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Who Is Shawn Michaels?
Shawn Michaels, a WWE Hall of Famer, is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time. Born Michael Shawn Hickenbottom on July 22, 1965, in Chandler, Arizona, Michaels grew up in a military family, moving frequently before settling in San Antonio, Texas. Although his high school did not have a wrestling team, Michaels knew at the age of 12 that he wanted to become a professional wrestler. After briefly attending Southwest Texas State University, he dropped out to pursue his wrestling career, debuting in 1984. Michaels initially teamed up with Marty Jannetty as The Midnight Rockers in the AWA, and the pair later joined WWE, where they became known as The Rockers. Following their split in 1992, Michaels adopted the iconic “Heartbreak Kid” persona, achieving significant success within the company. Despite suffering a career-threatening back injury in 1998, he made a triumphant return in 2002, continuing his illustrious career until his retirement in 2010. Outside the ring, Michaels is married to Rebecca, and the couple has two children.
Early Life
Shawn Michaels was born to Dick and Carol Hickenbottom in Arizona, with his father serving as an Air Force pilot. As a result, Michaels’ family relocated several times during his early childhood, including stints in the United Kingdom and Maryland, before settling in San Antonio, Texas. Growing up, Michaels was described as a quiet and shy boy, heavily involved in sports like football. It was during this time that he decided, at just 12 years old, that he wanted to become a professional wrestler. Although his high school did not offer wrestling as a sport, Michaels was inspired by his father’s background in amateur wrestling and his admiration for wrestling legends such as Ric Flair. Michaels attended Southwest Texas State University but dropped out after struggling academically during his second semester.
Pro Wrestling Career
The Rockers
Shawn Michaels began his formal wrestling training with Mexican wrestler Jose Lothario in 1983, and by October 1984, he made his professional debut with the National Wrestling Alliance’s (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling territory. Michaels formed a successful tag team with Marty Jannetty, and together they became The Midnight Rockers in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where they won their first World Tag Team Championship in 1986. The duo joined WWE in 1987, renaming themselves The Rockers. However, their first stint with WWE ended abruptly after just one day due to a bar fight in Buffalo, New York. After some time working in Continental Championship Wrestling (CCW), The Rockers were rehired by WWE in 1988 on a probationary basis, and they won the WWE Tag Team Championship in 1990, though the match was never aired due to a broken top rope during the event.
The Heartbreak Kid
In 1992, Michaels split from Jannetty and began to develop the “Heartbreak Kid” persona, portraying a cocky, self-absorbed character. This transformation marked the beginning of his rise as a singles competitor, and he quickly captured the Intercontinental Championship. Michaels’ career was briefly interrupted by a suspension following a steroid-related issue, but he returned in 1994 to compete in a legendary ladder match against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X, though he did not win the title.
Michaels went on to form a close alliance with Kevin Nash, who became his bodyguard. In 1996, Michaels won his first World Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania XII, marking the beginning of his reign as one of the company’s top stars. He was also part of the influential backstage group known as “The Kliq,” alongside Nash, Scott Hall, Sean Waltman, and Triple H. Michaels retired briefly in 1997 due to knee issues, but he returned to action shortly afterward, forming the popular faction Generation X with Triple H and Chyna. His rivalry with Bret “Hitman” Hart culminated in the infamous “Montreal Screwjob” at the 1997 Survivor Series, one of the most controversial moments in WWE history.
In 1998, Michaels suffered a career-threatening back injury during the Royal Rumble, and doctors advised him that he would never wrestle again. Despite this grim prognosis, Michaels insisted on wrestling at WrestleMania XIV, which would be his final match for several years.
Shawn Michaels’ enduring legacy in professional wrestling is defined by his unparalleled in-ring ability, charismatic persona, and contributions to the evolution of the WWE.
WWE Return and Retirement
After a decade-long battle with drug and alcohol addiction, Shawn Michaels turned his life around, starting a family in San Antonio, achieving sobriety, and embracing his faith. More than four years into his retirement, Michaels experienced a resurgence, claiming to have prayed away his chronic back pain. This led to his unexpected return to professional wrestling at SummerSlam 2002, where he faced Triple H. Michaels continued to compete for another eight years, culminating in his final match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI in March 2010.
Since stepping away from the ring, Michaels has made significant contributions to WWE’s NXT brand, which began as a developmental program for grooming the next generation of superstars.
Personal Life
Michaels’ personal life took a pivotal turn in June 1998 when he saw Rebecca Curci, then a WCW “Nitro Girl” named Whisper, on television. After dating for just a few weeks, the couple married at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas. Together, they have two children: a son, Cameron, and a daughter, Cheyenne.