Shawn Michaels' Retirement

flahavaj

Is it for real lads? I didn't think so after Wrestlemania to be honest, I was sceptical just like I usually am for wrestlers' retirements. I've seen to many go back on their word to believe it.

But after seeing RAW I'm not so sure?

What do ye think? Will he be back? Will he be able to sit at home and not wrestle? Or will he get the itch in a few month's time of for Mania next year?

Vince135792003

I think as of today he's very genuine about not wanting to wrestle again.

But this is wrestling.

sky88

i dont think right now he wants to wrestle again but i think he will have one match in a few years againist hhh

Machismo Fan

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say we've seen the last match of HBK.

Diabhal Beag

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

He's done. He could always cut great promos but this really was his farewell.

He may come back and do referee spots but he will never wrestle again IMO

waltersobchak

Not a f*cking chance he's retired lads.. As if HBK, One of the greatest and most loyal servant's to WWE ever.. Would retire on a losing match and then have such a low key, and sombre fairwell.. Wake Up ta f*ck your being worked, he'll be back by the next Wrestlemania. No doubt about it..

Mr.Nice Guy

I think he is done as a regular on the roster and I doubt we'll be seeing him do house shows in Ireland again. However I reckon he will be lured back for 'one more match' at a show like Wrestlemania.

We'll surely see him at Hall of Fame ceremonies and I'm sure the chants for one more match will start to tempt him. His kids might like to see him wrestle once more also. If he starts appearing as a special ref and stuff like he did before his last return I can see him being very tempted to come back.

Angron

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

I'd like to think that's it for him, I'd hate it if he ruined a retirement like Hulk Hogan has been doing for the best part of 2 decades.

flahavaj

Vince135792003 wrote: »

I think as of today he's very genuine about not wanting to wrestle again.

But this is wrestling.

This is kinda where I stand on it. I think he truly wants to retire right at this moment in time. But I also think he'll get the itch again in the future and you know well Vince will be nagging him constantly to do Mania next year.

With HBK gone they are fast running out of genuinely great in ring workers who can steal the show at Mania.:eek:

Angron

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

flahavaj wrote: »

This is kinda where I stand on it. I think he truly wants to retire right at this moment in time. But I also think he'll get the itch again in the future and you know well Vince will be nagging him constantly to do Mania next year.

With HBK gone they are fast running out of genuinely great in ring workers who can steal the show at Mania.:eek:

Maybe that's why they might be pushing Swagger a bit, cause he's pretty good technically.

Vince135792003

waltersobchak wrote: »

Not a f*cking chance he's retired lads.. As if HBK, One of the greatest and most loyal servant's to WWE ever.. Would retire on a losing match and then have such a low key, and sombre fairwell.. Wake Up ta f*ck your being worked, he'll be back by the next Wrestlemania. No doubt about it..

While I kinda agree in that I think in the distant future he could come back I don't agree that it was that low key or sombre.

His last match was the main event of probably the most profitable wrestling show ever.

And then he got 15 minutes to speak from the heart. While it was sad, he seemed quite fullfilled and reflective in his speech in a way that say Flair wasn't. It was a speech from a guy who was very much at peace and happy in what he has accomplished.

He struck me as a guy who'll miss it but has other things going on in his life that mean alot to him too whereas for someone like Flair, about the only constant in his life is wrestling.

flahavaj

Vince135792003 wrote: »

While I kinda agree in that I think in the distant future he could come back I don't agree that it was that low key or sombre.

His last match was the main event of probably the most profitable wrestling show ever.

And then he got 15 minutes to speak from the heart. While it was sad, he seemed quite fullfilled and reflective in his speech in a way that say Flair wasn't. It was a speech from a guy who was very much at peace and happy in what he has accomplished.

He struck me as a guy who'll miss it but has other things going on in his life that mean alot to him too whereas for someone like Flair, about the only constant in his life is wrestling.

This is a great post, especially the bold bit.

Rjd2

flahavaj wrote: »

With HBK gone they are fast running out of genuinely great in ring workers who can steal the show at Mania.:eek:

:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Fail. Epic Fail.

waltersobchak

Vince135792003 wrote: »

While I kinda agree in that I think in the distant future he could come back I don't agree that it was that low key or sombre.

His last match was the main event of probably the most profitable wrestling show ever.

And then he got 15 minutes to speak from the heart. While it was sad, he seemed quite fullfilled and reflective in his speech in a way that say Flair wasn't. It was a speech from a guy who was very much at peace and happy in what he has accomplished.

He struck me as a guy who'll miss it but has other things going on in his life that mean alot to him too whereas for someone like Flair, about the only constant in his life is wrestling.

I dunno dont get me wrong it was awesome and i enjoyed every minute of it.. But it didnt seem fitting to me, a guy like Flair who spent a minor part of his career in WWE gets the greatest send off in the history of wrestling, but HBK gets a simple Tommy Dreamer style fairwell just doesnt add up for me tbh.. I guess the word im looking for is inevitablity, it didnt have that final feeling of inevitablity and that we'll never ever see him wrestle again

Vince135792003

waltersobchak wrote: »

but HBK gets a simple Tommy Dreamer style fair well just doesnt add up for me tbh

I see no similarity.

Tommy Dreamer did not get to main event Wrestlemania in his last match. Tommy Dreamer did not get 20 minutes to speak on Raw. Dreamer did not get about 7 video packages on Raw showing the highs of his career.

Yeah you could have done Ric Flair retirement version 2 and have everyone come out for him but to be honest, I thought this was just as good, in some ways better.

Rjd2

Vince135792003 wrote: »

I think as of today he's very genuine about not wanting to wrestle again.

But this is wrestling.

Exactly, did Bret Hart really need to come back? Rock who is loaded and making tons of money has been making noises about maybe returning as has Goldberg. HBK in a few years may get the same itch really, despite how financially secure he is.

waltersobchak

Vince135792003 wrote: »

I see no similarity.

Tommy Dreamer did not get to main event Wrestlemania in his last match. Tommy Dreamer did not get 20 minutes to speak on Raw. Dreamer did not get about 7 video packages on Raw showing the highs of his career.

Yeah you could have done Ric Flair retirement version 2 and have everyone come out for him but to be honest, I thought this was just as good, in some ways better.

I dunno for someone who's had such a tremendous career, who innovated so many matches for WWE, Like the Ladder, HITC and was in the first Elimination Chamber, to have his final match be a rushed and also losing one and on somebody else's terms no less. Then to have a couple of little vignettes and a ten minute sombre fairwell wasn't a fitting way for him to go as far as im concerned

flahavaj

waltersobchak wrote: »

I dunno for someone who's had such a tremendous career, who innovated so many matches for WWE, Like the Ladder, HITC and was in the first Elimination Chamber, to have his final match be a rushed and also losing one and on somebody else's terms no less. Then to have a couple of little vignettes and a ten minute sombre fairwell wasn't a fitting way for him to go as far as im concerned

How could they have done it better though?

Vince135792003

waltersobchak wrote: »

I dunno for someone who's had such a tremendous career, who innovated so many matches for WWE, Like the Ladder, HITC and was in the first Elimination Chamber, to have his final match be a rushed and also losing one and on somebody else's terms no less. Then to have a couple of little vignettes and a ten minute sombre fairwell wasn't a fitting way for him to go as far as im concerned

Your mixing character and real life up here. I remember an interview from last years Wrestlemania where he said he wanted WM26 to be his last match. He could have gone out nayway he wanted. These were the terms he wanted to go out on.....and they were great terms.

He had about 6 vignettes, more than a couple including a phenomenal video at the start of Raw.

The last segment was closer to 20 minutes rather than 10. Yes, it was sad but it was also genuine, sincere and a guy at peace with the whole thing. And the crowd had a real genuine love for him.

His last match was the main event of the biggest show of the year and probably the most profitable of all time.

All very good terms.


Very few top guys get to go out like that.

D.Q

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

why do people keep calling this WM the most profitable of all time?

waltersobchak

Like i said i enjoyed it a lot. infact i thought it was quite possibly one of the best things ive seen on WWE television ever, period.. But i really didnt think it had that air of of finallity that Flair's had(at the time!) and certain parts of it seemed like a work thanking Bret Hart in particular

Sorry i ment kayfabe "being on someone elses terms" in that line

flahavaj

DieselQueen wrote: »

why do people keep calling this WM the most profitable of all time?

Presumably the fact that it was available in more markets worldwide than ever before. I haven't seem the Observer yet, I suppose its all in there.

Machismo Fan

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

flahavaj wrote: »

Presumably the fact that it was available in more markets worldwide than ever before. I haven't seem the Observer yet, I suppose its all in there.

Plus I'd imagine significantly more Canadians would have bought the show. I really don't think his speech could've been done better, it was the emotional, sincere moment that it needed to be.

Degag

Would agree with alot of other posters here in that i think that he was very genuine about retiring. However in 6 months when he's at home watching RAW on tv, it will start knawing at him. I think he alluded to it himself last night, that wrestling is pretty much all he knows. It'll be very difficult to just walk away from it.

parker kent

He has retired once before and come back so I guess you never know. It being wrestling, I never feel anybody is going to stay retired. I doubt he will ever be a regular again, but he may have a few special appearance matches in the future.

Also it is a pity he didn't get to win the WWE title one more time too. Would have marked out big time seeing him get the title one last time.

Gerard.C

If HBK was gone bais, we'd know. There;s be a whole week of tributes, not 15 mins on raw

bigeasyeah

No way is he retired.His ego will drive him back on front of people.

EdK

bigeasyeah wrote: »

No way is he retired.His ego will drive him back on front of people.

What ego? He was so dignified on Raw it was amazing even pointing out all his mistakes, he left on his own terms, Maybe Shawn himself wanted a lowkey farewell as opposed to an over the top blubbering cliched suck up fest like Ric Flair had

Also it was funny that when Shawn said I know how you all feel about "wrestling retirements" and career ending matches the crowd started wooing

I honestly believe his time has come from his own point of view he's done it all has faced everyone, has his money made and is a happy and content man who doesnt need his ass kissed by everyone publically on the way out for it to be a "fitting" retirement

SilverFox261

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

I believe we've seen the last of HBK aswell.

WWE usually bring some one who was "retired" back was because they wanted to put the retiree in some dream match that the fan's wanted to see. But HBK has wrestled just about every big name out there past and present, so i can't think up any match that they would bring him back for.

The only way I can see HBK come back is that in the next few years WWE are completely lacking a big draw for Mania and they ask Shawn to come back to bring up the buy rates. In his fairwell speech he said he wanted to keep his word and would do everything in his power to not wrestle again. To me that sounds like he would like to make the retirement legit, but would come back as a favour to Vince if it was ever really necessary.

Big Daddy Cool

i'm not sure he'll stay retired, when he said on raw ''that he'll do everything in his power not to make it (one more match) happen, i just felt thats not a catagorical no to a match, i feel if the hall of fame next year is a wcw theme, and like he said vince can be very persuasive, i think he'll be tempted to come out of retirement by somebody like goldberg who hasnt said no to a final match cos his son has never saw him wrestle and he'd like him to, or sting depending if TNA is still in business.

Dancor

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

I think Michaels is done now. He mentioned something about giving Undertaker his word and after what Flair has done im sure he knows how it feels.

(Anyone know if Flair and Michaels are on good terms?)

I think most people didnt really belive it because there was no real build up to Shawn retiring (video pakages, highlights, serious talk of him actually leaving) it was only after WM was going off air and Monday night that people realised it was for real.

Penn

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

Dancor wrote: »

(Anyone know if Flair and Michaels are on good terms?)

I'd presume they are. After all, with the WOOO chants, Michaels could have easily given Flair a slight dig.

I wouldn't be surprised to see HBK come back in a few years when Triple H decides to retire (after about 6 more title reigns). I seriously doubt he'll be back as a full-time wrestler, and I doubt he'd even have one more match. The only way would be if Triple H asked him to be in his last match.

Maybe a few one-off appearances down the line either, similar to Stone Cold

JP Liz V1

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

Its a shame he has retired WWE and RAW wont be the same without him - i think if he goes into the HOF next year which he should he might do one match at WM or guest ref a match at WM

His farewell speech was heartfelt and honest and he really seemed to be saying goodbye

I dont think he could have got a send off like Flair since a lot of his past competitiors/partners (Nash, Angle, Hall, Hogan and Flair) are now in TNA but it would have been nice to see the entire RAW locker room, Shawn's family and maybe Jannetty come out but at least HHH did all recovered after Sheamus's attack in no time a great sell btw :rolleyes:

SlickRic

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

SilverFox261 wrote: »

so i can't think up any match that they would bring him back for.

there's only one.

The Great One.

Tribesmen7

Its better they didn't go the Flair route with all the wrestlers heading out ringside. Not that there was anything wrong with Flairs sendoff, there wasn't, but I dont think they wanted this one to be a copy of that. Plus all the wrestlers coming out might have taken the spotlight away from Shawn. This was about Shawn, about what he wanted to say. He had the ring all to himself, him and the fans as he got to shoot from the heart. I would say it was the way he wanted to do it, and the best way to do it.

silvervixen84

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

We'll see him next year when he's inducted into the Hall of Fame, with possibly a guest ref spot at WM27, but I think he's genuinely hung up his boots this time

Penn

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

I actually don't think he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame next year. I think they'll wait a few years

amacachi

I'd just like to thank the OP and whoever just posted for getting onto the boards.ie front page and not in any way spoiling anything for me.

Tribesmen7

paddyirishman85 wrote: »

I actually don't think he'll be inducted into the Hall of Fame next year. I think they'll wait a few years

And they should. Dont think they need to rush it.

Penn

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

Tribesmen7 wrote: »

And they should. Dont think they need to rush it.

Exactly. And if they wait a few years, he might be more likely to do something at that Wrestlemania like be a guest referee or something

shinzon

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

for once id just like to see a wrestler keep his word retire and stay retired, but as always big money offers and the lure of performing in front of huge crowds aagin always seems to get the better of wrestlers

I do genuinely hope shawn stays retired, he has cemented his legacy he doesnt need to do anymore, and I kinda liked the low key way his farewell was handled, just him and the mike and his speech, simple to the point and not overly exaggerated.

I have to say though if he does get the itch the only match id like to see him in is Trips retirement, it would kind of bookend the whole thing

Shin

Wompa1

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

He has left a hole that only Steve Blackman can fill...bring back Head Cheese.

It was a great speech. He should not come back in a wrestling capacity. He does have charisma so I'm sure he'd suit a different role down the line if required...with the occasional sweet chin music for good measure

jaykhunter

Wow 60% think he's staying away! Forever! :eek::eek:

C'mon, Hogan's retirement match at WM8 (:p) and Flair's...well last 13 years in the biz......wrestlers can't stay away; he'll be wrestling at Mania 27 or 28. I'd be absolutely shocked if he actually retired. The only guy to walk away was Jack Brisco, and Austin as well, (even though he never did a retirement match) fair balls to him.

Tribesmen7

jaykhunter wrote: »

Wow 60% think he's staying away! Forever! :eek::eek:

C'mon, Hogan's retirement match at WM8 (:p) and Flair's...well last 13 years in the biz......wrestlers can't stay away; he'll be wrestling at Mania 27 or 28. I'd be absolutely shocked if he actually retired. The only guy to walk away was Jack Brisco, and Austin as well, (even though he never did a retirement match) fair balls to him.

Hasn't he just come out and said that he has one more match left in him?

jaykhunter

Tribesmen7 wrote: »

Hasn't he just come out and said that he has one more match left in him?

Haven't seen RAW yet

Xinkai

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

He said it in an interview 2 days ago.

He won't come back for 1 more match, Shawn is an IRL holy man, if he comes back, it'd be like him breaking a promise to god lol. Another reason why he won't come back, he's had 2 of the greatest matches of his career with Taker, hell, for the 1st time ever i think, they gave the WM Main Event spot to someone that wasn't the royal rumble winner, if he came back, there'd just be sour faces all over. You can tell Flair & Hogan aren't that popular within WWE after what they done by jumping ship, Shawn wouldn't want that.

As for his Induction into the HOF, they should wait 3-5 years, let the HBK hype be 100% stone dead & bring him back.

Ted DiBiase SNR wrestled in the 80's and he's only in now.
Austin took 2 or 3 years after his final match to be inducted, after people had all but forgotten about him.

It's no question that HBK is going in, but it won't be for a few years.

On another note, i was never really a hardcore fan, but i'll admit, it's gonna be hard watching RAW and not seeing HBK on a weekly basis.

jaykhunter

What if he showed up on RAW 2 years down the line, and someone beat him up -- and HBK kept saying "no, he can't return" (but the fans would go mental for him) and HBK agreed to a non-sanctioned match so he technically wouldn't break his vow?

Plus he only promised the wrestling world, on a few weeks notice. Fans will forgive (arguably) the greatest wrestler of all time. :cool:

I think Flair's departure and return erased hope of wrestlers' words meaning anything (and he was about 15 years older than HBK!)

Gerard.C

He's no more retired than Terry Funk is lads

JP Liz V1

Goway bai, you're some dope if you believe he's done, shur wrestlers never know when to stop.

jaykhunter wrote: »

What if he showed up on RAW 2 years down the line, and someone beat him up ** and HBK kept saying "no, he can't return" (but the fans would go mental for him) and HBK agreed to a non-sanctioned match so he technically wouldn't break his vow?

Plus he only promised the wrestling world, on a few weeks notice. Fans will forgive (arguably) the greatest wrestler of all time. :cool:

I think Flair's departure and return erased hope of wrestlers' words meaning anything (and he was about 15 years older than HBK!)

*inserts CM Punk*

Motley Crue

A couple of points. The Fabulous Moolah "participated" in matches until she was 84 [she was seen at Summerslam 2007 backstage and died that November]. Wrestlers do not stop, at any stage, until they literally drop or they physically cannot wrestle.

Shawn Michael's taught his career was over after Wrestlemania 14, and it didn't end, he got a second shot in 2002. 8 years later it's possible he has decided to take a back seat...but, I don't think he will be completely done with wrestling.

Michaels is also rumoured to be doing a reality show - and he is going to need help with its promotion on US TV - which means spots on Raw etc

Dreamer retired but I can see him coming back, I can't see Michael's coming back full time but I'm thinking in about 3 years he may have an itch to step inside the ring for another match - I'm just upset I can't see him now in the UK and wishing I had of gone to see WM Revenge in 2005. I've missed a lot of wrestlers who died but Michaels retiring at least gives me the hope he'll come back one day

Vince135792003

jaykhunter wrote: »

I think Flair's departure and return erased hope of wrestlers' words meaning anything (and he was about 15 years older than HBK!)

To be fair, he's not the only 1 that went back on a retirement.