Shawn_Michaels

Real Name: Michael Higgenbottom

Stage Name: Shawn Michaels, Heart Break K (HBK)

Date of Birth: 22 July 1965 Home Town: San Antonio, TX

Height: 6' 0" Weight: 230lbs

Brief Bio:

He was born on July 22, 1965 in Scottsdale, Arizona at Williams Air Force Base under the name Michael Shawn Hickenbottom. He is 6'0" 234lbs and made his pro wrestling debut on October 16, 1984. He has spent his entire wrestling career (in the big two) using the name Shawn Michaels and has only wrestled as a part of the WWF. He trained under former pro wrestler Jose Lothario in San Antonio after his parents gave him their blessing so that he could realize his dream of becoming a pro wrestler.

Two weeks after Shawn's nineteenth birthday, Shawn was ready for his first match in the Mid-South Wrestling organisation. The match came underway, and even though Shawn lost to Art Cruz, he showed what he is capable of. Shawn wrestled to a time limit draw in his next match, before he won his third match.

Shawn moved on to Kansas City, which was run by Bob Geigel, here Shawn met Marty Jannetty. Three months later Shawn started to work in the Texas All-Star Wrestling, where he started teaming with Paul Diamond, together they were known as the American Force. They won the Texas All-Star Tag Team Title twice and had a wild feud with the Masked Hoods.

In 1986 Shawn started teaming with Marty Jannetty and together they were known as the Midnight Rockers. The team was an instant success, winning the NWA Central States Tag Team Title, but they were only able to hold on to it for a week, winning and loosing it to Bart and Brad Batten.

In the end of 1986 the Midnight Rockers joined the American Wrestling Association, where they won the AWA World Tag Team Title. In the AWA they got a lot of TV time, which made the WWF interested in them, they were at asked to come to a TV taping, but they had too much fun at nightclub, which got them fired the next day.

The Midnight Rockers continued their success in the AWA, where they won the Southern Tag Team Title twice, they feuded with the RPMs for the title. When Shawn and Marty won the AWA World Tag Team Title for a second time the WWF got interested again, and this time the Midnight Rockers behaved for a while.

Marty Jannetty, Shawn Michaels entered the WWF now as the Rockers in 1988, a duo which quickly became a success with the fans, because of their high flying abilities. But at that time the WWF concentrated its tag team division on the heavyweights, with the Hart Foundation and Demolition as its cornerstones.

But that didn't stop the Rockers from trying, they took on all comers and even though they lost many of their feuds to the established heavyweight teams, they still captured the hearts of the fans. On of their best feuds in the first year in the WWF was with the Rougeau Brothers, which showed two of the best technical teams going at it.

In 1990 the Rockers started feuding with Power & Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma), at Summer Slam Hercules used his chain to take out Shawn's knee. In 1990 the Rockers also had a match with the Hart Foundation for the WWF Tag Team Title, the Rockers won the match, but since the top rope broke during the match the title change wasn't acknowledged by the WWF, even though they have talked about it on TV in 1997.

At the Royal Rumble in 1991 the Rockers defeated the Orient Express. At WrestleMania 7 the Rockers defeated the Barbarian and Haku. At the 1991 Survivor Series Marty Jannetty caused Shawn Michaels to be eliminated. This was one of the first signs that proved there was dissension among the two. They would argue over who would get to pin their opponents. Shawn was wrestling Ric Flair and Shawn was tossed out of the ring and Jannetty threw Shawn back in the ring so he wouldn't get counted out but Shawn got pinned anyway. This is what many say was the last straw. Shawn and Marty appeared on the Barber Shop. it looked as if Shawn and Marty were going to settle there differences but Shawn superkicked Marty and threw him through the Barber Shop window. That was the official break up of the Rockers and Shawn went on to singles.

Shawn took Sensational Sherri as his valet, and stated that he was "The Sexiest Man Alive" and he was "God's Gift To Women". Shawn's new attitude quickly sent him into the title picture, he had some great matches the during spring and summer with Bret Hart for the Intercontinental Title, but failed to come out on top.

Before Summer Slam 1992 Shawn and "The Model" Rick Martel had a feud about who should have Sherri as a valet, the feud ended at Summer Slam, where they fought to a double count-out and Sherri got soaked. At Summer Slam the British Bulldog won the Intercontinental Title from Bret Hart, and Shawn set his sight on a title shot more.

The match took place on the last installment of Saturday Night's Main Event on October 27, 1992. In one of the best matches in 1992 Shawn came out on top and was the new Intercontinental Champion.

Shawn still had the Intercontinental belt and this lured Marty Jannetty back to the WWF for revenge. Marty wanted to crush a mirror on Shawn's head, but Shawn heaved Sherri in front of him, and she took the whole blow, Shawn wisely ran out of the ring, and thereby dropped Sherri as his valet. The incident meant that Sherri wanted revenge on Shawn, but Shawn still came out on top of the confrontation with Marty at the Royal Rumble, who had Sherri in his corner.

The next contender for the IC Title was Tatanka, who could pin Shawn in non-title and tag team matches, but when it was for the gold, Shawn wisely enough stayed out of the ring, so Tatanka couldn't win the gold. The feud with Tatanka and Sherri ended when Shawn brought out Luna Vachon as his valet for WrestleMania IX, she took out Sherri.

On May 17, 1993, during Monday Night Raw, Shawn was being interviewed. In the interview, he said he could beat anyone anyplace, anytime. Just when he said that, Marty Jannetty came into the ring and challenged Shawn. Shawn of course had to accept the challenge. Later on that night, the match took place and Marty defeated Shawn to become the Intercontinental Champion.

Shawn had an ace up his sleeve though, on June 6 he demanded a rematch and got it, this time he brought out a bodyguard, a seven foot, 300 lbs monster, and he made sure that Shawn defeated Marty to regain the WWF Intercontinental Title for the second time. Shawn's bodyguard got a name at King of the Ring 1993, and it was Diesel (Kevin Nash), who also became a good friend of Shawn.

Mr. Perfect was the next contender for the IC title, but again with the help of Diesel, Shawn still had the belt. In the start of September, Shawn was stripped of the Intercontinental Title, because he didn't defend it within the 30 day limit. The real reason of the stripping was because of contractual problems with the WWF.

At Survivor Series 1993, Shawn returned taking the place of Jerry "The King" Lawler, to do battle with the Hart Family. Shawn was back, and one of the first things he did was to claim that he still was the Intercontinental Champion, because he never had lost the belt, this started a feud with the real Intercontinental Champion, Razor Ramon.

Shawn and Diesel attacked Razor on any given time, and Shawn knocked Razor out in Razor's match against IRS at the Royal Rumble, causing Razor to loose the title, but the decision was later reversed. In the battle royal at Royal Rumble, Shawn "accidentally" eliminated Diesel, which was only the beginning of future feud.

Shawn's attacks on Razor was the setup for WrestleMania X, where the two clashed in a Ladder Match to determine, who the real Intercontinental Champion was. In one of the best matches ever, which showed both Razor and Shawn's abilities, Razor came out on top.

Shawn continued his feud with Razor by putting his bodyguard Diesel up against "the bad guy", and together the two ended Razor's title regain. Diesel and Shawn also started to make an impact in the tag team scene, and quickly they got a title shot at the champions the Headshrinkers. It was the night before Summer Slam, where Diesel had to defend his IC Title against Razor, the match took place, Shawn and Diesel put up an impressive performance and came out on top as the new Tag Team Champions.

At Summer Slam, Shawn was in Diesel's corner as usual, but this time the plan backfired, Shawn wanted Razor to taste the Sweet Chin Music, but Razor moved out of the way and instead he hit Diesel, and this cost Diesel the match and the Intercontinental Title. You could feel the tension between Shawn and Diesel but they kept cool as they were still the Tag Team Champions, but something was not right in the Heartbreak Hotel.

Survivor Series 1994, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, Jeff Jarrett, Shawn, and Diesel was in an elimination match against Razor Ramon, 1-2-3 Kid, the British Bulldog, and the Headshrinkers. Diesel was cleaning house only Razor was left on the other team, when Shawn wanted to use his Sweet Chin Music, but again it failed its target and hit Diesel. This was the end of the Tag Team Champions and the relationship between Shawn and Diesel, the next day the title was vacated.

Shortly after Diesel became the WWF World Champion and Shawn desperately wanted to get revenge on his old friend, but to get a shot at the champion he had to win the Royal Rumble 1995. Shawn entered as number 1, but he kept on fighting and proved that he had the stamina to fight a long grueling battle, and in the end Shawn had his hand raised as the winner of the Royal Rumble, which meant that he would meet Diesel at WrestleMania XI.

Shawn hired a new bodyguard as well, the psychotic Sid should now replace Diesel. At WrestleMania it didn't go as Shawn had planed, he couldn't quite topple Diesel, and Sid's interfered on the wrong times so he wasn't to much help. Diesel won the match and this left Shawn with something to think about.

The next day at Monday Night Raw, Shawn and Diesel was scheduled to have a match against each other. In an interview before the match Diesel said that the relationship with Shawn had affected him, and Sid would never be a help for Shawn. Shawn also had an interview, where he stated that he couldn't forget the friendship with Diesel and he didn't need a bodyguard. This got Sid mad he powerbombed Shawn three times before Diesel came to Shawn's rescue.

The incident left Shawn out in the dark for a month, but in his return match he seemed stronger than ever, defeating Yokozuna in his return match, and this time the fans cheered him on. Shawn also qualified to the King of the Ring tournament, but he wasn't able to advance as he wrestled to a time limit draw with Kama, but this brought Shawn back into the title spotlight, as he started feuding with then Intercontinental Champion Jeff Jarrett.

Shawn and Jeff Jarrett clashed at In Your House 2, and in a match displaying both the skills of Shawn and Jeff, Shawn won the match and for a third time became Intercontinental Champion. The gold around his waist lured old enemies back, Sid and Razor, who both wanted a shot at the new champion.

Shawn and Razor clashed at Summer Slam 1995, in yet another unforgettable Ladder Match, this match was just as exciting as the first, but this time with a different outcome. Shawn defeated Razor and went on to defeat Sid in a match the next day at Monday Night Raw, this showed that he was a true and great champion.

Diesel and Shawn found back together again, and the Two Dudes with Attitude went on to defeat the WWF Tag Team Champions, Yokozuna and the British Bulldog, who subbed for Owen, in a match with all titles on the line. Diesel and Shawn won the match, but had to give back the Tag Team Title since they pinned an illegal man (Owen Hart who rushed to the ring). After Shawn's time with good luck, bad luck struck him again, but this time outside the wrestling ring. In October of 1995, Shawn was attacked outside a nightclub by several thugs, the numerous injuries forced him to hand over the Intercontinental Title to Dean Douglas, and Shawn was left out in the cold for yet another month.

Shortly before Survivor Series Shawn returned with a new fire, now he wanted the World Title, but on an installment of Monday Night Raw, in a match against Owen Hart, Owen hit Shawn with a kick to the back of the head, which made the lights go out for Michaels, who laid flat on his back. But this didn't set Shawn back, but yet again Shawn had to win the Royal Rumble to get a shot at the World Champion.

Shawn entered the Royal Rumble, but I don't think that he had expected he would eliminate his friend Diesel to win the battle royal for a second time in a row. Shawn would now have to face WWF World Champion Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII in a one-hour Iron Man Match. This special stipulation got Shawn to bring back his old trainer, Jose Lothario, to manage him.

In the final seconds of the ordinary match, with the score 0-0, Bret had Shawn in the sharpshooter, when the time ran out, Gorilla Monsoon decided, that the match should continue, with sudden death rules. Shawn won the match with the Sweet Chin Music and became WWF World Champion for the first time.

Bret left the WWF after the match, and one of the reasons for his hatred for Shawn Michaels is the "Clique". The "Clique" which consisted of Shawn Michaels, Diesel (Kevin Nash), Razor (Scott Hall), Hunter Hearst Helmsley, and 1-2-3 Kid (Sean Waltman, SYXX), who is friends outside of the squared circle, and apparently they played a big part in the booking department in WWF.

Diesel had turned heel after the Royal Rumble and blamed Shawn for it, the incident happened during a tag match between Diesel and Shawn against Bret and the Undertaker, Diesel went wild and attacked Bret and the Undertaker with a chair, and he also took out his frustrations on Shawn. Shawn and Diesel started a short but violent feud, with Michaels on top. Next in line was the British Bulldog, the feud started with the British Bulldog and his wife Diana blamed Shawn for making a move on Diana, but the angle was dropped since the fans disapproved. But the feud continued with two technical good matches, but the Bulldog couldn't take the title from Shawn.

Vader was the next monster to try to get Shawn knocked down, but even though Vader could pin Shawn in tag team matches, Shawn was the one who came out with the win in singles action. Shawn had a great match with Mankind at In Your House 10.

The psychotic Sid was the next to try to end Michaels regain. The match was fought at Survivor Series 1996, where the fans booed Shawn, during the match Sid attacked Jose Lothario by hitting him with a camera. Instead of paying attention to the match, Shawn wanted to help Jose, because he didn't pay attention, Sid powerbombed Shawn and won the title.

Bret Hart returned to the WWF at the Survivor Series 1996, and he blamed Shawn for a lot of things that had gone bad in the WWF, he also blamed Shawn for his defeat to Sid at In Your House 12. The boiling of a new interesting feud between the two superstars was under the way, but we had to wait a year before the actual match took place.

Shawn got a rematch with Sid at the Royal Rumble 1997 in Shawn's home town San Antonio, Texas. Shawn ended up winning his title back at Royal Rumble '97 in front of his hometown crowd in San Antonio to be the WWF champ for the second time.

Shawn's role in the WWF during this time was very important because of the lack of success the WWF was having in the mid '90s. Wrestling in the United States was suffering in '95-'96 due to the WWF's tendencies to produce characters with outrageous gimmicks rather than promoting good wrestling. After Kevin Nash's unsuccessful world title reign in '95, highlighted by horrible feuds with Mabel (Viscera) and Sid, Shawn was given the title for nearly eight months. While Shawn's reign was in full force the WWF's former champion Bret Hart took a seven month leave of absence to think about his future in wrestling. Without Bret around to produce good matches and with Austin and Foley climbing the WWF ladder, Shawn seemingly carried every PPV during the year. His matches with Bulldog, Vader and Mankind were all very good.

He was so productive during this time period that many critics offered the same praise to him that Ric Flair was given several years earlier. It came at the perfect time because without Shawn as their leader who knows where the WWF would be today. Wrestling would not be where it is today without all of the hard work put in by the Heartbreak Kid when the business was struggling to keep its head above water.

During an edition of Raw in February '97 Shawn Michaels "lost his smile" on Thursday Raw Thursday. He went on the show and forfeited the world title. His reason was that he had a knee injury although some people, like Bret Hart, believed that he could have worked through it. Bret was upset about it because Shawn was scheduled to drop the title to Bret at WrestleMania XIII to return the job Bret did to Shawn the previous year. He missed the PPVs in February, March, April and May due to the knee injury and various other injuries that nagged him throughout his career.

After winning the title at Survivor Series '97, Shawn retained the title at the December '97 PPV against Ken Shamrock. At Royal Rumble '98, Shawn once again defeated the Undertaker in a casket match at the Royal Rumble thanks to Kane again. During the casket match Shawn took a bump that would end up forcing him to retire from full time in ring competition. He took a bump on his back that caused him excruciating pain. He had suffered a major problem with the lower disks in his back forcing him to cut back on his schedule drastically. It is believed that the injury occurred when the Undertaker tossed Shawn over the top rope causing Shawn to land on the corner of the wooden coffin.

Many people felt that Shawn would be unable to defend the world title at WrestleMania XIV against Stone Cold but he made it and delivered yet again. This match was hyped unbelievably for a couple of reasons. It was the last big match in Shawn's career so the WWF went all out in building up a good storyline. Austin and Michaels were the two wrestlers in the business which led to an unbelievable PPV buyrate but there was something else that helped their cause.
The WWF brought in Mike Tyson to be a part of this classic match. Tyson was playing the role of enforcer/referee in the match. He brought in interest from non wrestling fans to see what Tyson would do. Prior to the match it appeared that Tyson had joined Shawn in DX as Shawn attempted to "stack the deck" against Austin. Austin won the match in what was a relatively clean match. Even though Shawn did not win the match he still put in a tremendous effort. He could not bump the way he used to and at several points in the match you could see him wincing in pain. This put an end to Shawn's in ring career. He put the deserving man over and he walked away without any regrets. Although he didn't win his last match, Shawn Michaels went out on top like the true champion that he is.

Injuries have kept the Heartbreak Kid from competing in the ring since WrestleMania XIV. However, ever one to seek the spotlight, Michaels returned in November of 1998 when he was named the new Commissioner of the World Wrestling Federation!

Also in 1998, Michaels opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy with his mentor, Jose Lothario, in San Antonio.

In the summer of 2000, Michaels handed over his title as WWF Commissioner to another Federation stand-out, Mick Foley.

Now, Michaels continues his relationship with the Federation as the WWF's official spokesperson, attending events around the globe as a representative.

The above Biography is compliled form the following links:

http://www.worldsportsmen.f2s.com/michaels.html

http://www.wwfsuperstars.com/smichaels/bio/

http://members.tripod.com/~DXChick/