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Revision as of 01:08, 7 August 2008

Shawn Michaels
Born (1965-07-22) July 22, 1965 (age 59)
Chandler, Arizona[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Shawn Michaels
Sean Michaels[2]
Billed height6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[3][4]
Billed weight225 lb (102 kg)[3]
Billed fromSan Antonio, Texas[3]
Trained byJose Lothario[5]
DebutOctober 16, 1984[6]

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom[7] (born July 22, 1965),[8] better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American professional wrestler. He performs on the Raw brand of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly the World Wrestling Federation. Currently, Hickenbottom is one of the senior performers in WWE, having joined in 1987. He is one of only two wrestlers, the other being The Undertaker (Mark Calaway), to have appeared on the very first episode of Monday Night Raw who are still with the company today.[9]

Before joining WWE, Hickenbottom began his wrestling career with Mid-South Wrestling and American Wrestling Association (AWA). There, Hickenbottom partnered up with Marty Jannetty (Frederick Jannetty) to form The Midnight Rockers and won the AWA World Tag Team Championship on two separate occasions. Hickenbottom and Jannetty then signed with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.[3]

After signing with WWF, Hickenbottom abandoned the tag team division to work in singles matches and received a new gimmick as "The Heartbreak Kid." He was the leader of a backstage group known as The Clique, which was known for breaking character during the Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call" incident in 1996.[10] The following year, Hickenbottom joined forces with Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Paul Levesque) and Chyna (Joan Laurer) to form D-Generation X (DX). This stable was known for pushing the envelope. That same year, Hickenbottom took part in one of the most controversial matches in wrestling history dubbed as the "Montreal Screwjob." After a back injury forced him to retire following his WWF Championship loss at WrestleMania XIV, Hickenbottom opened a wrestling academy, in which he trained upcoming wrestlers.[3] Hickenbottom made his in-ring return at SummerSlam in 2002. In 2006, Hickenbottom and Triple H briefly reformed DX, but he then returned to singles wrestling.

Overall, Hickenbottom is a four-time world champion: a three-time WWE Champion, and a one-time World Heavyweight Champion.[11] He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumbles and was the first Grand Slam Champion.[3]

Early life

Hickenbottom was born on July 22, 1965 in Chandler, Arizona.[1] The last of four children—Randy, Scott and Shari. He was raised in a military family and spent a brief part of his early years in Reading, Berkshire, England,[1] but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, Hickenbottom disliked the name "Michael", so his family and friends just called him "Shawn."[12] Ever since, he has been referred to as Shawn. Additionally, Hickenbottom moved around frequently since his father was in the military.[12]

He knew he wanted to become a professional wrestler at the age of twelve. Hickenbottom was already an athlete; his career began at the age of six when he started playing football.[13] He was a stand-out Linebacker at Randolph High School and eventually became Captain of the football team.[3][14] After graduating, Hickenbottom attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but soon realized that college life was not for him.[15] Then he began pursuing the career of a professional wrestler.

Career

Early career (1984–1988)

He was then trained by Mexican professional wrestler Jose Lothario.[5][6] Lothario suggested that Hickenbottom go by the ring name Shawn Michaels, a stage name used by a professional wrestler to hide their true identity from the wrestling fanbase. After his training with Lothario, he debuted in Mid-South Wrestling in 1984 and later with Texas All-Star Wrestling (TAW) promotion.[2] During his time with TAW, Michaels and Paul Diamond (Tom Boric) were awarded the TAW Tag Team Championship by Chavo Guerrero, Sr. (Salvador Guerrero Llanes).[8] Hickenbottom also worked for Central States Wrestling.[16] There, he and tag team partner Marty Jannetty (Frederick Jannetty) defeated The Batten Twins for the Central States Tag Team Championship, later losing it back to the Battens.[8] Hickenbottom also made several appearances in the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling throughout 1985.

Michaels made his national-level debut at age twenty for the American Wrestling Association (AWA), once again teaming with Marty Jannetty.[5] The pair were billed as "The Midnight Rockers" and held the AWA World Tag Team Championship.[5] They also appeared in the Mid-South on loan at this point. In a raid of AWA talent in 1987, The Rockers were signed by a competing promotion: the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[5] They were fired from the WWF two weeks later, however, for "partying too hard" (a misunderstanding, according to Michaels' autobiography).[5][17] They then returned to the AWA, but were re-signed by the WWF a year later.[17]

World Wrestling Federation

The Rockers (1988–1991)

Main article: The Rockers

They redebuted for the World Wrestling Federation at a house show on July 7, 1988.[18] Due to WWF chairman Vince McMahon's desire to have his performers carry WWF-exclusive monikers, they were repackaged as simply "The Rockers."[2] The team proved popular with both children and women.[5] The team was a mid-card stalwart of TV and pay-per-view shows for the next two years, but never seemed to get a chance at the WWF Tag Team Championships.[19]

Belatedly, in October 1990, their chance came when The Rockers were scheduled to win the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart), as Neidhart, half of the championship team, was in the process of negotiating his release from the company.[19] The match was taped with The Rockers cleanly winning the belts, but soon after, Neidhart came to a stopgap agreement with management and was rehired.[19] The belts were returned to the Hart Foundation, while the title change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on TV.[19] When news spread, WWF explained that the original result was void due to a collapsed turnbuckle in the ring during the bout. A buckle had indeed broken, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.[2] The Rockers plodded along, eventually splitting on December 2, 1991 during an incident on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's (Edward Leslie) televised "Barber Shop" talk show segment.[20] Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the "shop" set.[5][21] Jannetty vanished from the WWF, and Michaels became a villain as "The Boy Toy."[20]

Heartbreak Kid (1992–1995)

At the suggestion of "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig, Michaels adopted the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid."[5] Along with his new name came a new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain.[22] He was put together with mirror-carrying manager Sensational Sherri, who, according to the storyline, had become infatuated with him.[20] Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music "Sexy Boy."[2] During that period, Michaels normally wrestled during the first half of house shows, and his departure was announced with the words "Shawn Michaels has left the building" (alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building").[23]

Michaels failed to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in July 1992, even losing the WWF's first ever ladder match against him at a house show, a match where the objective is to climb a ladder and reach an object hanging above the ring.[24] He, however, won the title from The British Bulldog (David Smith) during Saturday Night's Main Event on October 27, 1992.[25] Shortly thereafter, he was in a pay-per-view main event for the first time, facing—and losing to—future nemesis Bret Hart, for the WWF Championship at the Survivor Series.[26] They were moved to the main event after The Ultimate Warrior suddenly departed from the WWF, leaving his tag team match with Randy Savage (Randall Poffo) against Ric Flair (Richard Fliehr) and Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) hanging.[27]

Michaels at a live event in 1994

During this time, Michaels and Sherri split and his former partner Jannetty quickly reappeared. Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17, 1993.[25] He then regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel (Kevin Nash).[2][25]

Michaels quit the WWF in September 1993 after it was announced that he had failed to defend his belt enough times during a set period; in reality, he had been suspended for testing positive for steroids—a charge that Michaels denies to this day.[28] After turning down World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned to WWF television for November's Survivor Series pay-per-view, substituting for the arrested Jerry Lawler in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen Hart.[29]

He soon entered a feud with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacated Intercontinental Championship during Michaels' absence.[30] 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.[30] This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two at WrestleMania X.[30] Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's belts suspended above a ladder in the ring.[29][30] This match was voted by fans as "Match of the Year."[5] Over the next few months, Michaels battled various injuries and launched the Heartbreak Hotel TV talk show segment, mainly shown on WWF Superstars.[31]

On August 28, 1994, Michaels and Diesel captured the WWF World Tag Team Championship from The Headshrinkers (Samu [Samula Anoa'i] and Fatu [Solofa Fatu]).[32] The next day, at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon when Michaels accidentally superkicked Diesel.[29] This triggered a Michaels-Diesel split, a storyline that was drawn out until the Survivor Series that November due to Michaels' hand injury.[33] Michaels went on to win the Royal Rumble in 1995,[34] which set up a championship grudge match at WrestleMania XI against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backland).[34] As part of the storyline, Michaels recruited Sycho Sid (Sid Eudy) as his bodyguard for the build-up, lost the match,[35] and was attacked by Sid the following night.[36] After this, Michaels took time off.[36]

The Clique's influence (1995–1997)

He returned to the ring as a crowd favorite in June 1995 and defeated Jeff Jarrett at July's In Your House pay-per-view to win his third Intercontinental Championship.[5][37] This led to a title defense against Razor Ramon at SummerSlam, in a ladder match, which Michaels won.[5] Around this time, Michaels became the alleged leader of a backstage group known as The Clique.[5] Others perceived the group to have sufficient clout with WWF owner Vince McMahon, becoming dominant wrestling figures in WWF for several years in the mid-1990s. Michaels disputes the perception, saying that McMahon pushed only deserving wrestlers.[38] Michaels' fan base was later nicknamed "The Kliq" as an inside reference to the real "Clique".[39] In October 1995, he was legitimately attacked by several men outside a bar in Syracuse, New York.[2] Shortly afterwards, at the In Your House: Great White North pay-per-view, Michaels forfeited the Intercontinental Championship to rival Dean Douglas (Troy Martin) because he was, according to the WWF, unable to compete.[40] Douglas, however, lost the title immediately to Clique member Razor Ramon.[41] The next month, during a match with Owen Hart on an episode of Raw, Owen nailed Michaels with an enzuigiri kick to the back of Michaels' head.[42] They continued to wrestle, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, supposedly because he had suffered a concussion in the Syracuse incident.[2][42] The concussion was scripted, which was kept from most fans at the time.[2]

File:Hug MSG Incident.jpg
The MSG Incident.

After teasing a retirement, Michaels returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble match in 1996, which he won for the second year in a row.[43] Around this time, Jose Lothario, Michaels' original trainer, became his on-screen manager.[44] Michaels won his first WWF Championship at WrestleMania XII in March 1996, pinning Bret Hart in the 'sudden death' overtime of their a sixty minute Iron Man match, a match where the winner is determined by the number of scoring conditions by a certain time limit, which had ended in a 0–0 tie.[5] On May 19, 1996 in an incident known as "Curtain Call: The MSG Incident," Michaels won a steel cage match, a match where the ring is surrounded by a steel cage, against Kevin Nash, and afterwards, Scott Hall, who was about to leave for rival WCW, came in the ring and hugged Michaels.[10] Although Hunter Heart Helmsley and Nash were seen as villains at the time—in contrast to Michaels and Hall—they were also members of The Clique, and they joined in the good-bye hug.[10] The inicdent was seen as a rare breach in "kayfabe," which is the faux action and storylines that promoters wanted the fans to see as real.[10] As WCW gained momentum due to the signings of Michaels' friends Hall and Nash, Michaels held the championship for most of the year. Michaels' title reign ended at the Survivor Series in November, where he lost to Sycho Sid, his former bodyguard.[45] A flu-ridden Michaels recaptured the belt from Sid in January 1997 at the Royal Rumble.[46]

On a special episode of Raw, dubbed Thursday Raw Thursday, Michaels vacated the WWF Championship;[2] he explained to the fans that he was informed by doctors that a knee injury was bad enough that he had to retire.[47] His speech was regarded as controversial, as Michaels was allegedly unwilling to lose to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 (since it was noted that he was going to have a rematch with Hart at WrestleMania).[5] Michaels contemplated thoughts of retirement and stated that he "had to find his smile again," which he had "lost" somewhere down the line.[5] After knee surgery by Dr. James Andrews, Michaels returned a few months later, briefly teaming with Steve Austin (Steve Williams) to win the WWF Tag Team Titles.[48] Michaels reveals in his autobiography, about his real-life feud with Bret Hart, claiming that Bret did interviews on live television claiming that he [Michaels] was faking his whole injury.[49]

At SummerSlam, Michaels officiated the WWF title match between WWF Champion The Undertaker (Mark Calaway) and Bret Hart.[50] The match ended in controversial fashion, with Michaels nailing Undertaker with a chair (unintentionally, as he was aiming for Bret after he spat in his face).[50] Michaels was then forced to award the title to his nemesis, Bret Hart.[50] At WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England in September, Michaels defeated The British Bulldog to capture the WWF European Championship.[50][51] The fans at the event were so appalled at the result of the match they almost rioted and booed Michaels out of the building to the extent that they littered the ring with rubbish.[50][52] Michaels' striking of The Undertaker with a chair began a feud between the two men. In October, at In Your House: Badd Blood, Michaels and Undertaker participated in the first Hell in a Cell match, a match contested in a ring surrounded by a steel cage made of metal, in which Michaels fell off the side of the 15-foot (5 m) high structure through a table.[53]

In the summer, Michaels joined forces with real-life friend, Hunter Hearst Helmsley (Paul Levesque) and Hunter's then-girlfriend, Chyna (Joan Laurer) to form the stable, D-Generation X (DX).[54] Moving away from the family-oriented product, this marked the beginning of the WWF Attitude Era.[55] Michaels also began re-feuding with Bret Hart's reformed Hart Foundation, which was now a pro-Canada stable. Michaels taunted The Hart Foundation and Canada by engaging in acts, such as blowing his nose with and humping the Canadian Flag. Michaels later claimed the flag desecration was Bret's idea.[56] Michaels' feud with the Hart Foundation culminated in a title shot at the Survivor Series in 1997 against Bret Hart. Michaels came out of this match, dubbed by fans the "Montreal Screwjob," as the WWF World Champion.[57] Michaels now held both the WWF and European Championship at the same time. Triple H, however, pinned him in December during a farcical match, making Hunter the European Champion.[58]

Commissioner (1998–1999)

Michaels who acted as WWF Commissioner in 1998

In 1998, Michaels received a back injury in the Casket match against The Undertaker at the Royal Rumble;[5] Michaels took a back body drop to the outside of the ring and smashed his lower back on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and crush one completely.[5][59] This forced Michaels into retirement after dropping the WWF Championship to Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV.[60]

Michaels returned to the WWF on November 23, 1998, but not as a wrestler; instead, he replaced Sgt. Slaughter (Robert Remus) as the WWF Commissioner, joining Vince McMahon's Corporation stable as a villain.[61] Throughout late 1998 and early 1999, Michaels made regular TV appearances on Raw, in which he booked matches, throwing around his authority, and sometimes even deciding the outcome of matches.[62][63][64] In early 1999, Michaels re-joined DX as a crowd favorite, but disappeared from WWF television for a few months to have back surgery,[65] and by the time he had returned, DX had broken up.

Michaels made occasional appearances on WWF television as the commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999. Michaels was absent from WWF television until May 21, 2000 when he returned to officiate the Iron Man match between The Rock (Dwayne Johnson) and Triple H.[66] One month later, Michaels briefly reappeared to hand over the role of commissioner to Mick Foley and afterwards was absent from WWF television for nearly a year.[67] During this time, believing that his wrestling career was over, Michaels was inspired to train individuals who were interested in wrestling.[68] He saw potential in using his name and opening the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, after his lawyer, Skip McCormick, suggested the idea.[68] Michaels eventually left the academy.[68] He was also a sportscaster for San Antonio's local news for a short time during his retirement from wrestling.[68]

Return to wrestling and feud with Triple H (2002–2004)

In 2002, Michaels returned to wrestling and was brought into the nWo by Kevin Nash as a new member of the group.[69] After the nWo was disbanded, Triple H appeared to want to make amends with Michaels. This was solidified when Michaels amended Triple H to return to Raw.[70] 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 nailed Michaels with his finisher The Pedigree.[70] Continuing the angle, a week later, Triple H attacked Michaels from behind in a parking lot and put his head through a car window.[71] In response, Michaels challenged Triple H to "a fight" (a non–sanctioned match) at SummerSlam, which Triple H accepted, laying the foundation for a feud that lasted for years. Michaels won at SummerSlam but was attacked by Triple H with a sledgehammer after the match.[72] At Survivor Series, Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match, where the ring is surrounded by a steel structure of chain and girders.[73] Michaels' reign as champion came to an end when 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, at Armageddon.[74]

Michaels' match with Chris Jericho at WrestleMania XIX in March 2003 was his first match at a WrestleMania since his back surgery in 1998.

Michaels then began an angle with Chris Jericho (Christopher Irvine), after Jericho claimed that he was the next Shawn Michaels. On January 13, 2003, after Jericho won a battle royal, a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared the winner, to select his entry number for the Royal Rumble, choosing number two in order to start the match with Michaels,[75] who had already been named number one. At the Royal Rumble, Jericho, with the help of Christian (Jason Reso), eliminated Michaels.[76] Michaels defeated Jericho at WrestleMania XIX. After the match, Michaels offered his hand to Jericho who, instead of shaking it, hugged Michaels. At first it seemed like good sportsmanship by Jericho until he quickly kicked Michaels in the groin.[77]

As a part of an ongoing feud with Triple H, the two competed alongside Chris Benoit in the main event match at WrestleMania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship. The former DX partners both came up short in the match, however, as Benoit had been booked to win the title.[78] At Bad Blood in June, Michaels lost to Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match.[78] Four months later, he lost a World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H, after Edge (Adam Copeland) interfered at Taboo Tuesday, when the fans voted for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time.[79] Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a legitimate torn meniscus.[3][80]

Feuds with Angle and Hogan (2005–2006)

At the Royal Rumble in 2005, Michaels competed in the Rumble match and eliminated Kurt Angle. An angry Angle returned to the ring and in eliminated Michaels and put Michaels in an ankle lock.[81] Michaels issued a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to attack Michaels.[82] The following week on Raw, Marty Jannetty and Michaels had a one time reunion as The Rockers and defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway [Rob Conway] and Sylvain Grenier).[83] Three days later on SmackDown!, Angle defeated Jannetty, after Angle made Jannetty submit to the ankle lock.[84] To send a "message" to Michaels, Angle also humiliated Michaels' former manager Sensational Sherri, when he applied an ankle lock on her.[85] At WrestleMania 21 on April 3, Angle defeated Michaels by submission, again with an ankle lock.[81]

The next night on Raw, Muhammad Hassan (Mark Copani) and Daivari (Shawn Daivari) came out to confront and assault Michaels.[86] The following week, Michaels approached authority figure Eric Bischoff, a portrayed match maker and rules enforcer, demanding a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari, a match consisting of one wrestler or team of wrestlers facing off against a team of wrestlers with numerical superiority such as two against one, or three against two. Bischoff refused to schedule a match, but informed Michaels to find a partner and he would grant him a match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea) to come back and team with him.[87] On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer.[88] At Backlash, Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels when Daivari was pinned.[89] On the July 4 edition of Raw, Michaels and Hulk Hogan had a tag team match, which they won. During the post-match pose, Michaels hit Hogan with his superkick, knocking Hogan to the ground and making Michaels a villain for the first time since returning in 2002.[90] The following week on Raw, Michaels appeared on Piper's Pit where he superkicked Roddy Piper (Roderick Toombs) and then challenged Hogan to a match at SummerSlam.[91][92] Hogan defeated Michaels at SummerSlam, and after the match Michaels extended his hand to him, saying "I needed to know, and I found out" and he and Hogan shook hands. Michaels left the ring to allow Hogan to celebrate with the crowd, and Michaels once again became a crowd favorite.[93]

Feud with McMahon and reformation of DX (2006–2007)

Michaels performing his signature pose

On the December 26, 2005 edition of Raw, Vince McMahon lauded Michaels for his part in the Montreal Screwjob. Michaels said he was only being loyal to his company, he had moved on, and McMahon should move on, as well. McMahon then began setting unusual stipulations for Michaels' matches and interfering on behalf of Michaels' opponents.[94] During the Royal Rumble, Vince McMahon made his way to the ring, and as Michaels stared at McMahon, Shane McMahon made a surprising appearance, eliminating Michaels from the match.[95] On the February 13 edition of Raw, McMahon tried unsuccessfully to force Michaels to sign retirement papers.[96] The next week, Michaels won a handicap match against the Spirit Squad, and after the match, Michaels' former partner, Marty Jannetty, came down to help Michaels from the assault by the Spirit Squad. After the two reunited, McMahon offered Jannetty a contract if he "kissed his ass."[97] The following week, Jannetty refused McMahon's offer and instead took Chris Masters' (Chris Mordetzky) "Masterlock challenge."[98] Michaels tried to help Jannetty, which ultimately resulted in Shane attacking Michaels and forcing him to kiss his father's ass.[98] At WWE Saturday Night's Main Event, Shane McMahon defeated Michaels in a Street Fight, after he applied a sharpshooter on Michaels, which led to McMahon immediately ordering for the bell to be rung, even though Michaels did not submit, which was an allusion to the Montreal Screwjob.[99] Despite interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane McMahon, Michaels defeated McMahon at WrestleMania 22 in a No Holds Barred match, a match where neither wrestler can be disqualified, allowing for weapons and outside interference.[96] At Backlash, The McMahons (Vince and Shane) defeated Michaels and "God" in a tag team match, with help from the Spirit Squad in a no disqualification match.[100] On the May 22 edition of Raw, the Squad injured Michaels' knee.[101] This angle was written so that Michaels could have surgery on his knee, which had been legitimately injured for some time.[102]

DX showing off their signature pose

In 2006, a series of events took place which suggested a reunion of Michaels and Triple H as DX. They began at WrestleMania 22, where both Michaels and Triple H performed the crotch chop during their matches.[96] On Raw, the two continued to deliver chops, as Michaels feuded with Vince McMahon and Triple H went for the WWE Championship, repeatedly butting heads with Vince McMahon in the process. On the June 12, 2006 edition of Raw, DX officially reunited. During Triple H's gauntlet match against the Spirit Squad, a match consisting of two wrestlers beginning the match, and replacing whenever one is eliminated (by normal means), with the last person standing being named the winner.Michaels came in to help Triple H, and the two did the DX "crotch chops."[103] At Vengeance, DX defeated the Spirit Squad in a 5–on–2 handicap match.[104] They also defeated the Spirit Squad at Saturday Night's Main Event in a 5–2 elimination match and defeated The McMahons at SummerSlam.[105] At Unforgiven, DX overcame the odds once again, defeating the McMahons and ECW World Champion The Big Show (Paul Wight) in a Hell in a Cell match.[106]

At Cyber Sunday, DX took on Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton). The fan-selected referee Eric Bischoff allowed the illegal use of a steel chair to give Rated-RKO the ill-gotten win and the plaudit of being the first tag team to defeat DX in a tag team match since their reformation in June 2006.[107] At Survivor Series, however, Team DX emerged victorious, in a clean sweep of Team Rated-RKO.[108] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps during their match with Rated-RKO.[109] Rated-RKO claimed victory over DX, citing the injury as the "end" of DX.[110] On January 15, Michaels lived up to his vow of "dealing" with Rated-RKO when he took out Randy Orton with a con-chair-to, a wrestler placing their opponent so that they are horizontal with their head resting on a chair, then hitting their head from above with a second chair, squashing the head of the opponent between both chairs, after a handicap match against Edge and Orton.[111]

Various feuds (2007–present)

Michaels confronting John Cena on an episode of Raw

On the January 29 edition of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena after defeating Rated-RKO.[112] He then defeated both Edge and Orton in a Triple Threat Number One contender's match on another edition of Raw to earn a shot at the WWE Championship.[113] On April 1 at WrestleMania 23, Cena retained the Championship after he made Michaels submit to the STFU.[114] The next night on Raw, Michaels and Cena competed in two back-to-back ten team battle royals, winning the first and losing the titles in the second to The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) when Michaels threw Cena over the top rope.[115] Michaels' feud with Cena continued and he faced off with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton in a standard wrestling match involving four wrestlers at Backlash for the WWE Championship. Cena retained the championship when Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Cena causing him to fall on Orton, which gained Cena the pinfall.[116]

Michaels then entered a feud with Randy Orton when Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels.[117] The week before their match at Judgment Day, after Michaels won a match against Edge, Orton interfered, punting Michaels in the head, this kick sees the wrestler take a run up to a kneeling opponent and strike him in the head with the sole of his foot.[117] Orton assaulted Michaels again just prior to their match at Judgment Day, interrupting Michaels' interview segment.[118] Michaels collapsed during the course of their match, causing Orton to win by referee stoppage.[118] Afterwards, Orton continued the beating when he delivered an RKO to a fallen Michaels. Michaels was then removed by a stretcher.[118] During the feud, Michaels conjured a storyline concussion. This injury was used to keep Michaels out of action, as he required surgery for his knee.[119] Michaels made his return on the October 8 edition of Raw, performing his trademark superkick to the newly-crowned WWE Champion, Randy Orton, during his title ceremony at the end of the show and then celebrating over the knocked-out champion as Vince McMahon watched.[120] At Cyber Sunday, Michaels was voted by the fans to face Randy Orton for the WWE Championship; though he won via disqualification when Orton hit Michaels with a low blow, which resulted in Orton retaining the title.[121] Michaels got another opportunity at the WWE Championship, when he was granted his rematch against Orton at Survivor Series.[122] In their match, Michaels was banned from using Sweet Chin Music upon request by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week.[123] Michaels lost the match, however, when Orton performed the RKO for the win.[122]

As part of the storyline involving Ric Flair, Michaels faced Flair in a Career Threatening match at WrestleMania XXIV, in which he won by performing Sweet Chin Music and thus ending Flair's career.[124] Afterwards, Batista (David Bautista) confronted Michaels about his actions at WrestleMania, calling him selfish and egotistical.[125] The two faced off at Backlash with Chris Jericho as the guest referee. Michaels won after faking a knee injury and performing Sweet Chin Music.[126] Jericho then confronted Michaels on this matter, in which Michaels admitted to faking the injury in order to defeat Batista.[127] Michaels then defeated Jericho at Judgment Day.[128] Michaels then lost to Batista at One Night Stand in a stretcher match, a match where the objective is to place the opponent on a stretcher at ringside and move it across a line located on the entrance ramp, thus ending their feud.[129] On the June 9 edition of Raw, Michaels was attacked by Chris Jericho during his talk show segment, The Highlight Reel, being thrown directly through a television screen.[130]

Personal life

In 1996, Hickenbottom posed in a non-nude layout for Playgirl magazine.[131] It was not until after he posed that he discovered that Playgirl has a mostly homosexual readership, which was seen as humorous by his fellow wrestlers.[131]

Hickenbottom's marriage to his first wife, Theresa Wood, was brief and ended in divorce, but was amicably settled.[132] He is now married to former WCW Nitro Girl, Whisper (Rebecca Curci). They were married on March 31, 1999 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada.[133] It was a very small wedding ceremony. The only people present were Hickenbottom, Rebecca Curci, and an Elvis impersonator. Hickenbottom and Curci have a son, Cameron Kade (born on January 5, 2000)[134] and a daughter, Cheyenne Michelle (born on August 19, 2004).[135]

Hickenbottom has several tattoos. He has a tattoo of a heart with a sword through it with a snake around it in the shape of an "S."[136][137] He has one on his wedding finger, that has an R for his wife Rebecca.[137] Another in his left wrist, it's a bracelet design that says "Cameron" for his son.[137] On his left leg he has a picture of his wife,[137] the other leg has a picture of the state of Texas.[137] Finally, he has a small broken heart with the letters "HBK" above it, tattooed on his right hip.[137]

Hickenbottom is ambidextrous.[13] This caused him problems as a boy playing football, as he had trouble differentiating between his right and left directions.[13] He uses his right hand to draw and color and his left hand to write.[13] He typically uses his right leg when performing Sweet Chin Music.

Hickenbottom is a born again Christian. He was raised as a Roman Catholic, but became a non-denominational Christian under the influence of his wife Rebecca.[2] His ring attire often incorporates cross symbols, and while on the way to the ring, he normally gets down on his knees and mouths a prayer while his pyrotechnics go off. He has been seen in the congregation during a televised service of Cornerstone Church in his hometown of San Antonio. Hickenbottom is a Bible teacher in San Antonio.[2] He also appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) program along with Sting.[138]

Hickenbottom is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs. He has been seen wearing Spurs merchandise and attending Spurs games.[139] John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) made a reference to Hickenbottom being a season ticket holder during the 2007 Royal Rumble.[140]

In wrestling

Template:Image stack

  • Entrance themes
    • The song "Sexy Boy" was originally written for Michaels by Jimmy Hart. Hart thanked Michaels personally for continuing to use the song as his entrance music when he was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005.[141] Michaels' entrance music was originally performed by Sherri Martel until she became a crowd favorite.[2] The second version was performed by Michaels himself with traces of Sherri in the chorus portion of the song. The current version of the song in use today is the version Michaels sang himself.[2]
    • Since the return of D-Generation X (DX), Michaels mostly used the DX entrance "Break It Down", by The Chris Warren Band, even when wrestling in singles competition, but then went back to using "Sexy Boy".

Championships and accomplishments

  • Texas Wrestling Alliance
    • TWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[2][8]

^ In October 1990, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty defeated the Hart Foundation for the title. Despite winning the match, the win and reign are not recognized by WWE, as the ring ropes broke and the match was not aired on television. As a result, Michaels is only officially recognized as a 4-time World Tag Team Champion.

See also


References

  • Assael, Shaun; Mooneyham, Mike (2002), Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment, Crown, ISBN 1400051436
  • Michaels, Shawn; Feigenbaum, Aaron (2005), Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story, WWE Books, ISBN 9780743493802
  • "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling’s Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007.
  1. ^ a b c (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, pp. 12–13)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak & Triumph (DVD). WWE Home Video. 2007.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Shawn Michaels' WWE Profile". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved 2007-07-10.
  4. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 164)
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  6. ^ a b (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 57)
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  9. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 251)
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  18. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 133)
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  143. ^ a b c d Olds, Chris (2008-03-24). "24 days of WrestleMania Memorabilia Countdown: No. 7, Shawn Michaels". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
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