Take up thy wrestling boots and walk - Shawn's segment
    Submitted by Pt2 on Sunday, October 31, 2004 at 6:47 PM EST



    I’ve had my doubts about Shawn Michaels in the past. We know that at one time, he was a complete ass-hole. This much is self confessed. At one time he was one of the most difficult men in the sport, driving the typically professional Bret Hart to a childish hate campaign between the two, and I’m sure his relationship with countless others would have been equally strained during those dark, depressing days in the WWE where the Clique ran the show.

    And I have to admit, I had my doubts when he returned. Michaels had lied before, and I was dubious about his honesty - as I had always been, since the “Lost Smile” incident. Had he found god? Was he a reformed figure? I’ve heard people say that it’s not my place to doubt a man when he says that he has reformed, but I couldn’t bring myself to be anything other than sceptical. In all honesty, I kept expecting to hear horror stories of the Clique dominating the RAW locker room, plenty of unrest as Shawn and Hunter terrorised the way that Shawn, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall and Sean Waltman did back in 95.

    But they never came. In fact, with Shawn (and Briefly Kevin Nash) back on the show, many of the rumours about Triple H’s amount of control in the company started to die down - and there was an on screen affect too, as with Michaels return Triple H stopped looking invincible on TV. And in all fairness, he has come a long way since the days of burying Rob Van Dam and Kane every other week. Not exactly concrete proof that I was wrong about Michaels, and certainly not enough to convince me that he was this good guy all of a sudden, but definitely enough to not only allay my fears of a locker room walkout, but with the quality of the performances that the man still puts in, he gave me the satisfaction that comes from watching a fine wrestler who really brings something to the product.

    I don’t know when the actual turning point happened, but I know when I realised it. Last Monday, watching RAW. That was when I realised that I thought Shawn Michaels was speaking openly and honestly, and with little of the political chicanery that I had associated with him in the past. I can’t say for certain if he was speaking from the heart: But I’m prepared to believe it. And what’s more important, he nailed it right on the head.

    Although his speech was very cheesy in places, we’ll excuse him because of the applause-worthy content. If Taboo Tuesday really did remind the WWE superstars that putting on a show, and getting the adulation of the fans is what the business is all about, then it won’t just be another PPV to fork out - it will have been worth the past 3 Wrestlemania’s, all rolled into one.

    Every time I went out there, I went out to hear the fans cheer. It’s an amazing feeling. The WWE stars have the opportunity to do that on a much bigger scale than I ever did. Our reaction is the business, and Shawn Michaels summed that up well in his segment. The importance of entertaining the fans in new and exciting ways can never be underestimated as a wrestler. When a wrestler starts to underestimate the importance of that, their performance can only suffer.

    Michaels explanation of why he competed while injured was enthralling. Again, it may have just been an in-character promo, but it seemed heartfelt enough to me. “For whatever it’s worth, I gave you me”. I am greatly impressed that Shawn would lay it on the line, and feel that he owed us, for our commitment to the WWE wrestlers. There are no half assed performances from Shawn Michaels - he gives us his best, every time. I don’t believe you could ask anymore of Shawn Michaels, and I hope that the other superstars on the WWE roster are as committed to the cause as the Heartbreak kid is.

    I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this, but the younger guys on the WWE roster: Watch Shawn Michaels, and watch the other more experienced wrestlers, who still have the desire, and still give their all. It’s important that you learn from them. In an era where it’s easy to become burned out on wrestling, these guys can still find inspiration to put on the best damn show they can with the material they are given. That’s commendable.

    I don’t really know where I’m going with this. As anyone who is used to reading Take up thy wrestling boots and walk will know, this doesn’t follow the usual pattern. I seem to be just writing, and seeing where my thoughts take me. I suppose it couldn’t hurt to finish this one up by saying thank you to Shawn for a great, inspirational segment on RAW - and to all the wrestlers around the world who share his sentiments.
    If anyone would like to contact me about this column, you can reach me at Takeupthywrestlingboots@gmail.com or takeupandwalk@hotmail.com

    Thanks to every who is still with me after all that mushy crap - but I make no apologies for it.

    Take care,

    Pt2




    *NEW GALLERY* Must See! Torrie Wilson Out PARTYING HARD in the Clubs!

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