WWE: Shawn Michaels vs. The Rock – The Feud That Wasn’t
By Josh Raibick
Credit: WWE.com
Think about the titanic feuds that we have seen over the years that have been once in a lifetime in the WWE. Well what about the most “electrifying man in sports entertainment” and “the greatest in ring performer in wrestling history”?
It is interesting when you think that WWE somehow made Hulk Hogan vs. The Rock a possibility. Yet Michaels who was the WWE Champion in 1998, who for the final time retired in 2010, never wrestled The Rock.
Actually it was not that simple, the careers of both these men is an example of bad timing. Shawn Michaels temporarily retired from wrestling for four years following a back injury in 1998. Around the time Michaels retired, The Rock rose up the ranks as a main eventer.
The Rock enjoyed his ride to the top through the new millennium, and as Shawn Michaels was looking to return from a back injury, these men would seem destined to meet down the road. Unfortunately, HBK would start a feud with long-time best friend Triple H, while The Rock had bigger goals.
During the Rock’s absence, “The Heartbreak Kid” delivered some of his best work. None was held in as high regard as his WrestleMania XXV match with The Undertaker. A match that had beautiful story telling, pace, and saw two legends take the other man’s best shot.
In a rematch between the two legends the following year, we would see “Mr. WrestleMania” take his last bow.
One year after Shawn Michaels retired, it would be The Rock who would return to host the biggest show of the year. Just as we thought that it might be a one-off, The Rock returned for a handful of matches over the next two years.
It is amazing to reflect on both careers and see how much bad timing had to take place for this match to not have been a realistic possibility.
Looking at where both guys are in their current lives away from wrestling, along with getting up there in age, it is safe to say we will never see this match. Even with that being said, let’s take a look at a few components that show why this feud would have been legendary.
Credit: WWE.com
The Hype
Both The Rock and Shawn Michaels have built cases as the greatest of all-time. Shawn Michaels has always brought his A game when it comes to a big match, while The Rock epitomizes the entertainment aspect of the industry.
During the Attitude Era, some of the best rivalries have been battled in front of split crowds. I do not think this rivalry would be any different than the six week tour that The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin went on before their clash at WrestleMania XVII.
Think about the impact on both wrestler’s legacy. For example, The Rock and Hulk Hogan were not defined by their match at WrestleMania, but that match did add to both superstar’s legacy. Shawn Michaels and The Rock are both legends in their own right, but delivering a great match that has this much hype would be another notch on the belt.