The highly-anticipated Shawn Michaels Special Magazine – a 96-page publication celebrating the life and times of WWE’s most charismatic performer – has hit newsstands across the country.

One night before its full release, a large box of these magazines arrived at Conseco Field House in Indianapolis, and within 30 minutes, nearly every copy had been taken. This provided further proof of what the “Peers Speak” article (page 8) inside the magazine states: Michaels is be loved by some, hated by others, but respected by all.

In the “Peers Speak” article, many past and present Superstars – Triple H, Ric Flair, Undertaker, Marty Jannetty, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, among others – spoke of HBK’s legendary career, there were many others who never got the chance. Recently, WWE.com caught up with a few Superstars and asked them to share their thoughts on the Showstopper, and his impact on the sports-entertainment industry.

CHRISTIAN
“When I first came here, Shawn Michaels was out of action with an injury, and he was always the guy that I watched growing up – I think that a lot of guys, especially guys my size, patterned their style after. So, when he came back, I set my sights on him. He was a guy that I always hoped I would get to wrestle him, even if it was just once. I knew that I wanted to have a one-on-one match with him, because he’s the ultimate. We’ve had our differences, but we’re not all that different. He’s the Showstopper and I’m the Show Stealer. He’s the Heartbreak Kid, I’m Captain Charisma. In a sense, we’ve had parallel career – we both started out as tag-team competitors, only to break out as singles stars. But he’s been to the very top – the pinnacle, the one thing that eluded me, and that’s the World Heavyweight Championship – so as a performer, and as a wrestler, I don’t think it gets any better than Shawn Michaels.

“He is what he is, and he’s probably going to go down as the best all-around entertainer of all-time. He has charisma, he’s cocky, he’s arrogant – he’s just the Heartbreak Kid. For years he went out there every night, and not only did he tell you he was the best, he went out there and backed it up. If you can do that, then you have everybody’s respect. If someone tells you they can do something, and then goes out and does it, you have to respect them.”

Credit: WWE.com