I watched WWF throughout the 80's, 90's and early 2000's to about '03.
I remember Shawn being solid overall and having some great matches with Taker, Razor and Hart but I don't remember him being the greatest. Did I miss something? Was his later run that good? Is he really the GOAT or is that just WWE propoganda?
in the ring, he was really, really good. One of the best of all time, sure. But THE best? naaaaah wouldn't go that far.
he's the whole package and was on top longer that other guys who were the total package too like jericho, that's why
He's probably one of the most consistently solid workers that, while not 10/10 at any one thing, is firmly 9/10 at absolutely everything. Excellent ringwork, excellent on the mic, natural charisma, excellent look, highly marketable, adaptive to any role be it face/heel/inbetween. Definitely in the conversation for top 10 of all time.
Compare someone like Bret who is 11/10 in the ring but lacking in other areas. Being the best at one thing isn't enough. That's not to say those people that are phenomenal at what they do don't deserve recognition, but someone that's just all around excellent like HBK is a better fit for these "best of all time" conversations.
His later run is what solidified his career and confirmed him as the GOAT ring worker. It was also his redemption arc because he stopped being a faggot and was eager to put people over.
Idk somebody like Austin or Macho Man were better all around in my opinion. Both had more memorable promos and matches than Shawn.
I might have to go watch that era then.
>whole package
>horrible promo
Try again user
He was considered the GOAT by wwe in 1998 before Wrestlemania 14, the later run solidified his goat status. He really was THAT good
>horrible promo
go jack off to jewish miz calling you a loser, tranny
Seems more like propoganda because he was an experienced title holder who was still on the roster and hadnt jumped ship.
he was an overall good wrestler who became vince's lover and was pushed accordingly
I don't think Shawn was ever convincing as a face desu.
this. shawn got heat without making fun of the audience. he was one of the last old-school heels
>is that just WWE propoganda?
Yes, and most people in the company believe it. RVD's story of people walking up to him in awe because he was going to have a match with HBK and him acting like it was a regular day at work is great.
Vince has always been enchanted by him and his boyhood dream arc literally brainwashed an entire generation to thigh slap and jump off ladders, but his first run was highlighted by a few very good main event performances, mostly in gimmick matches, and the rest was inconsistent. By the time he came back he was able to keep up with a world class roster and was a little better as a promo, so that helped.
>Brett better in the ring than HBK
Hello Brett
>6 man HIAC over Foley Trips at the Rumble
Meltzer is a hack
>without making fun of the audience
The gif of HBK mocking a blowjob is him making fun of someone in the front row
well yeah but that was called for. when people chanted shit at him he would react. but he didn't just come out there and say "you people SUCK" for cheap pops.
It's just a meme WWE narrative. They pushed Flair GOAT for years to spite Hogan and now that Flair's in their bad books they're pushing Hickenbottom. See through it user, it's propaganda.
>well yeah
retard
>shifts goal posts
Extremely low bar and arbitrary as fuck. The greatest heel promo of all time is Vince telling the Smackdown crowd how much they suck. Shawn's DX shit was cringe and not cool. He never sold a match based on a promo until his comeback. The best he ever got was from shitting all over Canada and their flag.
>Shawn's DX shit was cringe and not cool
you got worked by a heel
They were calling Shawn Michaels the greatest athlete in wrestling history in 1995, before he even won a wwe championship.