.

Let's celebrate Michaels presumably entering his rightful place into the Better Wrestler Hall of Fame.

[Crazy Nick]

Come on TPDUB! I can't sit here and possible watch HBK lose again to The Rock! And yes I know The Rock was no slouch in the ring, and he handled a mic pretty damn good as well. One of the many greats I could say I witnessed his entire career. But HBK IS the greatest ever! (IMO of course)

HBK gets the check mark without even thinking twice.

I agree. HBK is without question the best ever, in my opinion.

[The Mackem]

It's likely that Michaels is blocking a lot of people entering the Hall of Fame so maybe we'll get more people in as a result of him being in already.

[The Mackem]

Well only Bret and Flair but still...