Shawn Michaels to face Undertaker again in Saudi tag showdown

Let’s go back in time just over eight years to WrestleMania 26. It was The Undertaker’s streak versus Shawn Michaels’ legendary WWE career. A match regarded as one of the greatest in WrestleMania history. A match so magical both men had every single person in Arizona that evening on the edge of their seats, not to mention every wrestling fan watching at home.

For many fans this was the perfect match, the perfect story, the perfect way to say goodbye to one of the greatest in ring performers the wrestling world has ever seen. Simply put… it was glorious.

Now let’s jump back to the present, where are we at and what’s changed? Shawn is now a 53-year old man. He occasionally shows his face on WWE television to promote the odd movie and more often than not continues with his comedy shtick. However, the one thing that has not changed is his retirement status.

Mick Foley, Ric Flair, even The Undertaker himself, are three examples of WWE legends that retired only to go back on their word and wrestle again. Not HBK though. After years of teases and a long list of wrestlers begging him for one more match, Shawn has stayed true to his word and remained retired. Until now…

A legends’ reunion

A couple of weeks back on Monday Night Raw, the two legends came face to face one more time in a wonderful piece of story telling, almost a decade in the making. I’m sure the majority of fans were just expecting one huge plug for the Undertaker versus Triple H match scheduled at WWE Super Showdown in Melbourne Australia on October 6th.

Instead we were treated to the biggest tease yet of a Shawn Michaels return to date. Instantly we were transported back to 2010 and that unforgettable feud. The goosebumps, the adrenaline and then… the fear. The fear that a match between the two might just happen. The fear that eight years on could both of these men deliver anything close to what they did before? And the biggest fear of all; that the beautiful story of HBK’s perfect retirement could be ruined forever.

‘An amazing story’

Now with all this said, let’s imagine Shawn has agreed to one last match (let’s be honest money talks). One big pay day at WrestleMania 35 where he gets to return the favor and retire The Undertaker (please allow us to banish the nightmare of WrestleMania 33).

What an amazing story this would be. Almost like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster movie. The retired legend returns to slay the man that ended his career, ending in them both riding off into the sunset, just beautiful.

But hold onto those horses my optimistic wrestling fans. This is modern day WWE we’re talking about and delivering what the fans want isn’t something we’re really use to is it?

D-Generation X vs. Brothers of Destruction

So what are the current plans going forward? If The Showstopper really is coming out of retirement there’s a few things we’d all like to know. First off, who will be his opponent? And secondly, when will this highly anticipated match take place?

Well, according to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the internal plans within WWE for a Shawn Michaels in ring return won’t happen at WrestleMania but at WWE’s upcoming network special from Saudi Arabia on November 2nd.

Meltzer noted that WWE attempted to get Michaels to be part of this years Greatest Royal Rumble that also took place in Saudi Arabia on April 27th. Meltzer went on to say these shows are bigger than WrestleMania financially, so the money is there. It’s said that the organiser of the Saudi events is a huge fan of 90’s WWE so having The Heartbreak Kid on the card makes a lot of sense.

So who will be his opponent? Well, current plans have Michaels teaming up with DX brother Triple H to take on the team of The Undertaker and a returning big red monster, Kane. Really?

Shawn’s previous denial

In a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, Michaels had this to say about a potential return.

“Let’s just say I did it and the match is phenomenal,” Michaels said. “The reality is this hairline is still what it is — like it’s all hot and sweaty — and even if the match is phenomenal and everything else, you’re still gonna bust my chops because I’ve got no way not to expose to you that I’m 53.

That’s the thing — and I don’t mean it in a bad way — but you want me to kip up and everything look as if it was 1996, ’97. That’s not gonna happen because father time waits for no man.

There’s a lot of stuff like what do you do and even does the young guy benefit when all is said and done. I don’t know, it just seems like more trouble than it’s worth.”

Should HBK stay retired? Are WWE wasting his return on a cash grab match? Is a tag team match the way to go? Should they save Shawn’s comeback for WrestleMania 35? Comment below, or see us on Twitter and Discord!

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