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Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American professional wrestler. He performs for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), formerly the World Wrestling Federation, on its Raw brand. Hickenbottom is one of the senior performers in WWE, having joined in 1987.
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 then signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF), while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.
Hickenbottom later worked as a sole performer, taking on a new persona of "The Heartbreak Kid." He was the leader of a backstage group known as The Kliq, which was known for performing an unscripted act during the Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call" incident in 1996. The following year, he teamed up with Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), and Chyna to form D-Generation X (DX). This group of wrestlers were 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.
Overall, Hickenbottom has been a world champion four times, including three reigns as WWE Champion, and one reign as World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumble and was the company's first Grand Slam Champion. Aside from professional wrestling, Hickenbottom is a born-again Christian, husband, and father of two children. * Finishing and signature moves
o Modified figure four leglock – Early 2008
o Spike piledriver – 1993–1994; Used rarely as a regular move thereafter
o Sweet Chin Music[2] (Superkick, often preceding the move with a series of foot stomps, called "tuning up the band" by announcers)
o Teardrop Suplex (Leg hook Saito suplex) – 1992–1993
o Arm trap crossface – 2007–present
o Backhand chop
o Belly to back suplex
o Diving clothesline – 1992–1993
o Diving elbow drop, with theatrics[1]
o Diving splash
o Dropkick
o Figure four leglock
o Flying forearm smash followed by a kip-up[1]
o Inverted atomic drop[1]
o Leg feed enzuigiri
o Moonsault,[1] sometimes while springboarding to the outside
o Scoop slam
o Skin the cat
o Slingshot crossbody
o Swinging neckbreaker
o Thesz press followed by multiple punches
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 then signed with World Wrestling Federation (WWF), while in contract with AWA. They returned to AWA, only to go back to the WWF in 1988.
Hickenbottom later worked as a sole performer, taking on a new persona of "The Heartbreak Kid." He was the leader of a backstage group known as The Kliq, which was known for performing an unscripted act during the Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call" incident in 1996. The following year, he teamed up with Hunter Hearst Hemsley, who often was referred to as Triple H (HHH), and Chyna to form D-Generation X (DX). This group of wrestlers were 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.
Overall, Hickenbottom has been a world champion four times, including three reigns as WWE Champion, and one reign as World Heavyweight Champion. He was also the winner of the 1995 and 1996 Royal Rumble and was the company's first Grand Slam Champion. Aside from professional wrestling, Hickenbottom is a born-again Christian, husband, and father of two children. * Finishing and signature moves
o Modified figure four leglock – Early 2008
o Spike piledriver – 1993–1994; Used rarely as a regular move thereafter
o Sweet Chin Music[2] (Superkick, often preceding the move with a series of foot stomps, called "tuning up the band" by announcers)
o Teardrop Suplex (Leg hook Saito suplex) – 1992–1993
o Arm trap crossface – 2007–present
o Backhand chop
o Belly to back suplex
o Diving clothesline – 1992–1993
o Diving elbow drop, with theatrics[1]
o Diving splash
o Dropkick
o Figure four leglock
o Flying forearm smash followed by a kip-up[1]
o Inverted atomic drop[1]
o Leg feed enzuigiri
o Moonsault,[1] sometimes while springboarding to the outside
o Scoop slam
o Skin the cat
o Slingshot crossbody
o Swinging neckbreaker
o Thesz press followed by multiple punches
