OP is right though
Name one thing Hickenbottom did better than the American Dragon.
Crowd reaction? Bryan is more over right now than Michaels ever dreamed of being in his career.
Signature moves? Flying headbutt/suicide dive/YES kicks/YES lock/Running knee >> Superkick/Flying elbow
Mic work? Bryan is no Rocky on the mic, but I'll take him over Shawn's gravely, drugged out voice any day. Shawn was wack as fukk on the mic.
MAYBE Michaels gets the edge in his selling ability.. he bounced around like a pinball like nobody I've ever seen, but right now... yeah.. you would have to say Bryan has surpassed him.
Michaels had four classic matches when he came back from the back injury to the time he retired -- both Undertaker matches, vs. Cena on RAW and vs. Shelton Benjamin on RAW.
Bryan has had four classic matches IN THE LAST YEAR ALONE.