Shawn Michaels Reacts To Being Called The Greatest Wrestler Ever By Ric Flair

Shawn Michaels has earned countless accolades throughout his career, but one compliment stands above the rest — being called the greatest wrestler of all time by Ric Flair himself. The WWE Hall of Famer opened up on Nightcap with Unc & Ocho about how much that respect means to him and why his passion for wrestling never faded.

One of the hosts recalled speaking with Ric Flair, who praised Michaels as the best to ever step inside the ring, even ranking him above legends like Hulk Hogan and Dusty Rhodes. When asked how it felt to hear those words, Michaels admitted it was overwhelming.

“It’s the greatest compliment a guy could have, to be even in the conversation. And I always—I don’t know, for me, whether it was Ric, I always tried to… our business is what it is, right? It’s entertainment. But you can still love that. I was still, even though I went through my ups and downs, my trials and tribulations, when I was in there, I was the most romantic guy there was about this job.”

Michaels explained that what set him apart was the fact that he never lost the childlike love he had for wrestling, even after decades in the business.

“I was still the 12-year-old kid in there every time, especially when I was in there with Ric or some of these guys. Being at a WrestleMania with John [Cena]… I was so enamored. I never fell out of love with the opportunity of being able to go in there and do that.”

He added that fans connected with him because he put everything into his performances.

“I think if there was anything that might have been able to set me apart from everybody, it’s that I fully grasped and engaged with that love and that passion and that romance. Wrestling was my lifeblood. I always allowed myself to be in those moments, and I think that came across to people. They could see that I was so enamored with what I was doing in there, and I gave myself over to it in a way that made them buy into it. It was real to me while it was going on in there. Every ounce of it was for me, and it was an opportunity to convey my love for this unbelievable job that I had.”

Shawn Michaels’ words prove that for him, wrestling was never just about championships or fame — it was about love for the art and the connection with fans that made him truly unforgettable.

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