One of the greatest in-ring performers of his generation, Shawn Michaels wowed WWE fans for over 20 years.

The 'Heartbreak Kid' decided to call time on his career in 2010 though, wanting to spend more time with his family in Texas as his children grew up.

Michaels still continued to make sporadic appearances on television though in the coming years, in-fact he's probably hit half the active roster with a Sweet Chin Music since his retirement.

As HBK was scheduled to appear on the September 3 edition of Monday Night Raw, it was generally thought that he was just being used to hype up the 'last-ever' match between former D-Generation X member Triple H and the man that 'retired' him - The Undertaker.

But the WWE Universe definitely got more than they bargained for.

A verbal confrontation between Taker and Michaels was probably one of the segments of the year, an element of realism seemed to be coming from Michaels when he spoke about not breaking his retirement promise out of 'respect'.

Many thought it was planting the seeds for a third instalment of HBK against Undertaker at 'The Grandest Stage Of Them All' - WrestleMania - but it's being reported that Michaels will be returning to the ring much, much sooner than next April.

The main reason for HBK coming out of retirement is very simple - as told by Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer,  - there is huge money involved in the WWE shows taking place in Saudi Arabia.

When you think about the last event in April, with a 50-man Royal Rumble and a Steel Cage match between Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns, the company really pushed the boat out for their Middle Eastern fans.

But there's some doubt that it wasn't all for the fans, moreso for the lucrative deal struck between the 'E and the Saudi government - worth a reported $45 million a year.

It's thought HBK was asked to appear at the Greatest Royal Rumble, but the offer of an upcoming in-ring return at their next show in November must be too good to refuse.

And it's really no surprise that the Saudi's would want Michaels - after all, the Crown Prince of the country apparently wanted Ultimate Warrior and Yokozuna to appear at the GRR, not knowing they had passed away.

So trying to capture one of the biggest stars of the 1990s makes a whole lot of sense, and it looks like Michaels has been swayed.