10 Dream opponents for Shawn Michaels

He was born Michael Hickenbottom, but most fans around the world know him as Shawn Michaels, the Heartbreak Kid (Or HBK if you're into the whole brevity thing).

Unlike many of his peers, such as the Rock or Hulk Hogan, Shawn Michaels always wanted to be a pro wrestler. At the age of twelve, he performed at a talent show held at his schoolhouse where he did a wrestling act--complete with fake blood.

Once Shawn reached adulthood he quickly embarked on his journey into the ring. Trained by the legendary Jose Lothario, Shawn greatly impressed veteran talent like Terry Taylor in spite of his lack of experience.

He formed the Midnight Rockers--a name derived from both the Rock and Roll Express and the Midnight Express--with Marty Janetty and they rose through the regional ranks until WWE signed them.

They were fired days later after a bar fight.

However, the door was not shut forever and within a year the Rockers returned to the WWE. Though they never held tag team gold they were a fixture of the tag division and quite popular with children and women throughout the classic era.

Eventually, the Rockers split up, and HBK's career truly began to soar. He worked his way up from the midcard to the Intercontinental championship, and from there into the world title picture. His Iron Man match with Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XII is still considered the gold standard of extended in-ring performance.

Michaels retired the first time in 1998 because of nagging injuries and the fact that he 'lost his smile.' A few years later he returned and seemed to have grown even better during his off years. He engaged in a memorable feud with former friend Triple H and retired Ric Flair.

Then he himself was retired by the Undertaker, and that has been that for years. But now, HBK seems to be warming up to the idea of one more match against a dream opponent. Here are ten men who would make dream match foes for the Heartbreak Kid should he decide to perform one last time.

1. Brock Lesnar

HBK has already faced the Beast Incarnate once, and came up a little bit short. Perhaps Shawn would like to revisit this career loss, and avenge it by pinning the Beast after some Sweet Chin Music.

Chances of facing HBK: Poor to fair. Brock has already faced HBK once before, and as Universal champion, he would be expected to put the title on the line. A man who is only returning for one dream match doesn't make for a very credible challenger, so this may not be the direction HBK goes.

2. Samoa Joe

The Samoan Submission machine shocked the world when he signed with WWE after a long tenure in the indies and TNA. HBK and Joe have never locked up between the ropes, making this quite the intriguing matchup. Michaels excels against larger opponents, but that's because he enjoys a speed and agility edge. Against Joe, HBK would find a foe who can match his quickness.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Fair. Michaels has mentioned Joe by name as one of his current roster favorites, but the WWE seems to think of Joe as a midcard talent. The company may not believe there's enough interest in a Joe vs. HBK dream match to make it happen.

3. Bobby Roode

As a mid-sized wrestler who worked his way up from the tag team division to a main event singles star, Bobby Roode has many parallels to HBK. Many fans and critics salivate at the idea of the two doing battle in the squared circle.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Fair. Bobby Roode is one of the most talented athletes to come down the pike in a long time, but he has only recently started his WWE career, and the company may not put as much stock in him as his fans do.

4. Shinsuke Nakamura

Sooner or later, the King of Strong Style is going to overcome AJ Styles or he is not going to overcome Styles. In either case, he will be in need of a new program, and who better to face than Shawn Michaels? It's the Kinshasa vs. the Sweet Chin Music in an epic battle of quick strikers.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Fair to good. HBK has praised Nakamura's ring work and presence, and the two would make for a memorable contest should the WWE head in this direction.

5. CM Punk

Current MMA novice and former WWE world champion Punk is not signed with the WWE at present, but that could quickly change as rumors abound that if Punk doesn't win his second fight for the UFC he will return to wrestling.

Shawn Michaels and Punk have many similarities; Both are undersized for the heavyweight division but still managed to become world champion. Both are triple crown champions in the WWE, and both utilize striking and technique with equal aplomb.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Poor, but mainly because he isn't signed with WWE. Dangling a dream match before Punk's nose with HBK might be just the incentive he needs to return.

6. Roman Reigns

The Big Dog is the WWE's current golden boy, their choice of heir apparent to the throne left vacant by John Cena's recent foray into the mid-card and reality TV. He already defeated one New Generation Icon in the Undertaker; could he try for a double play and defeat HBK as well?

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Slim to none. HBK is almost certainly going to be cheered through the roof when/if he chooses to have one final match, and the WWE has enough problems getting fans behind Roman Reigns as it is. Only if Roman turns heel--which is said to be quite unlikely--will he stand a chance of being HBK's chosen opponent.

7. The Undertaker

Rivalries can define a man's career, and there has been no greater rival for HBK than the Undertaker.

They performed the first ever Hell in a Cell match, and always bring out the best in each other's performance. Last time they faced one another, HBK lost his career. Could he be hunting for some vengeance?

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Fair. The two are magic in the ring together, and HBK might want to avenge his career loss, but it's far more likely the WWE would pit HBK against a younger, more full-time talent.

8. Andrade "Cien" Almas

The sudden sensation Almas has been turning heads left and right in the wrestling industry. After a few stumbles in NXT he has risen to become the biggest Latino star on WWE programming. His style would mesh well with the one utilized by Shawn Michaels, who has always had a heavy Lucha Libre influence to his in-ring work.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Fair to good. The WWE is putting a lot of stock in Andrade as the new top heel on Smackdown, and we know HBK has to be impressed with Almas between the ropes. But WWE may choose a longer tenured athlete to compete against HBK.

9. Dolph Ziggler

No wrestler past or present has drawn more comparisons to Shawn Michaels than Dolph Ziggler. Fantastic athlete? Check. Ability to work matches like a god? Check. Lightning speed and supreme technical precision? Check.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Slim to none. Despite the fans who adore both stars, the WWE has never seen Ziggler as more than a glorified mid-carder. It's far more likely the honor would go to another wrestler.

10. AJ Styles

The Showstopper vs. The Phenomenal one already looks great on a marquee. There is a reason fans, critics, and even other wrestlers have pressured HBK about coming out of retirement for a dream match against AJ Styles. It seems like a wrestling fan's dream come true, at least on paper.

Chances of facing HBK in a dream match: Good to excellent. HBK has dropped Styles's name on several occasions, and AJ is a big enough name to draw a lot of interest, at least in the WWE's eyes. If HBK comes back for one more match as he teased on social media, then AJ is his most likely opponent, which is good news for wrestling fans indeed.

There you have it: Ten dream opponents for Shawn Michaels. Who else would you like to see face the Heartbreak Kid? Please comment and let us know.