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The G.O.A.T.
By: Derek X | Posted: 04/18/11

The Greatest of all Time is always a debatable issue. No one ever has the exact same opinion on who it should be or why they deserve such an honor. In the world of professional wrestling, this is no different. What makes someone worthy of being the G.O.A.T.? Is it the titles they've won? Or the matches they've been a part of? Regardless of the criteria, there's no mistaking that TWF's Greatest Wrestler of all Time is...




There is sure to be some derision because I know Shawn Michaels isn't everyone's favorite wrestler but I, for one, am not against this decision. I've said before that HBK is the reason why I ever started watching professional wrestling. I can only imagine that's true for a lot of fans. Shawn Michaels had all the tools to be at the top of the business: energy, presence, charisma, mic skills and in-ring ability. I wouldn't say Shawn Michaels was the best at any of these particular components, but he probably combined them better than almost anyone. Personally, what endeared HBK to me the most was his passion for this business. What he did in the ring and how he connected to his fans was not a facade. At least not to me.

But I did ask in the opening what it was that made someone eligible to be the G.O.A.T.? Maybe it's the championships they've acquired throughout their years of service. Shawn Michaels is a 3-Time WWE Champion, 3-Time Intercontinental Champion, 6-Time Tag Team Champion and 1-Time World Heavyweight Champion. He is also the first of only 10 Grand Slam Champions. Do those stats alone make him the G.O.A.T.? No. Edge just retired as a 10-time World Champion, Triple H is going to retire as a 11-time World Champion and John Cena is due for his 10th World Championship anytime now - a number which will only serve to grow exponentially over the next ten years. How can Shawn Michaels' measly 4 World Titles possibly hold up to those gaudy numbers?

Perhaps it's the accolades that makes the G.O.A.T. HBK has won the Royal Rumble twice - still holding the record for the most eliminations overall. He has been a part of PWI's Match of The Year 11 times - 4 times for the Wrestling Observer. Surely these accomplishments alone would make anyone the G.O.A.T., right? Not at all. Shawn Michaels isn't the only two-time Royal Rumble winner. And while the multiple Matches of the Year are astounding, it takes two to tango in most equations, so Shawn Michaels doesn't get credit for them alone.

It may be how well the G.O.A.T. stacks up against the other contenders. If you really want to know, look no further than #'s 2-10 on this list. Shawn Michaels has correlation to pretty much all of them. He's pulled great matches out of them all, some of them well after their prime. His match with Kurt Angle at Wrestlemania XXI will stand the test of time. The same goes for his match with Ric Flair at Wrestlemania XXIV, and his epic matches with The Undertaker at Wrestlemania XXV and XXVI, respectively. No wonder they call this man "Mr. Wrestlemania".

They also call him "The Showstopper", "The Icon" and "The Main Event". Is it the nicknames that make the G.O.A.T.? Of course not, but with nicknames like those, you can only imagine how great Shawn Michaels really is.

So, what exactly is it that makes someone the G.O.A.T.? Who really knows? If you ask me, it's all of the above and more. Like Shawn Michaels or hate him, you can't deny his impact on the world of professional wrestling. There's one more nickname I forgot to add: "The Heart-Break Kid." I think that nickname is false. There's nothing heart-breaking about Shawn Michaels. He is the heart and soul of professional wrestling.

- Derek X
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