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Arrogant, egotistical,
and self-absorbed, Shawn Michaels is also one of the finest all-around
wrestlers in wrestling history…
Born in San Antonio,
Texas, where he was an outstanding high school athlete, excelling in wrestling
and gymnastics…Went after his dream of becoming a pro wrestler immediately
after high school… Went to wrestling school and was trained by Jose
Lothario… Made his debut in the Mid-South area in 1985, beating Art
Crews in his first match… Traveled to the Central States area, where
he met Marty Jannetty… Jannetty and Michaels would later become The
Midnight Rockers, but they didn't immediately form a team… Michaels
was too busy getting his career into high gear, and he did so by winning
the Central States TV title… Also won the Texas All-Star tag team
title with Paul Diamond… Meanwhile, Michaels and Jannetty were forging
a friendship… The two came to a fateful agreement-whoever reached
a major organization first would call the other… Jannetty made the
first move and signed with the AWA… Michaels joined him soon afterward,
and The Midnight Rockers were born… Young, talented, and extremely
popular with AWA fans, the Rockers were on their way… Quickly worked
their way up the tag team ladder and began a feud with Buddy Rose and
Doug Somers, winning the AWA World tag team title form them on January
27, 1987, in St. Paul, Minnesota… Issued an open challenge to any
team in the world, and suffered a shocking upset loss to Boris Zukhov
and Soldat Ustinov on May 25 in Lake Tahoe, Nevada… The title changed
hands several times before the Rockers regained it… Feuded with the
"Original" Midnight Express of Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose, managed
by Paul E. Dangerously… On December 27 in Las Vegas, The Midnight
Rockers were awarded the belts by AWA President Stanley Blackburn, who
overruled the Express' controversial pinfall victory… Lost the belts
on March 19, 1988, to Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond… Jumped to the WWF
in 1989 and changed their name to The Rockers…
Entered into a feud
against The Rougeaus and contested a memorable 60-minute marathon match…
The bout was tied at two falls after 60 minutes, and Michaels pinned Jacques
Rougeau in overtime… Over the following months, feuded with The Hart
Foundation as well as Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard… Showed off
their incredible aerial skills by overwhelming the much larger team of
The Powers of Pain… Had their momentum slowed with a shocking loss
to the newly formed team of Jim Powers and Paul Roma at SummerSlam '90…
Shortly afterward, Michaels underwent surgery on his right knee and missed
over a month… Team seemed to be headed downward in the WWF, until
October 30, when they defeated the Hart Foundation in a best-of-three-falls
match for the World tag team title… Days later, WWF President Jack
Tunney rescinded the victory because the top rope had been knocked off
the cornerpost during the second fall, causing the ropes to sag… Defeated
the Barbarian and Haku at WrestleMania VII, but were never able to get
over the anger and disappointment with the Tunney decision… Late in
the year, dissension started brewing… They often argued during matches
and rumors circulated The Rockers were on the verge of a breakup…
A critical turning point in their relationship occurred against The Nasty
Boys at Survivor Series '91… Jannetty bodyslammed Jerry Sags, but
Sags' leg knocked Michaels to the mat. Brian Knobs pinned Michaels and
a heated argument ensued between the Rockers… The breakup finally
occurred on an edition of Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop"… The Rockers
appeared to have reconciled their differences when Michaels shockingly
blindsided Jannetty… In January 1992, Sensational Sherri set her sights
on the new singles star and became Michaels' manager… With Sherri
behind him, Michaels began billing himself as the "Boy Toy"… On April
29, defeated IC Champion Bret Hart by countout when Hart was hit from
behind by Sherri… Was unable to wrest the title from Hart in subsequent
rematches… Went after WWF World champion Randy Savage, but couldn't
beat him, either… Agreed to wrestle Rick Martel at SummerSlam '92
in a match where neither man would hit each other in the face in order
to protect their good looks… Meanwhile, Sherri was sending out signals
that she was no longer interested in Michaels and had her eyes on Martel…
When Michaels saw Martel flirting with Sherri at ringside, he hit "The
Model" in the face… Began feuding with Tatanka, Virgil, and the IC
champion Davey Boy Smith… In October, Jannetty returned to the WWF
and was at ringside for Michaels' match against Jim Brunzell… Michaels
was shocked to see Jannetty… Finally won the IC title, defeating Davey
Boy Smith on October 27 in Terre Haute, Indiana, without the presence
of Sherri… In an interview after his title victory, Michaels said
Sherri ought to "Sit at home like a woman should"…Days earlier, had
used Sherri as a shield to fend off an attack by Jannetty… Lost to
World champion Bret Hart in a grueling, hotly contested match at Survivor
Series '92… Continued his feud against Jannetty and scored several
impressive pinfall victories, despite Sherri's support of Jannetty…
The feud culminated at The Royal Rumble, when Michaels pinned Jannetty
after Sherri interfered and accidentally hit Jannetty with her shoe…
Tarnished his belt with controversial matches against Tatanka and cowardly
actions against Bob Backlund… Tatanka defeated Michaels in a non-title
match and also pinned him in a six-man match in early-1993… At WrestleMania
IX, lost by countout to Tatanka, who had the support of Sherri at ringside…
Michaels was joined by Luna Vachon, who attacked Sherri after the match…
Lost the IC title to Jannetty on May 17, 1993, in New York City during
a live broadcast of WWF Monday Night Raw… Michaels had issued a universal
challenge to any wrestler during an interview earlier that night…
Jannetty, who hadn't been seen in the WWF for a while, came out of the
crowd wearing a hood and answered the call… Regained the title from
Jannetty on June 6, 1993, the night he introduced Diesel as his bodyguard…
Feuded with "Mr.
Perfect" Curt Hennig and lost several matches to him by disqualification
when Diesel interfered… Left the WWF in late-September when President
Jack Tunney stripped him of the Intercontinental title for failing to
meet unspecified contractual obligations…Razor Ramon won the vacant
IC title by beating Rick Martel… Returned to the WWF in mid-November,
calling himself "the undisputed Intercontinental champ;" he even had his
old IC belt with him…Michaels (taking Jerry Lawler's place) and his
three "Knights" battled Owen, Bret, Bruce, and Keith Hart in the 1993
Survivor Series… The Harts won in a match best remembered for Owen's
turn against Bret… Was one of the last four men remaining in the 1994
Royal Rumble… Meanwhile, a feud developed between Ramon and Michaels
over Michaels' claim that he was the real IC champ… Battled Ramon
in a ladder match at WrestleMania X that would be voted Match of the Year
by the readers of Pro Wrestling Illustrated… Michaels and Ramon bashed
each other mercilessly with the steel ladder, and Ramon knocked Michaels
off the ladder when all seemed lost and climbed to the top to retrieve
his IC belt and the one Michaels brought to the ring…
Formed a tag team
with Diesel; they were soon granted shots at World tag team champions
The Headshrinkers… Meanwhile, Michaels and Diesel denied there were
problems between them…On August 28, 1994, one night prior to SummerSlam,
Michaels and Diesel defeated The Headshrinkers for the belts…Diesel
lost the IC title to Ramon at SummerSlam when Michaels accidentally superkicked
him in the face… Tatanka agreed to team with Diesel and Michaels against
The Headshrinkers and Lex Luger… Michaels was later sidelined for
several weeks with an arm injury… Ramon, Fatu, The Kid, Davey Boy
Smith, and Sionne defeated Michaels, Diesel, Jeff Jarrett, Jim Neidhart,
and Owen Hart at the 1994 Survivor Series… Ramon's team won by countout
when the three remaining members of Michaels' team tried to stop Diesel
from attacking Shawn in the dressing room… The tag title was declared
vacant that night, and Diesel won the WWF World title from Bob Backlund
on his own three nights later… Michaels offered to sell secrets about
Diesel to his former partner's challengers, including Bret Hart… Won
the 1995 Royal Rumble even though he was the first man in the ring; he
outlasted 29 other wrestlers in an impressive 38-minute 45-second performance…
Dumped out Davey Boy Smith for the win… Was thus granted a shot against
Diesel at WrestleMania XI… Got into a shoving match with Roddy Piper
on the January 23 taping of WWF Monday Night Raw… Scored several pinfall
victories over Davey Boy Smith in the ensuing weeks… Introduced "Psycho"
Sid Vicious as his bodyguard… Sid helped Michaels in several wins
over Smith, but big Sid's interference at WrestleMania XI cost Michaels
the win. Diesel went on to score the pin at 20:40… One night later
at Raw, Michaels proclaimed respect for Diesel and said he would give
Sid the night off the next time he faced "Big Daddy Cool"… Sid then
jumped Michaels from behind; Diesel came to Michaels' rescue after Sid
power-bombed him three times…Took six weeks off to allow his back
and neck to recover… When Diesel suffered an arm injury in May, Michaels
took his place in numerous matches against Sid and defeated him a number
of times… A draw with Kama eliminated both in the first round of the
1995 King of the Ring tournament… Won his third IC belt by defeating
Jeff Jarrett on July 23 in Nashville, Tennessee… Beat Ramon in another
exciting ladder match at SummerSlam 1995… He and Diesel apparently
won the tag belts for the second time at the September 24 In Your House,
but WWF President Gorilla Monsoon ruled that Diesel's pin of Owen Hart
was invalid because Davey Boy Smith had replaced Hart for that night…
Hart was supposed to defend the title with Yoko, but when he didn't appear
at the outset of the match, Davey Boy Smith subbed for him… Owen ran
in at the end of the match… In October, Michaels was attacked outside
a Syracuse, New York, nightclub by several thugs; he suffered numerous
injuries… A serious concussion put his career in doubt… Forfeited
the IC belt to Dean (Shane) Douglas when injuries he suffered in a brawl
in upstate New York prevented him from defending the title at In Your
House on October 22… Returned to the ring and was rendered unconscious
at RAW when Owen Hart kicked him in the back of the head during a match…
Decided to risk further injury and continue his career… Won the Royal
Rumble for the second consecutive year on January 21, 1996, earning a
shot at the WWF World heavyweight title. Michaels eliminated his pal Diesel
to win the event… Beat Owen Hart at In Your House on February 18,
1996, to retain his WrestleMania title shot… At Madison Square Garden
on March 17, Diesel pounded his best friend in the back with a chair during
a tag team match against Bret Hart and The Undertaker…
Beat archrival Bret
Hart in a 60-minute "Iron Man" match at WrestleMania XII to win his first
WWF World title. With former trainer Jose Lothario in his corner, Michaels
endured the pain of Hart's sharpshooter for the final 36 seconds of regulation
time… When the time limit expired before either man could even get
one fall, Hart was forced to break the hold… WWF President Gorilla
Monsoon then ordered the match restarted and announced that the first
man to get a fall would win… Michaels overcame back pain and scored
with a superkick en route to getting the pin at 1:52 of overtime…
Feuded briefly with The British Bulldog after Bulldog's wife, Diana Smith,
accused Shawn of making a move on her… Wrestled Smith to a draw at
In Your House VIII on May 26, 1996… Around this time, Diesel left
for WCW…But before he did, Shawn dominated a series of matches with
him… Beat Intercontinental champion Goldust several times… Beat
Smith at King of the Ring… Formed an impromptu partnership with The
Ultimate Warrior and Ahmed Johnson… Sid returned to the WWF and became
a tenuous ally of Michaels… Owen Hart, Smith, and Vader beat Johnson,
Michaels, and Sid at In Your House IX on July 21, 1996… Was fortunate
to escape SummerSlam with his title. Vader beat Michaels by countout at
13:53, but Vader's manager, Jim Cornette, insisted that the match be restarted
because Vader wanted the title. Just 2:10 into the second part of the
match, Vader won by disqualification. Again, Cornette ordered the match
restarted. It was, and Michaels went on to pin Vader… Lost the World
Title to Sid at Survivor Series on November 17, 1996. During the match,
Sid attacked Jose Lothario with a video camera. Michaels tried to help
Lothario, and Sid power-bombed Michaels and got the win… Bret Hart
returned to WWF competition at Survivor Series and made it known he wanted
another shot at Shawn… Hart blamed Michaels for his loss to Sid at
In Your House on December 15. Michaels, who was doing color commentary
for the match, meant to help Hart, but instead helped Sid… Hit Sid
with a TV camera and regained the WWF World title at the 1997 Royal Rumble
in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas… Shocked the wrestling world
on February 16 by tearfully vacating the World Title because of a knee
injury…
Returned at RAW
in March… Feuded with Bret Hart and the re-formed Hart Foundation…
Joined Steve Austin in fighting the Hart Foundation… Michaels and
Austin beat Owen Hart and the British Bulldog for the WWF World tag team
title at RAW on May 25, 1997… Battled to a no-contest with Austin
at King of the Ring on June 8. At one point, Shawn accidentally whipped
Austin into the referee. Austin used the Stunner on Shawn, but there was
no ref to make the count. When a second ref fan in to revive the original
ref, Michaels superkicked him… At the June 9 RAW, Bret attacked Shawn
in the locker room. Shawn suffered a neck and head injury and vowed never
to return to the ring in the WWF… Because Michaels was gone, he and
Austin were stripped of the title…Didn't make good on his promise
not to return…Served as special referee for a World tile match between
Bret Hart and the Undertaker at SummerSlam '97. During the match, Bret
shoved Shawn and spit in his face. Shawn tried to hit Bret with a chair,
but Hart moved, and Undertaker took the full brunt of the blow. Hart covered
Undertaker, and Michaels had no choice but to make the three-count…Turned
against the fans and against WWF head Vince McMahon when he called McMahon
"the dumbest SOB I have ever met in my life." He also told the fans to
go to hell… Brought in Rick Rude, who helped Michaels beat Mankind…
Michaels and Hunter Hearst Helmsley battled Undertaker and Mankind on
August 18, 1997. Michaels used a chair on Undertaker… Wrestled The
Undertaker to a no-contest at the Ground Zero pay-per-view on September
7, 1997…Michaels, Hemlsley, Chyna, and Rude formed the supergroup
DeGeneration X…
Beat the British
Bulldog for the European title at the One Night Only PPV on September
20 in Birmingham, England, to become the WWF's first grand slam champion:
WWF World, WWF World tag team, Intercontinental, and WWF European titles…
Kane made his WWF debut and helped Michaels beat Undertaker in a "Hell
In A Cell" match at Badd Blood on October 5… Regained the WWF World
title at Survivor Series on November 7 in a Montreal in one of the most
controversial matches of all time. Michaels had just caught Bret in a
sharpshooter when McMahon ordered the bell rung. Shawn was declared the
new champion even though Hart had never actually submitted… Later
bragged that he ran Hart out of the WWF… Purposely lost the European
title to Helmsley on December 11, 1997. Michaels really didn't care about
that title… DeGeneration X became the most intriguing, controversial,
and entertaining clique in the WWF… Battled Undertaker again at the
1998 Royal Rumble. Kane came to ringside, presumably to help Undertaker
this time, but instead he attacked his half brother and rolled him into
a casket, giving Michaels the win. Kane then set the casket on fire…
Suffered knee and back injuries during the Royal Rumble match and was
briefly sidelined… Returned to the ring at WrestleMania XV and lost
the World Title to Steve Austin, even though DeGeneration X had recruited
former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson, the special enforcer referee
for the match. Tyson made the three-count and celebrated with "Stone Cold"…
That would turn out to be his last match…
Took time off to
rest his back, then returned on the July 13, 1998 RAW as a commentator…Showed
up at RAW on August 24 and saved Chyna from being kissed by Mark Henry…
WWF Commissioner Sgt. Slaughter warned Michaels that if he interfered
in any match, he would not be allowed to work as a broadcaster… Was
named WWF commissioner in mid-November as Vince McMahon placed him in
charge of all matters except those involving Steve Austin…Joined McMahon's
corporation and feuded with DX… Underwent surgery in early-January
to repair several herniated and degenerated disks in his back… Acting
upon doctor's advice, he officially announced his retirement at the age
of 33… Said he didn't want to walk away from the ring, but mounting
health problems left him with no choice… Resurfaced again at WrestleMania
XVI in his role as WWF Commissioner… Vince McMahon was going to referee
the Steve Austin vs. Rock World Title match, but Michaels appeared and
prohibited him from doing so… Rejoined Degeneration X… Continued
his role as WWF commissioner and signed numerous matches… Started
the Texas Wrestling Alliance and also opened a wrestling school in his
home state… Awarded the WWF Women's title to Debra after a controversial
evening gown match against Sable on May 10, 1999… Made a surprise
appearance at RAW in August and got into an altercation with Triple-H…
Shawn and his wife, Rebecca, formerly Nitro Girl Whisper, had their first
child, a boy, on January 6, 2000. His name: Cameron Cade Hickenbottom.
© 2000 Pro Wrestling
Illustrated
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