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Shawn MichaelsMichael Shawn James Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965 in Scottsdale, Arizona) is a professional wrestler better known as Shawn Michaels or the "Heartbreak Kid" (HBK). He currently performs for World Wrestling Entertainment in its RAW brand. Early career Although born in Scottsdale, Michaels grew up in San Antonio, Texas. Trained by Jose Lothario, he debuted in 1985 in Texas. He made his national debut in 1986 in the now-defunct American Wrestling Association teaming with Marty Jannetty forming a team called the "Midnight Rockers". In 1988, Michaels and Jannetty joined the World Wrestling Federation (now World Wrestling Entertainment), still as a team but called simply "The Rockers". Despite being a talented and popular tag team, the duo never won the WWF Tag Team Championship, save for a victory over then-champions The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart) which was later overturned. Citing frustration with their lack of championship success and a wish to break out on his own, Michaels and Jannetty split in early 1992 during a famous incident on Brutus Beefcake's "Barbershop" segment, when Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a plate-glass window. Shawn turned heel and became a singles wrestler, winning the WWF Intercontinental Championship from The British Bulldog later that year. He later became the perceived leader of a backstage group known as the Clique (also spelled "Kliq"), which obtained sufficient clout with WWF owner Vince McMahon to become the dominant wrestling figures in the promotion for several years in the mid-1990s. Shawn won his first WWF Championship in March 1996 at WrestleMania XII, defeating Bret Hart. In November 1997, Michaels beat Hart in a very controversial match in Montreal. Hart, who then held the WWF championship, had reportedly been assured that he would win the match. However, McMahon, concerned that Hart was leaving the WWF and taking the belt with him, arranged for the bell to be rung when Michaels applied the Sharpshooter to Hart, making it look like his opponent tapped-out (gave up). Michaels was given the victory in the match and therefore was given the championship as well. Several years later, Michaels admitted he knew about McMahon's plan beforehand. Around the same time Michaels posed naked in Playgirl Magazine. In 1998 a back injury forced Michaels into retirement after losing the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV. Michaels would return on occasion to the WWF, but not as a wrestler. Recent events In 2002, Michaels came back to wrestling, brought in by Kevin Nash as the new member of the nWo. The angle did not last very long. After the nWo was disbanded, Triple H asked Shawn Michaels to be his manager (the two are best friends in real life). Michaels turned it down. Later on though, they came down to the ring, with the music and with their D-Generation X attires, to the cheers of the crowd. When they were about to do their trademark "suck it" taunt, Triple H nailed Michaels with his finishing move, the Pedigree, knocking him out cold. The tension mounted between the two characters. Shortly after, Michaels was brutally attacked in the parking lot, being thrown in a car's window and left out in a pool of his own blood. Triple H promised his wounded friend that he would find the identity of the attacker. It was only weeks later that the attacker was reveled: it was Triple H himself. Michaels returned to the ring to wrestle a match against Triple H at SummerSlam 2002, laying the foundation for a historical feud that would last for years to come. They faced each other in brutal singles matches, hardcore matches, a ladder match, a steel cage match, a Last Man Standing match, twice in an Elimination Chamber match (where Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H at Survivor Series 2002), and in a Hell in a Cell match (see below). Michaels' return was successful, and he has remained active ever since. At first, he was a full-time performer who wrestled on a part-time basis, but in 2003, he started wrestling full-time again. In 2004, Michaels faced Triple H in a horrendous Hell in a Cell he eventually lost to the Cerebral Assassin (Triple H), but only after suffering numerous Pedigrees. He also lost again a world heavyweight championship match against his long-time rival Triple H at Taboo Tuesday when the fans voted him to face Triple H one more time. After his feuds with Triple H calmed down Shawn Michaels began feuding with wrestlers such as Chris Jericho, Christian and more recently Edge after he speared Michaels at Taboo Tuesday costing him the world title. At the 2005 Royal Rumble, Michaels lost a singles match to Edge and was then taken out of the Royal Rumble by Kurt Angle who he eliminated a little earlier in the match. Angle then went on to leave Michaels in a bloody mess, thus starting a new feud. Shawn Michaels lost to Kurt Angle by submission in a much-anticipated "interpromotional" match at WrestleMania 21 on April 3, 2005. Signature and Finishing maneuvers Championships and accomplishments | colspan = 3 align = center | WWE Championship Reigns | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Bret Hart | width = 40% align = center | First | width = 30% align = center | Followed by:
Sycho Sid | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Sycho Sid | width = 40% align = center | Second | width = 30% align = center | Followed by:
vacant | width = 30% align = center | Preceded by:
Bret Hart | width = 40% align = center | Third | width = 30% align = center | Followed by:
Stone Cold Steve Austin | Other accomplishments - 1995 Royal Rumble winner
- First person to enter a Royal Rumble as the first entrant and win the entire match (accomplished during the 1995 Royal Rumble)
- 1996 Royal Rumble winner
- First "Grand Slam Champion" (Holding every major championship belt)
External links SHAWNHBK.com Shawn Michaels pictures, videos and news. Michaels, Shawn Michaels, Shawn Michaels, Shawn
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