On the subject of HBK, thought it would be interesting to look at his Mania matches and see where they stand on each card
5, 6 & 7 he was fighting with The Rockers. Can't remember who he wrestled at 5 or 6 but their match with Haku and Barbarian at 7 is quality, you can really tell Shawn was gonna be great if you watch that.
At 8 he jerked the curtain with Tito Santana and it was a very good match. The Savage-Flair title match from that show is a personal favourite and MOTN by some distance. Of the rest though, only Piper-Bret is really better.
At 9, he again jerked the curtain, this time with Tatanka, for the IC belt. It has a screwy finish though that made sense, but it was a good match. The rest of the card was dross, this was MOTN.
At 10 he had that ladder match with Razor Ramon. Consensus is generally divided between this and the Bret-Owen match - I think I just about prefer the ladder match, and in terms of legacy and influence it is right up there.
At 11 he wrestled Diesel for the title, but it wasn't the main event. It was an awful Mania and this was the only watchable match that I can think of offhand. 3/4 so far.
At 12 him and Bret had their classic iron man match. Some consider it the greatest of all-time, some consider it overrated. I'm in the middle - it's very good but I personally prefer the storytelling Rock and Triple H put on in their Iron Man match four years later - a rare opinion, but there you go. Best match on the card though, 4/5.
Lost his smile and missed 13, poor Shawn
As I said above, I'd say at 14 him and Austin put on the match of the night. Certainly it could have been better, their forgotten classic at KOTR 97 when they were tag champs was better. Watching the match again now and knowing the pain Shawn was in makes you appreciate it so much more. 14 was a strange Mania in that it's good but there's not a lot that hugely stands out. You could make cases for Taker-Kane and the Outlaws and Foley-Funk but for me it's Michaels-Austin. 5/6
Missed the next four through injury.
At 19 he wrestled Jericho in a classic, picked up the win which I know angered some people (not Jericho though, which begs the question as to why anyone else cares) but there's no doubt it was a classic. Haven't watched that Mania in years (as I said in the thread the other day I've just picked up the DVD) - I think you can justifiably make a case for the Michaels match but as I said above could also give it to Angle-Brock. Gonna give it half a point. 5.5/7
20, don't think there's any doubt about it, an all-time classi. 6.5/8
21, the Mania that saw two new stars reach the top but Michaels-Angle stole the show. An all-time classic. 7.5/9
At 22 he wrestled Vince and it probably wasn't the best match. That goes to Triple H-Cena which belongs on my list above and I forgot it. Good match though. 7.5/10
At 23 him and Cena had a classic, 8.5/11
24 is one that I know polarises opinion. It has lost meaning now that Flair is busting himself open in TNA. Nonetheless for everything it meant at the time and the classic storytelling it's hard to look past it. 9.5/12
At 25 I think you'd be crazy to argue against HBK-Taker being the best, it's clearcut more than any of the above.
So in 13 Manias as a singles wreslter, I give him 10 outright and one where he shares the honour. Incredible really. Of course others will have different preferences but it's no secret as to why I think Shawn is the greatest ever and one of my personal favourites to boot.
