Has Shawn Michaels really retired?

[Hammy]

UPDATE ON THE FUTURE OF SHAWN MICHAELS
by Dave Scherer @ 9:58 AM on 3/29/2010

The WWE Public Relations person in the media section at WrestleMania last night was telling reporters after the main event that Shawn Michaels really is retiring. That was also the word going around backstage at the show. If nothing else he will be taking a long break because he was saying goodbyes to people after his match.

It will be interesting to see if that stays the case or not. Personally, I hope that he doesn't. The guy is just too good to hang the boots up. If that was it last night, what a way to go out

True, heck of a way to go, if that's it, well you don't get many exits better than that.

[nightrain]

Definitely a hell of a way to go.  Loved the respect between both UT and HBK at the end.  Emotional moment.

As for whether he is really retiring, well, the tears said a lot to me, plus this wwe.com exclusive may say a lot.

http://www.wwe.com/content/media/video/vms/wrestlemania/2010/march29-31/13951768

[Gnrfan]

Not to sound harsh, but i hope he does retire. I hate D-X and while HBK in-ring talent has never been in question i think the time is right.

The only thing he should come back for is if WWE offered him "One Last Title Run". Thats it. Nothing in wrestling is forever but i'd be suprised if we see HBK again for at least two years.

A HOF ceremony can't be far away for him (say 3 years) maybe he'll come back and wrestle the same year he is inducted.

The bigger question in WWE is getting these young guys over.... last night at Mania Dibiase and Rhodes lost to the more established star, Orton and Sheamus lost to HHH.

The rest of this year should IMO be devoted to advancing guys like Sheamus, Kofi, Morrison, Dibiase, Drew, CM Punk, Swagger, Bryan Daniel, Ziggler & Miz.

I am really hoping for an extended CM Punk vs Cena feud around Summerslam or Survivor Series where Punk takes the title.

HBK will leave a massive big-occasion star hole in the roster but personally i didn't think he brought that much to weekly TV shows this year outside of the Jericho & Taker feuds.

So lets get these new guys rolling so in 5 years time its one of them getting applauded out of Mania after the main event

[slashsfro]

I think he's pretty much done.  He and Undertaker have talked about retiring for the last few years though.  I really think WWE should have given him one last proper title run within the last four years or so.  Undertaker got one last year (or was it the year before) and I thought Michaels could have gotten one as well.

[Gnrfan]

I think he's pretty much done.  He and Undertaker have talked about retiring for the last few years though.  I really think WWE should have given him one last proper title run within the last four years or so.  Undertaker got one last year (or was it the year before) and I thought Michaels could have gotten one as well.

Yeah i think he was offered one last run on SD but refused and kinda blotted his copy book.

I think one last run would of been cool and obviously Mania last year brought about this years match, but thats a huge rub for someone gone beggin.

[Yankee1012]

I think HBK is done wrestling full-time. I think somewhere down the road he will wrestle one more match. I think it will be against HHH.

I do think HBK is done for good. He won't ever come back and get into a fued with someone like a CM Punk for 2 months just because Punk wants to see if he can beat him. No I don't think HBK will ever do a fued like that.

I think HBK will make appearances from time to time like Stone Cold does. Who knows when we see HBK on WWE TV again. It will not be for a very long time (when i say that I mean like at least 8 months to 18 months) thats for sure.

[Hammy]

Fantastic farewell speech, great to see how much he's matured over the years, saying sorry to Bret for driving him nuts, and now he gets to spend time with his family, one of if not the best send offs ever.  I think one of the main reasons is he's one of the few to retire when he's still delivering 5* matches and because he really does seem to mean that's it, considering how adamant he was, it'll take a few years and a lot of negotiating to coax him back into the ring.

[Gnrfan]

HBK will be back.

Of that i am sure. When the situation is right, against the right person, Probally at Mania.

He will miss it like crazy and eventully that will tell.

The real question is How Long? i'd say 3 or 4 years.

[Hammy]

He will miss it like crazy and eventully that will tell.

This isn't Ric Flair though, he doesn't need the business like Flair does, Michaels, going off interviews and that promo is so devoted to religion and his family I could see him being the first that keeps his word.

[Izzy]

He will be back, next mania - expect his name

Wrestlers only ever leave for films or injury

[Hammy]

TNA President Dixie Carter wrote the following message on Twitter this evening, which is presumably a comment about the low TNA rating from last night and the idea that Shawn Michaels’ farewell hurt iMPACT.

She wrote: “Thank goodness he can only retire once…hopefully. Shawn, congrats on an amazing career!”

[Hammy]

Watching NXT at the moment, they've just had the RAW Recap where they had a great video package showing HBK on RAW/Mania and Career Highlights etc. and it just reminded me that this really is the ideal time for him to retire, for once someone is retiring while they can still go in the ring, leaving you wanting more, rather than thinking, good riddance, it's more a case of damn, he still had a lot to give, in the ring, on the big stage, he was still stealing the show, best way to go, I'll miss him, I'd of hated for him to carry on for another 5-10 years and have me think, just retire already!

[Izzy]

Watching NXT at the moment, they've just had the RAW Recap where they had a great video package showing HBK on RAW/Mania and Career Highlights etc. and it just reminded me that this really is the ideal time for him to retire, for once someone is retiring while they can still go in the ring, leaving you wanting more, rather than thinking, good riddance, it's more a case of damn, he still had a lot to give, in the ring, on the big stage, he was still stealing the show, best way to go, I'll miss him, I'd of hated for him to carry on for another 5-10 years and have me think, just retire already!

very true.

Sad he's the best wrestler WWE has/had

[James Lofton]

Watching NXT at the moment, they've just had the RAW Recap where they had a great video package showing HBK on RAW/Mania and Career Highlights etc. and it just reminded me that this really is the ideal time for him to retire, for once someone is retiring while they can still go in the ring, leaving you wanting more, rather than thinking, good riddance, it's more a case of damn, he still had a lot to give, in the ring, on the big stage, he was still stealing the show, best way to go, I'll miss him, I'd of hated for him to carry on for another 5-10 years and have me think, just retire already!

Excellent point. I think he'll be back soon(probably within months which is why I picked him in that game), but you are correct....... these guys just don't know when to quit. I understand it becomes their life and they cant imagine not doing it and they all have families to feed, but it tarnishes their legacy or at least how certain fans perceive them. Flair is the greatest ever, but he just went way past his expiration date. The absolute perfect time for him to retire would have been after he beat Vader for the title in 93.



Another example is Ricky Morton....



Note to Ricky: You look like my grandpa. Please get out of the ring.

[Hammy]

Watching NXT at the moment, they've just had the RAW Recap where they had a great video package showing HBK on RAW/Mania and Career Highlights etc. and it just reminded me that this really is the ideal time for him to retire, for once someone is retiring while they can still go in the ring, leaving you wanting more, rather than thinking, good riddance, it's more a case of damn, he still had a lot to give, in the ring, on the big stage, he was still stealing the show, best way to go, I'll miss him, I'd of hated for him to carry on for another 5-10 years and have me think, just retire already!

Excellent point. I think he'll be back soon(probably within months which is why I picked him in that game), but you are correct....... these guys just don't know when to quit. I understand it becomes their life and they cant imagine not doing it and they all have families to feed, but it tarnishes their legacy or at least how certain fans perceive them.

Honestly, I enjoyed it so much I'm actually looking forward to seeing the RAW Recap again a few more times this week.

Maybe it's because I'm a HBK mark but listening to his farewell speech, and him even mentioning what wrestling retirements are like, he's the first guy who I really believe, heck I think he believes it, for now at least.  Maybe it's because I'm such a HBK mark.  The difference is though, HBK happily takes time off for many months a year, he can stay away, he is way into his religion hence his never moving to Smackdown and his family, he's so dedicated to all of that, I think for the most part he'll stay away.  Difference with Ric Flair is he bleeds wrestling, away from the business he has very little, he can't cope without it, as much as HBK likes it, he gives the impression he can quite easily remove himself from it as well.

I know you don't keep up with the product these days dude, but if you can, i.e. online I suggest you track down his farewell speech, definately worth watching.