Shawn Michaels to be inducted in the WWE Hall of Fame

This past Monday Night WWE announced their first person to be inducted in the 2011 WWE Hall of Fame and it was none other then the “Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels. People are saying it’s too soon for him to be inducted but he should have been inducted before he retired because he was that good. Shawn Michaels has had an illustrious career that spanned over 25 years.

My first memories of Shawn Michaels were when he teamed with Marty Jannetty as The Rockers. They were the first of their kind, and such a dynamic team. He broke off from Jannetty in late 1991 and became The Heartbreak Kid and started what was to be one of the greatest singles career in the history of pro wrestling. He won his first Intercontinental Championship in 1992 defeating the British Bulldog. His greatest accomplishment was at Wrestlemania 12 when he took on Bret Hart in a 60-minute Iron Man Match and won his first WWE Championship. He had a great two year run on and off as champion but in 1998 he was forced to quit wrestling because of a severe back injury. His last match was against Stone Cold Steve Austin at Wrestlemania 14 or so we thought.

After having over four years off and overcoming drug and alcohol addictions Shawn returned at Summerslam 2002 and had phenomenal match with Triple H. This match marked the beginning of Shawn’s last run in the WWE which last 7 and a half years. In that time he had so many great matches with so many young stars. Some of the matches that stick out in my mind that a lot of people have forgotten about involved him wrestling Rey Mysterio, Shelton Benjamin, Edge, Randy Orton, and Hulk Hogan.

My favorite time in Shawn’s career was in 2006, when he and Triple H had their second run in the WWE as Degeneration X. It was some of the funniest television I’ve ever seen. Not to mention they had some really great matches that year. It was one of my favorite years in wrestling because I never laughed so hard in my life. I have no doubt in my mind that Triple H will be the one to induct Shawn into the WWE Hall of Fame.

This is very well deserved and it couldn’t come at a better time. Shawn is a legend, an icon, and the greatest in-ring performer of all time including being better then Hogan, Flair, or anyone else you want to throw out there. Shawn will always be the Showstopper, and Mr. Wrestlemania. He will always have the respect of fans and wrestlers a like. Congratulations to Shawn Michaels, the newest member of the WWE Hall of Fame.