Brett Hart or Shawn Michaels

[Scott Joyce]

I know the whole screwjob has been beating in the ground but this concerns whos the better wrestler:

I thought Brett Hart was a better wrestler and put on a better inring performance then Michaels. HBK was no doubt better on the mic but in the ring IMO Hart owned Michaels.

[3rd Hardy]

no way. hart used the same routine. michaels had everything bret had plus the arieal moves.

[Annette]

I loved both, but I got bored with Bret because his finish was always the same sequence of moves that never deviated from the order

[Scott Joyce]

I know Bretts style was more boring than HBKs but I thought Brett was a better techcical wrestler than HBK.

[Diabolo]

I loved both - Bret was a very good techincal wrestler tho his matches did have a sameness about them. Shawn could wrestle on the mat, he could fly too and had amazing charisma so I'll choose him. Props to the 'Hitman', tho.

[Amber]

scottingraham said:

I know Bretts style was more boring than HBKs but I thought Brett was a better techcical wrestler than HBK.

I actually disagree. I think Shawn was the stronger wrestler of the two. Brett may have been better technical wise, but it's not always about being technical. Shawn had the better moves and the better aresenal. And I think he executed them better. Don't get me wrong, I think Brett was good. But Brett wasn't great. Shawn was great and that's the big difference.

[Scott Joyce]

amber said:

scottingraham said:

I know Bretts style was more boring than HBKs but I thought Brett was a better techcical wrestler than HBK.

I actually disagree. I think Shawn was the stronger wrestler of the two. Brett may have been better technical wise, but it's not always about being technical. Shawn had the better moves and the better aresenal. And I think he executed them better. Don't get me wrong, I think Brett was good. But Brett wasn't great. Shawn was great and that's the big difference.

I agree HBK brought more excitement to his promos and he did have a great in ring style but if I had to take one of these by their mat skills my vote would go with Brett.

[Amber]

Fair enough. I still think Shawn could take Bret, right now if they were both at their peak, but it is my opinion afterall.

[Scott Joyce]

Good deal Amber and you always have a good opinion on things and I enjoy your post.

[Killer Jay]

I believe that Bret was the better in ring performer.

[Burnham]

bret was a great wrestler and so was shawn so its tough to chose between them! but i would say bret just about!

[80s4life]

Shawn was more the complete package (sorry, Lex), but it is also important to remember the eras in which they competed. In the late 1980s, Bret was hailed by the underground as a superb technical wrestler slipping in under the radar amongst huge W.W.F. monsters who were slow and prodding. Bret stood out as exceptional. At that point, Shawn was basically a rookie just getting his feet wet in tag team competition.

Later on, Bret was becoming a veteran and freakish size began to matter less. However, his style seemed to be trapped in a repetitive mode. After that, Shawn's character came to prominence, and a greater emphasis at that point was placed on microphone work and flashiness. Shawn's rise was perfectly timed, and while he may not be the technical master Bret is (allegedly), his more well-rounded style (aerial maneuvers, scientific wrestling, interview ability, cocky persona) was better suited for the more demanding mid-'90s, when he reached the top. Obviously, there was a crossover period where both were clamoring for the top spot, and while Bret could easily keep up with Shawn in the ring, that era required a bit more to truly reign atop the wrestling world.

[Scott Joyce]

Yeah I agree Brett did get stuck in one persona most of his career and though he had some great matches alot of people considered him bland and predictable most of the time. Michaels was the exact opposite with the all the flair and not knowing what would happen with him on a show to show basis. But even with Harts blandness I have to give him the nod in the inring area but HBK certainly entertained.

[piersixer]

This is a interesting question for me because I had stopped watching wrestling during the '90s, so I missed the heyday of both Bret & HBK. Recently, though I have gone back & watched matchs from this era & found out just how good these 2 really were.
Although I think both were great, I have to go with Shawn because he was more of the complete package. Shawn was a great technical wrestler, but could also fly really well. Shawn was also much better on the mic & could play both a face or heel better then Bret.