Shawn Michaels Drops Bombshell: The Dream Opponent He Wants For His One Last WWE Match
Shawn Michaels is one of those rare legends whose legacy feels untouchable. The Heartbreak Kid officially hung up his boots on March 28, 2010, at WrestleMania XXVI in an emotional “Career vs. Streak” showdown against The Undertaker. The result? HBK lost, and wrestling fans around the world had to say goodbye to one of the greatest performers to ever step into the squared circle.
The night after WrestleMania, Michaels delivered a heartfelt farewell speech on WWE Raw, ending his full-time in-ring career in iconic fashion. But as fans know, his love for the business never faded.
Since then, HBK has been an influential force behind the scenes. In 2016, he joined the WWE Performance Center as a coach and mentor, shaping the future of rising stars. His passion and leadership eventually elevated him to Senior Vice President of Talent Development & Creative, where he continues to run things in NXT.
Yes, he had a one-off return at Crown Jewel in 2018, but for the most part, Michaels has stayed focused on building the next generation.
HBK Reveals Who He’d Face in His Dream “One More Match”
But what if Shawn Michaels laced up the boots one last time? Who would he want across the ring at WrestleMania?
Speaking on the Gorilla Position podcast, Michaels didn’t hesitate—he picked none other than AJ Styles.
“I think the one we really want to see is me and AJ. That’s who I go with. [As] more talent comes along, you start looking at them. I go, ‘Oh, boy! I could do cool stuff with him; I could do cool stuff with him.’ But I think AJ and I [have] similar styles and stuff like that, so I always feel like that would be one people would want to see.”
And honestly—he’s right. A dream match between HBK and The Phenomenal One would be pure wrestling art. Their similar high-flying, storytelling-heavy styles could create a once-in-a-lifetime WrestleMania classic.
Interestingly, AJ Styles himself doesn’t have much time left in the ring. In an interview with Chris Van Vliet, the 48-year-old revealed that he won’t wrestle past the age of 50. That leaves just a couple of years before “The Phenomenal One” hangs it up.
Could WWE somehow give fans the ultimate dream showdown before it’s too late?
If Shawn Michaels vs. AJ Styles ever happened, it wouldn’t just be a match—it would be a generational collision fans have been fantasizing about for years.
