Shawn Michaels has reflected on his career and named the rival he considers the greatest of his time in WWE.
Speaking to ViBe and Sports in 2020, Shawn Michaels did not hesitate when asked about his top rivalry, immediately identifying Bret Hart. He said their battles stood out because the tension between them went beyond the ring and carried into real life, which added authenticity to their on-screen story.
“Well, I think it has got to be Bret Hart, right? My goodness, how do you mention me and not mention Bret? Certainly, it spilled over into real life, but it was something so palpable and people felt it. I am proud of all those other rivalries, but I think it is Hart,” Michaels said.
The rivalry between Michaels and Hart became one of the most defining feuds of the 1990s, fuelled by personal issues and professional competition. Their real-life animosity translated into memorable matches that resonated with fans and helped cement both men as era-defining performers.
When Did Shawn Michaels Join WWE?
Shawn Michaels first joined WWE from the AWA in 1987 alongside Marty Jannetty as The Rockers, but they were both fired just two weeks after joining the company over an incident they were involved in at a bar and returned to the AWA.
The Rockers returned to WWE in 1988, and this time Michaels would stay with the company until he retired in 1998. But his first retirement wouldn’t last, as he returned to the company in 2002 and would go on to compete for them until his second retirement in 2010 after losing to The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26 in a streak vs. career match.
He would come out of retirement in 2018 at Crown Jewel to compete alongside Triple H in a tag match against The Undertaker and Kane.
