Shawn Michaels

At 59 years old, Shawn Michaels has this physical status:

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American retired professional wrestler, actor, and television presenter.

Regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers in history, he is known by the nicknames "Heartbreak Kid" and "Mr.

WrestleMania". Michaels wrestled consistently for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from 1988 until a back injury forced his first retirement in 1998.

He performed in non-wrestling roles for the next two years, and returned to the ring for a match in his own Texas Wrestling Academy (TWA) in 2000.

Michaels resumed his wrestling career with WWE in 2002 and retired ceremoniously in 2010, before being assigned as a trainer in 2016.

He returned for a final match in 2018. In the WWF/WWE, Michaels headlined pay-per-view events between 1989 and 2018, closing the company's flagship annual event, WrestleMania, five times.

He was the co-founder and original leader of the successful stable, D-Generation X. Michaels also wrestled in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), where he founded The Midnight Rockers with Marty Jannetty in 1985.

After winning the AWA World Tag Team Championship twice, the team continued to the WWF as The Rockers and had a high-profile breakup in January 1992.

Within the year, Michaels twice challenged for the WWF Championship and won his first Intercontinental Championship, heralding his arrival as one of the industry's premier singles stars. Michaels is a four-time world champion, having held the WWF Championship three times and WWE's World Heavyweight Championship once.

He is also a two-time Royal Rumble winner (and the first man to win the match as the number one entrant), the first WWF Grand Slam Champion and the fourth WWF Triple Crown Champion, as well as a two time WWE Hall of Fame (2011 as singles wrestler and 2019 as part of D-Generation X).

Michaels won the Pro Wrestling Illustrated "Match of the Year" reader vote a record eleven times, and his match against John Cena on April 23, 2007 was ranked by WWE as the best match ever aired on the company's flagship Raw program.

Early life

Hickenbottom was born on July 22, 1965, in Chandler, Arizona. 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, but grew up in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, Hickenbottom disliked the name Michael, so his family and friends just called him Shawn. Ever since, he has been referred to as Shawn. Additionally, Hickenbottom moved around frequently since his father was in the military.

He knew he wanted to become a professional wrestler at the age of 12 and said he performed a wrestling routine in his high school's talent show, complete with fake blood. Hickenbottom was already an athlete; his career began at the age of six when he started playing football. He was a stand-out linebacker at Randolph High School on Randolph Air Force Base and eventually became captain of the football team. After graduating, Hickenbottom attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but soon realized that college life was not for him. He then began pursuing a career in professional wrestling.

Personal life

Hickenbottom's first marriage, to Theresa Wood, soon ended in an amicably settled divorce. He married Rebecca Curci, a former WCW Nitro Girl known as Whisper, on March 31, 1999, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Only the couple and an Elvis impersonator were present. Their son, Cameron Kade, was born on January 15, 2000, and a daughter, Cheyenne, born on August 19, 2004, followed. His cousin Matt Bentley is also a professional wrestler, having wrestled in TNA and WWE.

In 1996, Hickenbottom posed for a non-nude layout in Playgirl magazine. Only after he posed did he discover Playgirl has a mostly homosexual readership, for which some of his fellow wrestlers teased him.

He is ambidextrous, and had trouble differentiating between right and left, which affected his football games as a boy. He uses his right hand to draw and color and his left hand to write. He typically kicks with his right leg in Sweet Chin Music, but uses either arm for his signature elbow drop, depending on the position.

In 1987, Hickenbottom developed a pattern of "heavy" substance abuse, which eventually alienated some of his closest friends. He contemplated suicide in the late 1980s, and suggested that psychological intervention was "probably sorely needed" by the late 1990s. His wife Rebecca observed: "There was something in him that he despised, and he was self-destructing." Hickenbottom's fear that he was going to negatively influence his young son, prompted him to abandon his previous lifestyle.

Hickenbottom became a born-again Christian on April 24, 2002. He was raised a Catholic, but became a non-denominational Christian because of his wife. His later ring attire often incorporated cross symbols and he made a praying gesture on his knees during ring entrances. Hickenbottom was in the audience for a televised service of John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in his hometown, San Antonio, where he is also a Bible teacher. In 2008, he appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network program with fellow professional wrestler Sting.

Source

Professional wrestling career

Hickenbottom began training under Mexican professional wrestler Jose Lothario. Hickenbottom took the ring name "Shawn Michaels" during his preparation. Shawn Michaels debuted as Shawn Michaels with the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Federation's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling crashing to Crews after his villiano Many veterans, including Terry Taylor, was captivated by Michaels' performance in his debut match.

He made his debut for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the NWA's Dallas, Texas territory. Michaels started working in Kansas City, called Central States Wrestling, in 1985. Marty Jannetty and his tag teammate won the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship, before losing it to the Battens.

He returned to Texas to compete for Texas All-Star Wrestling after leaving Kansas City (TASW). Michaels was an intern with TASW and worked with Paul Diamond on the American Breed tag team during his time with TASW. Chavo Guerrero Sr. and Michaels were honoured with the TASW Tag Team Championship. The team was later renamed American Forces, and the service was then renamed American Force. Michaels and Diamond clashed with the Japanese Force in TASW.

On ESPN, Michaels made his national-level debut as Sean Michaels at the age of 20 in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). Marty Jannetty and the Midnight Rockers team up once more. The Midnight Rockers won the AWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Doug Somers and Buddy Rose.

The Rockers were signed by a national organization, the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), in 1987. According to Michaels' autobiography, they were banned from WWF two weeks later for a bar brawl (a mistake). They returned to AWA, where they won the AWA tag team championships for the second time, but they were recalled by WWF a year later.

On July 7, 1988, the Rockers made their first appearance at a WWF live event. Michaels and Jannetty were renamed simply The Rockers due to WWF chairman Vince McMahon's desire to have his performers carry WWF-exclusive ring names. The team was a stalwart of television and pay-per-view shows for the next two years, and was highly regarded among children and women. Michaels made his first pay-per-view for the WWF when the Rockers were involved in the 1989 Survivor Series's 4-on-4 Survivor Series main event.

The Rockers unofficially won the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Hart Foundation on October 30, 1990, as Neidhart, half of the championship team, was in the process of formally negotiating his release from the organization. The Rockers had won the championship on tape, but Neidhart was rehired soon after. The championship was redeemed by the Hart Foundation, although the name change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on television (though the Rockers did have a fruitful title defense against Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma) before the title was returned to the Hart Foundation). When the news broke, WWF announced that the original result was nullified due to a failed turnbuckle in the ring during the contest. A buckle had indeed broken, but not to a degree or risk during the game. The Rockers' relationship continued, with the show The Wrestling Challenge broadcasting segment on January 11, 1992, shortly after a fight in Brutus Beefcake's televised Barber Shop talk show promotional segment aired on January 11, 1991. On the set of Beefcake's talk show, Michaels yelled Jannetty and spit him out through a glass window. Jannetty returned to the WWF the following year and had modest success before resigning in 1994, while Michaels became a well-known villain of the early to mid-1990s as "The Boy Toy."

Michaels took the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid" at Curt Hennig's suggestion. A new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain was included in his new name. Sensational Sherri, the hair-carrier, was brought together with him, and the plot had him become infatuated with him. And "Sexy Boy" was his first attempt at his new theme tune, "Sexy Boy." "Shawn Michaels has left the building" during the period when Michaels had been wrestling at live events, adding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building."

Michaels defeated Tito Santana in his first pay-per-view singles match since both men had already defeated each other from the Royal Rumble this year. Michaels went on to win the WWF Championship from champion Randy Savage in his first attempt to compete for the title at British event UK Rampage, held on April 19 at the Sheffield Arena and on Sky Movies Plus (the match later aired in the United States on the edition of June 15 of Prime Time Wrestling). Michaels was also unable to win the Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in the WWF's first ladder match at a Wrestling Challenge taping on July 21, which was later confirmed on numerous Coliseum/WWE Home Video collections. However, he gained the title from The British Bulldog on Saturday Night's Main Event XXXI, which aired on November 14. In the main event of the Survivor Series, he met Hart for the WWF Championship, but lost the match. Michaels and Hart, originally the secondary main event, became the primary main event after The Ultimate Warrior was unable to participate and was replaced by Mr. Sullivan. Randy Savage and the Ric Flair and Razor Ramon were in a tag team match that involved him. (Curt Hennig) was excellent (Curt Hennig). During this period, Michaels and Sherri separated, and he became embroiled in a feud with former tag team partner Marty Jannetty. Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on the May 17, 1993 episode of Raw, but regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air pal) Diesel.

Michaels was banned from testing positive for steroid in September 1993, a charge he never denied. His suspension was outlined by WWF's assertion that he didn't often enough to defend the title. Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association (USWA) during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion after crashing out on World Championship Wrestling (WCW)'s advances. (WCW) was a non-profit. In a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against the Hart brothers, Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen, he returned to WWF television in November in lieu of Jerry Lawler, who was dealing with legal issues.

In 1994, Michaels and Razor Ramon, who had won the Intercontinental Championship, were rivalry in 1994, which had been postponed in the event in the absence of Michaels. Since Michaels had never been defeated in the competition for the ring, he pretended to be the rightful champion and carried his old championship belt around. At WrestleMania X, Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's championship belts suspended over a ladder in the ring. Pro Wrestling Illustrated's readers named this match as "Match of the Year" for the year. It also received a five-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer, the first of nine WWF/E matches to do so. Michaels battled various injuries over the next few months and introduced the Heartbreak Hotel television talk show segment, which was mainly seen on Superstars.

Michaels and Diesel competed in the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Headshrinkers on August 28, (Samu and Fatu). When Michaels mistakenly superkicked Diesel at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon. Michaels and Diesel became a split, a taleline that didn't exist until Survivor Series in November. Michaels went on to win the Royal Rumble in 1995, putting up a championship grudge match against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backlund). Michaels sent Sid as his bodyguard for the build-up but the following night, Sid was assaulted by Sid. Michaels took time off after this because Vince McMahon wanted Michaels to be a fan favorite.

Michaels returned to the ring in May 1995 as a fan favourite, defeating Jeff Jarrett in his third Intercontinental Championship in July at In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks. In a ladder match that Michaels won, there was a title defense against Razor Ramon at SummerSlam. Michaels became the leader of a backstage group called The Kliq around this time. Critics believe the organization has sufficient clout with WWF founder Vince McMahon, who has been one of the top wrestling figures in the WWF for many years, sparking rivalry with other wrestlers. Michaels contradicts McMahon's argument by insisting that only deserving wrestlers were promoted. Michaels' fanbase was later identified as "The Kliq" in honor of the authentic "Kliq." Michaels was the victim of a legitimate assault outside a bar in Syracuse, New York, in October 1995. Michaels was forced to forfeit the Intercontinental Championship to his old adversary, Dean Douglas, who lost the title to Razor Ramon, another Kliq member. This performance has been cited as an example of the Kliq's coercion of others. Hart performed an enzuigiri that struck the back of Michaels' head during a match on a November episode of Raw. Michaels continued the match, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, allegedly because of a concussion. The concussion was scripted, which was deferred from most followers at the time. Michaels could take some time off after recovering from a back injury too soon.

Michaels returned to the WWF in 1996, after hinting at a retirement. He went on to win for the second year in a row. Jose Lothario became Michaels' on-screen boss around this time. Michaels defeated WWF Champion Bret Hart in overtime of their sixty-minute Iron Man match, which had ended in a scoreless draw in WrestleMania XII. Michaels and his fellow Kliq members were involved in the "Curtain Call" incident on May 19. Diesel and Razor Ramon were going to leave WWF to company rival WCW. After Michaels won a match against Diesel, Ramon, and Hunter Hearst Helmsley, the team returned to the ring and joined Michaels and Diesel in a group-hug. At the time, Diesel and Helmsley were seen as villains, but at Michaels and Ramon, this was a breach of "kayfabe" as acting out of character, which was unusual and troubling at the time. Michaels held the championship for the majority of the year as WCW gained traction due to the signings of Hall and Nash. Michaels' championship reign came to an end at a Survivor Series appearance, where he lost to Sycho Sid, his ex bodyguard. Michaels recaptured the title from Sid in January 1997 at the Royal Rumble.

Michaels vacated the WWF Championship on Thursday on a special edition of Raw. He told fans that doctors told him he had suffered a knee injury and that he had to leave. Michaels' address at WrestleMania 13 was viewed as divisive, as Michaels was reportedly unwilling to lose to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13 (since it was announced that he would face Hart at WrestleMania). Michaels considered retirement and said he'd "needed to find his smile again," although he had "lost" somewhere else on the line. Michaels returned a few months later, working with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Tag Team Championship for the first time after knee surgery by Dr. James Andrews. Michaels' autobiography details his real-life rivalry with Bret Hart, arguing that Hart appeared on live television that he [Michaels] was faking his entire body [Michaels] was faking his entire body.

The real-life backstage feud between Michaels and Hart was at its peak by the spring of 1997. Both men were out on television and often making personal, true to heart, and remarking about one another. Michaels briefly left the WWF in June of this year after a real backstage brawl with Hart, just hours before a Raw Is War show, hinting at Hart's relationship with Tammy Sytch, a soldier and valet who was signed to the WWF as Sunny, and implying that he was married to her. At the time when an ongoing feud with the Hart Foundation existed, Michaels and Austin were still WWF Tag Team Champions, and a tournament was held to select new tag team champions. In July, Michaels recovered from summer. Michaels officiated the WWF Championship match between WWF Champion The Undertaker and Bret Hart at SummerSlam. The match came to an end with Michaels hitting Undertaker with a chair (inadvertently), and Hart was aiming for Hart after he spat in his face. Michaels was then compelled to give the championship to his nemesis, Bret Hart. As Michaels told the WWF fans what happened at SummerSlam was an accident and that he dealt with the Undertaker when the time came, the next night on Raw Is War began, signs of a heel turn began. Michaels defeated the British Bulldog in the WWF European Championships at WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England, in September. Michaels booed Michaels out of the building to the extent that they littered the ring with garbage, cementing his second heel turn. Michaels became the first Grand Slam Champion with this victory. Badd Blood, Michaels defeated Undertaker in the first Hell in a Cell match, in which Michaels collapsed off the side of the 5-meter (15 ft) high wall through a table. Dave Meltzer gave the game a 5-star rating.

Michaels joined forces with real-life friend Hunter Hearst Helmsley (later known as Triple H), Helmsley's then-live girlfriend Chyna, and Rick Rude to create the stable D-Generation X (DX). Michaels maintained his rivalry with Bret Hart and his newly formed Hart Foundation, which was then a pro-Canada stable. Michaels mocked the organization and Canada by performing acts like blowing his nose and humping the Canadian Flag. The flag desecration was Hart's idea, Michaels later discovered. Michaels' rivalry with the Hart Foundation culminated in a championship match against Hart in November 1997. Michaels was disqualified from this match, who supporters affectionately dubbed the "Montreal Screwjob" as the WWF champion. Michaels also won both the WWF and European championships at the same time. In a farcical match, Michaels dropped the European Championship to D-Generation X member Hunter Hearst Hemsley.

Michaels performed a back body drop on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and smash one completely at the 1998 Royal Rumble, in a casket match against The Undertaker. Michaels went on to win the competition, but he was forced to miss the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV.

Michaels made a surprise return to the WWF as a guest commentator on the July 13 episode of Raw Is War after being away for almost four months. Michaels continued to make non-wrestling appearances on WWF television, and on November 23, he made a briefing call for Sgt. Slaughter, the WWF Commissioner, then joined Vince McMahon's crew, The Corporation. Michaels appeared on Raw during late 1998 and early 1999, bringing about his positions, throwing out his positions, and even determining the outcome of matches. Michaels returned to D-X as a host on January 4, 1999, but by the time he returned, the DX would have dissolving within a few months.

Michaels appeared at the 10th Anniversary Show of Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling on November 23, 1999, serving as the guest referee for the H vs. fake Hayabusa (Mr. Gannosuke) main attraction. Gannosuke struck him early in the game, and he later performed with Sweet Chin Music.

Michaels made occasional appearances as the WWF Commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999, but he was forced to withdraw from television after August 15, 2000, when he returned from Raw Is War to announce himself as the special guest referee for the Rock and Triple H's Iron Man match at Judgment Day. Michaels appeared on Raw Is War for a short time, but after another appearance in October, they did not make any in-arena appearances until mid-2002. During Armageddon in December 2000, he appeared briefly on television to make a speech at WWF New York during Armageddon.

Michaels, who was unaware that his wrestling career was over, was interested in mentoring people who wanted to become professional wrestlers. After his counsel Skip McCormick suggested the idea, he saw the possibility in using his name and opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy (later the Texas Wrestling Academy). He had his first match since 1998 on April 4, 2000, where he stunned Venom in a Hardcore Street Fight for the first time during his time as a tutor at the academy. Michaels left the academy in 2002, leaving co-founder Rudy Boy Gonzalez sole responsibility due to Michaels' new WWE contract. During his time as an anchor for San Antonio's local news, Michaels served as a sportscaster.

Michaels returned to WWE television on June 3 after an absence of 18 months when Kevin Nash revealed him as a new member of the recently reformed New World Order (nWo). Michaels was the first nWo member to have never worked in WCW. Triple H appeared to make amends with Michaels after the nWo disbanded. When Michaels begged Triple H to return to Raw, it was solidified. They arrived in the ring later on, sporting their DX music and clothes. Triple H turned on Michaels as they were going to perform their trademark "Suck It" taunt by staging a Pedigree. In a storyline, Triple H attacked Michaels from behind a parking lot and stuck his head through a window. Michaels fought Triple H to "a fight" at SummerSlam, which Triple H accepted, laying the groundwork for a rivalry that spanned many years. Michaels defeated Triple H in his first WWE match since WrestleMania XIV, but Triple H sledgehammer struck him after the match. Michaels took the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series. Michaels' reign as champion came to an end a month later when he lost the title to Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match, a string of three matches in which wrestlers attempt to win the majority of matches at Armageddon.

After Jericho announced that he was the next Shawn Michaels, Michaels launched a rivalry with Chris Jericho. After Jericho gained a battle royal to choose his entry number for the Royal Rumble, he selected number two in order to start the match against Michaels, who had already been dubbed number one. Michaels were deposed at the Royal Rumble in Jericho, with the assistance of Christian. Michaels intervened in the match, causing Jericho to be ruled out of the match. At WrestleMania XIX, Michaels defeated Jericho. Despite this, Michaels was low-blocked after hugging Jericho. Michaels appeared to win Triple H on a Sweet Chin Music for the World Heavyweight Championship in San Antonio, Texas, with Eric Bischoff as the special guest referee (Earl Hebner initially refereed the match but Triple H was knocked out in the middle of the match). However, Bischoff reversing the decision and announcing a draw due to both men's shoulders being on the ground. Michaels became outraged by this annoyance, they sacked Ric Flair and Bischoff. He was initially fired by Bischoff, but Stone Cold Steve Austin rehired him.

The two were teammates alongside Chris Benoit in the main event at WrestleMania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship as part of an ongoing feud with Triple H. However, the former DX teammates fell short of their match, though Benoit won the championship. Michaels inducted Tito Santana in the WWE Hall of Fame on the night before this one. In April, a triple threat WrestleMania rematch for the title took place in Backlash in Benoit, where Benoit maintained it, causing Michaels to surrender to a Sharpshooter. Michaels were booed by the Edmonton crowd, shouting "You screwed Bret" during the "Montreal Screwjob" incident. Backlash is a form of violence that can be heard during his match. Michaels lost in a Cell match to Triple H at Bad Blood in June. Edge interfered at Taboo on Tuesday, when the fans cheered for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time, four months later. Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a regulated torn meniscus.

Michaels defeated Kurt Angle in the Rumble 2005 edition of the Royal Rumble. Angle returned to the ring and dismissed Michaels, placing him in an ankle lock submission hold outside the ring. Michaels proposed a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to threaten Michaels. Marty Jannetty and Michaels had a one-time reunion as The Rockers and defeated La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier) the following week. Angle defeated Jannetty after Angle made Jannetty plea to the ankle lock three days later on SmackDown! Angle humiliated Michaels' former boss, Sensational Sherri, when he used the ankle lock hold on her to hand her a "message." Angle defeated Michaels by submission in April at WrestleMania, yet with an ankle lock.

Muhammad Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and threaten Michaels following the WrestleMania 21, the next night on Raw. Michaels confronted General Manager Eric Bischoff on an episode of Raw on April 11, in which he requested a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari. Bischoff refused to schedule such a match and instead advised Michaels to find a partner. Michaels then asked Hulk Hogan to return and work with him. Hassan led an assault on Michaels on April 18 until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his invitation. When Daivari was pinched, Hassan and Daivari lost to Hogan and Michaels at Backlash. Michaels defeated Kurt Angle (who was drafted to Raw in the draft lottery) at Vengeance later in a WrestleMania rematch. Michaels and Hulk Hogan competed in a tag team match against Carlito and Kurt Angle on July 4th, which they won. Michaels struck Hogan with his Sweet Chin Music at the end of the match, knocking Hogan to the ground and turning heel for the first time since 1998. Michaels appeared on Piper's Pit this week and then challenged Hogan to a match at SummerSlam, which Hogan accepted the following week. Hogan beat Michaels at SummerSlam, and Michaels extended his hand after the match ended, saying, "I wanted to know, and I found out" after the match. Hogan and Hogan shook hands. Michaels turned face once more as Hogan enjoyed the evening with the crowd.

Michaels continued his feud with Chris Masters before becoming the first person to correctly defeat him at Unforgiven with Sweet Chin Music. In a 30-Minute Iron Man match on September 3, he fought old Kurt Angle to a 2–2 draw. Angle was pushed to sudden death overtime by the next day, but Angle refused and walked out. In a losing cause, he was part of Team Raw at Survivor Series.

Vince McMahon praised Michaels for his role in the "Montreal Screwjob" on December 26, 2005. Michaels said he was only loyal to his company, he had survived, and McMahon should continue to lead. McMahon then began making strange stipulations for Michaels' matches and intervening on behalf of Michaels' opponents. McMahon made his way into the ring during the Royal Rumble, and Shane McMahon made a surprising appearance, excluding Michaels from the match. McMahon unsuccessfully attempted to compel Michaels to sign retirement papers on February 13 on Raw's February 13 episode. Michaels dominated a handicap match against the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky, Mikey, and Mikey), and after the match, Michaels' former partner, Marty Jannetty, came down to help Michaels after the Spirit Squad assaulted them. McMahon reconnected with Jannetty, if he "kissed his ass." Jannetty declined McMahon's call the following week and instead took Chris Masters' "Masterlock Challenge." Michaels tried to assist Jannetty, but Shane was stabbed by Michaels and coerced him to kiss his father's side. Shane defeated Michaels in a Street Fight after applying a sharpshooter on Michaels, resulting in McMahon immediately ordering for the call to be rung, despite Michaels' refusal to comply, which was an allusion to the "Montreal Screwjob." Michaels beat McMahon 22 in a No Holds Barred match despite interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane. The McMahons (Vince and Shane) defeated Michaels and "God" in a tag team match, with support from the Spirit Squad in a no disqualification match at Backlash. The Spirit Squad was planned to injure Michaels' knee on the May 22 episode of Raw. Michaels may have knee surgery, according to this story, but it had been legitimately injured for some time.

In 2006, a series of activities suggested that Michaels and Triple H as D-X. They started at WrestleMania 22, where both Michaels and Triple H performed the crotch chop during their matches. The two guys kept their chops on Raw as Michaels feuded with Vince McMahon and Triple H went head to face John Cena for the WWE Championship, repeatedly butting heads with Vince McMahon. D-X's D-X reunited on June 12 on the 12th episode of Raw. During Triple H's gauntlet match, which saw him competing against the Spirit Squad, he had to compete against the Spirit Squad. Michaels arrived to assist Triple H, and the two performed the D-X "crotch chops." In a 5–on-two handicap match at Vengeance, D-X defeated the Spirit Squad. They also defeated the Spirit Squad in a 5-on-2 elimination game on Saturday Night's Main Event XXIII, defeating The McMahons at SummerSlam. D-X defeated McMahons and ECW World Champion ECW World Champion The Big Show in a Cell match brought the nine-month feud to an end.

D-X face Rated-RKO on Sunday at CyberWorld (Edge and Randy Orton). Rated-RKO's fan-selected referee Eric Bischoff gave Rated-RKO the much-deserved victory and the honor of defeating D-X in a tag team match since their inception in June 2006. However, Team D-X emerged victorious over Team Rated-RKO in a clean sweep victory at the Survivor Series, despite this. Triple H's Match with Rated-RKO was a legitimate torn right quadriceps during New Year's Revolution. Rated-RKO won over D-X, citing Triple H's injury as the "end" of D-X. Michaels lived up to his word of "dealing" with Rated-RKO, from his remarks the previous week when he stunned Randy Orton with a con-chair-to after a handicap match against Edge and Orton. Michaels was the last man eliminated in the competition by the match's winner, The Undertaker, at the Royal Rumble.

After defeating Rated-RKO on the January 29 episode of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena. In a triple threat number one contender's match on February 5 in Raw, he stunned both Edge and Orton to win a shot at the WWE Championship. After making Michaels submit to the STFU, Cena retained the championship at WrestleMania 23, he held the championship. In two back-to-back ten team battle royals, Raw, Michaels, and Cena won the first and lost the World Tag Team Championship in the second to The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) when Michaels threw Cena over the top rope. Michaels' feud with Cena continued, and he took on Cena, Edge, and Randy Orton in a deadly four-way match at Backlash for the WWE Championship. When Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Cena, he fell on Orton for the pinfall, Cena retained the title.

Michaels then became embroiled in a rivalry with Randy Orton after Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels. Orton punched Michaels in the head last week, the week before their scheduled match against then-World Heavyweight Champion Edge. Orton assaulted Michaels again before their game on Judgment Day, halting Michaels' interview segment. Michaels collapsed during their match, causing Orton to win by referee stoppage. Orton continued the beating after he gave a RKO to a wounded Michaels. Michaels was then taken out of the ring in a stretcher. Michaels had a storyline concussion during the enmity. Michaels was forced to miss action due to his knee injury, but he needed surgery for his knee. Michaels appeared on Raw's October 8 episode, from Sweet Chin Music to newly crowned WWE Champion Randy Orton during his championship vignette and then rejoking over the knocked-out champion as Vince McMahon watched. Michaels was chosen by the fans to face Orton for the WWE Championship on Sunday, but he was disqualified for disqualification when Orton struck Michaels with a low blow, resulting in Orton keeping the title. When Michaels was granted a rematch against Orton at Survivor Series, he had a second shot at the WWE Championship. Michaels was forbidden from using Sweet Chin Music on order by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week. Michaels lost the game after Orton earned the victory by RKO, putting an end to their feud.

Michaels met Flair in a Career Threatening Match at WrestleMania XXIV, in which he won by playing Sweet Chin Music and thus ending Flair's career. Batista later confronted Michaels about his WrestleMania exploits, accusing him selfish and egotistical. With Chris Jericho as the guest referee, the two met at Backlash. Michaels also won after recovering from a knee injury and playing Sweet Chin Music. Jericho later confronted Michaels on the subject, in which Michaels confessed to faking the injury in order to defeat Batista. On Judgment Day, Michaels defeated Jericho. Michaels lost in a stretcher match at One Night Stand, bringing an end to their feud. During his talk show segment, The Highlight Reel, being thrown directly from a television monitor, Michaels was assaulted by Chris Jericho during the June 9 episode of Raw. Michaels had been missing a detached retina the following week, according to the storyline. A match between Michaels and Jericho was supposed at The Great American Bash, in which Jericho bit Michaels' eye, causing Jericho to win by referee stoppage.

Michaels resigned from professional wrestling a month later at SummerSlam. Jericho punched Michaels' wife in the chest the night before. Michaels renounced his retirement and challenged Jericho to an unanctioned match at Unforgiven, which Jericho accepted. The team's in-ring contract signing for the unsanctioned match was next week. They began to fight during this period, causing Michaels' legit small triceps tear. Michaels was medically fit to play at Unforgiven, and he defeated Jericho so effectively that the referee called the match, making him the champion. Jericho beat CM Punk in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match later that night and took the crown. Michaels lost a ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship to Jericho next month.

Michaels was written in a storyline in which he lost his family's savings as a result of the global recession and reluctantly accepted a one-year general employment deal at Armageddon in December 2008. Michaels agreed to face JBL in a "All or Nothing" match at No Way Out in February after struggling to help JBL win the World Heavyweight Championship from John Cena and being mocked for it. At No Way Out, Michaels beat JBL, letting him out of his service early while still receiving full compensation.

Michaels was the first person to beat Vladimir Kozlov on March 2 Raw, receiving a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 in April. Michaels then began a new chapter in his unresolved feud with The Undertaker from the late 1990s, a decade before any of their matches resulted in interference. The two-dimensional feud was two-dimensional, with some focusing on The Undertaker's undefeated WrestleMania Streak's triumph against Michaels in a singles match but not vice versa. Michaels also built the buildup to their WrestleMania encounter personal, frequently expressing his Christian objections to the demonic dark side of the Undertaker's Deadman gimmick's demonic dark side, as well as briefly abandoning his "Heartbreak Kid" gimmick to portray a god-esque, bright side anti-Deadman Undertaker variant (Michaels is a real-life Born Again Christian). The feud came to a conclusion in a WrestleMania 25 singles match between Michaels and the Undertaker, who made a heaven-sent entrance from high on the air portraying his bright side anti-Deadman. Shawn Michaels was disqualified after a dramatic, competitive wrestling match, extending The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak to 17–0. Both critics and fans alike praised their match, and many believe it is now one of the best WrestleMania matches of all time. Michaels took a break from WWE after WrestleMania.

Michaels returned to WWE action in a series of segments that aired on Raw's August 10, 2009 episode, where he had, in storyline, left the WWE. Triple H at a Texas restaurant where he was working as a chef; through the segments, Triple H tried to convince Michaels to return to WWE and reform D-X. Michaels decided to partner with Triple H to fight The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase) at SummerSlam after numerous events during the segments. Legacy was defeated by D-X at SummerSlam, D-X. Both teams won, with their feud escalating in October. D-X defeated Chris Jericho and Big Show in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match at TLC two months later (TLC). Michaels buried the hatchet with long-time competitor Bret Hart as they shook hands and hugged in the ring on January 4, 2010. This was actually a real-life reconciliation that brought to an end animosities surrounding the Montreal Screwjob, in contrast to the show's storylines. Although some people have reservations about its legitimacy, both men have confirmed that it was indeed legitim. On the February 8 episode of Raw, D-X lost in a Triple Threat match to the team of The Miz and Big Show; the match also featured The Straight Edge Society (CM Punk and Luke Gallows). Michaels was charged with The World Heavyweight Championship in the main event at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. Michaels suffered to The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI, and as a result, he was forced to leave due to the match's stipulation, the same way Michaels ended Ric Flair's career. Michaels delivered an emotional farewell address on the night's "Shawn Michaels has left the house," beginning with the familiar phrase, "Shawn Michaels has left the building."

Michaels said in an interview with Bill Simmons of ESPN.com shortly after his retirement, he resigned a month before WrestleMania 25, when a backstage employee told Shawn that he had "halfway gone"; he was halfway to his eighth birthday and after that, he'd be "gone." Michaels was deeply affected by the remark; he did not want to be absent after his son's departure, so he decided that this year would be his last year as an active wrestler.

Michaels received the Slammy Award for Moment of the Year for his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI on December 14, 2010. Michaels accepted the award via satellite. He announced a long-term contract with WWE, where he will continue in his ambassadorial role. Michaels made his in-person television appearance at the Troops taping on December 11, where he and Triple H's reunion was the first DX to behold.

Michaels appeared on Raw's January 10, 2011 episode, where he was revealed as a member of the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011. Michaels accompanied Sweet Chin Music after being mocked by Alberto Del Rio later that night. Michaels spoke to Triple H and The Undertaker about their match at WrestleMania XXVII on March 28. Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2 by Triple H, as well as fellow Kliq members Kevin Nash (who had returned to WWE for the Royal Rumble) and Sean Waltman. He was on the podcast on June 27th, where he was confronted by CM Punk and superkicked David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty. he superkicked McIntyre later that night, after Diamond Dallas Page's special appearance was halted by Drew McIntyre.

In June 2011, Jim Ross, Michaels, and Hart revealed that they were working on a DVD chronicling Hart and Michaels' careers, which was intended to be published in October 2011. The subject of the DVD was their on-screen rivalry and real-life conflicts, with a particular emphasis on the Montreal Screwjob. Hart called working on the DVD a "cathartic" experience, according to Ross, and both Hart and Michaels had been very honest and emotional in their interviews. Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart: WWE's Biggest Rivals, was released in November 2011.

Michaels confronted Triple H about accepting The Undertaker's challenge for a Hell in a Cell match at WrestleMania XXVIII, and said he would be the special guest referee for it on February 13, 2012. Despite Michaels' interference in Triple H's behalf, the Undertaker defeated Triple H at WrestleMania. The threesome accepted Michaels and The Undertaker's help with Triple H's exit from the ring and ramp. Michaels appeared at Raw 1000 on July 23 alongside fellow D-Generation X alumni Triple H, X-Pac, Road Dogg, and Billy Gunn. Damien Sandow had the group interspersed before Michaels struck him with Sweet Chin Music and Triple H gave us a Pedigree. The group then performed their signature poses before departing.

Michaels appeared on Raw's August 6 episode. Brock Lesnar (who was supposed to face Triple H at SummerSlam) and Paul Heyman confronted him. Michaels has confirmed that he will be in Triple H's corner for the match. Many WWE Superstars (including John Cena and The Undertaker) paid tribute to Michaels' career after the show ended. The live audience celebrations were titled "Shawn Michaels Appreciation Night," as the performance took place in Michaels' hometown of San Antonio, Texas. Lesnar (kayfabe) broke Michaels' arm after putting Michaels in a Kimura lock on the following week. Michaels was unable to attend as a result; Lesnar beat Triple H at SummerSlam; Lesnar defeated Triple H at SummerSlam.

Michaels revealed a tournament to crown the inaugural NXT Tag Team Champions on January 24, 2013. Michaels returned to challenge Triple H in his match with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 29 on April 1, 2013. Michaels superkicked an interfering Paul Heyman, assisting Triple H in winning and maintaining his position. In a backstage segment with John Cena that was backstage, he appeared on the Raw in a backstage segment and then on the SummerSlam pre-show.

In a Cell match between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton for the vacant WWE Championship in October 2013, Michaels gained a fan vote to become special guest referee for the Hell. Orton defeated Orton after he performed Sweet Chin Music on Bryan. During the match, Raw's Nathan said he was furious with Bryan for attacking Triple H. Bryan was degraded for failing to show him love, and he turned heel for the first time since 2005.

Bryan applied the "Yes!"

The segment will come to an end with Lock on Michaels. Bryan was honoured with the Slammy Award for Superstar of the Year on December 9, a prestigious honor given to him. After Michaels assaulted CM Punk with Sweet Chin Music later that night, Bryan assaulted Michaels with a running knee. All three legends were then involved in a Big Show altercation. Michaels appeared in WrestleMania 31, pretending as a member of DX in the Sting-Triple H match and performing Sweet Chin Music to Sting. Michaels appeared on Raw's October 19, 2015, interviewing Seth Rollins, who was stripping Kane of his responsibilities as Director of Operations.

Michaels appeared in in-ring attire at WrestleMania 32, presenting The League of Nations alongside Mick Foley and Stone Cold Steve Austin, where Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music to Alberto Del Rio and King Barrett before celebrating with Foley, Austin, and The New Day.

Michaels returned to WWE on January 9, 2017, promoting his latest film. Michaels was then confronted by Rusev, Lana, and Jinder Mahal before Enzo Amore and Big Cass joined Michaels' side, sparking a match between Big Cass and Mahal with Michaels being in Big Cass' corner. Big Cass won the match after Michaels rousted Rusev at ringside, distracting Mahal. Michaels gave Roman Reigns advice about The Undertaker for their match at WrestleMania 33, before Braun Strowman hit Reigns on the entrance ramp.

On the January 22, 2018, WWE legends Michaels and several other WWE stars appeared on Raw 25 Years' January 22, 2018.

Michaels appeared on Raw's September 3, 2018 episode to promote Triple H and The Undertaker's match at Super Show-Down, where the Undertaker himself confronted him. Michaels helped Triple H beat The Undertaker in defeating The Undertaker, after which Undertaker and Kane assaulted him. Michaels appeared on Triple H on October 8 and announced that he would come out of retirement to rewrite D-Generation X. Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music to the Undertaker on the October 29 edition of Raw. The Brothers of Destruction X defeated Crown Jewel, D-Generation X. Fans and critics alike were dissatisfied with the match's "Worst Match of the Year" award, but PWTorch's Wade Keller noted that "Michaels shows glimpses and did not embarrass himself." Michaels revealed later that he would go back to retirement.

Michaels, special guests Ricky Steamboat, Kurt Angle, and Sting appeared during WWE Raw, Michaels' main event segment on February 25, 2019. Flair will be targeted by Batista rather than being on-screen. Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for the second time as a member of D-Generation X in April 2019. During The Undertaker's retirement ceremony on November 22, 2020, he made an appearance at Survivor Series during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.

Michaels became a coach at the WWE Performance Center in late 2016. Michaels and Terry Taylor taught the final class at the WWE Performance Center in 2017, the final level of four levels of classes, according to Pro Wrestling Torch. Michaels had officially joined as a writer and producer on WWE's NXT brand and show under former D-Generation X cohort Paul Levesque on November 27, 2018. Levesque's "cardiac incident" in September 2021, the brand's life was interrupted as a result of the brand's recuperation. Michaels, in his capacity as Vice President of Talent Development, took over the NXT shows' administration. In September 2022, his job title was announced as Senior Vice President Talent Development Creative, which was responsible for both creative and economic growth at NXT, as well as the extension of NXT to NXT Europe in 2023.

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