10 Wrestlers Who Would Give HBK a Run For His Showstopper Status!
The Showstopper, Mr. Wrestlemania and the 2011 Hall of Famer HBK Shawn Michaels, in many people's eyes is the greatest product to come out of the wrestling world.
In some aspects I agree with the above statement and whatever this article implies, I just want to point out that I respect the guy and I give him his props.
However, the status of Showstopper is thrown around a lot around these day. I feel that the following 10 superstars are in a league of their own when compared to HBK, I feel that if anything they deserve to be called The Showstopper.
I understand what many people might be thinking, how can you have 10 choices for one status. Well nine of the choices are merely evidence as to why HBK is not that special and the final choice is evidence that there is one guy who out ranks HBK in every manner.
This article is some what controversial, however I am willing to debate in the comment section, so feel free to comment and share your views.
10: Brock Lesnar
1 of 10
Lesnar had the best run for a newcomer in the business. He was billed as the next big thing by manager Paul Heyman, a man who would stop at nothing to get to the top.
He accomplished more in two years with the company than most wrestlers in their careers.
He won the Royal Rumble, King Of The Ring, three WWE Championships, and he headlined Wrestlemania 19. The difference with Lesnar and Cena for example is that the push Lesnar got suited his character and persona, and no one really in the WWE Universe complained.
His agility, aerial ability and amazing strength made him a real force to be reckoned with. He was known for botching his moves on a regular basis; however, that only made his character that more exciting to watch.
His matches with Benoit, Undertaker, Big Show and Angle in particular showed the world just how impressive Lesnar really he is.
He was able to make the likes of Mark Henry, Rikishi and Show look like rag dolls in the ring, in my opinion His 60-minute Iron match with Angle was far greater then that of HBK and Bret Hart.
Watch and compare the next two Iron man matches.
9: The Undertaker
2 of 10
The Undertaker or Mark Callaway previously wrestled for the WCW before he made the jump to WWE. In this time, the WCW managed to make a real mockery from what would be one of the greatest wrestlers and icons in the business today.
Undertaker debuted in the WWE in 1990, during a time where characters such as Hogan and Savage were running the show, so how do you create a character so unique an different and throw him into a pack of wild lions, only to come out of there alive?
Well it's simple: create a man who is already dead, that's right, create an Undertaker. His character was such a huge success that he had followers from all over the world coming into watch the Deadman in action.
Perhaps the greatest piece of creative thinking was having this 7-foot man coming in and defeating The American Hero Hulk Hogan for the WWE title within his first year in the company.
This impressed a lot of people who at the time must of felt that wrestling was real, so obviously majority of the WWE Universe will cheer the top dog...just look at Hogan.
They also have Undertaker a nice background which allowed them to build around is character for instance the introduction of Kane his younger brother, Casket matches, Hell in a cell matches, Inferno matches and buried alive matches, all of which suited the big man's criteria.
Lastly by giving Taker the streak it has made him a Legend to a point that if he were to be defeated at Mania then Wrestling would die along with him
8: Chris Benoit
3 of 10
If we are talking about who can put on a greater match between Benoit and HBK, then my money goes to Benoit.
Chris Benoit may have lacked the charisma that HBK had however when you put him in the ring and have him wrestle he makes any legend or talent look foolish.
A prime example is the match these two men had at Wrestlemania 20 alongside HHH, in the match it is clearly evident that while Shawn was great Benoit was greater.
His ability to put his body on the line to entertain the fans is proof enough as to why Benoit should of been called The Showstopper.
7: Jushin Liger
4 of 10
Jushin Liger is one of the most prolific and household names in wrestling today, with his trademark attire and innovative moves such as the shooting star press he has become the definition of Light Heavyweight Wrestler.
With the likes of Jericho, Benoit and Owen Hart all stating that Liger is in a league of his own, it is only fair that for the 20+year career of jushin to be credited as much as possible especially within the IWC.
He has accumulated over 50 championships in his career, his trademark move the shooting star press has been copied by many a superstar such as Brock Lesnar and Evan Bourne.
He is an icon in Japan and a Legend worldwide. I feel he is the international Version of HBK but on a greater scale. He has outranked Shawn in nearly all of the PWI Rankings starting from 1990.
6: The Great Muta
5 of 10
The Great Muta is an international Icon, he became the first wrestler to crossover into America and make a name for himself.
According to Dave Meltzer, he has had more 5 star ranked matches then any other superstar in the world of wrestling.
Like Jushin, Muta was a great innovator and crowd pleaser. His chemistry with the crowd is what helped him personify and create himself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d42Fi-Eqff4 (Muta VS. Sting)
5: Chis Jericho
6 of 10
After his unappreciated spell with the WCW in the mid 90's, Jericho finally decided to jump to rival show WWE after signing a contract with the company in 1999.
Then during a promo that took place on Aug. 9, 1999, we were finally introduced to the already established superstar Chris Jericho.
The crowd went insane, they could not believe there eyes as one of WCW's guys were standing in front of the Titantron whilst the People's Champion, The Rock, was in the ring.
Just to show you how great of a star Jericho is, for a debut he was electric; personally I feel no one has ever come close to duplicating what Jericho did that night.
He was composed, energetic and certainly charismatic, he put on a great display of character as he wooed the Chicago audience, the chemistry he created with the Rock was certainly special.Jericho has the distinct honor of holding the prestigious IC Championship more times than any other superstars
During the Invasion angle, we were treated to some pretty amazing moments such as Stone Cold Steve Austin's Betrayal, DDP revealed as the stalker, The Return of the Rock, and of course Chris Jericho capturing his first heavyweight title.
The great thing about this particular victory is not that he was competing against the Rock, but that he finally achieved what every wrestler wants and that is to be the best in the business at what they do.
Jericho was great at altering his character and controlling the audience: something HBK could not seem to grasp.
4: Macho Man Randy Savage
7 of 10
Macho Man was the HBK of the 80's. While the big guns (Andre and Hogan) were running the main event scene, it was Macho Man who was making the mid card electrify. He had great matches with Steamboat, Perfect, Hogan and others.
However due to the immense popularity of Hulk Hogan, Savage never really got the chance to excel at a top level. However, his amazing mic skills and catch phrases made him a household name in the sport of professional wrestling.
Like HBK, Savage was at his best during Wrestlemania.
3: John Morrison
8 of 10
This slide is more of who will be called the showstopper in the future. I am not comparing the two and I am not suggesting that Morrison is the new Shawn Michaels.
However after the Royal Rumble, I think he proved to everyone, mostly his haters, that he is an OMG type of character.
Like Shelton before him and Hardy before that, Johnny is able to use his amazing skills to create magic in the ring. All he needs is to interact with the audience a bit better, then we will have a real star in the making.
2: The Rock
9 of 10
It is no doubt or question as to why The Rock is considered the greatest wrestler ever in WWE. He was a huge star in the late '90s and early 2000s.
He was instrumental to the success of the WWE during the Monday Night Wars; he along with Mick Foley use to garner some of the highest-rated segments in RAW and Smackdown history.
With a wide following The Rock has electrified audiences all over the world, he is a former nine-time world champion, Royal Rumble Winner, IC and Tag Team Champion.
In 2000, he and HHH has one of the greatest feuds in the history of the sport, it changed wrestling forever as it brought in a whole range of different audiences and crowds.
The Rock was and still is the greatest man to ever hold a microphone to his mouth. His catchphrases and taunts are still used today in movies, wrestling and in schools worldwide.
Whenever the WWE wants to debut a big superstar they always have the Rock facing him, whether its Goldberg, Lesnar, Jericho or Hogan.
My only hope is that The Rock will eventually get inducted into the WWE HOF, as he is one of those legends that, although gone for now, will never be forgotten.
1: Kurt Angle
10 of 10
The greatest wrestler in WWE is without a doubt one of the greatest performers too.
He feuded with nearly every guy on the roster from Kane to Test to Hogan and Rock. Angle was a man somewhat like HBK who could make anyone look good in the ring.
He has won every single achievable title for his weight category. The only accomplishment to elude him is the Royal Rumble; that is not to say that he has not headlined a Wrestlemania, he has headlined four Wrestlemanias.
Angle's feud with Lesnar made 2003 a very successful year for the company as they progressed through the whole Ruthless Aggression era.
He helped guys like Cena, Edge, and others to make it to the top of the mountain
Kurt Angle was everything that HBK is but more.
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