Shawn Michaels turned down WrestleMania 33 match with AJ Styles

Shawn Michaels and AJ Styles would no doubt have put on the match of the night in Orlando

At WrestleMania 26 in 2010, Shawn Michaels lost to The Undertaker for the second consecutive year, only this time his career would come to an end. Michaels was intent on ending his illustrious in-ring career at that moment, and he has not returned to action since in a match.

Despite Michaels clearly showing everyone that he’s serious about retirement the past seven years, fans still clamor for a surprise return to the ring, especially on the WrestleMania stage — I mean, he is Mr. WrestleMania after all.

Well WWE themselves were recently among the many that wanted to see Michaels return to the ring at the Show of Shows. They reached out and made an offer to the Heartbreak Kid for a match at WrestleMania 33 in Orlando, and their proposal would have the collective wrestling world on the edge of their seats.

Appearing on a recent edition of Sam Roberts’ podcast, Michaels flat out admitted that the company did reach out to him, and the opponent? None other than AJ Styles, which would have given us a dream match for the ages. (h/t Sports Illustrated for the transcription)

“I guess I’m breaking something with you and I don’t even know if I should, but I could have had that match,” Michaels said. “They didn’t have an opponent for AJ at WrestleMania. I said that I hadn’t been asked because I hadn’t—but then I was.

“I said, I wish that young man was here 10 years ago, man. I honestly do. I think he’s very talented.”

That sound you hear now is millions of wrestling fans learning this and sobbing, realizing that we were very close to seeing what probably could have been one of the all-time great matches in the history of WrestleMania.

Instead, though, we’ll be seeing the former WWE Champion Styles taking on Shane McMahon, which isn’t a bad consolation prize whatsoever. Yes, despite the fact people are hating on this match from all angles, being put in the ring with a McMahon at WrestleMania is a pretty big deal.

As for Styles and Michaels? Well, you’re just gonna have to fire up your WWE 2K game.