The world of wrestling today is much different than it was back in the ’80s, ’90s, or even just 10 years ago. Longtime fans still enjoy both worlds, but that doesn’t mean they don’t long for the days of old and how they used to be. That’s why there is so much excitement when someone like WWE World Heavyweight Champion AJ Styles teases having a match with the legendary Shawn Michaels, but what are the chances it ever even happens?
It’s no surprise that AJ Styles is one of the biggest things going in all of wrestling today and has been for years. The current WWE World Heavyweight Champion has dominated since arriving at the Royal Rumble earlier this year, and now, he has his sights set on something even bigger.
Recently, he spoke with Sports Illustrated , but it wasn’t about all the things he has accomplished so far or his future in WWE. No, Styles spoke about something that may never ever happen and it’s a match against Shawn Michaels.
“I would love the opportunity to wrestle him. I’d love to learn from him, but who’s to say if that’s going to happen.”
One of the main reasons this is being brought up is that the 2017 Royal Rumble is taking place at the Alamodome in Texas and well, and that is the home state of Michaels. There is nothing saying that this match will take place in January considering the “Heartbreak Kid” retired from wrestling quite some time ago.
HBK’s last match was against The Undertaker in a retirement match at WrestleMania XXVI back in 2010. He has done some in-ring work and WWE on-camera appearances, and even showed up to thrill the crowd at WrestleMania 32 , but has not had another match since losing to Taker.
Still, that isn’t keeping Styles from keeping the dream alive.
Interesting photo….. is it not? pic.twitter.com/MKgF4XoAF1
— AJStyles.Org (@AJStylesOrg) October 20, 2016
This is a poster that was made by a fan and not something that was created by WWE and it isn’t endorsed by WWE. As a matter of fact, WWE has said absolutely nothing about this match ever happening at Royal Rumble or anywhere.
WWE has asked Michaels to come back time and time again to wrestle and have one more match at this event or that one. He has refused those offers, but doesn’t mind still working them in some capacity. Still, what about one more match which would have huge implications on the wrestling world? What about one with AJ Styles?
Last year, The RCW Show asked HBK if he would come back for Triple H’s retirement match if WWE wanted the former DX partners to face off. Michaels said he would think about it just as he has thought about all the offers from those wanting one more match with him, but he feels he’s done. He feels as if he left things “as close to a perfect situation as you can.”
Forbes reports that Michaels has continued to turn down numerous offers from WWE for one more match and many came recently. Still, there is always that possibility that something could be done to get him back in the ring.
All anyone has to do is look at this past week’s Monday Night Raw and the return of Bill Goldberg which everyone said would never happen.
It honestly does seem as if Shawn Michaels is the except to the wrestling retirement rule and that one he’s done, he truly is done. There isn’t even any real speculation that he’s coming back. The only thing truly happening right now is AJ Styles saying he would love to wrestle HBK at the Royal Rumble in 2017. That’s it.
AJ Styles finally arriving in WWE back in January is one of the highlights of 2016, no matter what happens in the remaining months. Fast forward to the Royal Rumble a year later and a match with Shawn Michaels would absolutely blow the roof off of everything. The chances of it happening are extremely slim and it may have to stay a “dream match” for all eternity, but one has to know to never say never when it comes to WWE.
[Featured Image by WWE]