It was the vault one.

While I like HBK, he's never resonated with me in the same way that the Hitman did. Shawn is a once in a life type time type of wrestler. However, I rarely got invested in him like I did Bret

Bret/Shawn ended up being such an odd rivalry overall. When listing each man's ultimate rival/opponent, they are who is brought up for the other, but they never had the number of matches you'd expect and at the times you'd expect.

- They faced off on a Feb 1990 Wrestling Challenge, that seemed like it could be setting up Foundation/Rockers at Mania VI, but that didn't happen. The teams faced off on the April 1990 SNME with Demo interfering, almost like a three-way feud in the NBC universe, with Demo/Rockers on the next SNME with Foundation and LOD coming out. Then the rope break stopped the Rockers title change from airing on the November 1990 The Main Event and the change got nixed.

- They faced off on house shows post-Mania VIII and cut inset promos on each other on TV but didn't do a memorable angle. If SummerSlam 1992 had taken place in Washington D.C. rather than London, then they may have had a ladder match for the IC Title, which they had run on a house show. They faced off at the 1992 Survivor Series but due to the circumstances (Bret winning the World Title out of nowhere due to steroid investigation/Flair ear injury/Warrior HGH and this match closing the show), it ended up feeling like two midcarders in a spot they shouldn't have been in, rather than a battle of two midcarders showing they may be ready to start moving up to that spot (like Rock/HHH at SummerSlam).

- Due to Lawler's legal issues, Michaels was brought out of his suspension to take King's spot and essentially his character of ragging on the Hart Family for Survivor Series 1993.

- Then in 1996, we have Mania XII and the Iron Man, which I guess was them wanting to show how different the main event scene in the Fed was compared to Hogan vs. Dungeon of Doom. But this match would've been far better served being 20-25 mins.

- Then they are going to do the rematch at Mania 13, but Shawn loses his smile. They are going to have a match at the 1997 KOTR, but Bret's legit injury won't allow it. The day after KOTR, they have the backstage hair-pull so Shawn is not against the Hart Foundation at Canadian Stampede. Shawn is ref for Bret/Taker at SummerSlam and maybe we are finally setting up this long-awaited match. The two have been feuding throughout 1997 without actually facing each other on TV. Then when we finally get it at the 1997 Survivor Series, Bret is leaving and the match is truncated, ending with the Screwjob.

Oct 5, 2022 21:25:40 GMT Strobe said:

- They faced off on house shows post-Mania VIII and cut inset promos on each other on TV but didn't do a memorable angle.

Only went to a few WWF House Shows, but one of them happened to include Bret vs. Shawn from that period. Wish I remembered it better. Think the finish was Shawn getting hit by Sherri on the apron, then Bret did a roll-up pin from behind for the win. Shawn actually did jobs back then.

While I understand the reasons why from a general perspective, it saddens me to see Bret act like a bitter, sour old man. Goldberg has apologized on multiple occasions but Bret won't forgive him.

Oct 5, 2022 21:25:40 GMT Strobe said:

Bret/Shawn ended up being such an odd rivalry overall. When listing each man's ultimate rival/opponent, they are who is brought up for the other, but they never had the number of matches you'd expect and at the times you'd expect.

- They faced off on a Feb 1990 Wrestling Challenge, that seemed like it could be setting up Foundation/Rockers at Mania VI, but that didn't happen. The teams faced off on the April 1990 SNME with Demo interfering, almost like a three-way feud in the NBC universe, with Demo/Rockers on the next SNME with Foundation and LOD coming out. Then the rope break stopped the Rockers title change from airing on the November 1990 The Main Event and the change got nixed.

- They faced off on house shows post-Mania VIII and cut inset promos on each other on TV but didn't do a memorable angle. If SummerSlam 1992 had taken place in Washington D.C. rather than London, then they may have had a ladder match for the IC Title, which they had run on a house show. They faced off at the 1992 Survivor Series but due to the circumstances (Bret winning the World Title out of nowhere due to steroid investigation/Flair ear injury/Warrior HGH and this match closing the show), it ended up feeling like two midcarders in a spot they shouldn't have been in, rather than a battle of two midcarders showing they may be ready to start moving up to that spot (like Rock/HHH at SummerSlam).

- Due to Lawler's legal issues, Michaels was brought out of his suspension to take King's spot and essentially his character of ragging on the Hart Family for Survivor Series 1993.

- Then in 1996, we have Mania XII and the Iron Man, which I guess was them wanting to show how different the main event scene in the Fed was compared to Hogan vs. Dungeon of Doom. But this match would've been far better served being 20-25 mins.

- Then they are going to do the rematch at Mania 13, but Shawn loses his smile. They are going to have a match at the 1997 KOTR, but Bret's legit injury won't allow it. The day after KOTR, they have the backstage hair-pull so Shawn is not against the Hart Foundation at Canadian Stampede. Shawn is ref for Bret/Taker at SummerSlam and maybe we are finally setting up this long-awaited match. The two have been feuding throughout 1997 without actually facing each other on TV. Then when we finally get it at the 1997 Survivor Series, Bret is leaving and the match is truncated, ending with the Screwjob.

You can also count a handful of matches taped for Coliseum Home Video. By my count there was:

- 4/29/92 singles match (Invasion of the Body Slammers)

- 6/2/92 singles match (Rampage 92 (not the UK show))

- 7/20/92 tag match with Randy Savage and Ric Flair (Grudge, Gripes, & Grunts)

- 7/21/92 ladder match (Smack'em Whack'em)

- 12/1/93 cage match (Bret Hitman Hart)

- 1/12/94 singles match (Bret Hitman Hart)

In addition, the Hart Foundation and The Rockers battled on an episode of Primetime Wrestling in 1989, had a banger of a match at the November 1989 MSG, and even wrestled at the Tokyo Dome at one of those WWE/SWS joint shows.

So while it is true that they didn't have as many high profile matches as you'd expect for a huge rivalry, it felt like they just kept coming back to each other even if it's something like interactions in the Royal Rumble or getting involved in matches against their buddies (Diesel or Hunter) or family (Bulldog or Owen).

My gut reaction to the question was to vote Bret and leave it at that, because he is more my type of wrestler. Highly technical, an emphasis on making everything look as snug and realistic as possible. Great storyteller.

But I shouldn't dismiss Shawn Michaels entirely. I've had far more exposure to HBK, specifically the second half of his career in 2000s/2010s WWE. Michaels vs Angle at Wrestlemania 21 was my first "favourite match ever". Years later, the first Michaels vs Taker streak match at Wrestlemania 25 was my second "favourite match ever". He certainly has the capability of great storytelling and great ringwork, but as a whole I found it hard to buy into his matches due to his relatively small size and his generally soft offense. On the flipside, he's always been a tremendously strong bumper and seller. So while his best work may be up there, or even better than, Bret's best...I'd still lean towards Bret overall.

I've seen little of HBK pre-2000, but one match I have seen is the Bad Blood HIAC against Taker. He is a completey different wrestler there compared to what I described. He had a lot more muscle mass back then, and his offense looked a lot more convincing. I really love that match, they had great chemistry.

Considering how comparatively little of Bret I've seen, perhaps I prefer Bret more in principle than in reality. That said, I haven't seen a Bret match or even promo that I didn't like. I'd have to watch more of him to really differentiate between the two.

I don't think anyone should overlook the greatness of Shawn vs Hogan at Summerslam 2005!

Yes, that is a glorious match. Perhaps the most entertaining HBK has ever been.

That's why I loved Ground Zero. It was basically the Hogan match, only sold like it wasn't an over the top shoot.

Oct 4, 2022 12:10:25 GMT Big Pete said:

It all goes back to the most shocking moment in shoot interview history.



I fell off my chair when Bret admitted this 8 years ago.

This will never get old.

The unpredictability of Bret's opinions showcases how advanced his thinking is. Where Dean Malenko is a bad wrestler and Balls Mahoney is a good one, and then you kind of understand where he's coming from, truly one of the greatest opiners out there.