Let's talk about Shawn Michaels and a bit about Bret Hart(non-screwjob related) NOID POST

**Ol Dirty Dastard** · 05-11-2012, 04:41 PM

Let me preface this with, this is not Bret vs. Shawn. They are both awesome and incomparable as far as quality as performers.

This is about the influence they had on one another as far as being in ring performers.

Shawn Michaels upon his return to the E in 2002 was almost untouched as far as being an all around performer... he was actually breathtaking in the way he was able to captivate people. He had questionable programs mostly to do with Vince, Shane and DX as well as a dragged out feud with HHH but I'd say those were greatly over shadowed by his epic performances against the Angle's, Jericho's and Undertakers of the world, as well as phenomenal performances in his more drawn out stuff such as against Vince and HHH in many matches.

He had the ability to make everyone care about what he was doing. He achieved legend status so smoothly it's almost like it was no big thing.

Go back to the 90's and think about his character then. The male stripper gimmick, the "clique", Vince Mcmahon having homo sexual fantasies over him on commentary. While constantly delivering amazing matches and being a great performer, something was missing. His connection with the fans was not believable. Chicks and kids loved him, but he simply was not an everyman. He was tacky, and over the top. He lacked attitude and everything about him was over the top. It was too over dramatic. He was being forced down people's throats as a demi-god and it was like "WE GET IT, YOU'RE A BIG DEAL".

When he turned heel in DX, it seemed he was being truer to whom he really was and was sensational.

Right before that turn though, we had Bret Hart vs Stone Cold as the hottest feud in the company and Shawn was sort of left in the dust. It was because he wasn't real, his character was contrived. He eclipsed Bret as the top heel when he turned after costing Taker the championship, because he was so damned believable, it just made sense, he was an arrogant shithead, but he was awesome. It seemed Shawn was able to channel the realness of Bret and Steve, and run with it and do it as well as they did, until he got injured.

Fast forward to '02 and beyond and Michaels was pretty much Steamboat levels of face. He seemed so much more likable and believable.

This is where I think Bret Hart comes into play. Bret was known for taking his relationship with the fans seriously, and cherishing their support as a babyface. He was completely believable, a "good Canadian kid" who fought hard for the fans. I feel like Shawn Michaels initially lacked the appreciation for the fans and took for granted their support when he was a face and therefore started getting booed. When he returned, he dedicated himself to legitimately having appreciation for his fans and tweeking his character as such. His understanding of the audience catapulted because he seemed to value their support as opposed to just expecting it. It would have been WRONG for him to ever be a heel. I feel like he was influenced a lot by Bret, as they were both around the same size and knew how much extra it took to be believable and be as over as he was as a face. Shawn took nothing for granted during his second run.

Sorry about the length of this haha.

05-11-2012, 04:41 PM	#1
Ol Dirty Dastard boop/bop/beep Posts: 38,430	Let's talk about Shawn Michaels and a bit about Bret Hart(non-screwjob related) NOID POST Let me preface this with, this is not Bret vs. Shawn. They are both awesome and incomparable as far as quality as performers. This is about the influence they had on one another as far as being in ring performers. Shawn Michaels upon his return to the E in 2002 was almost untouched as far as being an all around performer... he was actually breathtaking in the way he was able to captivate people. He had questionable programs mostly to do with Vince, Shane and DX as well as a dragged out feud with HHH but I'd say those were greatly over shadowed by his epic performances against the Angle's, Jericho's and Undertakers of the world, as well as phenomenal performances in his more drawn out stuff such as against Vince and HHH in many matches. He had the ability to make everyone care about what he was doing. He achieved legend status so smoothly it's almost like it was no big thing. Go back to the 90's and think about his character then. The male stripper gimmick, the "clique", Vince Mcmahon having homo sexual fantasies over him on commentary. While constantly delivering amazing matches and being a great performer, something was missing. His connection with the fans was not believable. Chicks and kids loved him, but he simply was not an everyman. He was tacky, and over the top. He lacked attitude and everything about him was over the top. It was too over dramatic. He was being forced down people's throats as a demi-god and it was like "WE GET IT, YOU'RE A BIG DEAL". When he turned heel in DX, it seemed he was being truer to whom he really was and was sensational. Right before that turn though, we had Bret Hart vs Stone Cold as the hottest feud in the company and Shawn was sort of left in the dust. It was because he wasn't real, his character was contrived. He eclipsed Bret as the top heel when he turned after costing Taker the championship, because he was so damned believable, it just made sense, he was an arrogant shithead, but he was awesome. It seemed Shawn was able to channel the realness of Bret and Steve, and run with it and do it as well as they did, until he got injured. Fast forward to '02 and beyond and Michaels was pretty much Steamboat levels of face. He seemed so much more likable and believable. This is where I think Bret Hart comes into play. Bret was known for taking his relationship with the fans seriously, and cherishing their support as a babyface. He was completely believable, a "good Canadian kid" who fought hard for the fans. I feel like Shawn Michaels initially lacked the appreciation for the fans and took for granted their support when he was a face and therefore started getting booed. When he returned, he dedicated himself to legitimately having appreciation for his fans and tweeking his character as such. His understanding of the audience catapulted because he seemed to value their support as opposed to just expecting it. It would have been WRONG for him to ever be a heel. I feel like he was influenced a lot by Bret, as they were both around the same size and knew how much extra it took to be believable and be as over as he was as a face. Shawn took nothing for granted during his second run. Sorry about the length of this haha.