Shawn Michaels

Shawn Michaels: 2022 Biography, News, Net Worth, Family

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom was born in Chandler, Arizona, on July 22nd, 1965. While training to become a pro wrestler with Jose Lothario in the mid-1980s, he took on the ring name of Shawn Michaels.

Michaels made his debut in the NWA on October 16th, 1984, taking on Art Crews in a losing effort. From there, he wrestled in various territories including World Class Championship Wrestling and the American Wrestling Association. It was in the AWA that he joined up with Marty Jannetty to form The Midnight Rockers tag team – later shortened to just The Rockers.

In 1987, Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty joined the WWF, but, due to their wild lifestyle outside the ring, were fired after only two weeks. The following year, the company gave the pair another shot and they soon became a popular act.

Officially, The Rockers were never able to capture the WWF Tag Team Championships, however, in October 1990 a match was taped which saw them defeating The Hart Foundation – Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart – for the gold. At the time, Neidhart and the WWF were having difficulty in coming to terms on a new contract, leading to the title change. The two parties ended up reaching a deal soon after, and The Rockers’ brief reign was stricken from the record.

In late 1991, relations between Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty became strained and the tensions led Michaels to split from his long-time partner by throwing him through a window on the set of Brutus Beefcake’s Barber Shop. Now a vain heel, Michaels took on the ‘Heartbreak Kid’ nickname and debuted the ‘Sexy Boy’ theme music he still uses today.

In October 1992, Michaels won his first singles title when he defeated The British Bulldog, Davey Boy Smith, for the Intercontinental Championship on an episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event. After a 202-day reign, he lost the title to Marty Jannetty, only to recapture it a few weeks later with assistance from Kevin Nash – then going by Diesel. Nash would go on to act as HBK’s bodyguard.

Over the next few years, Michaels had memorable feuds with the likes of Scott Hall aka. Razor Ramon, and, after a miscommunication in the ring, Kevin Nash, who was being pushed as a top star at the time. Behind the scenes, though, the three men were actually best friends and they, alongside Sean Waltman and Triple H, were known as ‘The Kliq’ and held a lot of sway in the WWF. Other stars at the time have often made claims that the group were only out for themselves and used their influence to hold others down.

In 1996, Shawn Michaels finally captured the WWF Championship by defeating his bitter rival Bret Hart in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania 12. Soon after this, Nash and Hall left the company for WCW. This led to the infamous ‘Curtain Call’ incident in Madison Square Garden where the entire Kliq broke ‘kayfabe’ – the term used for portraying everything in pro wrestling as being ‘real’ – by hugging in the ring in front of the crowd despite Michaels and Hall being babyfaces while the others were portraying heels.

Due to his status, Michaels was not punished for the incident despite the controversy it caused and held the WWF Championship until that year’s Survivor Series, where he lost it to Sycho Sid. He regained it at the Royal Rumble in January 1997, but quickly vacated the title due to a knee injury – although some claim he didn’t want to lose the championship to Bret Hart at WrestleMania 13.

Michaels returned to action a few months later, feuding with The Undertaker and British Bulldog before forming D-Generation X with Triple H, Chyna, and Rick Rude. Michaels reignited his rivalry with Bret Hart, culminating in the Montreal Screwjob at Survivor Series.

The most controversial moment in WWF history saw Michaels lock Hart into the Sharpshooter during their WWF Championship match only for Vince McMahon to run to the ring to demand the bell be rung with the match being awarded to HBK. This was because Hart was leaving WWF for WCW and McMahon was concerned he would try to take the title with him.

Only a few months after the incident, Michaels sustained a back injury during a casket match with The Undertaker at the Royal Rumble. This led to him being unable to compete, although he did have one last match at WrestleMania 14 where he lost the title to ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin, ushering in the Austin Era, arguably the most successful period in WWF history. For Michaels, however, it seemed to be the end of the road and he officially retired from the ring after the bout.

Over the next few years, he made numerous onscreen appearances, most notably acting as the WWF Commissioner in 1999. In 2002, after being gone from the now-WWE for 18 months, he was revealed as a member of the nWo. However, the group disbanded soon after. He then found himself in a feud with his former best friend, Triple H, who had become a main event star in Michaels’ absence.

This led to Michaels making his triumphant return to the ring, defeating The Game in a Street Fight at that year’s SummerSlam. His next bout saw him once again reach the top of WWE, capturing the World Heavyweight Championship in a brutal Elimination Chamber match. However, Triple H had the last word when he regained the title from The Showstopper in a 3 Stages of Hell match soon after.

From here, Michaels was effectively back in the ring full-time, defying all expectations. He went on to have memorable rivalries with Chris Jericho, Chris Benoit, and Kurt Angle.

He and Triple H later put their animosity behind them to finally reform D-Generation X in 2006, now as a tag team. This came as part of a long-term feud with Vince and Shane McMahon, who had been targeting Michaels for several months with the aid of The Spirit Squad.

When the McMahons also set their sights on Triple H, Michaels came to his aid and the pair went on to defeat both Vince and Shane at SummerSlam and then in a Hell in a Cell match the following month, this time also taking out The Big Show. The reunion was short-lived, though, as Triple H tore his quadriceps during a match against Randy Orton and Edge, leading to a lengthy absence.

Back in singles action, Michaels stayed in the main event scene, clashing with the likes of John Cena, Randy Orton, and then Ric Flair. At WrestleMania 24, Shawn Michaels defeated Flair in a match where The Nature Boy’s career was on the line, in an iconic moment, Michaels told Flair, “I’m sorry, I love you”, before hitting him with Sweet Chin Music to bring an end to the legendary wrestler’s in-ring career – in WWE at least.

Michaels then entered a highly personal feud with Chris Jericho after Y2J attacked him during an interview and then, a few weeks later, accidentally punched Michaels’ wife in the face. After several bouts, the two competed in a Ladder Match for Jericho’s World Heavyweight Championship which Jericho won, putting an end to the rivalry.

At WrestleMania 25, Michaels faced The Undertaker in an attempt to end The Deadman’s undefeated streak at the event. Despite coming within inches of victory, Michaels was defeated by The Phenom and took several months away in the aftermath.

When he returned, Michaels once again reformed DX with Triple H and the pair saw a lot of success together including a WWE Tag Team Championship run. However, the loss to The Undertaker still ate at Michaels, and he began a campaign to get a rematch at WrestleMania 26. Initially, The Undertaker refused, but after Michaels cost him the World Heavyweight Championship, he accepted on the condition Michaels put his career on the line.

On the Grandest Stage Of Them All, The Undertaker once again defeated Shawn Michaels, marking his second retirement from the ring, although this time it was on his own terms. He was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame the following year and has stayed largely retired since.

He did have one other match, again teaming with Triple H to take on The Undertaker and Kane at 2018’s Crown Jewel, held in Saudi Arabia. The two were able to overcome The Brothers of Destruction, but the match was widely panned due to numerous mishaps. This was to be Michaels’ last match.

Since retiring from the ring, Shawn Michaels has continued to be involved in WWE, specifically helping train the next generation of Superstars in NXT. He is currently in charge of the developmental brand as WWE’s Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative.

Net Worth

As of November 2022, Celebrity Net Worth has reported that Shawn Michaels has a net worth of $10 million.

Family

Shawn Michaels married his first wife, Theresa Wood, in 1988 but the couple divorced six years later in 1994. Michaels and his second wife, Rebecca Curci, married in 1999. The pair have a son, Cameron Kade, who was born in January 2000 and a daughter, Cheyenne, born in August 2004.

Income

While it is unknown how much Shawn Michaels makes in his current role, as an active wrestler, he commanded an annual salary of $1 million. For his one-off return to the ring at Crown Jewel in 2018, he was reportedly paid an astonishing $3 million.

Record

According to Cagematch.net, since beginning his career in 1984, Shawn Michaels has wrestled in 2098 matches. He has won 1431 times with 575 losses and 92 draws putting his win percentage at 68.2%.

Figures are correct as of November 15th 2022.

WWE Career

• WWF Championship – 3 times
• World Heavyweight Championship – 1 time
• WWF Intercontinental Champion – 3 times
• WWF European Champion – 1 time
• WWF/E Tag Team Champion 6 times
• Royal Rumble winner – 2 times (1995 & 1996)
• First ever WWF Grand Slam Champion

Charity

As well as supporting WWE-sponsored charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Connor’s Cure, Shawn Michaels has made appearances for various good causes.