Well it's no secret that from the mid through late 90's Shawn Michaels was an angry depressed drug addicted mess.But was it the fans faults? I got this after watching the Heartbreak & Triumph DVD and here's my theory

Shawn Michaels was on top of the world in 1996.However as mentioned on the DVD,he was still on drugs and never happy.Also mentioned on the DVD was how since Shawn was WWE's top guy at the time and WCW was whipping WWE in the ratings,everybody blamed it on Shawn.

Michaels was the one main eventing every show and PPV.Michaels was the one holding the belt.Michaels was the one selling the merchandise,but the WWE was still getting beaten week after week.And who did the fans blame? Michaels of course.

So could it be the fact that he was blamed for WWE's near downfall that got him depressed and drugged up? Wouldn't you be depressed if you had just accomplished your life long dream,yet everybody hated you and put the blame on you for things that weren't even your fault? WWE was good as it ever was at the time,but WCW was simply better.They had all the big stars.Money to throw around.Hot new edgy gimmicks.Already developed and over talent.Meanwhile WWF had 3 top guys and a bunch of young stars,pretty much the same way it always was.

The WWF was putting on good shows.Shawn Michaels was putting on perfect matches.Yet the worse the WWF was getting beaten the more blame Michaels got.So could it be that which made him the way he was?

Kenn wrote on 10/25/09 at 2:53am:


Ibroprofen, but lots of it.

It's Shawn Michaels fault. There are plenty of wrestlers on top who don't have drug problems, just like there are plenty of nobody wrestlers who do

HBK should've taken partial blame for how poorly WWE was doing. He should also have been able to handle the pressure better.

WWE only started to become competition to WCW because of Austin. He was also probably under more pressure, a successful company was relying on him.

Y 2 Jake wrote on 10/25/09 at 1:22pm:


Why take partial blame if it wasn't even his fault though.He was amazingly over with the fans and one hell of a preformer,which is much more then what I can say about WWE's top guy right now.

That's not HBK's fault either.He was champion in a different time.Right now,WWE is based on kids and their kid audience is based on Cena.Basically it's this

PG = Cena
Cena = Kids
Kids = Money

Not to mention that in 1996 WWE didn't have millions of merchandise to sell like they do today.Back then it was a T-Shirt for 3 of their top guys but that's about it.Compare from then to now and the advantages between HBK & Cena

HBK- Had one (Maybe 2) T-Shirt of merchandise to sell.WWE wasn't near as popular.His gimmick was aimed mostly at women and others,not kids.

Cena- His own WWE Title,countless T-Shirts,DVD's,Armbands,Wristbands,Hats,you name it,their's a Cena version.Not to mention he is the definition of a wrestler to any kid under 10,and the kids are the ones who make WWE the dough

I'm not bashing Cena. I make 1 sarcastic comment and it's bashing him? Hey,give HBK Cena's gimmick and spot in this day and age and HBK would make Vince richer than....Well whoever the richest dude in the world is.

LOL No I don't mean put Cena's outfit and attitude on him.I mean the "I Will Not Quit" gimmick.

SO, ANYWAY... back on topic, folks, no, I don't believe it was the fans' fault... HBK knew he was coming into a business where he would always be watched and talked about... If he couldn't have handled that pressure without illegal substances, he shouldn't have come into it... I'm glad he's clean now, but if I ever hear that HE blames fans, I will boycott every HBK match from then on...Not blasting you, CS, for making this, good topic BTW, but public figures need to always realize that they are in the business of being in the public and that does not give them an excuse to live their lives in an unruly way.


It would be like if I never did my HW cuz I got a second job and had no time to do it then blamed my teachers for assigning it... It just makes no sense to jump into something you can't handle... Luckily, HBK handled it enough to stay alive and clean himself up.