The Raw after Wrestlemania is always exciting to wrestling fans. But the March 29, 2010 Raw that took place after Wrestlemania 26 was filled with sadness for many wrestling viewers, as “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels made his farewell speech that night. It was the stipulation of the match between The Undertaker and Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 26 that if Michaels lost the match, he would have to give up his career.
Clips of the many highlights of Shawn Michaels’ career were shown throughout the night on Raw, including his debut as part of The Rockers, his antics with Triple H and the former members of D-Generation X, and his Wrestlemania matches against Razor Ramon, Bret “The Hitman” Hart and The Undertaker.
Shawn Michaels Says Goodbye to the WWE Universe
As Shawn stood in the ring to make his farewell speech, The Undertaker’s music hit. But he was not there to confront Shawn. He showed his respect by tipping his hat to Michaels and then walking off. Shawn then addressed the fans. He thanked them for being the only people that made him feel good about himself for a time.
Shawn Michaels Thanks Triple H, Bret Hart, Vince McMahon
Shawn addressed his best friend in the business, Triple H, and thanked him for being his friend when not many others in the business liked him. He acknowledged that in wrestling it is very difficult to make real friendships, but Hunter was a true friend to him. He also paid tribute to the people behind the scenes who help him look good.
Michaels then thanked Bret Hart for putting up with his former difficultness as a younger man. He thanked Bret for understanding and believing him when he apologized for things he had done to him in their past. He thanked Vince McMahon, saying that he could never have worked for anyone else, and thanked his boss for putting up with his younger antics.
Shawn Michaels Says Retirement Not a Storyline
There has been speculation, as there always is when a pro wrestler retires, of whether Shawn Michaels is really retiring or whether it is all part of the storyline. Michaels said clearly that he would not be returning, and that while he understood why people might be skeptical, he had no intentions of returning to wrestling. He would not go back on his word to the fans and to The Undertaker, he said.
Shawn thanked the fans for enriching his life so much, and for letting him wrestle for them for so many years. He then addressed his family, telling them that he would be coming home to them. He ended his speech with, “Ladies and gentlemen, Shawn Michaels has now left the building.”
Michaels waved to the fans and slapped hands with several of them before Triple H met him at the end of the ramp. They hugged and HHH waved the DX glow sticks for a final time in acknowledgement of their former tag team. The show ended with Shawn Michaels walking offstage.
Shawn Michaels’ emotional retirement speech was clearly heartbreaking for many fans in attendance at Raw that night, as thousands chanted “Please don’t go!” and “One more match!” With such a lengthy career filled with so many highlights, Shawn Michaels will always remain an icon in the eyes of wrestling fans.
Jillian Bost - Jillian Bost is an experienced writer with interests ranging from Victorian literature to 1980s pop and professional wrestling.
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