Shawn Micheals
by Andy Covell
Revolution Format

He's back, from being injured from Randy Orton...and he wins the Royal Rumble to have a shot at Randy Orton's World Title (after beating John Cena) at Wrestlemania. Micheals has a shot to get back at Orton for putting him out for almost 6 months. Only one could hope to dream...So we are gonna bring back the Showstopper with Triple H! DX!

Let's look at his Superstar card...

157/206 (STARTER DECK – FOIL – Shawn Michaels)
Shawn Michaels (Superstar Card)
Starting Hand Size: 7
Superstar Value: 5
Superstar Ability:
Once during each of your turns, you may discard 1 Antic: look at the top 7 cards of your Arsenal, put up to 1 in your hand, and put the rest on the bottom of your Arsenal.

Great ability, with Antics needed to fuel ability. Average handsize with about average Superstar Value among Starter decks and Extremists. Arsenal is where Micheals strength lies, not hand or Ringside, as those are where his power cards will be located, unless they happen to draw into your hand.

BACKLASH (12)

Pre-match (6)

A New Plan x1
Climbing the Ladder x1
Dressed for Success x1
<WWE logo> Intercontinental Title Belt x1
The Degenerates x1
Triple H Is In My Corner! x1

Strategy Notes: I find this to be a very interesting Pre-match. The cards you will always play if possible are Triple H Is In My Corner and The Degenerates. If low on Fortitude, Climbing the Ladder will save you as you can use the Mean and Colossal drawing from the cards you grab with your Ability. Dressed for Success will be used to grab an Antic in case you start off on a bad hand, or use A New Plan. The Interconinetal Title Belt will build a way to go first, as well as add cards to your hand to find an appropriate Antic to discard.

Mid-match (6)

Before This Gets Out of Hand x1
Boot Lace x1
I Can Do Anything I Want x1
Keep Your Eyes Open or It’s Game Over x1
Talk Is Cheap x1
Take it and Like It x1

Strategy Notes: Standard reversals with some degree of damage with the reversals and the Boot Lace as a way to get a maneuver through. One Antic in deck for survival, but limited because the true power is in the Arsenal for his Ability.

ARSENAL (60)

Superstar-specifics (16)

Assisted by the Dirtiest Player in the Game x1
Eat Spit x1
H-B-K x1
Headliner Clothesline x1
Heartbreaker x1
Heartbreak Elbow Drop x1
H-Line x1
Iconic Kip-up x1
Main Event Flying Forearm x1
Sexy Boy Atomic Drop x1
Showstopper Sweet Chin Music x1
Smacked with the Sledgehammer x1
The Cerebral Sleeper x1
The Game Spinebuster x1
The Triple H High Knee x1
Triumph x1

Strategy Notes: This is a great way to utilize Triple H's cards. Most would want to use Behold the King as it is definately a power Antic, but for the sake of low Fortitude Trademark maneuvers to go through, we use all Maneuver cards with low Fortitude. This will be a huge deal in this deck, as this will completely use Micheals great ability to go and fetch these manever Specifics to get easy and early Foritude. Only troubling card would be Before This Gets Out of Hand. You should be good otherwise. Also grab Main Event Flying Forearm, The Game Spinebuster, Showstopper Sweet Chin Music, Heartbreaker or Smacked with the Sledgehammer to protect yourself with powerful reversals that will for sure make your opponent think twice before trying to hurt D-Generation X!!!

Antics (5)

It Has Everything to Do with Me x2|
Look Under the Ring x1
Shock the World x2

Strategy Notes: These cards may seem weak and unworthy due to having a Requirement. But keep in mind how powerful the effects of these cards are, and they will definately help in the long run. And here is something else to think of: Your whole point with Shawn Micheals is to DISCARD Antics, so these may be gone as they are picked up, but if in a bind, and low on Fortitude for any reason, you can use them as Antics to further survive.

Antic-Reversal Hybrids (6)

Centered Defense x2
Head-to-Toe Defense x2
Lateral Flank Defense x2
Strategy Notes: New cards intoduced into Revolution, these have 2 purposes, actually 3.
-Discard for Ability
-Use for a shuffling affect for your Hybrid Reversals
-Reverse hard to reverse cards like Means, Colossals as well as Trademarks

Maneuvers (0)

Strategy Notes: This may surprise many, but actual manuvers in this deck are not that badly needed, as the Superstar Specifics should be able to hold their own.

Maneuver-Antic Hybrids (0)

Strategy Notes: Yet again, little reason to include Maneuvers that will end up

Maneuver-Reversal Hybrids (21)

Big Boot x2
Chicken Wing x2
Chop x1
Collar & Elbow Lock-up x3
Double Leg Takedown x1
Headlock Takedown x3
Inverted Atomic Drop x2
Only One Solution: Revolution x3
Slap x3
Wrist Lock x1

Strategy Notes: This is extra insurance against Core heavy decks like Mysterio and Mean based decks. A great display of reversals to ensure not a whole lot is going through.

Reversals (12)

Interia x 1
I Won’t Be Beat Tonight x1
Masochist at Heart x1
My Way x1
Not What We Came to See! x1
Outmaneuver x2
Try to Get Away x2
Why Don’t You Kiss My A%$? x3

Strategy Notes: Standard reversals to stop pesky Extremes, as well as some Means and Colossals as well as Antics. Note as this may appear small in reversals.

Final Strategy / Other Notes: This deck is usually going to plow through decks with the Trademarks available, and use of all the opponents reversals. And since Micheals can grab what is appropriate to save his rear end, he can typically reverse anything that would pose a threat.

Specific match-ups with defense:

Batista - grab Throw reversals
Rey Mysterio or Sabu - grab Assault reversals
CM Punk or John Cena - grab Hold reversals
Sandman, Umaga(Storyline) John Cena(Storyline) - grab
Test - grab Colossal reversals
Balls Mahoney, Terry Funk, Tommy Dreamer and more - grab Extreme reversals

Counting reversal department if Fortitude was unlimited, not counted and no Requirements and non-uniques and uniques do not count. This will be any cards in the deck. I would say this deck is somewhat protected...

Any Core: 1
Any Mean: 10
Any Colossal: 11
Any Assault: 23
And Throw: 21
And Hold: 19
Any Extreme: 16
Any Trademark: 8
Any Antic: 6
Any Momentum: 2

One last factoid: Antic number in Arsenal to discard: 13

The main idea, however, is to get your low Fortitude Superstar Specific cards into play, which opens up a whole door of oppourtunities. I like this deck because it uses cards from all 3 sets, which adds depth to strategy. Mono decks can pose a small threat, but little as you can see the reversal base.

And Micheals hits the Showstopper Sweet Chin Music on Orton, and collapses on top of him as the sold out crowd goes wild. The referee hits the mat, and counts 1, 2, 3! Shawn Micheals is the new World Heavyweight Champion. Thank you everyone for watching a great Wrestlemania!!!