WWE: If Shawn Michaels Returned for Only One More Match, Who Should He Face?

When you think of Shawn Michaels, you can't help but remember the most decorated, flamboyant, resilient and prolific wrestler to ever step inside a ring.

While he isn't off WWE TV completely—coming and going a few times per year, most recently to help promote Undertaker vs. Triple H at WrestleMania 28—his impact is mostly marginalized as a retired athlete.

At this point, he is reduced to being a talking head, albeit a very compelling one.

Regardless of the star presence he still has, though, we're aware that the meaning of his words will carry only so far.

That being said, promises, as we've learned in the world of wrestling, bear little finality; in fact, they are often broken.

For instance, although Ric Flair, Terry Funk, The Rock and Mick Foley have all retired (officially or unofficially) at one point or another, they couldn't help but put on their wrestling gear again.

Even Shawn Michaels, who thought he retired for good in spring 1998, eventually made his grand return at SummerSlam 2002 nearly four years later.

No longer hamstrung by a debilitating back injury, what would prevent him from coming out of retirement today notwithstanding his insistence that he wouldn't?

As we last saw him on RAW, Michaels is still in relatively good shape despite gaining a few harmless pounds.

Quite frankly, he looked fresher and more rejuvenated than ever—a stark contrast to his frazzled appearance during his final bout at WrestleMania 26.

However, whether he feels up to signing a part-time contract obligating him to a handful of marquee matches per year is an offer only he could accept or refuse.

For those looking for reasons why Michaels may be having a change of heart, his recent audio interview with WWE.com (covered here) indicated him leaning towards a possible comeback.

Although it was a storyline-based interview, Michaels, for the first time in a long while, emoted a competitive edge underscored with self-affirmations about being the most gifted wrestler who ever lived.

It was chock-full of the kind of fiery passion you don't see from retired athletes, but from ones working diligently to prove their naysayers wrong.

Assuming that fire is once again burning in the depths of his soul, led by the cries of the fans summoning him to his rightful place, Michaels may be due for in-ring action after all.

Even if it is for only one more match, it would be HBK's way of satiating a final hunger while alleviating any remaining doubts about his retirement.

And to do so, he would require an opponent that has eluded him since 1996.

It is an individual who went on to achieve unparalleled stardom during the Attitude Era in the absence of Michaels, who saw the business pass him by like he never existed.

Of course, that man, who has oftentimes occupied the same space as Michaels, but existed on a different plane, is The Rock.

A little over one year ago, with The Rock exclusively making films and Michaels just retired, such a pairing would have been relegated to mere fantasy.

Yet, given the fact "The Great One" is now a WWE superstar for the foreseeable future, having just been confirmed to wrestle at WrestleMania 29 (read about it here), the possibility of watching The Rock battle Shawn Michaels in the ring is more palpable than ever.

The awe factor of seeing the two most versatile performers in WWE history clash at WrestleMania— engulfed by a sea of New Jersey/New York spectators—would be priceless.

Not to mention, with no coveted streak up for grabs and The Rock being a selfless professional, the fans could salute their "Heartbreak" hero off into the sunset as a winner.

Consequently, if it's anywhere near the future radar, that one last triumph against arguably the biggest name pro wrestling has ever seen (The Rock) may be a proposition too difficult for Michaels to resist.

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