A piledriver is a professional wrestling driver move in which the wrestler grabs his opponent, turns him upside-down, and drops into a sitting or kneeling position, driving the opponent head-first into the mat.^[1] The most common piledrivers are the basic belly-to-back, or Texas piledriver, and the belly-to-belly tombstone piledriver, but many more intricate variants are in use. It was innovated by "Wild" Bill Longson.

The name is taken from a piece of construction equipment, also called a pile driver, that drives countless massive impacts on the top of a large major foundation support, burying it in the ground slowly with each impact. The act of performing a piledriver is called "piledriving." Someone who has recently been the victim of a piledriver is said to have been "piledriven" (e.g. "The wrestler was piledriven into the canvas").

A professional wrestler performs a piledriver on his opponent.

Danger and precautions[link]

The piledriver is generally considered a dangerous maneuver in wrestling because of the potential impact on the head and compression of the neck. A properly executed fake standard piledriver has the opponent's head barely touching the ground, if at all.^[2] When the head is not in the proper position, serious injury or paralysis can occur.^[3] Perhaps most famously, at the 1997 WWF SummerSlam pay-per-view, Owen Hart (who very rarely botched moves during matches throughout his career) botched a reverse piledriver in his match against Stone Cold Steve Austin. Austin suffered a broken neck and, while he would still go on to his main event push, the injury ultimately contributed to Austin's in-ring retirement in 2003.^[4]

The piledriver was banned in WWE in 2000, unless the wrestler has special permission to use the move.^[3] In a discussion in 2007, Stephanie McMahon said that only two wrestlers were allowed to use the move, "two of the stronger guys".^[5] In fact, The Undertaker's tombstone piledriver continues to be his finishing move.^[6] The piledriver is also banned in many other promotions and certain cities. It is also considered an automatic disqualification in professional wrestling matches held in Memphis, Tennessee, as the move is banned in that city.^[7] In some promotions in the United Kingdom, the move can result in not only a disqualification, but a fine.^[8] In Mexico, the piledriver (called a martinete) is an automatic disqualification.

Variations[link]

Back-to-belly piledriver[link]

Kazarian performing a back-to-belly piledriver on Shannon Moore.

The wrestler faces the opponent, places his head between the hold of them. He then stands up, lifting the opponent upside down. The wrestler then either sits down or drops on to his knees, driving the opponent's head down to the mat.

A variation on this which is sometimes known as the sunset driver sees the attacking wrestler hook the opponent's legs underneath his / her arms while holding the opponent up in the back to belly position. From here, the wrestler drops to his / her knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. This move will often see the attacking wrestler hold the move after landing for a rana style pinfall attempt.

Cradle piledriver[link]

The cradle piledriver is a variation on standard piledrivers which sees the attacking wrestler grapevine the opponents leg with their arm. The most common of which is similar to a Texas piledriver. This move sees the attacking wrestler, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, reach around the opponent's midsection and lifting them so that they are held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then hooks his / her arms around one leg of the opponent before dropping to a sitting or kneeling position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat.

This variant can be used on other types of piledriver; including the cradle tombstone piledriver variation, instead of wrapping both of his arms around the waist of the opponent, the wrestler wraps one arm around the waist and places his other arm between the opponent's legs, grabbing hold of his other arm. The wrestler then drops down on his knees, driving the opponent down to the mat head first.

Cross-arm piledriver[link]

From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the attacking wrestler crosses the arms of this opponent between their legs (a double pumphandle) before then lifting the opponent up into a vertical position and driving them down between the attacking wrestler's legs.

Double underhook piledriver[link]

In this piledriver, a wrestler will bend his / her opponent forward, placing the opponent's head between the wrestler's legs (a standing head scissors), and hooks each of the opponent's arms behind the opponent's back. He / she then pulls back on the opponent's arms lifting him/her up so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting or kneeling position dropping the opponent's head into the mat. The sitting variation of this move is also called Tiger Driver '98.

Flip piledriver[link]

The move, which is also referred to as a front flip piledriver, begins in a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection latching onto the opponent's back, with his / her head to one side of the opponent's hips, keeping his / her legs around the opponent's head. From this position the wrestler pushes off the mat with his / her legs to flip the opponent over.

As both wrestlers flip the attacking wrestler uses his / her body weight to land in a seated position driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs. A double underhook variation exists in which the arms of a bent over opponent are placed in a butterfly prior to performing the flip.

Jumping piledriver[link]

Also known as a spike piledriver, stuff piledriver or a belly-to-back piledriver, from a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around their opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then jumps in the air and drops to a sitting position.

Kneeling piledriver[link]

A variation of the Spike piledriver where instead of dropping to a sitting position as in the basic Texas piledriver, the wrestler drops to a kneeling position.

Kryptonite Krunch[link]

CIMA performing his finisher, Schwein

The Kryptonite Krunch, the Schwein, can be technically described as an over the shoulder back-to-belly piledriver. It begins with the wrestler facing his opponent. From there, the wrestler will pick up the opponent and place them over his / her shoulder so that the opponent's head is dangling over the wrestler's back by the waist of the wrestler. The wrestler then holds the opponent in place by holding his / her leg with one arm and applies a headlock to the opponent with his / her other arm. The opponent is now bent into a circle. The wrestler then drops to a seated position, driving the head of the opponent into the ground. The original name is the Air Raid Crash, where the wrestler holds the opponent across the back diagonally.

Package piledriver[link]

A package piledriver is almost the same as a Texas piledriver, but instead of grabbing the waist of the opponent, the wrestler puts their arms underneath the opponent's arms and grabs their legs by the knees. The wrestler then stands up, lifting the opponent until they are upside down, and drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs.

There is also an inverted version of the move in which an attacking wrestler reaches between an opponent's legs with one arm and reaches around that opponent's back from the same side with his other arm before lifting their opponent upside down into a belly-to-belly position. The attacker then grabs the opponent's legs by the knees, jumps up, then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head between their thighs.

Pumphandle reverse piledriver[link]

This variation sees an attacking wrestler first lock an opponent in the pumphandle hold before then using the hold to raise the opponent up over the shoulder of the attacking wrestler. From here the attacking wrestler brings the opponent down into the belly-to-belly position before then sitting down for a reverse piledriver with the opponent's head impacting the mat between the legs of the attacking wrestler.

Reverse piledriver[link]

Also known by the term belly-to-belly piledriver, a wrestler first stands facing an opponent before then grab the opponent's waist and turns them upside-down, holding them against their torso. The wrestler then jumps up and drops down to a seated position, driving the opponent's head down to the mat between the wrestler's thighs.

Kneeling reverse piledriver[link]

The Undertaker preparing to execute a Tombstone piledriver on Edge.

The wrestler places their stronger arm between the opponent's legs and their weaker arm on the opposite shoulder and lifts the opponent onto their stronger shoulder, similar to a scoop slam lift, and into a reverse piledriver position. The wrestler then falls or jumps to his knees, driving the opponent's head into the mat. Better known as a Tombstone piledriver, this variation was made famous by The Undertaker, who gave it the moniker to fit with his "Deadman" gimmick.

Scoop side piledriver[link]

Facing his opponent, the wrestler reaches between their opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up on their chest so that they are facing downwards. The wrestler then moves their left arm from around the opponent's neck to around the opponent's torso. They then turn the opponent so that they are upside down on one side of the wrestler. The wrestler then jumps up and falls down to a sitting position, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first.

Scoop slam piledriver[link]

Facing their opponent, the wrestler reaches between his opponent's legs with their right arm and reaches around the opponent's neck from the same side with their left arm. They then lift the opponent up and turn them around so that they are held upside down, as in a scoop slam. The wrestler then drops down to their knees, driving the opponent down to the mat neck and shoulder first. There is also a seated version of this move.

Spike piledriver[link]

A spike piledriver can refer to either jumping piledriver, aided piledriver, or kneeling piledriver.

Texas piledriver[link]

Also called a traditional piledriver, or simply piledriver, this is the classic and original piledriver technique. From a position in which the opponent is bent forward against the wrestler's midsection, the wrestler grabs around his / her opponent's midsection and lifts so that the opponent is held upside down facing in the same direction as the wrestler, the wrestler then drops to a sitting position with the opponent's head falling between the wrestler's thighs down to the mat.

Vertebreaker[link]

Technically known as a back to back double underhook piledriver or a Kudo Driver, Cop Killa, or Gringo Killa, this move is executed from a position in which the opponent is standing behind the wrestler, the wrestler underhooks his/her arms under the opponent's arms. Then the wrestler twists his / her body around so that the wrestler is facing the ground and the opponent is standing with his / her back resting against the wrestler's back. Then the wrestler stands while the opponent is in an upside down position while both the opponent and the wrestler's arms are still hooked and then the wrestler then drops to a sitting position. Another way to get the opponent into the position is to approach a standing opponent from behind, hook the opponent's arms, bend forward under the opponent, and then rise up, raising the opponent upside down.

This technique is extremely dangerous, as the receiver's arms are restrained and his / her head is not placed between the wrestler's legs, giving him / her little to post against. The move was banned by WWE in April 2003, except for in cases where the wrestler received special permission to use the move.^[9]

Vertical suplex piledriver[link]

The wrestler applies a front facelock to the opponent and hooks the opponent's near arm over their shoulder and lifts them into a vertical suplex position. They then turn the opponent 180°, force the opponent into the reverse piledriver position, then drop to a sitting position, dropping the opponent on their head.

See also[link]

• Professional wrestling throws

References[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Piledriver

Taka Michinoku
Michinoku in August 2010
Ring name(s)	Blue-K The Great Taka Pepe Michinoku Piza Michinoku Taka Taka Michinoku
Billed height	5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)[1]
Billed weight	187 lb (85 kg)[2]
Born	(1973-10-26) 26 October 1973 (age 38) Morioka, Iwate, Japan
Resides	Yotsukaido, Chiba, Japan
Trained by	The Great Sasuke[2]
Debut	1991[2]

Takao Yoshida (吉田 貴男, Yoshida Takao^?) (born October 26, 1973), better known by his ring name TAKA Michinoku (Taka is written in all caps in Japanese script), is a professional wrestler who has wrestled all over the world^[2] as well he was a former Mixed Martial Artist. Michinoku is known in North America for his work for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) where he had the first ever WWF Light Heavyweight Championship reign recognized by the North-American promotion. Michinoku currently works as a freelancer in Japan, performing for promotions such as New Japan Pro Wrestling, Kaientai Dojo, Dragon Gate and Dramatic Dream Team.

Having held championship titles in Japan, North America, Mexico and Europe, Yoshida is known for his long title reigns. He held the FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Title for a combined duration of more than 15 months, the WWF Light Heavyweight Title for a then record-setting 10 months and the WEW Six-Man Tag Team Title for almost a year. Yoshida has held the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title, Michinoku Pro Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Title and Kaientai Dojo Strongest-K Title simultaneously for almost 10 months. During his reign, he has defended his titles against both AJPW and independent circuit talent to increase his base of opponents, and thus has increased the reach of the AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Title which was closed off to outside competition in the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s.

Professional wrestling career[link]

Early career[link]

Taka Michinoku took his name as a sign of respect for his mentor The Great Sasuke, who was the owner of Michinoku Pro Wrestling and had been the first to use Michinoku as part of his ring name. He debuted Wrestling International New Generations and Michinoku Pro Wrestling joint event by teaming up with Great Sasuke, they lost to Super Delfin & Terry Boy. He would later move Federacion Universal De Lucha Libre and debuted by beating the team of Mongolian Yuga & Shiryu with Buffalo Chohe. Then he debuted for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling in a six-man tag team match at FMW Summer Spectacular 1993. Michinoku would primary compete at MPW, UWF and FMW in his early career.^[3]

His debut for New Japan Pro Wrestling came during Super J Cup 1994 and was eliminated from the competition in the first round by Black Tiger. He competed in Best of the Super Juniors 1994 and only gained two points therefore losing the tournament. He also went up against Super Delfin for the CMLL World Welterweight Championship and had a J-Crown Title #1 Contendership match with Koji Kanemoto, both of which he lost.^[4]

Michinoku's first title reign came in the form of the FMW Independent Junior Heavyweight Championship, which he won by defeating Koji Nakagawa on May 5, 1996. He would lose the title to El Satanico after holding the title for one year and one month and defeating fellow young wrestlers Minoru Tanaka, Naohiro Hoshikawa and Hayato Nanjyo, he would later regained the championshiptwo months later. He would vacate the championship to focus on the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship.^[4]

Extreme Championship Wrestling (1997,1999)[link]

Michinoku made his ECW and American debut on February 14, 1997 in a match where he teamed with Dick Togo & Terry Boy to defeat Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa & The Great Sasuke. This three on three feud lasted until ECW Barely Legal 1997 Gran Hamada, Gran Naniwa & The Great Sasuke would defeat the trio. This was also Michinoku's first pay per view appearance. After this Michinoku left the company to join World Wrestling Federation.^[5]

In 1999 Michinoku would return at ECW Cyberslam 1999 defeating Papi Chulo. He also wrestled Super Crazy at Hardcore Heaven 1998. His last match for ECW was in the form of a win against Mosco de la Merced.^[5]

World Wrestling Federation (1997-2001)[link]

First WWF Light Heavyweight Champion (1997-1998)[link]

He made his World Wrestling Federation (WWF) debut on July 6, 1997 at the WWF pay-per-view Canadian Stampede losing to The Great Sasuke but getting a huge reaction from the crowd. He lost a rematch to Sasuke the following night on Raw. He was entered in the WWF Light Heavyweight Title Tournament where the winner would become the first WWF Light Heavyweight Champion, he beat Devon Storm in the quarter final, Aguila in the semi final. On December 7, 1997, Michinoku defeated Brian Christopher at D-Generation X: In Your House to become the first WWF Light Heavyweight Champion recognized by the WWF.^[5][6] Taka successfully defended the WWF Light Heavyweight Title at WWF In Your House 20: No Way Out Of Texas against Pantera, WrestleMania XIV against Aguila and against multiple different opponents on Raw is War and Shotgun Saturday.^[7] After holding the title for more than 10 months, Michinoku lost the title to Christian on October 18, 1998.^[5]

Kai En Tai (1998-2001)[link]

Taka was attacked by Kai En Tai for unknown reasons, and their alliance with Taka in Japan was not mentioned. Taka began feuding with Kai En Tai. Michinoku would team up with Bradsaw to take on Dick Togo, Mens Teioh & Sho Funaki at Over the Edge: In Your House only to be defeated.^[5] He would then also team up with The Headbangers to defeat Togo, Teioh & Funaki at King Of The Ring.^[5] With Kai En tai also feuding with Val Venis the pair teamed up to take on Togo and Funaki in a tag team match, Taka made a swerve, however, by turning against Venis, proclaiming that Mrs. Yamaguchi-San was his sister. Venis was dragged backstage by Kaientai to be castrated, though the audience did not see what happened next. A few weeks later Michinoku was involved in a gauntlet match with Togo, Teioh and Funaki to defeat Venis. Michinoku once again teamed up with Togo, Teioh and Funaki to go against The Oddities (Giant Silva, Golga & Kurrgan) at SummerSlam 1998 only to lose the match. With Kai En Tai in 1998 he had multiple chances to become a champion, going up against Christian and Duane Gill for the WWF Light Heavyweight Championship and X-Pac for the WWF European Championship^[5]

After Togo, Teioh and both Yamaguchis left the WWF, Michinoku and Funaki began wrestling as a tag team using the name Kaientai. They were primarily comedy jobbers, best known for their "Indeed!" skits in which voices in English were dubbed into their promos while they badly lip-synced. Their first tag team match together came in the form of a lose to the Hardy Boyz. At WrestleMania 2000 the pair were part of a hardcore battle royal for the WWF Hardcore Championship, Funaki even became the Hardcore champion for a small amount of time however Michinoku never held the title.^[5] Taka's biggest venture in WWF came when he challenged Triple H for the WWF Championship on the April 10, 2000 edition of Raw, coming up short despite interference on his behalf from Funaki and the Acolytes Protection Agency. In 2000 they had a chance to become the number one condentors for the WWF World Tag Team Championship in a number one contendership battle royal in which The APA won. In 2001 KaiEnTai took on the Dudley Boyz for the WWF Tag Team Championship but failed to capture them. In 2000 and 2001 Michinoku had multiple opportunities to become the WWF Light Heavyweight Champion taking on Dean Malenko, Jeff Hardy and others. In their last match together as KaiEnTai, due to Michinoku leaving the WWF, they defeated Justin Credible and Raven^[5]

Return to Japan, Kaientai Dojo[link]

After departing from the WWF (by now renamed World Wrestling Entertainment) in early 2002, Michinoku returned to Japan to rehabilitate a serious shoulder injury.

All Japan Pro Wrestling[link]

Pepe Michinoku (Taka Michinoku), El Nosawa Mendoza (Nosawa-Rongai), and Miguel Hayashi Jr (Kaz Hayashi) formed a team during the AJPW Champion's Carnival called Mexico Amigos. El Hijo del Araya Segundo (Nobutaka Araya) joined the team after Six-Man Action between Mexico Amigos and Araya/Fuchi/Hirai at the Carnival's final show. After multiple bouts against Minoru Suzuki, Nosawa (NOSAWA Rongai) offered Suzuki an invitation into Mexico Amigos, to which he declined. This resulted in the group changing multiple assets. Their name was changed to Mexico Amigos Black, the previous worn Mexican Flag attire became Black and Gold attire, and Nobutaka Araya was kicked out of the group. The groups is currently in a heated rivalry with Mazada's Samurai New Japan group, Minoru Suzuki, and Voodoo Murders.

At the AJPW's December 16, 2007 "Fan Appreciation Day" show, The Mexico Amigos teamed with "Ray Suzuki" and defeated Ryuji Hijikata, Kikutaro, T28 and Ryuji Yamaguchi. After the match, Ray Suzuki reveled himself as Minoru Suzuki and stated the starting next year he would throw his Amigos tights away and return to Nosawa Rongai, then kidnapped him to start early training. This led to Pepe and Miguel stating they would return to Mexico, but Kaz and Taka would return come the new year. After one last "Viva Mexico" Mexico Amigos disbanded.

Legacy[link]

Most of Taka Michinoku's moves including the Michinoku Driver are still used in WWE wrestling games, mainly in move sets in which you can create a wrestler or choose an existing one and edit his or her moves. Professional wrestler and fellow WWE alumni Mick Foley has been noted as saying "If the WWF was about talent, Taka Michinoku would have been WWF champion."

In wrestling[link]

• Finishing moves
  • Michinoku Driver^[2][7]
  • Michinoku Driver II, sometimes while using an inverted facelock for support — innovated^[2][8]
  • Just Facelock (Bridging crossface)

• Signature moves
  • Back to back double underhook piledriver
  • Dick Killer (Arm trap bridging cobra clutch)
  • Death Valley driver
  • Hurricanrana
  • Multiple kick variations
    • Bicycle^[8]
    • Drop, sometimes while springboarding^[2]
    • Double foot stomp, sometimes while doing a back flip from the top rope
    • Low drop^[2]
    • Super^[8]
  • Multiple moonsault variations
    • Diving
    • Springboard
    • Springboard corkscrew,^[2] sometimes to an opponent outside the ring
  • No–handed over the top rope suicide dive
  • Overhead belly to belly suplex
  • Over the shoulder back to belly piledriver
  • Powerbomb
  • Springboard into either a dropkick^[2] or a knee drop
  • Straight jacket sitout powerbomb pin
  • Superkick
  • Tornado DDT^[2]

• Managers
  • Yamaguchi-san

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• All Japan Pro Wrestling
  • AJPW World Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• El Dorado Wrestling
  • UWA World Trios Championship (1 time) - with Francis Togo and Antonio Honda

• Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling
  • FMW Independent World Junior Heavyweight Championship (2 times)^[2]

• Independent Wrestling World
  • IWW Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

• Kaientai Dojo
  • FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with TOMO Michinoku^[2]
  • Strongest-K Championship (2 times)^[2]
  • Strongest-K Tag Team Championship (3 times) - with Handsome Joe (2) and Kengo Mashimo (1)
  • UWA/UWF Intercontinental Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Ryota Chikuzen^[2]
  • Strongest-K Tournament (2007)

• Michinoku Pro Wrestling
  • Tohoku Junior Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[2]

• New Japan Pro Wrestling
  • IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Dick Togo^[2]

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI ranked him #191 of the 500 best singles wrestlers during the "PWI Years" in 2003

• Tokyo Sports Grand Prix
  • Best Technical Wrestler (2005)

• World Entertainment Wrestling
  • WEW Six Man Tag Team titles (1 time) - with Gosaku Goshogawara and Tetsuhiro Kuroda^[2]

• World Wrestling Federation
  • WWF Light Heavyweight Championship (1 time)^[5]

Mixed martial arts record[link]

Result	Record	Opponent	Method	Event	Date	Round	Time	Location	Notes
Loss	0-1	Keiichiro Yamamiya	Submission (Keylock)	Pancrase - Alive 4	April 27, 1997	1	7:36	Tokyo, Japan

References[link]

External links[link]

Professional wrestling portal

• Profile at The Accelerator's Wrestling Rollercoaster
• Professional MMA Record
• Profile at Jujigatame Puroresu
• Online World of Wrestling Profile

Shawn Michaels
Shawn Michaels at Wrestlemania 24 in March 2008.
Ring name(s)	Sean Michaels[1] Shawn Michaels
Billed height	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)[2][3]
Billed weight	225 lb (102 kg)[2]
Born	(1965-07-22) July 22, 1965 (age 46) Chandler, Arizona[4]
Resides	San Antonio, Texas[5]
Billed from	San Antonio, Texas[2]
Trained by	Jose Lothario[6]
Debut	October 16, 1984[7]
Retired	March 28, 2010

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is a retired professional wrestler, and an American television host. He is currently signed to WWE, where he has served as an ambassador for the company since December 2010. Hickenbottom consistently wrestled for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998, due to injury. He appeared in non-wrestling roles from 1998 to 2000, and resumed his in-ring career in 2002, retiring in 2010. He also hosts the show MacMillan River Adventures, airing on the Outdoor Channel.

Hickenbottom began his wrestling career with Mid-South Wrestling, now known as Universal Wrestling Federation, and American Wrestling Association (AWA). During his time with AWA, he performed in partnership with Marty Jannetty, as The Midnight Rockers; winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice. Hickenbottom and Jannetty briefly signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1987, while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.

Hickenbottom later worked as a singles performer, taking on a new persona of "The Heartbreak Kid" and, first as a villain and later as a fan favorite, moved into the main event sphere. He wielded considerable influence on booking decisions as the leader of The Kliq, a backstage group, which however fell apart in 1996. The following year, he teamed up with Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), Chyna, and Rick Rude to form D-Generation X (DX). This group of wrestlers was known for their sophomoric crude humor. 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, called The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy, in which he trained upcoming wrestlers. He made his in-ring return at SummerSlam in 2002. In 2006, Hickenbottom and Triple H briefly reformed DX, but after an injury that Triple H sustained, Hickenbottom returned to singles wrestling. Although as of 2009, the duo reunited as a tag team once more, with the two capturing the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship. In the WWF/WWE, Michaels held championships, and headlined pay-per-view events, in each decade from the 1990s to the 2010s; at WrestleMania XXVI, he was forced to retire from in-ring competition when he lost a career-threatening match. In December 2010, he signed a long-term deal with WWE, making his first live appearance at a WWE show since WrestleMania later that month. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. Following his induction, WWE said of Michaels, "Ask any Superstar on the WWE roster who the most gifted sports-entertainer of all time is and nearly everyone will have the same answer — Shawn Michaels."^[2]

Among other accolades, Hickenbottom is a four-time world champion: a three-time WWF Champion and a former World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumbles and was the company's first Grand Slam Champion. He has also won the PWI Match of the Year Award a record eleven times. Hickenbottom currently resides in San Antonio, Texas with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children.

Early life[link]

Hickenbottom was born on July 22, 1965 in Chandler, Arizona.^[4][8] The last of four children – Randy, Scott, and Shari are his older siblings – he was raised in a military family and spent a brief part of his early years in Reading, Berkshire, England,^[4] but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, Hickenbottom disliked the name Michael, so his family and friends just called him Shawn.^[9] Ever since, he has been referred to as Shawn. Additionally, Hickenbottom moved around frequently since his father was in the military.^[9]

He knew he wanted to become a professional wrestler at the age of twelve.^[8] Hickenbottom was already an athlete; his career began at the age of six when he started playing football.^[10] He was a stand-out linebacker at Randolph High School and eventually became captain of the football team.^[2][11] After graduating, Hickenbottom attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but soon realized that college life was not for him.^[12] He then began pursuing a career in professional wrestling.

Professional wrestling career[link]

AWA and WWF (1984–1988)[link]

Hickenbottom began to train under Mexican professional wrestler Jose Lothario.^[6][7] During his training, Hickenbottom adopted the ring name, Shawn Michaels.^[1] After his training with Lothario, he debuted as Shawn Michaels with Mid-South Wrestling and Texas All-Star Wrestling (TASW) promotions in October 1984 at the age of 19.^[1] During his time with TASW, Michaels replaced Nick Kiniski in the American Breed tag team, teaming with Paul Diamond. Michaels and Diamond were awarded the TASW Tag Team Championship by Chavo Guerrero, Sr.^[8] The team was later renamed American Force.^[13] He also worked for Central States Wrestling.^[14] There, he and tag team partner Marty Jannetty defeated The Batten Twins for the Central States Tag Team Championship, later losing it back to the Battens.^[8] Michaels also made several appearances in the Dallas, Texas-based World Class Championship Wrestling throughout 1985.

Michaels made his national-level debut at the age of twenty in American Wrestling Association (AWA), once again teaming with Marty Jannetty.^[6] The pair were billed as The Midnight Rockers and held the AWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Doug Somers and Buddy Rose.^[6] In 1987, The Rockers were signed by a competing promotion: the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).^[6] They were fired from WWF two weeks later, for a bar incident (a misunderstanding, according to Michaels' autobiography).^[6][15] They then returned to AWA, but were re-signed by WWF a year later.^[15]

World Wrestling Federation (1988–2000)[link]

The Rockers (1988–1991)[link]

Michaels (left) with Marty Jannetty during their time as The Rockers.

The Rockers redebuted at a WWF live event on July 7, 1988.^[16] Due to WWF chairman Vince McMahon's desire to have his performers carry WWF-exclusive ring names, Michaels and Jannetty were renamed, as simply "The Rockers."^[1] The team proved popular with both children and women.^[6] The team was a mid-card stalwart of television and pay-per-view shows for the next two years.^[17]

In October 1990, 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.^[17] The match was taped with The Rockers winning the belts, but soon after, Neidhart came to an agreement with management and was rehired.^[17] The belts were returned to the Hart Foundation, while the title change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on television.^[17] 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 broke, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.^[1] The Rockers continued their partnership, eventually splitting on December 2, 1991 during an incident on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's televised Barber Shop talk show promotional segment.^[18] Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the set of Beefcake's talk show.^[6][19] Jannetty returned to the WWF the following year and enjoyed moderate success before leaving the company in 1994, while Michaels became a prominent villain of the early-to-mid 1990s as "The Boy Toy."^[18]

The Heartbreak Kid (1992–1995)[link]

At the suggestion of "Mr Perfect" Curt Hennig, Michaels adopted the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid."^[6] Along with his new name came a new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain.^[20] He was put together with mirror-carrying manager, Sensational Sherri, who, according to the storyline, had become infatuated with him.^[18] Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music, "Sexy Boy."^[1] During that period, after Michaels had wrestled his scheduled match at live events, his departure was announced with the words, "Shawn Michaels has left the building" (alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building").^[21]

Diesel acted as Michaels's on-air bodyguard and tag team partner for two championship reigns.

At WrestleMania VIII, in his first pay-per-view singles match, Michaels defeated El Matador: both men had simultaneously eliminated each other from that year's Royal Rumble.^[22] He subsequently became a contender to the promotion's singles championships. Michaels competed in his first pay-per-view main event when he co-headlined UK Rampage on April 19 at the Sheffield Arena, in a losing effort against "Macho Man" Randy Savage for the WWF Championship.^[23][24] He failed to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in the WWF's first-ever ladder match at a Wrestling Challenge taping on July 21, which would subsequently be made available on multiple Coliseum/WWE Home Video releases.^[25][26] He, however, won the title from The British Bulldog on the October 27, 1992 episode of Saturday Night's Main Event, which aired on November 14.^[27] Shortly thereafter, he faced Hart for the WWF Championship in the main event of the 1992 Survivor Series, but lost the match.^[28] Originally the secondary main event, Michaels and Hart became the primary main event after The Ultimate Warrior was unable to compete, and was replaced by Mr. Perfect in the tag team match that involved Randy Savage against the team of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon.^[29] During this time, Michaels and Sherri split and he engaged himself in a feud with former tag team partner Marty Jannetty.^[6] Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17, 1993.^[27] He then regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel,^[1][27] and co-headlined the King of the Ring in a title defense against Crush.^[30]

In September 1993, Michaels had quit the company, after it was announced that he had failed to defend his title 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.^[31] After turning down World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned to WWF television in November at the Survivor Series pay-per-view, substituting for Jerry Lawler, who was dealing with legal issues, in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against the Hart brothers, Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen.^[32]

He soon entered a staged rivalry with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacated Intercontinental Championship, during Michaels' absence.^[33] 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.^[33] This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two at WrestleMania X.^[33] Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's belts suspended above a ladder in the ring.^[32][33] This match was voted by fans as "PWI Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.^[6] It also received a 5-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter member Dave Meltzer, one of five WWE matches to do so. Over the next few months, Michaels battled various injuries and launched the Heartbreak Hotel television talk show segment, mainly shown on WWF Superstars.^[34]

On August 28, 1994, Michaels and Diesel captured the Tag Team Championship from The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu).^[35] The next day, at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon when Michaels accidentally superkicked Diesel.^[32] This triggered a split between Michaels and Diesel, a storyline that was drawn out until Survivor Series that November.^[36] Michaels went on to win the Royal Rumble in 1995,^[37] which set up a championship grudge match at WrestleMania XI against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backlund).^[37] As part of the storyline, Michaels recruited Sycho Sid as his bodyguard for the build-up, lost the match,^[38] and was attacked by Sid the following night.^[39] After this, Michaels took time off,^[39] because Vince McMahon wanted Michaels to become a fan favorite.^[40]

Kliq, WWF Champion and D-Generation X (1995–1997)[link]

Michaels returned to the ring, as a fan favorite, in May 1995. He went on to defeat Jeff Jarrett in July at the In Your House pay-per-view event, to win his third Intercontinental Championship.^[6][41] This led to a title defense against Razor Ramon at SummerSlam, in a ladder match, which Michaels won.^[6] Around this time Michaels became the alleged leader of a backstage group known as The Kliq.^[6] Others perceived the group to have sufficient clout with WWF owner Vince McMahon, becoming dominant wrestling figures in the WWF for several years in the mid-1990s. Michaels disputes the perception, saying that McMahon pushed only deserving wrestlers.^[42] Michaels' fan base was later nicknamed "The Kliq" as an inside reference to the real "Kliq".^[43] In October 1995, he was legitimately attacked by several men outside a bar in Syracuse, New York.^[1] Shortly afterwards, at the In Your House: Great White North pay-per-view, Michaels forfeited the Intercontinental Championship to staged rival Dean Douglas because he was, according to WWF, unable to compete.^[44] Later in the night, Douglas lost the championship to Kliq member Razor Ramon.^[45] The next month, during a match with Owen Hart on an episode of Monday Night Raw, Owen performed an enzuigiri that struck the back of Michaels' head.^[46] They continued the match, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, supposedly because he had suffered a concussion.^[1][46] The concussion was scripted, which was kept from most fans at the time.^[1] A retirement angle was written so that Michaels could take some time off, after he came back from an injury too soon.^[1]

After teasing a retirement, Michaels returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble match in 1996, which he wound up winning for a second year in a row, to receive a WWF Championship match in the main event at WrestleMania XII.^[47] Around this time, Jose Lothario became Michaels' on-screen manager.^[48] At WrestleMania XII, Michaels defeated WWF Champion Bret Hart in the overtime of their sixty minute Iron Man match, which had ended in a 0–0 tie.^[6] On May 19, 1996, Michaels and his fellow Kliq members were involved in the incident known as "Curtain Call". Diesel and Razor Ramon were about to leave WWF to company rival WCW. After Michaels won a match against Diesel, Ramon and Hunter Hearst Helmsley came to the ring and joined Michaels and Diesel in a group-hug.^[49] As Diesel and Helmsley were seen as villains at the time, in contrast to Michaels and Ramon, this constituted a breach of "kayfabe", as acting out of character, which was rare and controversial at the time.^[49] As WCW gained momentum due to the signings of Hall and Nash, Michaels held the championship for most of the year. Michaels' championship reign ended at the 1996 Survivor Series event, where he lost to Sycho Sid, his former bodyguard.^[50] Michaels recaptured the championship from Sid in January 1997 at the Royal Rumble.^[51]

On a special episode of Raw dubbed Thursday Raw Thursday, Michaels vacated the WWF Championship;^[1] he explained to fans that he was informed by doctors that he had conjured a knee injury, and that he had to retire.^[52] 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).^[6] Michaels contemplated thoughts of retirement and stated that he "had to find his smile again," which he had "lost" somewhere down the line.^[6] After knee surgery by Dr. James Andrews, Michaels returned a few months later, briefly teaming with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.^[53] In his autobiography, Michaels reveals 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.^[54]

Michaels portrayed his cocky, vain character with colourful outfits.

At SummerSlam, Michaels officiated the WWF Championship match between WWF Champion The Undertaker and Bret Hart.^[55] The match ended in controversial fashion, with Michaels hitting Undertaker with a chair (unintentionally, as he was aiming for Bret after he spat in his face).^[55] Michaels was then forced to award the championship to his nemesis, Bret Hart.^[55] The next night on Raw, signs of a heel turn started to show as Michaels told the WWF fans what happened at SummerSlam was an accident and that he would deal with the Undertaker when the time came. At WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England in September, Michaels defeated The British Bulldog to capture the WWF European Championship.^[55][56] The fans at the event were so appalled at the result of the match they booed Michaels out of the building, to the extent that they littered the ring with garbage, cementing his second heel turn.^[55][57] With this win, Michaels became the first Grand Slam Champion.^[2] At the October pay-per-view event, In Your House: Badd Blood, Michaels and Undertaker participated in the first Hell in a Cell match. During the match, it saw Michaels fall off the side of the 15-foot (5 m) high structure through a table and saw him as the winner in the match.^[58] The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.

In the summer, Michaels joined forces with real-life friend, Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Hunter's then-girlfriend, Chyna, and Rick Rude to form the stable, D-Generation X (DX).^[59] Moving away from the family-oriented product, this marked the beginning of the WWF Attitude Era.^[60] Michaels continued his rivalry with Bret Hart and his reformed Hart Foundation, which was now a pro-Canada stable. Michaels taunted the group 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.^[61] Michaels' feud with the Hart Foundation culminated in a championship match at Survivor Series in 1997 against Bret Hart. Michaels came out of this match, dubbed by fans the "Montreal Screwjob", as the WWF Champion.^[62] Michaels now held both the WWF and European championship at the same time. Michaels, however, lost the European Championship to D-Generation X member, Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), when he pinned him during a farcical match, making Triple H the European Champion.^[63]

First retirement (1998–2002)[link]

Michaels was the WWF Commissioner in 1998.

At the 1998 Royal Rumble, Michaels received a legitimate back injury in a Casket match against The Undertaker.^[6] 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.^[6][64] This rendered Michaels unable to compete in the main event of the following month's No Way Out of Texas: In Your House as advertised, and forced him into retirement after losing the WWF Championship to Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV.^[65]

Michaels would continue to make non-wrestling appearances on WWF programming, and on November 23, 1998, replaced Sgt. Slaughter as the WWF Commissioner, a portrayed match maker and rules enforcer, eventually joining Vince McMahon's group of wrestlers called the Corporation as a villain.^[66] Throughout late 1998 and early 1999, Michaels made regular television appearances on Raw, in which he scheduled matches, throwing around his authority, and sometimes even deciding the outcome of matches.^[67][68][69] On January 4, 1999 on Raw, Michaels re-joined DX as a fan favorite, but disappeared from WWF television for a few months to have back surgery,^[70] and by the time he had returned, DX had broken up.

Michaels made occasional appearances as the WWF Commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999, but remained absent from television until May 15, 2000, upon which he returned on Raw to announce himself as the special guest referee for the Iron Man match between The Rock and Triple H at Judgment Day.^[71] One month later, Michaels briefly reappeared on Raw to hand over the role of Commissioner to Mick Foley and afterwards did not make any in-ring appearances until mid-2002,^[72] appearing only once on WWF television to make a speech at WWF New York during Armageddon 2000.^[73] During this time, believing that his wrestling career was over, Michaels was interested in training individuals who wanted to become professional wrestlers.^[74] He saw potential in using his name and opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy in 1999, after his lawyer, Skip McCormick, suggested the idea.^[74] Michaels left the academy in 2002,^[74] giving co-founder Rudy Boy Gonzalez sole responsibility due to Michaels' new contract with WWE.^[6] Michaels was also a sportscaster for San Antonio's local news for a short period during his retirement.^[74]

Return to World Wrestling Entertainment (2002–present)[link]

nWo, World Heavyweight Champion & Feud with Evolution (2002–2005)[link]

In 2002, Michaels returned to WWE television after 18 months of absence. On the June 3 episode of Raw, he was announced as a new member of the recently-reformed New World Order (nWo) stable by Kevin Nash.^[75] After the nWo had disbanded, Triple H appeared to make amends with Michaels. This was solidified when Michaels pleaded Triple H to return to Raw.^[76] 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 turned on Michaels by performing a Pedigree on him.^[76] Continuing the angle, a week later, Triple H attacked Michaels from behind in a parking lot and put his head through a car window, in storyline.^[77] In response, Michaels challenged Triple H to "a fight" (a non-sanctioned match) at SummerSlam,^[78] which Triple H accepted, laying the foundation for a rivalry that would last for several years. In his first official wrestling match since WrestleMania XIV, Michaels won at SummerSlam, but was attacked by Triple H with a sledgehammer after the match.^[79] At Survivor Series, Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first-ever Elimination Chamber match.^[80] Michaels' reign as champion came to an end a month later 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.^[81]

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

Michaels then began a rivalry with Chris Jericho, after Jericho claimed that he was the next Shawn Michaels.^[82] On January 13, 2003, after Jericho won a battle royal to select his entry number for the Royal Rumble, choosing number two in order to start the match with Michaels,^[83] who had already been named number one. At the Royal Rumble, Jericho, with the help of Christian, eliminated Michaels.^[84] Michaels defeated Jericho at WrestleMania XIX.^[85]

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 won the championship.^[86] At Bad Blood in June, Michaels lost to Triple H in a Hell in a Cell match.^[86] Four months later, he lost a World Heavyweight championship match against Triple H, after Edge interfered at Taboo Tuesday, when the fans voted for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time.^[87] Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a legitimate torn meniscus.^[2][88]

At the Royal Rumble in 2005, Michaels competed in the Rumble match and eliminated Kurt Angle. In seeking revenge, Angle re-entered the ring and eliminated Michaels, and thus placed him in an ankle lock submission hold, outside of the ring.^[89] Michaels issued a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to attack Michaels.^[90] The following week on Raw, Marty Jannetty and Michaels had a one time reunion as The Rockers and defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier).^[91] Three days later on SmackDown!, Angle defeated Jannetty, after Angle made Jannetty submit to the ankle lock.^[92] To send a "message" to Michaels, Angle also humiliated Michaels' former manager, Sensational Sherri, when he applied the ankle lock hold on her.^[93] At WrestleMania 21 in April, Angle defeated Michaels by submission, again with an ankle lock.^[89] Two months later, at a WrestleMania 21 rematch, Michaels defeated Angle at the Vengeance pay-per-view event.^[94]

Michaels performing his signature pose.

Following the events of WrestleMania 21, the next night on Raw, Muhammad Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and assault Michaels.^[95] On the April 11 episode of Raw, Michaels approached authority figure Eric Bischoff, in which he demanded 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 the match, but informed Michaels to find a partner and he would grant him the match. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him.^[96] On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer.^[97] At Backlash, Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels when Daivari was pinned.^[98] On the July 4 episode of Raw, Michaels and Hulk Hogan had a tag team match, which they won.^[99] 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.^[99] The following week on Raw, Michaels appeared on Piper's Pit where he superkicked Roddy Piper and then challenged Hogan to a match at SummerSlam.^[100][101] 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 fan favorite.^[102]

D-Generation X reunion (2006–2007)[link]

Triple H and Michaels as DX in 2006.

On the December 26, 2005 episode 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.^[103] During the Royal Rumble, McMahon made his way to the ring, and as Michaels stared at McMahon, Shane McMahon made a surprising appearance, eliminating Michaels from the match.^[104] On the February 13 episode of Raw, McMahon tried unsuccessfully to force Michaels to sign retirement papers.^[105] The following week, Michaels won a handicap match against the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky and Mikey) 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."^[106] The following week, Jannetty refused McMahon's offer and instead took Chris Masters' "Masterlock challenge."^[107] Michaels tried to help Jannetty, which ultimately resulted in Shane attacking Michaels and forcing him to kiss his father's ass.^[107] At Saturday Night's Main Event, Shane defeated Michaels in a Street Fight, a match without disqualifications and where scoring conditions can occur anywhere, 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".^[108] Despite interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane, Michaels defeated McMahon at WrestleMania 22 in a No Holds Barred match, a match where there are no disqualifications.^[105] 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.^[109] On the May 22 episode of Raw, the Squad was scripted to injure Michaels' knee.^[110] This was angle was written so that Michaels could have surgery on his knee, which had been legitimately injured for some time.^[111]

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.^[105] 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 episode of Raw, DX officially reunited.^[112] During Triple H's gauntlet match, which had him compete against the Spirit Squad. Michaels came in to help Triple H, and the two did the DX "crotch chops."^[112] At Vengeance, DX defeated the Spirit Squad in a 5–on–2 handicap match.^[113] They also defeated the Spirit Squad at Saturday Night's Main Event in a 5-on-2 elimination match and defeated The McMahons at SummerSlam.^[114] At Unforgiven, DX once again defeated the McMahons and ECW World Champion The Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match.^[115]

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.^[116] At Survivor Series, however, Team DX emerged victorious against Team Rated-RKO in a clean sweep victory.^[117] At New Year's Revolution, Triple H suffered a legitimate torn right quadriceps during their match with Rated-RKO.^[118] Rated-RKO claimed victory over DX, citing Triple H's injury, as the "end" of DX.^[119] On January 15, Michaels lived up to his word of "dealing" with Rated-RKO, from his comments the previous week before,^[120][121] when he took out Randy Orton with a con-chair-to after a handicap match against Edge and Orton.^[122]

Various feuds (2007–2009)[link]

Michaels confronting John Cena on an episode of Raw

On the January 29 episode of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena after defeating Rated-RKO.^[123] He then defeated both Edge and Orton in a Triple Threat number one contender's match on another episode of Raw to earn a shot at the WWE Championship.^[124] At WrestleMania 23, Cena retained the championship, after he made Michaels submit to the STFU.^[125] 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.^[126] Michaels' feud with Cena continued and he faced off with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton in a Fatal Four-Way Match 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.^[127]

Michaels then entered a feud with Randy Orton when Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels.^[128] The week before their scheduled match at Judgment Day, after Michaels won a match against Edge, Orton interfered, punting Michaels in the head.^[128] Orton assaulted Michaels again, just prior to their match at Judgment Day, interrupting Michaels' interview segment.^[129] Michaels collapsed during the course of their match, causing Orton to win by referee stoppage.^[129] Afterwards, Orton continued the beating, when he performed an RKO to a fallen Michaels. Michaels was then removed out of the ring in a stretcher.^[129] 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.^[130] Michaels made his return on the October 8 episode of Raw, performing a superkick to 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.^[131] At Cyber Sunday, Michaels was voted by the fans to face Orton for the WWE Championship; though he won via disqualification when Orton hit Michaels with a low blow, which resulted in Orton retaining the championship.^[132] Michaels got another opportunity at the WWE Championship, when he was granted his rematch against Orton at Survivor Series.^[133] In their match, Michaels was banned from using Sweet Chin Music upon request by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week.^[134] Michaels lost the match, when Orton performed an RKO for the win.^[133]

Michaels interacting with the fans at WrestleMania XXIV before his match with Ric Flair.

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.^{[135] [136]} Afterwards, Batista confronted Michaels about his actions at WrestleMania, calling him selfish and egotistical.^[137] 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.^[138] Jericho then confronted Michaels on this matter, in which Michaels admitted to faking the injury in order to defeat Batista.^[139] Michaels then defeated Jericho at Judgment Day.^[140] At One Night Stand, Michaels lost to Batista in a stretcher match, thus ending their feud.^[141] On the June 9 episode of Raw, Michaels was attacked by Chris Jericho during his talk show segment, The Highlight Reel, being thrown directly through a television screen.^[142] The following week, it was revealed that, within the context of the storyline, Michaels had suffered a detached retina.^[143] At The Great American Bash, a match between Michaels and Jericho was scheduled, in which Jericho assaulted Michaels' eye, which caused Jericho to win by referee stoppage.^[143]

A month later at SummerSlam, Michaels was scripted to announce his retirement from professional wrestling, though the staged rivalry between Jericho and himself continued after Jericho punched Michaels' wife in the face.^[144] On the August 25 episode of Raw, Michaels denounced his decision to retire and challenged Jericho to an unsanctioned match at Unforgiven, which Jericho accepted.^[145] The following week, Michaels and Jericho held a scripted official contract signing for the unsanctioned match. During the contract signing, a confrontation with Jericho occurred.^[146] A predicament ensued when Michaels suffered a small tear on his left triceps,^[146][147] though Michaels was medically cleared to compete in the match.^[146] At Unforgiven, Michaels defeated Jericho, after the referee stopped the match, due to the severity of the beating Michaels was giving Jericho.^[148] It was at the same September event that Jericho replaced CM Punk in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match, which saw him win the match and become World Heavyweight Champion.^[148] The following month at No Mercy, Michaels met Jericho in a ladder match in which Jericho defended the championship against Michaels.^[149] At the event, Jericho defeated Michaels to retain the title.^[150]

In December 2008, Michaels accepted an offer to become an employee of John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL). The storyline was that Michaels had lost his family's personal savings due to the global recession, forcing him to accept JBL's offer of employment.^[151] After failing to secure JBL the World Heavyweight Championship against John Cena at the Royal Rumble,^[152] Michaels agreed to take part in an "All or Nothing" match at No Way Out in February.^[153] Michaels won the match, letting Michaels out of his one-year contract with JBL immediately while still receiving full payment.^[154] Michaels became the first person to defeat Vladimir Kozlov on the March 2 episode of Raw, and as a result earned the right to face The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV in April.^[155] At the event, The Undertaker defeated Michaels to extend his WrestleMania winning streak to 17–0.^[156] After WrestleMania, Michaels took a hiatus from WWE.

Final storylines and retirement (2009–2010)[link]

Michaels reconciles with Bret Hart in January 2010.

Michaels returned to WWE programming in a series of segments that aired on the August 10, 2009 episode of Raw, where he had scripted left the WWE. Triple H met with Michaels at an office cafeteria in Texas where he was working as a chef; throughout the segments, Triple H would try to convince Michaels to return to WWE and reform DX. After several incidents during the segments, Michaels agreed to team with Triple H to face The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase) at SummerSlam.^[157] At the pay-per-view event, DX defeated Legacy.^[158] The two teams would exchange victories, with their feud concluding in October. Two months later, at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, DX defeated Chris Jericho and The Big Show to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match (TLC).^[159] On the January 4, 2010 episode of Raw, Michaels buried the hatchet with long-time rival Bret Hart, as they shook hands and hugged in the ring. In contrast to the storylines featured on the show, this was in fact a real-life reconciliation which laid to rest animosities surrounding the Montreal Screwjob. While some cast doubts on its sincerity, both men have confirmed that it was indeed genuine.^[160][161] DX lost the Unified Tag Team Championship in a Triple Threat match to the team of The Miz and Big Show on the February 8 episode of Raw, the match also included The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows).^[162] At the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view, Michaels cost The Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.^[163] At WrestleMania XXVI, Michaels lost to The Undertaker and, as a result, was forced to retire due to the match stipulation, the same way HBK ended Ric Flair's career.^[164] The following night, on the March 29 episode of Raw, Michaels gave an emotional farewell speech, departing with the familiar sentence, "Shawn Michaels has left the building."^[165]

Hall of Famer and part-time appearances (2010–present)[link]

Michaels at WrestleMania XXVII, with other 2011 WWE Hall of Fame inductees.

On the December 14 episode of Raw, Michaels won the Slammy award for Moment of the Year for his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI. Michaels made an appearance via satellite to accept the award.^[166] Three days later, he announced a long-term deal with WWE, where he will serve in an ambassadorial role.^[167][168] Michaels made his first live appearance at a WWE show since the night after WrestleMania at the December 11 Tribute to the Troops taping, where he and Triple H made a special appearance for a one-night only DX reunion.^[169] Michaels appeared on the January 10, 2011, episode of Raw, where it was announced he was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. After being ridiculed by Alberto Del Rio, Michaels hit Del Rio with Sweet Chin Music.^[170] On the March 28 episode of Raw, Michaels addressed Triple H and The Undertaker about their match at WrestleMania XXVII.^[171] Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2 by Triple H. The two were also joined by Kevin Nash (who had returned to WWE previously to participate in the recent Royal Rumble) and Sean Waltman, reuniting the majority of The Kliq.^[172] He further made an appearance on the June 27 episode of Raw where he was confronted by CM Punk, and superkicked David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty. Later that night when Diamond Dallas Page made a special appearance and was interrupted and threatened by Drew McIntyre, Michaels superkicked McIntyre.^[173] He made another appearance on February 13, 2012 to confront his friend Triple H about not accepting The Undertaker's challenge. He also declared the fact that he was the special guest referee for the match between The Undertaker and Triple H inside Hell In A Cell at Wrestlemania XXVIII.

Personal life[link]

Hickenbottom's marriage to his first wife, Theresa Wood, was brief and ended in divorce, but was amicably settled.^[174] He is now married to former WCW Nitro Girl Rebecca Hickenbottom (née Curci), who went by the stage name of Whisper. They were married on March 31, 1999 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada in a small ceremony.^[175] The only people present were the couple and an Elvis impersonator. The couple have a son, Cameron Kade (born on January 15, 2000)^[176] and a daughter, Cheyenne Michelle (born on August 19, 2004 ).^[177] His cousin Matt Bentley is also a professional wrestler having wrestled in TNA and WWE.^[178]

Hickenbottom has several tattoos. He has a tattoo of a heart with a sword through it, that has a snake around it in the shape of an "S."^[179] He has one on his wedding finger, that has an R for his wife Rebecca.^[179] Another in his left wrist, is a bracelet design that says "Cameron" for his son and "Cheyenne" for his daughter.^[179] On his left leg he has a picture of his wife,^[179] the other leg has a picture of the state of Texas.^[179] Finally, he has a small broken heart with the letters "HBK" above it, tattooed on his right hip.^[179]

In 1996, Hickenbottom posed in a non-nude layout for Playgirl magazine.^[180] 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.^[180] He is ambidextrous, which caused him problems as a boy playing football, as he had trouble differentiating between his right and left directions.^[10] He uses his right hand to draw and color and his left hand to write.^[10] He typically uses his right leg when performing Sweet Chin Music, but has been known to use either arm when performing his signature elbow drop. Hickenbottom is a fan of the San Antonio Spurs. He has been seen wearing Spurs merchandise and attending Spurs games.^[181] John "Bradshaw" Layfield made a reference to Hickenbottom being a season ticket holder during the 2007 Royal Rumble.^[182]

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.^[1] His ring attire often incorporated cross symbols, and while on the way to the ring, he would normally get down on his knees and mouth a prayer while his pyrotechnics went off. He has been seen in the congregation during a televised service of John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in his hometown of San Antonio, where he is also a Bible teacher.^[1] He also appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) program along with fellow professional wrestler Sting.^[183]

In wrestling[link]

Michaels performing Sweet Chin Music on Chris Jericho

Michaels performing a diving elbow drop

Michaels applying a modified figure four leglock on Jeff Hardy

Michaels' entrance at WrestleMania XXV in a match against The Undertaker.

• Finishing moves
  • Modified figure four leglock^[184] – was used rarely after 2008
  • Sweet Chin Music^[2] (Superkick, with theatrics)
  • Teardrop Suplex^[185] (Leg hook Saito suplex) – 1992–1993
• Signature moves
  • Arm trap crossface^[186] – 2007–2010
  • Backhand chop^[186]
  • Belly to back suplex^[185]
  • Diving elbow drop, with theatrics^[1]
  • Dropkick^[185]
  • Figure-four leglock^[185]
  • Flying forearm smash followed by a kip-up^[1]
  • Inverted atomic drop^[1]
  • Moonsault,^[1] sometimes while springboarding to the outside
  • Skin the cat^[85]
  • Slingshot crossbody^[185]
• Stables and Tag Teams
  • The Rockers
  • Two Dudes with Attitude
  • The Kliq
  • D-Generation X
  • The Corporation

• Managers
  • Diesel
  • Jose Lothario
  • Sensational Sherri^[18]
  • Sycho Sid
  • Rick Rude
  • Luna Vachon
  • Triple H
  • Hornswoggle

• Nicknames
  • "The Heartbreak Kid (HBK)"^[2][185]
  • "Sexy Boy"^[2][185]
  • "The Showstopper"^[2][185]
  • "The Most Honored Champion In WWE History"^[2][185]
  • "The Headliner"^[1][185]
  • "The Main Event"^[2][185]
  • "The Icon"^[1]
  • "Mr. WrestleMania"^[1]
  • "Mr. Hall of Fame"
  • "The Best Of The Best"^[2][185]

• Entrance themes
  • "Sexy Boy" by Sensational Sherri, Jim Johnston, Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (February 15, 1992–January 30, 1993)
  • "Sexy Boy" by Shawn Michaels, Jim Johnston, Jimmy Hart and J.J. Maguire (February 13, 1993–November 9, 1997; November 30, 1998–June 26, 2000; June 3, 2002–June 12, 2006; April 9, 2007–April 5, 2009; March 26, 2010–present)
  • "Break It Down" by The DX Band (November 10, 1997–March 29, 1998; June 19, 2006–April 2, 2007; August 24, 2009–March 1, 2010) (Used while a member of D-Generation X)

Championships and accomplishments[link]

• American Wrestling Association
  • AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times)^[8] – with Marty Jannetty

• Central States Wrestling
  • NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time)^[8] – with Marty Jannetty

• Continental Wrestling Association
  • AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times)^[1][8] – with Marty Jannetty

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated
  • PWI Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho
  • PWI Match of the Year (1993)^[187] vs. Marty Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17
  • PWI Match of the Year (1994)^[188] vs. Razor Ramon in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X
  • PWI Match of the Year (1995)^[6] vs. Diesel at WrestleMania XI
  • PWI Match of the Year (1996)^[6] vs. Bret Hart in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII
  • PWI Match of the Year (2004)^[187] vs. Chris Benoit and Triple H at WrestleMania XX
  • PWI Match of the Year (2005)^[187] vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 21
  • PWI Match of the Year (2006)^[187] vs. Vince McMahon in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 22
  • PWI Match of the Year (2007)^[187] vs. John Cena on Raw on April 23
  • PWI Match of the Year (2008)^[187] vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV
  • PWI Match of the Year (2009)^[189] vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV
  • PWI Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker in a Career vs. Streak match at WrestleMania XXVI
  • PWI Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2010)^[190]
  • PWI Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1996)^[188]
  • PWI ranked him #1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1996^[191]
  • PWI ranked him #10 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003^[192]
  • PWI ranked him #33 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Marty Jannetty in 2003^[192]