-- SEE ALSO: Top 10 Bret Hart matches

By Shawn Valentino, PWTorch Specialist

As we head into the final weeks before WrestleMania 26, we prepare for a truly historic showdown. When Shawn Michaels first challenged the Undertaker last December, I assumed it was a swerve leading to a match against his DX partner Triple H at Mania. I even wrote in previous articles a few months back that I did not want to see it again. That was before some of the best storytelling in the wrestling business that I have seen in recent years.

After a few months of atrocious performances as the goofy sidekick to Triple H, Michaels has been phenomenal playing the legendary star obsessed with one final trophy on his mantle. Although last year's all-time classic between the Heartbreak Kid and the Dead Man may be difficult to top, the buildup to this year's contest has been more layered and interesting. We are assured to have at least one unforgettable match that will remind all we why love wrestling.

The Undertaker may have the undefeated streak, but Shawn Michaels is truly Mr. WrestleMania. Not only is he the greatest performer in the history of the Grand Stage, I believe he is the greatest all-around wrestler of all time. Nobody has ever demonstrated such a complete package of athleticism, promo ability, selling, bumping, psychology, and flair for the dramatic in the ring. Unlike Austin and Rock, his career was not severely shortened by injury or opportunity. Hogan is pure personality, but is an abomination in the ring. Flair has simply had too many years of being victimized by bad booking. From his years as a tag-team specialist with the Rockers, to his rise to superstardom in the mid-'90s, to his prominent role in revolutionizing the business with his rebellious attitude, to his return as the finest wrestler in the world, there has never been a time where he hasn't been a force to be reckoned with.

From a personal standpoint, Michaels is my favorite wrestler of all time and any wrestling fan can easily figure out that the title of my recently released book, The Showstopper Lifestyle was influenced by this showstopping talent. Speaking of releases, WWE released its latest DVD of its most storied wrestler this week, taking viewers through the incredible journey of his career. The marketing touts it as a collection of Michael's greatest matches, but in actuality it is a brilliant mixture of his finest classics and lesser-known bouts. Today, I will attempt the unenviable task of narrowing down a list of top ten Shawn Michael's greatest matches. I based my rankings on three criteria: match quality, historical significance, and importance in the context of Shawn Michaels's career.

(10) Shawn Michaels vs. Diesel: Good Friends, Better Enemies, In Your House 1996

Shawn Michaels introduced Kevin Nash to the WWF as his bodyguard Diesel, and it was obvious that he had the look and presence to be a star. After building their relationship, inevitably they split up and each took their individual roads to World Championship gold. This battle between two friends was not only Kevin Nash's best match of his career but also had a long lasting impact on the direction of the business. The action in the ring was frenetic and the David vs. Goliath story was told to perfection. This would be Nash's last major match before leaving to WCW and though he lost, he still came out of the match looking strong and that added to his marquee appeal during the NWO invasion angle.

This was HBK's first major title defense on PPV and Michaels proved that the quality of matches he would have as champion would take in-ring work in the WWF to a new level. During this time, the WWF was marketing their products toward young children, but this match was also a precursor to the hardcore battles that would become staples of the Attitude Era. The finish was tremendously creative with Michaels taking off Mad Dog Vachon's artificial leg and doing Sweet Chin Music with it for the win. This match cemented Michaels's status as a strong champion and laid a foundation for the direction the wrestling world would take in the ensuing boom period.

(9) Chris Benoit vs. Triple H vs. Shawn Michaels, World Championship Match: WrestleMania 20

When Shawn Michaels returned to WrestleMania in 2003, we assumed that it would be his final bow on the Grandest Stage of All. Even HBK himself probably could not have imagined that he would once again be in the main event the following year. Many may argue that this should be higher on the list. While I admit that it is a better match than some of the ones I have ranked ahead of it, Michaels was really a secondary character in the story of Benoit's quest to grab "the brass ring."

Obviously, the storylines leading into the match and stemming from it now seem meaningless compared to the real life tragedies that were to come in the ensuing years. The actual bout was perfect in its execution and featured everything from high-risk maneuvers to technical wrestling to crimson masks of blood. Multiple stories interweaved seamlessly to create a masterpiece of a match. Triple H and Michaels tried to settle their heated rivalry while Benoit overcame them both to grab "the brass ring," his first meaningful World Championship. Seeing the Game tap out to the Crossface was a dramatic conclusion to an epic struggle. The emotional post-match scene of Benoit celebrating with his best friend Eddie Guerrero was considered one of the great feel-good moments in wresting history at the time.

It is amazing how we look at that same image now and it generates completely different emotions. Both Benoit and Guerrero are now gone, and of course we all know that Benoit took his wife and son with him. One positive we can take away from this match is Michaels's brilliant performance. I truly believe that he is the one that took this battle into epic status. His athleticism and psychological mastery added excitement and drama to what may have been merely a good contest between Hunter and Benoit. Additionally, his ability to play off of both wrestlers added plenty of intrigue and storytelling to the match. It may be the greatest main event in WrestleMania history and HBK is a strong reason for that esteemed status.

(8) Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart, World Championship Iron Man Match: WrestleMania 12

Let me preface my discussion of this infamous match by stating this. There are probably at least 25 HBK matches that are better than this one. Although it has taken a mythical status over the years, I found much of the work to be slow and boring, and feel the fact that there were no falls during the hour took away from the drama of the match. Unfortunately, politics and the personal rivalry between the Heartbreak Kid and the Hitman detracted from the quality of the contest.

Despite the fact that I believe it is overrated, you cannot underestimate the historical significance of these two all-time greats stepping in the ring for an hour in a crucial period for the company. In the mid-'90s, Michaels and Hart were undoubtedly the two biggest stars in the WWF. Hart was the strong, steady, noble champion, and Michaels was the flashy, dynamic, cocky challenger. They were opposites in personality, but each shared a passion for the business as well as incredible wrestling acumen. They were both responsible for holding up the company during a very difficult time, and they were instrumental in setting a new standard for match quality in the American wrestling scene. When it was announced that they would be an hour long Iron Man Match, fans salivated at the possibilities.

If you fast-forward through many of the overlong restholds and boring matwork, it would be a phenomenal forty-minute match. You could only imagine what type of dramatic showdown these two could have had if they got along. The last ten minutes of the battle were gripping and the final image of Michaels's boyhood dream coming true is one of the great WrestleMania moments. It may not have been his best match, but this may have been the most important one in HBK's career. This solidified his place as the top star in the company and he has been an icon of the industry to this day.

(7) Shawn Michaels vs. Chris Jericho: WrestleMania 19

It seems unbelievable now, but in 2002, we all believed that Michaels was finished as an in-ring competitor. To the surprise of many, he came back and put on a series of superb performances that showed to fans and himself that he could still go. It became apparent after a while that HBK would be around until WrestleMania 19 and WWE put together a truly special program for him. In the months leading to the event, Chris Jericho began to verbally berate the returning hero, his childhood idol. It was the classic kung fu storyline of the student believing he has surpassed the master, and it was brilliantly done, with Y2J and HBK playing their parts to perfection.

When WWE decided that Michaels and Jericho would face off at Mania, the wrestling world was thrilled about the Showstopper's return to The Grand Stage. Up until this match, HBK had been wrestling in gimmick matches, but we did not know if he could still have a great contest without relying on weapons or cages. They put on an excellent pure wrestling display that perfectly illustrated the art of telling a story in the ring. Jericho was sensational, imitating and mocking his old hero in the ring, before eventually getting his comeuppance.

The real story here was Michaels, who proved he still had unmatched wrestling ability, especially in a big match setting. What was supposed to be a dramatic finish to HBK's career became his return to prominence. This match also laid a good backdrop for their incredible series of matches in 2008, and the best wrestling feud in years. We take his greatness for granted now, but this match marked the return of Mr. WrestleMania.

(6) Shawn Michaels vs. The Undertaker, Hell in a Cell: Bad Blood, In Your House 1997

When Shawn Michaels called himself the Showstopper before this epic encounter, even he likely did not know how historic his showstealing performance in this match would be. HBK put on one of the greatest performances in the history of wrestling, and Undertaker's awesome display was not far behind. The build-up to this match was the perfect illustration of the utilization of a gimmick match making sense. The smaller Michaels was apprehensive of the aura and intimidation of Undertaker. He resorted to cowardly tactics like running away and using interference to defeat the Dead Man. WWE officials decided that a cage with a roof on it would be the only way to ensure that HBK could not resort to shady tactics to win.

During over 25 spectacular minutes of innovative and exciting action, Michaels and Undertaker put the Hell in a Cell match on the map. The story in the match could not have been told better and it was the one time where the internal logic of escaping to the top of the cage made sense. When HBK injured the cameraman and the door had to be unlocked to stretcher him out, who could have imagined what would take place? The image of the two combatants battling on top of the structure was unforgettable and Michaels's bump falling from the cage to the table set a new standard for WWF in-ring risk-taking. Kane's debut, which was built up for months, only adds to the aura of this match. If these two legends did not put on the display they did in this match, the Hell in a Cell may not have been the successful feud-ending gimmick it would become in ensuing years. This match set a standard not only for how to climax a feud with a revolutionary gimmick, but also for two in-ring performers putting on legendary performances.

This match came at a crossroads in Michaels'ss career. Steve Austin was rising on his way to become the new face of the company, but he was not yet ready to take over the top spot. Bret Hart was champion but on his way out of the WWF. Just a few months before this battle, HBK was criticized heavily for "losing his smile" and missing WrestleMania under dubious circumstances. His sensational showing here proved that despite his backstage reputation in the ring he was still the greatest wrestler in the world.

(5) Kurt Angle vs. Shawn Michaels: WrestleMania 21

HBK's return to wrestling brought forth many intriguing possibilities for dream matches. Unfortunately, in recent years WWE has needlessly run through its top matches so quickly that there are rarely any true dream matches. One that we thought we would never see was a battle between the greatest wrestler of the '90s against former Olympic Gold Medalist and top wrestler of the early 2000s. Even when Michaels returned from his injury to Raw, Angle was on Smackdown and the two never crossed paths. At the time, there was more discipline in the brand-split so when the two had a confrontation at the Royal Rumble, it felt really special. In the months leading to WrestleMania, the two superstars had some fantastic promos and skits to hype their first ever encounter. Angle was consumed with showing HBK that he could do everything he could do but better.

Although it was on the middle of the card, this was the most anticipated match on the show. It was the year WrestleMania went Hollywood, and the drama and excitement in the ring when Angle and Michaels faced off rivaled any studio blockbuster. The two greatest pure wrestlers of the generation battled it out in a showdown for the ages. It was the perfect example of WWE Main Event style, as it started slowly and built to a rousing finish. The sight of the undersized Michaels struggling to get out of the Anklelock from the relentless Angle was unforgettable. I was lucky enough to be at Staples Center for this one and it is as good of a display of the art form of wrestling as you will ever see.

One of the best things about this match was that we truly had no idea who was going to win. Michaels has taken lots of slack for not doing jobs but he deserves much credit here for tapping out clean here. The quality of this contest proved that when two competitors are willing to put it all out there and deliver something special there really are no losers. This is the match that cemented Michaels's status as the true Mr. WrestleMania. Sometimes dream matches do not live up to the hype, but this one was better than we could have imagined even in our wildest fantasies.

(4) Razor Ramon vs. Shawn Michaels, Intercontinental Championship Ladder Match: WrestleMania 10

What more can be said about this legendary match? Years before Money in the Bank and before all of the TLC chaos, there was this one-one-one classic between two real-life friends who revolutionized the industry with this groundbreaking showdown. The best stories in wrestling are simple and this was a perfect example of a how an ordinary story can translate into an extraordinary match. Michaels was suspended by the WWF for a supposed drug violation. He denied the allegation and refused to lose the belt, and Ramon won the championship in his absence. When HBK returned, he brought back the Championship that he had never lost in the ring and claimed to be the real champion. It was decided that the two belts would be hung from the rafters and would be contested in a ladder match.

What made this match so great was that there was a strong story leading to it and a real reason for the stipulation. The action in the ring was revolutionary for the time as Razor, and especially Michaels, utilized the ladder in creative ways that few could have imagined at the time. It may look tame in retrospect, but these types of moves were simply not seen at the time in mainstream American wrestling. Additionally, unlike later years when wrestlers would do crazy stunts simply to wow the crowd, there was a reason for each use of the ladder in the context of the match. When Michaels flew off the ladder for the diving splash, the wrestling universe stood in awe and it is one of the iconic moments in the ring. The match sent the industry in a different direction and raised the bar for action and excitement in the ring. It also assured that the Ladder Match was here to stay and would become an integral way to settle feuds over a championship.

"Over the years, the ladder itself has become the central figure of that particular stipulation, but in our situation, it served as a backdrop for something much bigger," Michaels said. "We were two guys claiming rightful ownership of those titles, and the ladder was just there as a way for us to prove who was the best. Now, the ladder is the primary, and these matches are often about what the contestants can do with it."
-- Shawn Michaels: WWE Magazine interview March 2010

Ramon won the match, but it was HBK's superhuman performance that truly stood out, and it was apparent that he would be a megastar in the future. For the next few years, he ascended from talented mid-carder to the centerpiece of the company. For its place in the history of the business and its vital place in the elevation of Michaels's career, this match earns every bit of its legend.

(3) Shawn Michaels vs. Ric Flair, Retirement Match: WrestleMania 24

Unfortunately, with the Nature Boy's return to American wrestling this week, the status of this match has already been tainted in the eyes of many fans. Despite the fact that it was not Flair's final contest, I was in the arena that unforgettable night and I am going to try to hold on to that truly special memory these two provided. Like Michaels and Angle, this was a clash between two eras. Ric Flair is recognized as the greatest wrestler of his generation. Shawn Michaels shares the same acclaim as being the top worker of his time. Due to age difference and being part of different companies, they had never really fought in a classic match with each other and most assumed that it would never happen. When Flair was in the middle of his retirement storyline and he announced that he wanted to fight Michaels at WrestleMania, the path was set for something truly memorable. In the months leading to Mania, HBK was reluctant to fight Nature Boy and be responsible for ending his hero's career. Flair proclaimed that if he could not still fight against the best, he did not want to wrestle anymore.

The match was to take place in Orlando, home of Disney World, and it was only fitting because the night would be full of magic. Although he was approaching sixty, Flair miraculously had one final sensational performance. Michaels lived up to his Mr. WrestleMania moniker by helping to carry The Nature Boy to another classic to end his career. The story of the match was beautifully illustrated with Flair giving everything he had in his body to win the match and save his career and Michaels trying to be The Showstopper, but also hesitant to do the inevitable and defeat his idol. The ending was an emotional tour de force with Flair coming to terms with the end of his career, and Michaels telling his friend he loved him before giving him Sweet Chin Music and pinning him.

The Nature Boy was years past his prime here so HBK deserves enormous credit for bringing one final great match out of him. Although Michaels won the match, the way he did so gave Flair the picture perfect ending to his in-ring career that we all wanted to see. I believe this match is the true passing of the torch to Michaels as the greatest wrestler of all time. Even if it is not Flair's final moment, this is a master work of art between arguably the two greatest in-ring artists of all time.

(2) Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H: Unsanctioned Fight, Summerslam 2002

Again, it is amazing in retrospect, but in the summer of 2002, wrestling fans thought HBK was finished as an in-ring performer. Michaels had missed the biggest boom period in wrestling history, an era he was instrumental in starting with his rebellious persona. Even when it was announced that he would have a comeback match against his old friend and DX partner, fans were wary that he would not be the same. It was another simple story of jealousy between friends. Although Triple H was the biggest star in wrestling at the time, he still felt that he was in the shadow of the man who helped fuel his ascension to that status. He turned on his best friend and brutally attacked him backstage and the stage was set for the return of an icon.

Against all odds, Michaels shocked everyone with a gusty athletic performance that showed he still was the Showstopper. The story in the ring was based on Triple H's jealousy of fans' perception that he still had not surpassed his former mentor, and he wanted to destroy him and finish his career. The Game was brilliant in his role as unremorseful bully in the match focusing on Michaels's injured back. The psychology of the match was perfect as the injured Michaels valiantly took everything Hunter had but persevered out of pure heart and won the match.

Coming out of retirement, in one match, Michaels erased all doubts that he could still perform at a top level. We still did not know if this match would be his final one, but if it was it would have been a worthy swansong. Of course, this was merely the beginning of an all new chapter in HBK's story. Little could we have imagined that he would go on to become the top all-around performer in wrestling of the decade.

(1) The Undertaker vs. "The Heartbreak Kid" Shawn Michaels: WrestleMania 25

As we wind down to WrestleMania 26 and prepare for the historic Career vs. Streak contest, let us look back to the unique set of circumstances that lead to last year's legendary match. The Undertaker and The Heartbreak Kid were the two longest tenured WWE superstars of the Mania years, but amazingly they had never faced off on The Grandest Stage of Them All. Even more incredible is the fact that the WWE had the discipline to keep them apart from a one-on-one match for over eleven years. They teased us with a dramatic conclusion to the Royal Rumble in 2007, but the WWE smartly waited for a truly huge event that would be worthy of such an epic encounter.

By WrestleMania 25, Undertaker's streak had become intertwined with the event itself, and Michaels had firmly established himself as the greatest performer in its history. It would be the Streak vs. Mr. WrestleMania at The Showcase of the Immortals and the two icons gave us a visual and emotional extravaganza that electrified the gigantic Texas crowd. There were too many highlights in this match to mention and you have to witness this match to appreciate its genius. From the awe-inspiring entrances that showcased the heaven vs. hell theme in the feud to the symbolic finale where Michaels came from above only to get tombstoned into the ground and pinned, it was a theatrical masterpiece. The match was a roller coaster ride that took the entire audience on a journey of ups and downs before its dramatic conclusion. I was fortunate to be in the stadium that night and was overcome by emotion by the end of the contest.

Although he lost the match, for Michaels this was two straight five-star level classics in the grand setting. It also proved once again that he is the king of the big match. Even more than that, it was a celebration of his career. HBK has been around since the early years of Mania and his talent has crossed generations. When people look back at the first twenty-five years of WrestleMania, this match is a perfect showcase of the man who was the most showstopping wrestler of that time period. I have watched wrestling for over twenty years and this is the greatest match I have ever seen. We can only hope this year's battle can live up to its incomparable predecessor. One can say it is an impossible task, but Shawn Michaels has proved time and time again that he is up to the challenge. We are all lucky to be living in the era of the Showstopper, the Main Event, Mr. WrestleMania, the one and only Heartbreak Kid.

Please send questions, comments and feedback to valentino.torch@gmail.com and check out my new book The Showstopper Lifestyle.

[Torch art and photos (c) PWTorch.com]

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