Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels (born Michael Shawn Hickenbottom) is an American professional wrestler from the state of Texas. He is regarded as one of the best Wrestlers of all time and #8 best according for PWI. He is also known as the man who made the ladder match popular. He has been wrestling with the WWE for over 20 years and is the only man, besides The Undertaker (Paul Calaway), to have appeared on the first episode of RAW and still be working for the WWE. Michaels early career with the WWF began as a member of the Tag Team 'The Rockers', along with Marty Janetty. The High Flying team captivated the WWF audience in the late 80s and early 90s. Eventually the team broke up in one the most famous heel turns when Michaels tossed Jannetty into the glass window of Brutus the Beefcakes Barbershop during a promo segment. Afterwards, Michaels had brief, sporadic feuds with Jannetty while building his Heartbreak Kid persona. During this time Shawn Michaels became a fan favorite heel character. Even though he was a 'bad guy' he was wildly popular, and helped launch the careers of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and Triple H. Shawn Michaels is notoriously known for being part of the Montreal Screwjob, which took place at the Survivor Series Pay-Per-View event on November 9th, 1997. During the match Michaels placed then defending Bret Hart into the Sharpshooter submission, when WWF Owner Vince McMahon came to the ring and deceptively called for the bell, which in turn screwed Bret Hart out of the WWF Championship and embarassing him in front of his Canadian fans. Michaels walked away hastily with the WWF Championship and a look of utter shock. Whether Michaels knew of the outcome of the match before or after is not known, but it is speculated that he was due to his less than friendly relationship with Bret Hart. After this time Shawn Michaels formed the popular stable Degeneration X with Triple H, Chyna, and Rick Rude. Shawn Michaels was in his prime during this time in 97-98 before hurting his back in a career threatening injury after Wrestlemania 14 against Stone Cold Steve Austin. However, after recovering for 4 years he returned to the WWE in 2002 as part of the newly reformed NWO. In his first match back, Shawn Michaels managed to win the World Heavyweight Championship. In 2006, he had a short stint with Triple H when they reformed the former stable D-Generation X. Throughout the mid 2000's Michaels feuded with Kurt Angle, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Randy Orton, and Ric Flair. In Wrestlemania 25, Shawn Michaels wrestled against the Undertaker in what is considered not only the greatest Wrestlemania Match, but the greatest wrestling match of all time. The sequel to this match proceeded at the following Wrestlemania 26, where Michaels again wrestled against The Undertaker. This match had the stipulation of the upending Undertakers Wrestlemania winning streak against ending Shawn Michaels career. Michaels again lost against the Undertaker, thus ending his epic career. This was not the last time Shawn Micheal would be seen in a wrestling ring, as he was the special guest referee in the Undertaker vs. Triple H rematch at Wrestlemania 28. This match was dubbed the end of an era match. After the Undertaker secured the win, both Michaels and Undertaker helped Triple H out of the ring, and the three held each other in embrace to cap off a amazing four year Wrestlemania storyline. Michaels is still making appearances on WWE live programming, most recently being involved in the Brock Lesnar-Triple H feud.

Nicknames

• The Show Stopper
• The Heart Break Kid
• HBK
• The Headliner
• The Main Event
• The Icon
• Mr. WrestleMania
• Mr. Hall of Fame

Finishers

• Sweet Chin Music
• Elbow Drop
• Teardrop Suplex (former)

Submission

• Sharpshooter

Entrance Music: "Sexy Boy"

Titles

• WWF Championship (3 times)
• WWF European Championship ( 1 time)
• WWF intercontinental (3 times)
• WWF/WWE World Tag Team (4 times)
• World Heavyweight (1 times)

Achievements:

• 2 times Royal Rumble winner (1995, 1996)
• First Grand Slam Champion
• Fourth Triple Crown Champion

WWE Title History

WWE Championship

• 3/31/96 WrestleMania 12 - Bret Hart
• 1/19/97 Royal Rumble - Sid
• 11/9/97 Survivor Series - Bret Hart

World Heavyweight Championship

• 11/17/02 Survivor Series - Won Elimination Chamber Match against Champion Triple H, Booker T, Rob Van Dam, Chris Jericho & Kane

Intercontinental Championship

• 10/27/92 SNME - The British Bulldog
• 6/6/93 - Marty Jannetty
• 7/23/95 In Your House 2 - Jeff Jarrett

World Tag Team Titles

• 8/28/94 - with Diesel beat The Headshrinkers
• 9/24/95 In Your House 3 - with Diesel beat Owen Hart & Yokozuna
• 5/25/97 - w/ Steve Austin beat Owen Hart & Davey Boy Smith
• 1/29/07 - w/ John Cena beat Edge & Randy Orton

European Title

• 9/20/97 - The British Bulldog