Review by fmwaalex
Rating:
SHAWN MICHAELS

MY JOURNEY

I hate what went down at Wrestlemania this year with my favorite wrestler of all time Shawn Michaels being retired. Seriously leaving and not apart of a storyline I could not believe it, I wanted Taker’s streak to end so bad. Although I must say that I was thrilled earlier when Bret Hart demolished Vince. The next night on RAW was crazy with Shawn giving his farewell speech, I can’t believe it. So of course with this new release I had to review it and relive some of the greatest moments in Shawn’s career. Now I know some people are going to look at this and say “5 star matches every time?”, but to me especially now they all are. Shawn is the greatest of all time and it is sad to see his career come to an end.

I love how this DVD was put together. The interview segments were brilliant and well done. With most WWE DVD’s like this it is just someone hosting it and giving an intro to each match. This time around they actually had a very entertaining sit down interview with Shawn. And unlike a lot of times on these he was not in character. He gave his true feelings and insights into the matches and moments from his career. Excellent format that I hope they continue to do.

1.HBK VS ONE MAN GANG-this is a really fun one right here that is short, but it is sweet. Shawn is basically in a squash match, literally. Shawn [spelled as Sean for this match] you could tell had a great time in this, fun match.5/5

2.MIDNIGHT ROCKERS VS BUDDY ROSE & DOUG SOMERS-this is one of the matches between these two, classic feud that went back and forth. The action is good in this one thanks to the Rockers, their double team tactics were great. The psychology of this match is great, some funny stuff in this one. Sadly the Rockers loose some how, but it is still fun.5/5

3.[AWA TAG TITLES] MIDNIGHT ROCKERS VS THE NASTY BOYS-this one was very back and forth which is something you may not expect from The Nasty Boys. But this was a very good match between the two with the Nasties of course doing everything they could to win. The Rockers proved to be to much with their double team onslaught, excellent match.5/5

4.ROCKERS VS THE BRAINBUSTERS-this one is very much one of the best matches on the entire set. The Rockers actually dominate a lot of this match taking it to the veterans. Still The Brainbusters [half the Horsemen] lay into these two every chance they get. It is a great technical match up with The Rockers coming out on top via DQ.5/5

5.ROCKERS VS HART FOUNDATION-much like the last match this one is two of the greatest teams in wrestling history going up against each other. Excellent match pitting technique and power against tandem double teams and quickness. Bret and Shawn of course are against each other in this but this was before the legendary beef. Great match that I deem another classic.5/5

6.[I-C TITLE] HBK VS BRET HART-the early battle between these two would continue but in singles action this time. Bret was the I-C champ and Shawn wanted it, this was a fast paced match. There was reversal after reversal with both guys showing their speed and athleticism. A lot of high impact moves mixed with some technical stuff and you have this classic, The Hitman walks away with the title still around his waist.5/5

7.HBK VS BRITISH BULLDOG-this one right here is a rare match from RAW in 95 right before Shawn was going to face Kevin Nash at Wrestlemania. Shawn was the heel then and Bulldog [RIP] was the baby face. This is another excellent match with a lot of back and forth action, I miss those days. HBK of course takes it after some sweet chin music. Also this is when Sid was with Shawn as his body guard.5/5

8.[I-C TITLE] HBK VS SID VICIOUS-this was after Sid turned on Shawn after Wrestlemania and HBK had became the I-C champ. Shawn was always the best at wrestling Sid because he brought good matches out of him. Sid is a huge guy that really needed some one like Shawn in there with him. The match is great with HBK once again beating a giant.5/5

9.HBK VS 123 KID-this match was between two real friends, although not in the story line. Two of the greatest athletes in pro wrestling history put on one of the best shows in RAW history. Excellent back and forth action with each hitting all kinds of high spots. But of course it is the greatest of all time Shawn Michaels who walks away with the victory.5/5

DISC 2

1.HBK VS MANKIND-extremely happy this match is on the set because the RAW matches are harder to come across. This is one of the best matches in the history of RAW, definitely one of the most entertaining. This was right before DX really took off with HHH, Chyna, and the late Rick Rude all making their way down to the ring. Every time Shawn faced Mankind he went a little more hardcore and aggressive. A lot of great action including HBK dropping a great elbow on Mick while he was on the announcers table. Excellent match and one of my favorites on the set.5/5

2.[EUROPEAN TITLE] HBK VS BRITISH BULLDOG- This is the legendary night that Shawn won the European title from Bulldog and the DX era really kicked into high gear. This match is full of non stop action with Bulldog pressing and slamming Michaels all over the place. HBK resorts to some quicker moves and stays a little more light on the feet, but Bulldog stays on him. After a while Rick Rude, Triple H, and Chyna make their way down to ring side, once there they interfere. It is this interference that leads to the shocking changing of the title to HBK beating Bulldog in his home town. There are some really iconic shots of DX after the match that live on in various highlight reels. The Hart Foundation make their way out after the match to save Bulldog, but my question is where were they during the match when DX was interfering.5/5

3.[WWE TITLE] CASKET MATCH – HBK VS UNDERTAKER-man I can remember this match like it was yesterday especially because it is the match that almost ended HBK’s career. During this match he is back body dropped onto the casket and hurt his back. After Mania that year he was gone for four years, almost never coming back. Great match although every heel at the time basically comes out to help Shawn. Still HBK and Taker always had classic matches. Still HBK pulls it out and forces Taker to loose his second casket match at the Royal Rumble [remember 1994], also love the burning casket at the end.5/5

4.HBK VS CHRIS JERICHO- some people have said that this match is overrated while others have said it was a classic, I tend to agree with the latter. I remember watching this and thinking man this feels like Wrestlemania, this one felt like a big time match. For any one who watches these knows that Wrestlemania is the one event where even the under card feels like big time matches, not every time but they are supposed to. This match is great and has a lot of near falls as both these superstars go at it, their story line going into this was great and it showed in the pay off. Their styles in this match were similar but it made for a very interesting story and some classic moments. Both deliver a lot of punishment threw out the match that seems like it could end it, I thought Jericho had it at one point. But luckily HBK pulls it off in a way I have to admit I did not see ending this match, classic.5/5

5.HBK VS RIC FLAIR-two of the greatest ever go at it in this one as HBK takes on the man he wanted to be when he was young. This is with out a doubt a classic because of the level of psychology in this match. The way they both go off each other in this match with the back and forth showing each other up. Excellent match that has a great alternate commentary with Shawn and Michael Cole, love the ending even though Shawn gets screwed by Randy Orton. The alternate commentary with Shawn and Cole is great because you get to hear the behind the scenes with HBK and Ric.5/5

6.HBK VS KURT ANGLE-absolutely one of the greatest matches in not only Wrestlemania history, WWE history, but one of the best ever in the wrestling business. The magic that these two created in that ring that night was amazing, I still get goose bumps watching it. The back and forth action and near falls add to the excitement and the ending is absolutely great. Kurt may have officially one this match but in the fans mind no body lost. I wish they would have left in the standing ovation that both got, and the one Shawn got after Kurt left the ring.5/5

DISC 3

1.[BOOT CAMP MATCH] HBK VS TRIPLE H-any time the superstars go to wrestle for the troops over seas I can give nothing but respect. I remember watching this live of course and thinking man what a great thing to do for all those soldiers. Shawn and HHH tear it down on this one and the troops love it, this was a great main event from that show. Great match for a great cause, entertaining our troops, and of course HBK comes out on top. This one also features the alternate commentary with HBK and Cole and of course is great to hear.5/5

2.[FATAL FOUR WAY] {WWE TITLE} HBK VS JOHN CENA VS EDGE VS RANDY ORTON-this is absolutely one of the most fun matches on the set because these guys put on a great show for the fans. There is a lot of great action from all guys during this match and all four are some of the best ever. Shawn of course is the best ever and it is Shawn that ends this match, I love the ending of this match even though HBK does not get the title. The end of this match is one of the most fun endings ever.5/5

3.[WWE TITLE] HBK VS RANDY ORTON-another great match in which two of the previous four go at it with some rules in place. In this match Shawn could not use his super kick but if Randy got disqualified he lost the title. A lot of good action in this one but one hesitation from HBK leads to his downfall.5/5

4.[UNSANCTIONED MATCH] HBK VS CHRIS JERICHO-another very entertaining match with Shawn getting a little more aggressive. There is a lot of high impact spots in this one including going threw a table. There is even a fire extinguisher that is used by Shawn as he goes all out on Y2J.the end of this one is perfect story telling and Shawn pulls it off nicely, excellent addition to the set.5/5

5.HBK VS UNDERTAKER-of course any one who watches wrestling can tell you that this is possibly the greatest match in the history of Mania. It is also one of the greatest matches period, and that means of all time. I remember watching this one live and thinking man these guys are stealing the show. I was super tense, excited, and basically in awe of the performance these two put forth. They told an excellent story in the ring that night and the psychology was brilliant. The action was amazing and it looked like Taker almost killed himself at one point. Excellent match that is one of the all time greats, classic.5/5

So there you have an excellent look back at the greatest superstar in wrestling history, my favorite of all time Shawn Michaels. You know what else is great about this, my mom got to meet him one time. As you may or may not know I lost my mother recently but back 1999 or 2000 she got to meet him and shake his hand at a Wal-Mart in San Antonio Texas. When she saw him she asked if he was Shawn and of course he was, and being the excellent person she was she talked to him and shook his hand. The thing about it is she knew he was my favorite and could not wait to through it in my face. Of course I was jealous and she loved it, so did I. Miss you mama

Review by Haunted Flower
Rating:
3 Disc Widescreen Edition DVD Set (2009, Released 2010)

This DVD set has three discs and an approximate running time of 9 hours. Shawn Michaels’ previous DVD Set, “Heartbreak and Triumph” really explored the timeline of his career from the early days up to 2007 with a deep foray into his less admirable habits and his fight back to a better place. Instead of the documentary format from that set, this one jumps into the other format of match-interview-match-interview, etc.

The difference here from sets like “Edge: A Decade of Decadence” is that like Triple H’s set in this format, it is not done in character necessarily and the interview is Michael Cole in shot asking in depth questions. Michaels’ answers are not edited down for time so they are completely honest with pauses and no time limits so the candidness can come off genuine.

Certain areas of Michaels’ life have been covered thoroughly in the other sets so what is refreshing about this set is that it doesn’t have to go in depth rehashing old material and goes a little further with other subjects. He does talk about his relationship with Triple H and working with Bret Hart and the British Bulldog as well as his old tag team partner, Marty Genetti.

For instance, Michaels talks about what it was like to work with Hulk Hogan and is not afraid to call him out for how he wanted to do business and Hogan’s lack of participation in promos and the way he reacted to it after the fact. Another subject that was surprising was Michaels’ respect for Kurt Angle and how Angle motivated him to train harder to put together a different type of challenging match that played more to Angle’s strengths in traditional mat wrestling. The match between Angle and Michaels at WrestleMania 21 is one of the best in this set.

Although the Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair match from WrestleMania 24 is not in this set (It IS on the Ric Flair DVD Set which I will eventually review as I have it on hand here), they do have a match of the two competing at Bad Blood in 2003. Leading up to the match, they do discuss the lead up to WrestleMania 24 and Flair’s emotional state at the time and how difficult it was for him to make that journey and how many tears Ric shed before that day.

Another man Michaels talks about is The Undertaker and how although they’ve both been in the business for close to the same amount of time that they have never really been friends that hung out but they have a mutual respect and appreciate the way each of them does business so that whenever they are in the ring together, they can just make “art.” The last match on the DVD is the match against Undertaker from the 25th anniversary of WrestleMania last year that won a Slammy award for Match of the Year.

Some of the other great matches on this set are the Fatal Four-way from 2007 at Backlash that I remember seeing where Michaels used “sweet chin music” against Cena who fell on one of the others and it was counted as a pin for Cena. The match against Randy Orton in 2007 with the “no super kick” stipulation allowed for a more creative match with more submission holds than Shawn Michaels would normally use and Randy Orton is always an engaging performer to watch with his viper pumping up moves and stomping.

Shawn Michaels has had good instincts when it comes to the business of the WWE and really knows how to push the buttons of the people to get a reaction, particularly in his years as a heel. One example would be the ganging up on Davy Boy the British Bulldog at a show in England for the European Championship where Triple H and Chyna joined him to swing the match in his favor with interference since he knew that would have a huge impact on the people there since they loved Davy Boy so much. It worked to the tune of fans actually throwing things at them in the ring and a strong negative reaction can be just as good as a positive one as long as you get a reaction. His instincts served him well again when he let loose on Hulk Hogan at a promo IN Montreal and was the first to bring up the Montreal Screw-job because no one likes to bring up that event more than the WWE itself because of the controversy and emotional feedback it gets even if it no longer feels as bitter to the fans.

The Slammy Awards are a relatively new event to the WWE, but I have a feeling if his career had continued, Michaels could have won a Slammy every year for his work at WrestleMania. Michaels is an emotional performer as well as a talented high-flyer. No one can take a hit like Michaels and let the entire audience feel the impact. His spirit and defiance has inspired so many wrestlers and one can hope his body of work will continue to do that in years to come.

By now, everyone knows that the career ending match at WrestleMania 26 did not end in Michaels favor but the way it wasn’t built up to as much as Ric Flair’s and the fact that no one came out at the end of his farewell except for Hunter (my husband said that if the Big Show didn’t cry, it wasn’t real) makes it a little suspicious that while Michaels may not wrestle again, I think it could be very possible that he return in a different capacity such as General Manager for one of the shows or another administrative position. It is difficult to imagine him leaving the business completely but I think he has enough respect for it not to return to wrestling after the send off by the fans like Ric Flair did on another network (Sorry, but that was such a slap in the face to hear Ric Flair came out of retirement somewhere else after all the fanfare, farewells, and ceremony to his retirement in the WWE. It could NOT have been better or more emotional and those fans have to feel cheated.).

The ending of the DVD set asks what is next for Shawn Michaels and he speaks earnestly about wanting to spend more time with his kids and anyone who managed to finish getting through the 9 hours of content before WrestleMania would have already known the outcome of the match by his attitude. It is a little sad and bittersweet but also nice because he talks about wanting to go out on his own terms and Michael Cole asks what he wants his grandchildren to remember about Shawn Michaels and he answers as best as he can. No longer seeing Shawn Michaels in the ring is a little emotional but he does indicate he may continue to work with the business who did so much for him for so many years.

Matches:

Shawn Michaels vs One Man Gang – WCCW 1985

Midnight Rockers vs Buddy Rose & Doug Somers – Wrestlerock 1986

Midnight Rockers vs Nasty Boys – AWA 1988

Rockers vs Brain Busters – Boston Garden 1989

Rockers vs The Hart Foundation – Madison Square Garden 1989

Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart – Intercontinental Championship 1992

Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog – RAW 1995

Shawn Michaels vs Sid Vicious – Intercontinental Championship at Raw 1995

Shawn Michaels vs 1-2-3 Kid – RAW 1996 (Who IS this guy???)

Shawn Michaels vs Mankind – RAW 1997

Shawn Michaels vs British Bulldog – European Championship at One Night Only 1997

Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker – Casket Match for WWE Championship at Royal Rumble 1998

Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho – WrestleMania XIX

Shawn Michaels vs Ric Flair – Bad Blood 2003

Shawn Michaels vs Kurt Angle – WrestleMania 2005

Shawn Michaels vs Triple H – Bootcamp Match at Raw 2005

Shawn Michaels vs John Cena vs Edge vs Randy Orton – Fatal 4-Way Match for WWE Championship at Backlash 2007

Shawn Michaels vs Randy Orton – WWE Championship at Survivor Series 2007

Shawn Michaels vs Chris Jericho – Unsanctioned Match at Unforgiven 2008

Shawn Michaels vs Undertaker – WrestleMania 25

Extras:

The one interesting feature added on to this set is that while it flows from interview to match to interview to match and there are no additional features to click on, there is an option for alternative commentary on one match on each disc with Shawn Michaels and Michael Cole. So for three matches, you can hear a little more background about what was going on at the time and how the matched played out from Michaels’ perspective.