The Reason Behind Shawn Michaels’ Rumored Return to WWE at ‘Crown Jewel’

Shawn Michaels is one of WWE’s most popular Superstars of all time. The Hall of Famer and former world champion headlined the company at the dawn of The Attitude Era. His ring career lasted for 26 years and 22 of those years were spent in Vince McMahon’s company. But is he coming back to the ring?

The Heartbreak Kid retired in 2010 and he has not publicly worked a match since then. He swore that his retirement was legitimate and that he would never wrestle again. But according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, HBK has one more match left in him. That match will supposedly happen on November 2 at WWE’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia.

Michaels will reportedly team with Triple H against The Undertaker and Kane. Many WWE fans likely believed they would never see Degeneration-X versus The Brothers of Destruction in 2018 but apparently, this match is happening all the same. Meltzer spoke about Shawn and Hunter teaming together once again.

“Shawn has said that if he was to come back, it would be as a tag team with Triple H. So that’s what he wants, that’s what he’s going to get.”

Watch Shawn Michaels come face to face with The Undertaker on Raw:

The Undertaker sends a chilling warning to Triple H and Shawn Michaels: Raw, Sept. 3, 2018

Many WWE fans believe that seeing Michaels in the ring again is a good thing. But many others are wondering why the company would book him in the first place, especially considering the level of younger talent that currently reigns in WWE.

“This is a show for the prince and the prince is a wrestling fan from the 90’s. He’s not interested in these guys today, he’s interested in—you know, you heard all the stories—he wanted JR and Jerry Lawler, he wanted Yokozuna, he wanted Ultimate Warrior, you know. Shawn Michales and Undertaker and Kane make sense.”

It’s difficult for many fans to argue with that point. But it’s likely even more difficult to accept that Shawn is coming back at all. Fans indeed love HBK, not only for his accomplishments in the business, but also for what he means to WWE. But this is a return that the majority of the WWE faithful likely believed they would never see. This return would supposedly never happen.

Shawn Michaels left on the best of terms and at the very top of WWE when he retired in 2010. Shawn worked his last match at WrestleMania 26 against The Undertaker and their back-to-back bouts from 2009 and 2010 are regarded by many as two of the best WrestleMania matches of all time. Time had yet to slow The Deadman down. Michaels looked as great as he ever had before. The timing was perfect and everyone knew it.

Watch HBK speak about his retirement:

Shawn Michaels reveals why he's staying retired

Michaels took his final bow on the worldwide stage and he did it in top form. He did it his way and on his terms. Shawn Michaels was Michael Jordan taking the game winning shot against the Utah Jazz in 1998. Jordan retired from the NBA after that game and the time was right. He had done it all and he did it better than anyone else. Jordan left the game behind and he did it while still being able to play at an elite level. What more could a professional athlete ask for?

But Michael Jordan came back of course, just as Shawn Michaels is coming back now. While many NBA fans loved seeing Jordan on the court again, it was obvious that he had lost a half-step from before. It was also obvious that he couldn’t win alone. Jordan was an extremely gifted player and arguably the best of all time. But without a strong supporting cast around him, he was only effective to a point. One man cannot win it all.

So where does this leave Shawn Michaels? Pro wrestling is unlike every other major sport inasmuch as a talent is judged on overall performance, not wins and losses. Indeed Shawn’s losses are usually not the topic of conversation when fans discuss his greatness and overall impact on the business. It’s the content of his matches that matter the most. It’s his ability to step up and deliver like no one else ever could.

Many believe Shawn Michaels to be the best ever and the lasting image of him on his back at WrestleMania 26 does not last. In fact, no one even thinks about that. It’s what he did through the totality of his career that matters the most. 

Watch HBK talk about a possible return:

Shawn Michaels REVEALS details on possible WWE in-ring return!

But what will fans remember after Crown Jewel on November 2? Michales takes pride in his work and he always has. That will surely be just as true today as it was 20 years ago. It’s hard to believe that he will step into the ring at Crown Jewel if he isn’t confident that he can deliver a great match. It may be a tag team bout but the last thing in the world Michaels wants is to phone it in. Fans don’t want that either.

Assuming this match will be one for the ages, then what’s next? Anything? Is Crown Jewel nothing but a payday for The Heartbreak Kid or is it a new beginning for him? Longtime WWE fans are certainly anxious to see him step through the ropes again but how do today’s generation of fans feel about it? Will they regard him as a pampered part-timer like Bock Lesnar? Or will Shawn Michaels be viewed as a beloved Hall of Famer worthy of as much spotlight as he wants?

The fact is that Shawn Michaels did leave on his own terms in 2010. There is no denying that. But he’s also coming back on his own terms now. If he didn’t want to work at Crown Jewel, it’s highly unlikely that WWE would force his hand. Shawn has never responded all that well to authority because he is his own man. He decides what’s best for him and his career. What makes 2018 any different?

HBK is indeed one of the greatest performers that the industry has ever known. If this is what he wants, then fans should accept it. It won’t be easy for some and many will surely debate the pros and cons of it for months to come, perhaps longer. But Shawn Michaels is a legend and he deserves to call his own shot. Whether or not this shot is the right one remains to be seen.

Tom Clark can regularly be seen on Wrestling Rumors. His podcast, Tom Clark’s Main Event, is available on iTunes,YouTube, iHeart Radio, boinkstudios.com and live every Friday at 12pm EST on Wrestling Rumors Facebook Live