Shawn Michaels

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For those of a similar name, see Sean Michaels (disambiguation).
"The Showstopper" redirects here. For the
The Showstopper (BoJack Horseman)
.

Shawn Michaels
Michaels in 2008
Birth nameMichael Shawn Hickenbottom
Born (1965-07-22) July 22, 1965 (age 58)
Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
Spouse(s)
  • Theresa Wood
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1988; div. 1994)​
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1999)​
Children2
RelativesMatt Bentley (cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Sean Michaels[1]
Shawn Michaels
Billed height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2][3]
Billed weight225 lb (102 kg)[2]
Billed fromSan Antonio, Texas[2]
Trained byJosé Lothario[4]
DebutOctober 8, 1984[5]
RetiredMarch 29, 1998 (first retirement)

March 28, 2010 (second retirement)

November 2, 2018 (third retirement)

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his

professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he is the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative and oversees the creative aspects of the NXT brand, the promotion's developmental territory.[6] Regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he is known by the nicknames "The Heartbreak Kid" (often abbreviated as HBK), "The Showstopper", and "Mr. WrestleMania".[7]

Michaels wrestled consistently for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, renamed in 2002), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998. He performed in non-wrestling roles for the next two years, resuming his wrestling career with WWE in 2002 until ceremoniously retiring in 2010. He returned for a one-off final match in 2018. In 2016, he began working as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, and from 2018 as a producer on NXT, before becoming the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative for the NXT brand itself.

In WWF/WWE, Michaels headlined

26). He was the co-founder and original leader of the successful stable, D-Generation X. Michaels also wrestled in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he founded The Midnight Rockers with Marty Jannetty in 1985. After winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice, the team continued to the WWF as The Rockers and had a high-profile breakup in January 1992. Within the year, Michaels twice challenged for the WWF Championship and won his first Intercontinental Championship
, heralding his arrival as one of the industry's premier singles stars.

Michaels is a four-time

Iron Man matches, and Elimination Chamber at the 2002 Survivor Series
.

Early life

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom was born in

fake blood.[10][12] He was a keen athlete while growing up, and his sporting career began at the age of six when he played football.[13] He was a stand-out linebacker at Randolph High School on Randolph Air Force Base and eventually became captain of the football team.[2][14] He attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but dropped out to pursue a career in professional wrestling.[15] His cousin Matt Bentley is also a wrestler.[16]

Professional wrestling career

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National Wrestling Alliance (1984–1985)

Hickenbottom began to train under Mexican professional wrestler

Jose Lothario.[4][17] During his training, Hickenbottom adopted the ring name, "Shawn Michaels".[1] After his training with Lothario, he debuted as Shawn Michaels with the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling territory on October 16, 1984, against Art Crews, losing to Crews via swinging neckbreaker. Michaels's performance in his debut match impressed many veterans, including Terry Taylor. Michaels made his televised debut on October 20, 1984, teaming with Jim Hornet in a losing effort against the tag team of Hercules Hernandez and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.[18]

In January 1985, he debuted for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the NWA territory in Dallas, Texas. In April 1985, Michaels went to work for another NWA territory in Kansas City called Central States Wrestling.[19] There, he and tag team partner Marty Jannetty defeated The Batten Twins for the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship, later losing it back to the Battens.[10]

Texas All-Star Wrestling (1985–1986)

After leaving Kansas City, he returned to

American Breed tag team, teaming with Paul Diamond. Michaels and Diamond were awarded the TASW Tag Team Championship by Chavo Guerrero Sr.[10] The team was later renamed American Force.[20] While in TASW, Michaels and Diamond feuded with Japanese Force
.

American Wrestling Association (1986–1987)

Michaels (left) with Marty Jannetty in 1989, known together as "the (Midnight) Rockers" during their time as AWA World Tag Team Champions

Michaels made his national-level debut, as Sean Michaels, at the age of 20 in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), in a victory over Buddhakhan on ESPN. He was once again teamed with Marty Jannetty, billed as The Midnight Rockers. The Midnight Rockers won the AWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Doug Somers and Buddy Rose.[4]

World Wrestling Federation and return to AWA (1987–1988)

In 1987, The Rockers were signed by a competing promotion: the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[4] They were fired from WWF two weeks later, for a bar incident (a misunderstanding, according to Michaels's autobiography).[4][21] They then returned to AWA, where they won the AWA tag team titles for a second time,[10] but were re-signed by WWF a year later.[21]

Return to the WWF/E

The Rockers (1988–1992)

Main article: The Rockers

The Rockers redebuted at a WWF

pay-per-view shows for the next two years.[23] During this time, Michaels headlined his first pay-per-view for the WWF when The Rockers were involved in the 4-on-4 Survivor Series match main event of Survivor Series on November 23, 1989, which they won.[24]

On October 30, 1990, The Rockers unofficially won the

superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the set of Beefcake's talk show.[4][26] Jannetty returned to the WWF the following year and enjoyed moderate success before leaving the company in 1994, while Michaels became a prominent villain of the early to mid-1990s as "The Boy Toy".[25]

Heartbreak Kid (1992–1995)

See also: Two Dudes with Attitudes

At the suggestion of Curt Hennig, Michaels adopted the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid".[4] Along with his new name came a new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain.[27] He was put together with mirror-carrying manager, Sensational Sherri, who according to the storyline had become infatuated with him.[25] Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music, "Sexy Boy".[1] During that period, after Michaels had wrestled his scheduled match at live events, his departure was announced with "Shawn Michaels has left the building", alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building".[28]

Diesel acted as Michaels's on-air bodyguard and tag team partner for two championship reigns.

At

The Ultimate Warrior was unable to compete and was replaced by Mr. Perfect (Curt Hennig) in the tag team match that involved Randy Savage against the team of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon.[36] During this time, Michaels and Sherri split and he engaged himself in a feud with former tag team partner Marty Jannetty.[4] Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on the May 17, 1993, episode of Raw,[34] but regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel.[1][34]

In September 1993, Michaels was suspended for testing positive for steroid – a charge he never admitted.[37] On WWF programs, his suspension was explained by his having neglected to defend the title often enough. After turning down World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned on November 24 at Survivor Series, substituting for Jerry Lawler, who was dealing with legal issues, in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against the Hart brothers, Bret, Bruce, Keith and Owen.[38]

Michaels in 1994

In 1994, Michaels entered a rivalry with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacant Intercontinental Championship during Michaels's absence.[39] Since Michaels had never been defeated in the ring for the title, he claimed to be the rightful champion and even carried around his old title belt.[39] This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two on March 20 at WrestleMania X.[39] Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's championship belts suspended above a ladder in the ring.[38][39] This match was voted by fans as "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[4] It also received a five-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer, the first of nine WWF/E matches to do so. Over the next few months, Michaels battled various injuries and launched the Heartbreak Hotel television talk show segment, mainly shown on Superstars.[40]

On August 28, Michaels and Diesel won the WWF Tag Team Championship from

Samu and Fatu).[41] The next day at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon when Michaels accidentally superkicked Diesel.[38] This triggered a split between the two, a storyline that was drawn out until Survivor Series on November 24.[42] Michaels won the Royal Rumble on January 2, 1995,[43] which set up a championship grudge match on March 20 at WrestleMania XI against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backlund).[43] As part of the storyline, Michaels recruited Sid as his bodyguard for the build-up, lost the match[44] and was attacked by Sid the following night.[45] After this, Michaels took time off[45] because Vince McMahon wanted Michaels to become a fan favorite.[46]

Formation of the Kliq (1995–1996)

Main article: The Kliq

Michaels returned to the ring as a fan favorite in May 1995 and defeated

enzuigiri that struck the back of Michaels's head.[52] They continued the match, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, supposedly because he had suffered a concussion.[1][52] The concussion was scripted, which was kept from most fans at the time.[1] A retirement angle was written so that Michaels could take some time off after he came back from an injury too soon.[1]

WWF Champion (1996–1998)

Main article: D-Generation X

After teasing retirement, Michaels returned to the WWF at the

Iron Man match, which had ended in a scoreless tie.[4] On May 19, Michaels and his fellow Kliq members were involved in the incident known as "Curtain Call". Diesel and Razor Ramon were about to leave WWF to company rival WCW. After Michaels won a match against Diesel, Ramon and Hunter Hearst Helmsley came to the ring and joined Michaels and Diesel in a group-hug.[55] As Diesel and Helmsley were seen as villains at the time, in contrast to Michaels and Ramon, this constituted a breach of "kayfabe", as acting out of character, which was rare and controversial at the time.[55] As WCW gained momentum due to the signings of Hall and Nash, Michaels held the championship for most of the year. At Survivor Series on November 17, Michaels lost the WWF Championship to Sycho Sid[56] but recaptured the title on January 19, 1997, at Royal Rumble.[57]

On a special episode of Raw dubbed Thursday Raw Thursday, Michaels vacated the WWF Championship.[1] He explained to fans that he was informed by doctors that he had suffered a knee injury. Michaels contemplated thoughts of retirement and stated that he "had to find his smile again", which he had "lost" somewhere down the line.[58] After consulting with Dr. James Andrews, who concluded that he did not need surgery, Michaels underwent four weeks of physical therapy and returned to in-ring action a few months later, briefly teaming with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.[59] In his autobiography, Michaels discusses his real-life feud with Bret Hart, claiming that Hart did interviews on live television claiming that he [Michaels] was faking his whole injury.[60]

Michaels portrayed his cocky, vain character with colorful outfits.

By the spring of 1997, the real-life backstage conflict between Michaels and Hart was reaching its height. Both men were going out on television and frequently making personal, true to heart remarks about one another. Michaels briefly left the WWF in June of that year after a real backstage fight with Hart, just hours before a Raw Is War show, which allegedly resulted from Michaels making an on-air remark, known as the "Sunny Days" comment, implying that Hart (who was married at the time) was having an affair with

Tammy Sytch, a manager and valet who was signed to the WWF as Sunny. Michaels and Austin were still WWF Tag Team Champions at the time during an ongoing feud with the Hart Foundation and a tournament was made to decide new tag team champions. Michaels eventually returned that summer in July. At SummerSlam on August 3, Michaels officiated the WWF Championship match between WWF Champion The Undertaker and Bret Hart.[61] The match ended controversially, with Michaels hitting Undertaker with a chair (unintentionally, as he was aiming for Hart after he spat in his face).[61] Michaels was then forced to award the championship to his nemesis, Bret Hart.[61] The next night on Raw Is War, signs of a heel turn started to show as Michaels told the WWF fans what happened at SummerSlam was an accident and that he dealt with the Undertaker when the time came. At WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England, on September 20, Michaels defeated The British Bulldog to capture the WWF European Championship.[61][62] The fans at the event were so upset at the result of the match they booed Michaels out of the building to the extent that they littered the ring with garbage, cementing his second heel turn.[61][63] With this win, Michaels became the first Grand Slam Champion.[2] At In Your House: Badd Blood on October 5, Michaels defeated Undertaker in the first Hell in a Cell match, during which Michaels fell off the side of the 5-metre (15 ft) high structure through a table.[64]
The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.

In the fall, Michaels joined forces with real-life friend Hunter Hearst Helmsley (later known as Triple H), Helmsley's then real-life girlfriend

Hart Foundation, which was now a pro-Canada stable. Michaels taunted the group and Canada by engaging in acts such as blowing his nose with and humping the Canadian Flag. Michaels later claimed the flag desecration was Hart's idea.[66] Michaels's feud with the Hart Foundation culminated in a championship match at Survivor Series on November 9 against Hart. Michaels came out of this match, dubbed by fans the "Montreal Screwjob", as the WWF Champion.[67] Michaels now held both the WWF and European championships at the same time. Michaels dropped the European Championship to DX member Hunter Hearst Hemsley in a farcical match.[68]

First retirement and hiatus (1998–2002)

Michaels (pictured here in 2008) was the WWF Commissioner in 1998.

On January 18, 1998, at the Royal Rumble, in a casket match against The Undertaker, Michaels took a back body drop to the outside of the ring and hit his lower back on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and crush one completely.[4][69] Michaels went on to win the match[4] but the injury rendered him unable to compete on the following month's No Way Out of Texas: In Your House as advertised, and forced him into retirement a night after losing the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin on March 29 at WrestleMania XIV.[70]

After being away for nearly four months, Michaels made a surprise return to the WWF as a guest commentator on the July 13 episode of Raw Is War. Michaels continued to make non-wrestling appearances on WWF programming and on November 23 he replaced Sgt. Slaughter as the WWF Commissioner, eventually joining Vince McMahon's group of wrestlers called The Corporation.[71] Throughout late 1998 and early 1999, Michaels made regular television appearances on Raw, in which he scheduled matches, throwing around his authority, and sometimes even deciding the outcome of matches.[72][73][74] On the January 4, 1999, episode of Raw Is War, Michaels re-joined DX as a face, but disappeared from WWF television for a few weeks to have back surgery[75] and by the time he returned DX was on the way of dissolving within the next couple of months.

On November 23, 1999, Michaels made a special appearance for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling at the 10th Anniversary Show at the Yokohama Arena, serving as the guest referee for the H vs fake Hayabusa (Mr. Gannosuke) main event. He got himself involved in the match when Gannosuke delivered a low blow on him and he responded later on with Sweet Chin Music.[76]

Michaels made occasional appearances as the WWF Commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999, but remained absent from television after August until May 15, 2000, when he returned on Raw Is War to declare himself the special guest referee for The Rock and Triple H's Iron Man match at Judgment Day.[77] One month later, Michaels briefly reappeared on Raw Is War to hand over the role of Commissioner to Mick Foley, and after another appearance in October did not make any in-arena appearances until mid-2002.[78] He appeared briefly on television to make a speech at WWF New York during Armageddon on December 10, 2000.[79]

On April 4, 2000, Michaels returned to wrestling for a one-night appearance defeating Paul Diamond in a bunkhouse brawl at Texas Wrestling Entertainment.[80]

Believing that his wrestling career was over, Michaels was interested in training individuals who wanted to become professional wrestlers.[81] He saw potential in using his name and opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy (later the Texas Wrestling Academy) in 1999, after his lawyer Skip McCormick suggested the idea.[81] Michaels left the academy in 2002,[81] giving co-founder Rudy Boy Gonzalez sole responsibility due to Michaels's new contract with WWE.[4] Michaels was also a sportscaster for San Antonio's local news for a short period during his retirement.[81]

Feud with Triple H (2002–2004)

On the June 3 episode of Raw, Michaels returned to WWE television after 18 months of absence when Kevin Nash announced him as a new member of the recently reformed

New World Order (nWo). Michaels was the only nWo member to have never worked in WCW.[82] After the nWo had disbanded, Triple H appeared to make amends with Michaels. This was solidified when Michaels pleaded Triple H to return to Raw.[83] Later on, they came down to the ring sporting their DX music and attire. When the pair was about to perform their trademark "Suck It" taunt, Triple H turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him.[83] Continuing the angle, a week later, Triple H attacked Michaels from behind in a parking lot and put his head through a car window, in storyline.[84] In response, Michaels challenged Triple H to "a fight" (a non-sanctioned match) on August 25 at SummerSlam,[85] which Triple H accepted, laying the foundation for a rivalry that lasted for several years. In his first WWE match since WrestleMania XIV, Michaels defeated Triple H at SummerSlam, but was attacked by Triple H with a sledgehammer after the match.[86] At Survivor Series on November 17, Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first Elimination Chamber match.[87] On December 15 at Armageddon, he lost the championship to Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match, a series of three matches in which wrestlers attempt to win the majority of matches.[88]

Michaels's match with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XIX in March 2003 was his first match at a WrestleMania event since WrestleMania XIV in March 1998.

Michaels then began a rivalry with

Christian, eliminated Michaels. Michaels later interfered in the match, causing Jericho to be eliminated.[91] Michaels defeated Jericho on March 30 at WrestleMania XIX but was low-blowed after hugging Jericho.[92]

At

Batista
.

On the December 29 episode of Raw, Michaels seemingly defeated Triple H after a Sweet Chin Music for the World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, with Eric Bischoff as the special guest referee (Earl Hebner originally refereed the match, only to be knocked out by Triple H in the middle of the match). However, Bischoff reversed the decision due to both men's shoulders being on the mat. Angered by this, Michaels attacked Ric Flair and Bischoff. He was subsequently fired by Bischoff but rehired by Steve Austin.[93]

As a part of an ongoing feud with Triple H, the two competed alongside

Edge interfered on October 19 at Taboo Tuesday, when the fans voted for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time.[97] Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a legit torn meniscus.[2][98]

D-Generation X reunion (2005–2007)

See also: D-Generation X reunion

At the Royal Rumble on January 30, 2005, Michaels competed in the Rumble match and eliminated Kurt Angle. In seeking revenge, Angle re-entered the ring and eliminated Michaels, and thus placed him in an ankle lock submission hold, outside the ring.[99] Michaels issued a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to attack Michaels.[100] The following week on Raw, Marty Jannetty and Michaels had a one time reunion as The Rockers and defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier).[101] Three days later on SmackDown!, Angle defeated Jannetty, after Angle made Jannetty submit to the ankle lock.[102] To send a "message" to Michaels, Angle also humiliated Michaels's former manager, Sensational Sherri, when he applied the ankle lock hold on her.[103] At WrestleMania on April 3, Angle defeated Michaels by submission, again with an ankle lock.[99]

Michaels performing his signature pose, pictured in 1995 and 2008

The next night on Raw,

30-Minute Iron Man match. Afterwards, he challenged Angle to sudden-death overtime, but Angle refused and walked out.[114] He was part of Team Raw at Survivor Series on November 27, but lost the match to Team SmackDown!.[115]

On the December 26 episode of Raw, Vince McMahon lauded Michaels for his part in the "

The McMahons (Vince and Shane) defeated Michaels and "God" with help from the Spirit Squad in a no disqualification tag team match.[122] On the May 22 episode of Raw, the Spirit Squad was scripted to injure Michaels's knee.[123] This angle was written so Michaels could have surgery on his knee, which had been legitimately injured for some time.[124]

The Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match, ending the feud.[128]

At

con-chair-to after a handicap match against Edge and Orton.[135] At the Royal Rumble on January 28, Michaels was the last man eliminated in the Royal Rumble match by the winner of the match, The Undertaker.[136]

Various feuds and championship pursuits (2007–2009)

Michaels confronting John Cena on an episode of Raw in 2007

On the January 29 episode of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena after defeating Rated-RKO.[137] At WrestleMania 23 on April 1, Cena retained the WWE Championship against Michaels after making him submit to the STFU.[138] The next night on Raw, Michaels and Cena competed in two back-to-back ten team battle royals, winning the first and losing the World Tag Team Championship in the second to The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) when Michaels threw Cena over the top rope.[139] Michaels faced off with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton in a fatal four-way match on April 29 at Backlash for the WWE Championship, where Cena retained the title after Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Cena, causing him to fall on Orton for the pinfall.[140]

Michaels then entered a feud with Randy Orton when Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels.

low blow, which resulted in Orton retaining the championship.[145] Michaels got another opportunity at the WWE Championship, when he was granted his rematch against Orton on November 18 at Survivor Series.[146] In their match, Michaels was banned from using Sweet Chin Music upon request by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week.[147] Michaels lost the match, when Orton performed an RKO for the win, which ended their feud.[146]

Michaels interacting with the fans at WrestleMania XXIV before his match with Ric Flair

Michaels defeated and ended Ric Flair's career in a

Batista confronted Michaels about his actions at WrestleMania, calling him selfish and egotistical.[149] On April 27 at Backlash, with Chris Jericho as the guest referee, Michaels defeated Batista.[150] Jericho then confronted Michaels, in which he admitted to faking a knee injury in order to defeat Batista.[151] Michaels defeated Jericho on May 18 at Judgment Day.[152] At One Night Stand on June 1, Michaels lost to Batista in a stretcher match.[153] On the June 9 episode of Raw, Michaels was attacked by Chris Jericho during his talk show segment, The Highlight Reel, being thrown directly through a television screen.[154] The following week, it was revealed that, within the context of the storyline, Michaels had suffered a detached retina.[155] On July 20 at The Great American Bash, Jericho defeated Michaels by referee stoppage after assaulting Michaels's eyes.[155]

At SummerSlam on August 17, Michaels announced his retirement from professional wrestling. That night, Jericho punched Michaels's wife in the face.[156] On the August 25 episode of Raw, Michaels renounced his retirement and challenged Jericho to an unsanctioned match at Unforgiven on September 7, which Jericho accepted.[157] The next week, they had a contract signing for the match and were involved in a brawl, causing a legit small triceps tear for Michaels.[158][159] He was medically cleared to compete at Unforgiven, and beat Jericho so severely that the referee called the match, making Michaels the winner.[160] Later that night, Jericho replaced CM Punk in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match, and won the title.[160] On October 5 at No Mercy, Michaels was defeated by Jericho in a ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship.[161]

Shawn Michaels feuded with John Bradshaw Layfield in early 2009.

In December 2008, having lost his family's savings due to the global recession, Michaels grudgingly accepted a one-year general employment contract from John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL).[162] After failing to help JBL win the World Heavyweight Championship from John Cena on January 25, 2009, at the Royal Rumble,[163] and being derided for it, Michaels agreed to face JBL in "All or Nothing" match at No Way Out on February 15,[164] which Michaels won thus letting him out of his contract early while still receiving full payment.[165]

On the March 2 episode of Raw, Michaels became the first person to defeat

WrestleMania winning streak to 17–0.[167][168] Their match was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike and is now considered by many to be one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time.[169]
After WrestleMania, Michaels took a hiatus from WWE.

Final matches and second retirement (2009–2010)

Michaels reconciles with Bret Hart in January 2010.

Michaels returned to WWE programming in a series of segments that aired on the August 10, 2009, episode of Raw, where he had,

lost to The Undertaker and, as a result, he was forced to retire due to the match stipulation, the same way Michaels ended Ric Flair's career.[177] The following night, on the March 29 episode of Raw, Michaels gave an emotional farewell speech, departing with the familiar sentence, "Shawn Michaels has left the building."[178]

In an interview with Bill Simmons of ESPN.com shortly after his retirement, Michaels stated that his decision to retire came a month before WrestleMania 25, when a backstage employee asked about his son Cameron, and, in response to Shawn telling the employee that he'd just turned nine, the employee said that he was "halfway gone"; meaning that he was halfway to his eighteenth birthday, and after that, he'd be "gone". The statement affected Michaels deeply; he did not want to be absent when his son left home, so he decided that year would be his last year as an active wrestler.[179]

WWE Hall of Fame and sporadic appearances (2010–present)

On the December 14, 2010, episode of Raw, Michaels won the

Drew McIntyre, he superkicked McIntyre.[186]

In June 2011, Jim Ross, Michaels and Hart announced that the three were working on a DVD chronicling the careers of Hart and Michaels that the WWE was planning to release in October 2011. The subject of the DVD was their on-screen rivalry and real-life conflicts, with a particular focus on the Montreal Screwjob. In his tweet, Hart described working on the DVD as a "cathartic" experience, and Ross asserted that both Hart and Michaels had been very honest and emotional in their interviews. The DVD, Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries, was released in November 2011.[187]

On the February 13, 2012, episode of Raw, Michaels confronted Triple H about accepting The Undertaker's challenge for a Hell in a Cell match on April 1 at WrestleMania XXVIII, and announced he would be the special guest referee for it.[188] Michaels appeared on the August 6 episode of Raw where he was confronted by Brock Lesnar,[189] who (kayfabe) broke Michaels's arm after putting it in a Kimura Lock the following week.[190] On the April 1, 2013, episode of Raw, Michaels returned to offer to corner Triple H in his match with Brock Lesnar on April 7 at WrestleMania 29.[191] During that match, Michaels superkicked an interfering Paul Heyman, helping Triple H win and keep his job.[192]

At Hell in a Cell on October 27, Michaels served as the special guest referee for the vacant WWE Championship Hell in a Cell match between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, performing Sweet Chin Music on Bryan so Orton could win.[193] The next night on Raw, Michaels explained he was upset with Bryan for attacking Triple H during the match and degraded him for not showing him respect, turning heel for the first time since 2005. Bryan applied the "Yes!" Lock on Michaels to end the segment.[194]

On April 3, 2016, at

Raw 25 Years.[198]

At

The Brothers of Destruction.[201] The match was poorly received by fans and critics alike, winning the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Worst Match of the Year" award, although PWTorch's Wade Keller considered that "Michaels shows glimpses and didn't embarrass himself".[202]

In April 2019, Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time, this time as a member of D-Generation X.[203] He appeared at Survivor Series on November 22, 2020, during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.[204] On January 23, 2023, at Raw is XXX, Michaels again reunited with D-Generation X (without Billy Gunn, as he was no longer under contract with WWE) until they and Kurt Angle were confronted by Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci).[205]

NXT (2016–present)

Michaels on an episode of NXT in 2014

In late 2016, Michaels became a trainer at the WWE Performance Center.[206] According to Pro Wrestling Torch in 2017, Michaels along with Terry Taylor teach the finishing class at the Performance Center, the last of four levels of classes.[207] In November 2018, Michaels announced he was officially working as a writer and producer on WWE's NXT brand and show, under former D-Generation X cohort Paul Levesque.[208] In September 2021, Levesque stepped away from the brand after experiencing a "cardiac incident". Michaels, in his role as Vice President of Talent Development, took over responsibility for the running of the NXT shows.[209] In September 2022, his job title was confirmed as Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, responsible for both creative and development at NXT, and for the expansion of NXT UK into NXT Europe in 2023.[6]

Legacy

Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time,[210][211] Michaels received praise for several matches, including 15 Match of the Year awards between Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Also, his match at WrestleMania 24 against Ric Flair was named Match of the Decade by the Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Dave Meltzer gave him two 5 stars matches (the Ladder match against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X and the first Hell in a Cell against The Undertaker at Bad Blood 1997). After several acclaimed matches at WrestleMania, Michaels has been known as Mr. WrestleMania.[212][213] Sumit Rehal of Independent UK in his top 10 WrestleMania matches listed Michaels 3 times (vs Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X, vs Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII and vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV).[214] In 2016, Dave Richard of CBS Sports ranked his match against Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV as the best main event in WrestleMania history.[215]

His rivalry with Bret Hart has been named one of the best rivalries in WWE history.[216]

His near hourlong match with John Cena on the April 23, 2007 edition of WWE's longest weekly episodic show Raw is widely regarded as the greatest match in the Raw's history.[217][218][219][220]

Michaels is cited as an inspiration for many wrestlers such as Chris Jericho,[221] Kevin Owens,[213] Seth Rollins,[222] Johnny Gargano,[223] Adam Cole and numerous other wrestlers.[224]

Personal life

Hickenbottom's first marriage, to Theresa Wood, soon ended in an amicably settled divorce.

Nitro Girl known as Whisper, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on March 31, 1999.[226] Only the couple and an Elvis impersonator were present. They have a son named Cameron Kade (born January 15, 2000) and a daughter named Cheyenne (born August 19, 2004).[227][228]

In 1996, Hickenbottom posed for a non-nude layout in Playgirl magazine. Only after he posed did he discover Playgirl has a mostly homosexual readership, for which some of his fellow wrestlers teased him.[229]

Hickenbottom is ambidextrous, using his left hand for writing and his right hand for drawing. As a wrestler, he typically kicked with his right leg when performing his finishing move, but used either arm for his signature elbow drop. He had trouble differentiating between right and left, which affected his football games as a child.[13]

In 1987, Hickenbottom developed a pattern of "heavy" substance abuse, which eventually alienated some of his closest friends, and may have explained his reputation for being difficult to work with during the 1990s.[230][231][232] He contemplated suicide in the late 1980s, and suggested that psychological intervention was "probably sorely needed" by the late 1990s. His wife Rebecca observed, "There was something in him that he despised, and he was self-destructing." He abandoned his drink-and-drugs lifestyle out of fear that he would negatively influence his young son.[1]

Hickenbottom became a

non-denominational Christian because of his wife.[1] His later ring attire often incorporated cross symbols and he made a praying gesture on his knees during ring entrances. He was in the audience for a televised service of John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in his hometown of San Antonio, where he is also a Bible teacher.[1] In 2008, he appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network program with fellow wrestler Sting.[234]

Other media

Television

Michaels was the host of the outdoor television show, Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures, in which he and his longtime friend, Keith Mark, owner and operator of the original MacMillan River Adventures camp in Yukon, Canada, hunted big-game animals around the world. This series aired on CarbonTV.[235]

HBK Line

During their

2015–16 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League named a line, consisting of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel, the "HBK Line" due to the fact that the trio's first initials, of their last names, recall Michaels's "Heartbreak Kid" moniker.[236] Pens' game-day staff would regularly play Michaels's theme "Sexy Boy" over the Consol Energy Center
PA system after goals or excellent shifts by line members.

After weeks of having fun with Penguins fans on

Primanti Brothers in the city's Strip District.[237] The Penguins lost the game in overtime 4–3 but went on to defeat the Lightning in the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually defeating the San Jose Sharks for the Stanley Cup
.

Outside of his numerous appearances with WWE, it was not Michaels first visit to Pittsburgh. In 2013, he appeared at the opening of the first Field & Stream store in suburban Cranberry Township.[238]

While the Penguins successfully defended their Stanley Cup championship the following year, the HBK Line was broken up when Kessel was moved to the 2nd line with Evgeni Malkin and Bonino left the team in free agency.

Book

On February 10, 2015, Hickenbottom published an autobiography entitled Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar. It was co-written by David Thomas.[239]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2017 The Resurrection of Gavin Stone Doug Debut
Pure Country: Pure Heart Ted
2018 Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars Incredible Master Yoga
The Marine 6: Close Quarters Luke Trapper
2019 90 Feet from Home James Devine
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Baywatch Vinnie 1 episode
1999 Pacific Blue Michael Shane 2 episodes

Video games

WWE Video games
Year Title Notes
1992 WWF Super WrestleMania Video game debut
Shawn was featured in the Sega Genesis version of the game, but was not in the SNES version
WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge
1993 WWF Royal Rumble Cover athlete
WWF King of the Ring
WWF Rage in the Cage Cover athlete
1994 WWF Raw
1995 WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game Cover athlete
1996 WWF In Your House Cover athlete
1998 WWF War Zone
1999 WWF Attitude
WWF WrestleMania 2000
2000 WWF No Mercy
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role
2002 WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth
2003 WWE WrestleMania XIX
WWE Raw 2
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain
2004 WWE Day of Reckoning
WWE Survivor Series
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw
2005 WWE WrestleMania 21
WWE Day of Reckoning 2
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006
2006 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007
2007 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008
2008 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 Cover athlete
2009 WWE Legends of WrestleMania
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010
2010 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011
2011 WWE All Stars
WWE '12
2012 WWE WrestleFest
WWE '13
2013 WWE 2K14
2014 WWE SuperCard
WWE 2K15
2015 WWE 2K16
2016 WWE 2K17
2017 WWE Tap Mania
WWE 2K18
WWE Mayhem
2018 WWE 2K19
2019 WWE 2K20
2020 WWE 2K Battlegrounds
2022 WWE 2K22
2023 WWE 2K23

Championships and accomplishments

Michaels as WWF Tag Team Champion during his reign with Diesel

Luchas de Apuestas record

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
The Undertaker (Wrestlemania streak) Shawn Michaels (career) Glendale, Arizona
Wrestlemania XXVI
 March 28, 2010 [177]

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Sources

Further reading

  • "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling's Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shawn Michaels.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Shawn Michaels.
Achievements
Preceded by Royal Rumble winner
1995 & 1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Bret Hart
 WWF world champion
March 31 – November 17, 1996 		Succeeded byas Sycho Sid
Preceded by
Sid Eudy
as Sycho Sid 		WWF world champion
January 19 – February 13, 1997
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Bret Hart
Preceded by
Bret Hart
 WWF world champion
November 9, 1997 – March 29, 1998 		Succeeded by
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shawn_Michaels&oldid=1220335329"