Shawn Michaels

American retired professional wrestler (born 1965)

For those of a similar name, see Sean Michaels (disambiguation).

"The Showstopper" redirects here. For the BoJack Horseman episode, see The Showstopper (BoJack Horseman).

Shawn Michaels

Michaels in March 2008

Birth name| Michael Shawn Hickenbottom
Born|  (1965-07-22) July 22, 1965 (age 58)
Chandler, Arizona, U.S.
Spouse(s)|

* Theresa Wood

(m. 1988; div. 1994)​

* Rebecca Curci

(m. 1999)​

Children| 2
Relatives| Matt Bentley (cousin)
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)| Sean Michaels[1]
Shawn Michaels
Billed height| 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[2][3]
Billed weight| 225 lb (102 kg)[2]
Billed from| San Antonio, Texas[2]
Trained by| José Lothario[4]
Debut| October 8, 1984[5]
Retired| November 2, 2018

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE, where he is the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative and oversees the creative aspects of the NXT brand, the promotion's developmental territory.[6] Regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, he is known by the nicknames "The Heartbreak Kid" (often abbreviated as HBK), "The Showstopper", and "Mr. WrestleMania".[7]

Michaels wrestled consistently for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, renamed in 2002), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998. He performed in non-wrestling roles for the next two years, resuming his wrestling career with WWE in 2002 until ceremoniously retiring in 2010. He returned for a one-off final match in 2018. In 2016, he began working as a coach at the WWE Performance Center, and from 2018 as a producer on NXT, before becoming the Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative for the NXT brand itself.

In WWF/WWE, Michaels headlined pay-per-view events between 1989 and 2018, main-eventing 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 first entrant), the company's first Grand Slam Champion and fourth Triple Crown Champion, as well as a two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee (2011 as a 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 television program, Raw.[8] Michaels has been a participant in several first installments of a number of WWE's signature gimmick matches--namely the first Hell in a Cell at the Badd Blood: In Your House, the first Ladder match during a taping of WWF Wrestling Challenge (and subsequent first pay-per-view installment at WrestleMania X), both the inaugural (as part of The Rockers tag team) and first televised (at WrestleMania XII) Iron Man matches, and Elimination Chamber at the 2002 Survivor Series.

## Early life[edit]

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom was born in Chandler, Arizona, on July 22, 1965.[9][10] He has an older sister named Shari and two older brothers named Randy and Scott. He was raised in a military family and briefly spent some of his early years in the English town of Reading, Berkshire,[9] but grew up primarily in San Antonio, Texas. As a child, he disliked the name "Michael" and convinced his family and friends to address him by his middle name.[11] Ever since, he has been referred to as Shawn. Additionally, Hickenbottom moved around frequently since his father was in the military.[11] He knew he wanted to become a professional wrestler at the age of 12 and performed a wrestling routine at his high school's talent show, complete with fake blood.[10][12] He was a keen athlete while growing up, and his sporting career began at the age of six when he played football.[13] He was a stand-out linebacker at Randolph High School on Randolph Air Force Base and eventually became captain of the football team.[2][14] He attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, but dropped out to pursue a career in professional wrestling.[15] His cousin Matt Bentley is also a wrestler.[16]

## Professional wrestling career[edit]

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* v
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### National Wrestling Alliance (1984–1985)[edit]

Hickenbottom began to train under Mexican professional wrestler Jose Lothario.[4][17] During his training, Hickenbottom adopted the ring name, "Shawn Michaels".[1] After his training with Lothario, he debuted as Shawn Michaels with the National Wrestling Alliance's (NWA) Mid-South Wrestling territory on October 16, 1984, against Art Crews, losing to Crews via swinging neckbreaker. Michaels's performance in his debut match impressed many veterans, including Terry Taylor. Michaels made his televised debut on October 20, 1984 teaming with Jim Hornet in a losing effort against the tag team of Hercules Hernandez and "Dr. Death" Steve Williams.[18]

In January 1985, he debuted for World Class Championship Wrestling (WCCW), the NWA territory in Dallas, Texas. In April 1985, Michaels went to work for another NWA territory in Kansas City called Central States Wrestling.[19] There, he and tag team partner Marty Jannetty defeated The Batten Twins for the NWA Central States Tag Team Championship, later losing it back to the Battens.[10]

### Texas All-Star Wrestling (1985–1986)[edit]

After leaving Kansas City, he returned to Texas to wrestle for Texas All-Star Wrestling (TASW).[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.[10] The team was later renamed American Force.[20] While in TASW, Michaels and Diamond feuded with Japanese Force.

### American Wrestling Association (1986–1987)[edit]

Michaels (left) with Marty Jannetty in 1989, known together as "the (Midnight) Rockers" during their time as AWA World Tag Team Champions

Michaels made his national-level debut, as Sean Michaels, at the age of 20 in the American Wrestling Association (AWA), in a victory over Buddhakhan on ESPN. He was once again teamed with Marty Jannetty, billed as The Midnight Rockers. The Midnight Rockers won the AWA World Tag Team Championship, defeating Doug Somers and Buddy Rose.[4]

### World Wrestling Federation and return to AWA (1987–1988)[edit]

In 1987, The Rockers were signed by a competing promotion: the World Wrestling Federation (WWF).[4] They were fired from WWF two weeks later, for a bar incident (a misunderstanding, according to Michaels's autobiography).[4][21] They then returned to AWA, where they won the AWA tag team titles for a second time,[10] but were re-signed by WWF a year later.[21]

### Return to the WWF/E[edit]

#### The Rockers (1988–1992)[edit]

Main article: The Rockers

The Rockers redebuted at a WWF live event on July 7, 1988.[22] 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[4] and was a mid-card stalwart of television and pay-per-view shows for the next two years.[23] During this time, Michaels headlined his first pay-per-view for the WWF when The Rockers were involved in the 4-on-4 Survivor Series match main event of Survivor Series on November 23, 1989, which they won.[24]

On October 30, 1990, The Rockers unofficially won 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.[23] The match was taped with The Rockers winning the title, but soon after Neidhart came to an agreement with management and was rehired.[23] The championship was returned to the Hart Foundation, while the title change was never broadcast or even acknowledged on television (though The Rockers did have a successful title defense on November 3, 1990, against Power and Glory (Hercules and Paul Roma) before the title was returned to the Hart Foundation).[23] 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 broken, but not to a noticeable or dangerous extent during the match.[1] The Rockers continued their partnership, eventually splitting on December 2, 1991, aired January 11, 1992, on Wrestling Challenge, during an incident on Brutus Beefcake's televised Barber Shop talk show promotional segment.[25] Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the set of Beefcake's talk show.[4][26] 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".[25]

#### Heartbreak Kid (1992–1995)[edit]

See also: Two Dudes with Attitudes

At the suggestion of Curt Hennig, Michaels adopted the nickname "The Heartbreak Kid".[4] Along with his new name came a new gimmick as a vain, cocky villain.[27] He was put together with mirror-carrying manager, Sensational Sherri, who according to the storyline had become infatuated with him.[25] 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 "Shawn Michaels has left the building", alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building".[28]

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

At WrestleMania VIII on April 5, 1992, Michaels defeated Tito Santana in his first pay-per-view singles match after both men had simultaneously eliminated each other from that year's Royal Rumble.[29] Michaels subsequently became a contender to the promotion's singles titles and failed to win the WWF Championship from champion Randy Savage in his first opportunity to compete for that title at British event UK Rampage, held on April 19 at the Sheffield Arena and broadcast on Sky Movies Plus[30] (the match later aired in the US on the edition of June 15 of Prime Time Wrestling).[31] 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 subsequently made available on multiple Coliseum/WWE Home Video releases.[32][33] However, he won the title from The British Bulldog on Saturday Night's Main Event XXXI, which aired on November 14.[34] He faced Hart for the WWF Championship at Survivor Series on November 25, but lost the match.[35] 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 (Curt Hennig) in the tag team match that involved Randy Savage against the team of Ric Flair and Razor Ramon.[36] During this time, Michaels and Sherri split and he engaged himself in a feud with former tag team partner Marty Jannetty.[4] Michaels lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on the May 17, 1993 episode of Raw,[34] but regained it on June 6 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel.[1][34]

In September 1993, Michaels was suspended for testing positive for steroid – a charge he never admitted.[37] On WWF programs, his suspension was explained by his having neglected to defend the title often enough. 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 on November 24 at Survivor Series, 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.[38]

Michaels in 1994

In 1994, Michaels entered a rivalry with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacant Intercontinental Championship during Michaels's absence.[39] 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.[39] This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two on March 20 at WrestleMania X.[39] Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's championship belts suspended above a ladder in the ring.[38][39] This match was voted by fans as "Match of the Year" by Pro Wrestling Illustrated.[4] It also received a five-star rating from Wrestling Observer Newsletter editor Dave Meltzer, the first of nine WWF/E 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 Superstars.[40]

On August 28, Michaels and Diesel won the WWF Tag Team Championship from The Headshrinkers (Samu and Fatu).[41] The next day at SummerSlam, Diesel lost the Intercontinental Championship to Ramon when Michaels accidentally superkicked Diesel.[38] This triggered a split between the two, a storyline that was drawn out until Survivor Series on November 24.[42] Michaels won the Royal Rumble on January 2, 1995,[43] which set up a championship grudge match on March 20 at WrestleMania XI against Diesel (who had gone on to win the WWF Championship from Bob Backlund).[43] As part of the storyline, Michaels recruited Sid as his bodyguard for the build-up, lost the match[44] and was attacked by Sid the following night.[45] After this, Michaels took time off[45] because Vince McMahon wanted Michaels to become a fan favorite.[46]

#### Formation of the Kliq (1995–1996)[edit]

Main article: The Kliq

Michaels returned to the ring as a fan favorite in May 1995 and defeated Jeff Jarrett to win his third Intercontinental Championship on July 23 at In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks.[4][47] This led to a title defense against Razor Ramon on August 27 at SummerSlam in a ladder match, which Michaels won.[4] Around this time, Michaels became the leader of a backstage group known as The Kliq.[4] Critics perceive 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, causing friction with other wrestlers. Michaels disputes the perception, saying that McMahon pushed only deserving wrestlers.[48] Michaels's fan base was later nicknamed "The Kliq" as an inside reference to the real "Kliq".[49] In October 1995, Michaels was the victim of a legit assault outside a bar in Syracuse, New York.[1] Due to not being able to compete, Michaels was forced to forfeit the Intercontinental Championship to his original opponent Dean Douglas on October 22 at In Your House: Great White North,[50] who in turn Douglas lost the championship to Razor Ramon, another member of the Kliq.[51] During a match with Owen Hart on a November episode of Raw, Hart performed an enzuigiri that struck the back of Michaels's head.[52] They continued the match, but Michaels collapsed in the ring, supposedly because he had suffered a concussion.[1][52] 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]

#### WWF Champion (1996–1998)[edit]

Main article: D-Generation X

After teasing retirement, Michaels returned to the WWF at the Royal Rumble match on January 21, 1996, winning for the second year in a row to receive a WWF Championship match in the main event at WrestleMania XII.[53] Around this time, Jose Lothario became Michaels's on-screen manager.[54] At WrestleMania XII on March 31, Michaels defeated WWF Champion Bret Hart in the overtime of their sixty-minute Iron Man match, which had ended in a scoreless tie.[4] On May 19, 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.[55] 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.[55] As WCW gained momentum due to the signings of Hall and Nash, Michaels held the championship for most of the year. At Survivor Series on November 17, Michaels lost the WWF Championship to Sycho Sid[56] but recaptured the title on January 19, 1997 at Royal Rumble.[57]

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 suffered a knee injury. Michaels contemplated thoughts of retirement and stated that he "had to find his smile again", which he had "lost" somewhere down the line.[58] After consulting with Dr. James Andrews, who concluded that he did not need surgery, Michaels underwent four weeks of physical therapy and returned to in-ring action a few months later, briefly teaming with Stone Cold Steve Austin to win the WWF Tag Team Championship.[59] In his autobiography, Michaels discusses his real-life feud with Bret Hart, claiming that Hart did interviews on live television claiming that he [Michaels] was faking his whole injury.[60]

Michaels portrayed his cocky, vain character with colorful outfits.

By the spring of 1997, the real-life backstage conflict between Michaels and Hart was reaching its height. Both men were going out on television and frequently making personal, true to heart remarks about one another. Michaels briefly left the WWF in June of that year after a real backstage fight with Hart, just hours before a Raw Is War show, which allegedly resulted from Michaels making an on-air remark, known as the "Sunny Days" comment, implying that Hart (who was married at the time) was having an affair with Tammy Sytch, a manager and valet who was signed to the WWF as Sunny. Michaels and Austin were still WWF Tag Team Champions at the time during an ongoing feud with the Hart Foundation and a tournament was made to decide new tag team champions. Michaels eventually returned that summer in July. At SummerSlam on August 3, Michaels officiated the WWF Championship match between WWF Champion The Undertaker and Bret Hart.[61] The match ended controversially, with Michaels hitting Undertaker with a chair (unintentionally, as he was aiming for Hart after he spat in his face).[61] Michaels was then forced to award the championship to his nemesis, Bret Hart.[61] The next night on Raw Is War, signs of a heel turn started to show as Michaels told the WWF fans what happened at SummerSlam was an accident and that he dealt with the Undertaker when the time came. At WWF One Night Only, held in Birmingham, England on September 20, Michaels defeated The British Bulldog to capture the WWF European Championship.[61][62] The fans at the event were so upset 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.[61][63] With this win, Michaels became the first Grand Slam Champion.[2] At In Your House: Badd Blood on October 5, Michaels defeated Undertaker in the first Hell in a Cell match, during which Michaels fell off the side of the 5-metre (15 ft) high structure through a table.[64] The match received a 5-star rating from Dave Meltzer.

In the fall, Michaels joined forces with real-life friend Hunter Hearst Helmsley (later known as Triple H), Helmsley's then real-life girlfriend Chyna, and Rick Rude to form the stable D-Generation X (DX).[65] 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 Hart's idea.[66] Michaels's feud with the Hart Foundation culminated in a championship match at Survivor Series on November 9 against Hart. Michaels came out of this match, dubbed by fans the "Montreal Screwjob", as the WWF Champion.[67] Michaels now held both the WWF and European championships at the same time. Michaels dropped the European Championship to DX member Hunter Hearst Hemsley in a farcical match.[68]

#### First retirement and hiatus (1998–2002)[edit]

Michaels (pictured here in 2008) was the WWF Commissioner in 1998.

On January 18, 1998 at the Royal Rumble, in a casket match against The Undertaker, Michaels took a back body drop to the outside of the ring and hit his lower back on the casket, causing him to herniate two discs and crush one completely.[4][69] Michaels went on to win the match[4] but the injury rendered him unable to compete on the following month's No Way Out of Texas: In Your House as advertised, and forced him into retirement a night after losing the WWF Championship to Stone Cold Steve Austin on March 29 at WrestleMania XIV.[70]

After being away for nearly four months, Michaels made a surprise return to the WWF as a guest commentator on the July 13 episode of Raw Is War. Michaels continued to make non-wrestling appearances on WWF programming and on November 23 he replaced Sgt. Slaughter as the WWF Commissioner, eventually joining Vince McMahon's group of wrestlers called The Corporation.[71] 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.[72][73][74] On the January 4, 1999 episode of Raw Is War, Michaels re-joined DX as a face, but disappeared from WWF television for a few weeks to have back surgery[75] and by the time he returned DX was on the way of dissolving within the next couple of months.

On November 23, 1999, Michaels made a special appearance for Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling at the 10th Anniversary Show at the Yokohama Arena, serving as the guest referee for the H vs fake Hayabusa (Mr. Gannosuke) main event. He got himself involved in the match when Gannosuke delivered a low blow on him and he responded later on with Sweet Chin Music.[76]

Michaels made occasional appearances as the WWF Commissioner during the spring and summer of 1999, but remained absent from television after August until May 15, 2000, when he returned on Raw Is War to declare himself the special guest referee for The Rock and Triple H's Iron Man match at Judgment Day.[77] One month later, Michaels briefly reappeared on Raw Is War to hand over the role of Commissioner to Mick Foley, and after another appearance in October did not make any in-arena appearances until mid-2002.[78] He appeared briefly on television to make a speech at WWF New York during Armageddon on December 10, 2000.[79]

Believing that his wrestling career was over, Michaels was interested in training individuals who wanted to become professional wrestlers.[80] He saw potential in using his name and opened the Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy (later the Texas Wrestling Academy) in 1999, after his lawyer Skip McCormick suggested the idea.[80] Michaels left the academy in 2002,[80] giving co-founder Rudy Boy Gonzalez sole responsibility due to Michaels's new contract with WWE.[4] Michaels was also a sportscaster for San Antonio's local news for a short period during his retirement.[80]

#### Feud with Triple H (2002–2004)[edit]

On the June 3 episode of Raw, Michaels returned to WWE television after 18 months of absence when Kevin Nash announced him as a new member of the recently reformed New World Order (nWo). Michaels was the only nWo member to have never worked in WCW.[81] 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.[82] 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.[82] 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.[83] In response, Michaels challenged Triple H to "a fight" (a non-sanctioned match) on August 25 at SummerSlam,[84] which Triple H accepted, laying the foundation for a rivalry that lasted for several years. In his first WWE match since WrestleMania XIV, Michaels defeated Triple H at SummerSlam, but was attacked by Triple H with a sledgehammer after the match.[85] At Survivor Series on November 17, Michaels won the World Heavyweight Championship from Triple H in the first Elimination Chamber match.[86] On December 15 at Armageddon, 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.[87]

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

Michaels then began a rivalry with Chris Jericho, after Jericho claimed that he was the next Shawn Michaels.[88] 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,[89] who had already been named number one. At the Royal Rumble on January 19, Jericho, with the help of Christian, eliminated Michaels. Michaels later interfered in the match, causing Jericho to be eliminated.[90] Michaels defeated Jericho on March 30 at WrestleMania XIX but was low-blowed after hugging Jericho.[91] On the December 29 episode of Raw, Michaels seemingly defeated Triple H after a Sweet Chin Music for the World Heavyweight Championship in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas with Eric Bischoff as the special guest referee (Earl Hebner originally refereed the match, only to be knocked out by Triple H in the middle of the match). However, Bischoff reversed the decision due to both men's shoulders being on the mat. Angered by this, Michaels attacked Ric Flair and Bischoff. He was subsequently fired by Bischoff but rehired by Steve Austin.[92]

As a part of an ongoing feud with Triple H, the two competed alongside Chris Benoit in the main event on March 14, 2004, at WrestleMania XX for the World Heavyweight Championship, which Benoit won.[93] The night before this, Michaels inducted Tito Santana in the WWE Hall of Fame. A triple threat WrestleMania rematch for the title took place on April 18 at Backlash, where Benoit successfully retained it after forcing Michaels to submit to a Sharpshooter.[94] Due to the "Montreal Screwjob" incident, the Edmonton crowd booed Michaels, with chants of "You screwed Bret!" being heard during his match at Backlash.[95] At Bad Blood on June 13, Michaels lost to Triple H in the longest Hell in a Cell match in history.[93] Four months later, he lost a World Heavyweight Championship match against Triple H, after Edge interfered on October 19 at Taboo Tuesday, when the fans voted for him ahead of Edge and Chris Benoit to face Triple H one more time.[96] Following this, Michaels was out of action for a few months with a legit torn meniscus.[2][97]

#### D-Generation X reunion (2005–2007)[edit]

See also: D-Generation X reunion

At the Royal Rumble on January 30, 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 the ring.[98] Michaels issued a challenge to Angle for a match at WrestleMania 21, which Angle accepted when he appeared on Raw to attack Michaels.[99] 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).[100] Three days later on SmackDown!, Angle defeated Jannetty, after Angle made Jannetty submit to the ankle lock.[101] To send a "message" to Michaels, Angle also humiliated Michaels's former manager, Sensational Sherri, when he applied the ankle lock hold on her.[102] At WrestleMania on April 3, Angle defeated Michaels by submission, again with an ankle lock.[98]

Michaels performing his signature pose, pictured in 1995 and 2008

The next night on Raw, Muhammad Hassan and Daivari came out to confront and assault Michaels.[103] On the April 11 episode of Raw, Michaels approached General Manager Eric Bischoff, in which he demanded a handicap match with Hassan and Daivari. Bischoff refused to schedule such a match and instead told Michaels to find a partner. Michaels then made a plea for Hulk Hogan to come back and team with him.[104] On the April 18 episode of Raw, Hassan again led an attack on Michaels until Hogan appeared to save Michaels and accept his offer.[105] At Backlash on May 1, Hogan and Michaels defeated Hassan and Daivari.[106] Later, in a WrestleMania rematch, Michaels defeated Kurt Angle (who was drafted to Raw in the draft lottery) on June 26 at Vengeance.[107] On the July 4 episode of Raw, after defeating Carlito and Kurt Angle, Michaels hit Hogan with his Sweet Chin Music, knocking Hogan to the ground and turning heel for the first time since 1998.[108] 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, which Hogan accepted the following week.[109][110] Hogan defeated Michaels at SummerSlam on August 21, 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, turning face once again.[111] He became the first person to cleanly defeat Chris Masters on September 18 at Unforgiven with Sweet Chin Music.[112] On the October 3 WWE Homecoming episode of Raw, he wrestled old rival Kurt Angle to a 2–2 draw in a 30-Minute Iron Man match. Afterwards, he challenged Angle to sudden-death overtime, but Angle refused and walked out.[113] He was part of Team Raw at Survivor Series on November 27, but lost the match to Team SmackDown!.[114]

On the December 26 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.[115] On January 29, 2006, at the Royal Rumble, McMahon made his way to the ring, and as Michaels stared at McMahon, Shane McMahon made a surprise appearance to eliminate Michaels.[116] On the February 13 episode of Raw, McMahon unsuccessfully forced Michaels to sign retirement papers.[117] The following week, Michaels won a handicap match against the Spirit Squad (Kenny, Johnny, Mitch, Nicky and Mikey), after which Michaels's former partner, Marty Jannetty, saved him from the assault by the Spirit Squad. After the two reunited, McMahon offered Jannetty a contract if he "kissed his ass."[118] The following week, Jannetty refused McMahon's offer and instead took Chris Masters's "Masterlock challenge."[119] Michaels tried to help Jannetty, which ultimately resulted in Shane attacking Michaels and forcing him to kiss his father's behind.[119] On March 18 at Saturday Night's Main Event XXXII, Shane defeated Michaels in a Street Fight after he applied a sharpshooter on Michaels, leading to McMahon ordering for the bell to be rung though Michaels did not submit, which was an allusion to the "Montreal Screwjob".[120] Despite interference from the Spirit Squad and Shane, Michaels defeated McMahon on April 2 at WrestleMania 22 in a No Holds Barred match.[117] At Backlash on April 30, The McMahons (Vince and Shane) defeated Michaels and "God" with help from the Spirit Squad in a no disqualification tag team match.[121] On the May 22 episode of Raw, the Spirit Squad was scripted to injure Michaels's knee.[122] This angle was written so Michaels could have surgery on his knee, which had been legitimately injured for some time.[123]

Triple H and Michaels as DX in 2006

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.[117] On Raw, the two continued to deliver chops, as Michaels feuded with Vince McMahon and Triple H went to challenge John Cena for the WWE Championship, repeatedly butting heads with Vince McMahon in the process. On the June 12 episode of Raw, DX officially reunited.[124] 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."[124] On June 25 at Vengeance, DX defeated the Spirit Squad in a 5–on–2 handicap match.[125] They also defeated the Spirit Squad on July 15 at Saturday Night's Main Event XXXIII in a 5-on-2 elimination match and defeated The McMahons on August 20 at SummerSlam.[126] At Unforgiven on September 17, DX defeated the McMahons and ECW World Champion The Big Show in a Hell in a Cell match, ending the feud.[127]

At Cyber Sunday on November 5, DX lost to Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton) after 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.[128] On November 26 at Survivor Series, Team DX emerged victorious against Team Rated-RKO in a clean sweep victory.[129] At New Year's Revolution on January 7, 2007, Triple H suffered a legit torn right quadriceps during their match with Rated-RKO.[130] Rated-RKO claimed victory over DX, citing Triple H's injury, as the "end" of DX.[131] On the January 15 episode of Raw, Michaels lived up to his word of "dealing" with Rated-RKO, from his comments the previous week before,[132][133] when he took out Randy Orton with a con-chair-to after a handicap match against Edge and Orton.[134] At the Royal Rumble on January 28, Michaels was the last man eliminated in the Royal Rumble match by the winner of the match, The Undertaker.[135]

#### Various feuds and championship pursuits (2007–2009)[edit]

Michaels confronting John Cena on an episode of Raw in 2007

On the January 29 episode of Raw, Michaels captured the World Tag Team Championship with WWE Champion John Cena after defeating Rated-RKO.[136] At WrestleMania 23 on April 1, Cena retained the WWE Championship against Michaels after making him submit to the STFU.[137] The next night on Raw, Michaels and Cena competed in two back-to-back ten team battle royals, winning the first and losing the World Tag Team Championship in the second to The Hardys (Matt and Jeff) when Michaels threw Cena over the top rope.[138] Michaels faced off with Cena, Edge and Randy Orton in a fatal four-way match on April 29 at Backlash for the WWE Championship, where Cena retained the title after Michaels performed Sweet Chin Music on Cena, causing him to fall on Orton for the pinfall.[139]

Michaels then entered a feud with Randy Orton when Orton claimed that he could beat Michaels.[140] The week before their scheduled match on May 20 at Judgment Day, after Michaels won a match against then-World Heavyweight Champion Edge, Orton attacked him by punting Michaels in the head.[140] Orton assaulted Michaels again prior to their match at Judgment Day, interrupting Michaels's interview segment.[141] Michaels collapsed during their match, causing Orton to win by referee stoppage.[141] Orton continued the beating and performed an RKO to a fallen Michaels, who was removed out of the ring in a stretcher.[141] During the feud, Michaels suffered a storyline concussion. This injury was used to keep Michaels out of action, as he required surgery for his knee.[142] Michaels made his return on the October 8 episode of Raw, performing Sweet Chin Music 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.[143] On October 28 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.[144] Michaels got another opportunity at the WWE Championship, when he was granted his rematch against Orton on November 18 at Survivor Series.[145] In their match, Michaels was banned from using Sweet Chin Music upon request by Orton, referring to as Michaels superkicking Orton week after week.[146] Michaels lost the match, when Orton performed an RKO for the win, which ended their feud.[145]

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

Michaels defeated and ended Ric Flair's career in a Career Threatening match on March 30, 2008 at WrestleMania XXIV.[147] Afterwards, Batista confronted Michaels about his actions at WrestleMania, calling him selfish and egotistical.[148] On April 27 at Backlash, with Chris Jericho as the guest referee, Michaels defeated Batista.[149] Jericho then confronted Michaels, in which he admitted to faking a knee injury in order to defeat Batista.[150] Michaels defeated Jericho on May 18 at Judgment Day.[151] At One Night Stand on June 1, Michaels lost to Batista in a stretcher match.[152] 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.[153] The following week, it was revealed that, within the context of the storyline, Michaels had suffered a detached retina.[154] On July 20 at The Great American Bash, Jericho defeated Michaels by referee stoppage after assaulting Michaels's eyes.[154]

At SummerSlam on August 17, Michaels announced his retirement from professional wrestling. That night, Jericho punched Michaels's wife in the face.[155] On the August 25 episode of Raw, Michaels renounced his retirement and challenged Jericho to an unsanctioned match at Unforgiven on September 7, which Jericho accepted.[156] The next week, they had a contract signing for the match and were involved in a brawl, causing a legit small triceps tear for Michaels.[157][158] He was medically cleared to compete at Unforgiven, and beat Jericho so severely that the referee called the match, making Michaels the winner.[159] Later that night, Jericho replaced CM Punk in the World Heavyweight Championship scramble match, and won the title.[159] On October 5 at No Mercy, Michaels was defeated by Jericho in a ladder match for the World Heavyweight Championship.[160]

Shawn Michaels feuded with John Bradshaw Layfield in early 2009.

In December 2008, having lost his family's savings due to the global recession, Michaels grudgingly accepted a one-year general employment contract from John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL).[161] After failing to help JBL win the World Heavyweight Championship from John Cena on January 25, 2009 at the Royal Rumble,[162] and being derided for it, Michaels agreed to face JBL in "All or Nothing" match at No Way Out on February 15,[163] which Michaels won thus letting him out of his contract early while still receiving full payment.[164]

On the March 2 episode of Raw, Michaels became the first person to defeat Vladimir Kozlov, and so earned a match with The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25 on April 5,[165] which he lost thus extending The Undertaker's WrestleMania winning streak to 17–0.[166][167] Their match was highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike and is now considered by many to be one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time.[168] After WrestleMania, Michaels took a hiatus from WWE.

#### Final matches and second retirement (2009–2010)[edit]

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, in storyline, 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 tried 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 on August 23,[169] where DX defeated Legacy.[170] At TLC: Tables, Ladders and Chairs on December 13, DX defeated Jeri-Show (Chris Jericho and Big Show) to win the Unified WWE Tag Team Championship in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match (TLC).[171] 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 legitimate 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.[172][173] DX lost the Unified WWE 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).[174] On February 21 at Elimination Chamber, Michaels cost The Undertaker the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event.[175] At WrestleMania XXVI on March 28, Michaels lost to The Undertaker and, as a result, he was forced to retire due to the match stipulation, the same way Michaels ended Ric Flair's career.[176] 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."[177]

In an interview with Bill Simmons of ESPN.com shortly after his retirement, Michaels stated that his decision to retire came a month before WrestleMania 25, when a backstage employee asked about his son Cameron, and, in response to Shawn telling the employee that he'd just turned nine, the employee said that he was "halfway gone"; meaning that he was halfway to his eighteenth birthday, and after that, he'd be "gone". The statement affected Michaels deeply; he did not want to be absent when his son left home, so he decided that year would be his last year as an active wrestler.[178]

#### WWE Hall of Fame and sporadic appearances (2010–present)[edit]

On the December 14, 2010 episode of Raw, Michaels won the Slammy Award for Moment of the Year for his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI and accepted it via satellite.[179] Three days later, he announced a long-term deal with WWE, where he would serve in an ambassadorial role.[180] Michaels made his in-person television return at the December 11 Tribute to the Troops taping, where he and Triple H had a one-night only DX reunion.[181]

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

Michaels appeared on the January 10, 2011 episode of Raw, where he was announced as a WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011 inductee. After being ridiculed by Alberto Del Rio later that night, Michaels hit Del Rio with Sweet Chin Music.[182] On the March 28 episode of Raw, Michaels addressed Triple H and The Undertaker about their match at WrestleMania XXVII.[183] Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame on April 2 by Triple H. They were also joined by fellow Kliq members Kevin Nash (who had returned to WWE for the Royal Rumble) and Sean Waltman.[184] He returned 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's special appearance was interrupted by Drew McIntyre, he superkicked McIntyre.[185]

In June 2011, Jim Ross, Michaels and Hart announced that the three were working on a DVD chronicling the careers of Hart and Michaels that the WWE was planning to release in October 2011. The subject of the DVD was their on-screen rivalry and real-life conflicts, with a particular focus on the Montreal Screwjob. In his tweet, Hart described working on the DVD as a "cathartic" experience, and Ross asserted that both Hart and Michaels had been very honest and emotional in their interviews. The DVD, Shawn Michaels vs Bret Hart: WWE's Greatest Rivalries, was released in November 2011.[186]

On the February 13, 2012 episode of Raw, Michaels confronted Triple H about accepting The Undertaker's challenge for a Hell in a Cell match on April 1 at WrestleMania XXVIII, and announced he would be the special guest referee for it.[187] Michaels appeared on the August 6 episode of Raw where he was confronted by Brock Lesnar,[188] who (kayfabe) broke Michaels's arm after putting it in a Kimura Lock the following week.[189] On the April 1, 2013 episode of Raw, Michaels returned to offer to corner Triple H in his match with Brock Lesnar on April 7 at WrestleMania 29.[190] During that match, Michaels superkicked an interfering Paul Heyman, helping Triple H win and keep his job.[191]

At Hell in a Cell on October 27, Michaels served as the special guest referee for the vacant WWE Championship Hell in a Cell match between Daniel Bryan and Randy Orton, performing Sweet Chin Music on Bryan so Orton could win.[192] The next night on Raw, Michaels explained he was upset with Bryan for attacking Triple H during the match and degraded him for not showing him respect, turning heel for the first time since 2005. Bryan applied the "Yes!" Lock on Michaels to end the segment.[193]

On April 3, 2016, at WrestleMania 32, Michaels, as a face, made an appearance during the event in his in-ring attire, confronting The League of Nations alongside Mick Foley and Stone Cold Steve Austin, where Michaels delivered Sweet Chin Music to Alberto Del Rio and King Barrett before celebrating with Foley, Austin and The New Day.[194] He appeared on the January 9, 2017 episode of Raw to promote his new film. He was then confronted by Rusev, Lana and Jinder Mahal, before Enzo Amore and Big Cass came to Michaels's side, leading to a match between Big Cass and Mahal, which Cass won after Michaels superkicked Rusev at ringside, distracting Mahal.[195] On the March 13 episode of Raw, Michaels gave Roman Reigns advice about The Undertaker for their match at WrestleMania 33, before Braun Strowman attacked Reigns on the entrance ramp.[196] He was one of the many WWE legends who appeared on the January 22, 2018 episode of Raw 25 Years.[197]

At Super Show-Down on October 6, Michaels assisted Triple H in defeating The Undertaker, after which, he was attacked by Undertaker and Kane.[198] On the following episode of Raw, Michaels appeared with Triple H, announcing that he was coming out of retirement for one final match and reforming D-Generation X.[199] On November 2 at Crown Jewel, D-Generation X defeated The Brothers of Destruction.[200] The match was poorly received by fans and critics alike, winning the Wrestling Observer Newsletter's "Worst Match of the Year" award, although PWTorch's Wade Keller considered that "Michaels shows glimpses and didn't embarrass himself".[201]

In April 2019, Michaels was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame for a second time as a member of D-Generation X.[202] He appeared at Survivor Series on November 22, 2020, during The Undertaker's retirement ceremony.[203] On January 23, 2023, at Raw is XXX, Michaels again reunited with D-Generation X (without Billy Gunn, as he was no longer under contract with WWE) until they and Kurt Angle were confronted by Imperium (Gunther, Ludwig Kaiser, and Giovanni Vinci).[204]

#### NXT (2016–present)[edit]

Michaels on an episode of NXT in 2014

In late 2016, Michaels became a trainer at the WWE Performance Center.[205] According to Pro Wrestling Torch in 2017, Michaels along with Terry Taylor teach the finishing class at the Performance Center, the last of four levels of classes.[206] In November 2018, Michaels announced he was officially working as a writer and producer on WWE's NXT brand and show, under former D-Generation X cohort Paul Levesque.[207] In September 2021, Levesque stepped away from the brand after experiencing a "cardiac incident". Michaels, in his role as Vice President of Talent Development, took over responsibility for the running of the NXT shows.[208] In September 2022, his job title was confirmed as Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative, responsible for both creative and development at NXT, and for the expansion of NXT UK into NXT Europe in 2023.[6]

## Legacy[edit]

Widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time,[209][210] Michaels received praise for several matches, including 15 Match of the Year awards between Pro Wrestling Illustrated and Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Also, his match at WrestleMania 24 against Ric Flair was named Match of the Decade by the Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Dave Meltzer gave him two 5 stars matches (the Ladder match against Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X and the first Hell in a Cell against The Undertaker at Bad Blood 1997). After several acclaimed matches at WrestleMania, Michaels has been known as Mr. WrestleMania.[211][212] Sumit Rehal of Independent UK in his top 10 WrestleMania matches listed Michaels 3 times (vs Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X, vs Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII and vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXV).[213] In 2016, Dave Richard of CBS Sports ranked his match against Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV as the best main event in WrestleMania history.[214]

His rivalry with Bret Hart has been named one of the best rivalries in WWE history.[215]

His near hour long match with John Cena on the April 23, 2007 edition of WWE's longest weekly episodic show Raw is widely regarded as the greatest match in the Raw's history.[216][217][218][219]

Michaels is cited as an inspiration for many wrestlers such as Chris Jericho,[220] Kevin Owens,[212] Seth Rollins,[221] Johnny Gargano,[222] Adam Cole and numerous other wrestlers.[223]

## Personal life[edit]

Hickenbottom's first marriage, to Theresa Wood, soon ended in an amicably settled divorce.[224] He married Rebecca Curci, a former WCW Nitro Girl known as Whisper, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel in Las Vegas on March 31, 1999.[225] Only the couple and an Elvis impersonator were present. They have a son named Cameron Kade (born January 15, 2000) and a daughter named Cheyenne (born August 19, 2004).[226][227]

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.[228]

Hickenbottom is ambidextrous, using his left hand for writing and his right hand for drawing. As a wrestler, he typically kicked with his right leg when performing his finishing move, but used either arm for his signature elbow drop. He had trouble differentiating between right and left, which affected his football games as a child.[13]

In 1987, Hickenbottom developed a pattern of "heavy" substance abuse, which eventually alienated some of his closest friends, and may have explained his reputation for being difficult to work with during the 1990s.[229][230][231] 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." He abandoned his drink-and-drugs lifestyle out of fear that he would negatively influence his young son.[1]

Hickenbottom became a born-again Christian on April 24, 2002.[232] He was raised a Catholic, but became a non-denominational Christian because of his wife.[1] His later ring attire often incorporated cross symbols and he made a praying gesture on his knees during ring entrances. He was in the audience for a televised service of John Hagee's Cornerstone Church in his hometown of San Antonio, where he is also a Bible teacher.[1] In 2008, he appeared on a Trinity Broadcasting Network program with fellow wrestler Sting.[233]

## Other media[edit]

### Television[edit]

Michaels was the host of the outdoor television show, Shawn Michaels' MacMillan River Adventures, in which he and his longtime friend, Keith Mark, owner and operator of the original MacMillan River Adventures camp in Yukon, Canada, hunted big-game animals around the world. This series aired on CarbonTV.[234]

### HBK Line[edit]

During their 2015–16 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League named a line, consisting of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel, the "HBK Line" due to the fact that the trio's first initials, of their last names, recall Michaels's "Heartbreak Kid" moniker.[235] Pens' game-day staff would regularly play Michaels's theme "Sexy Boy" over the Consol Energy Center PA system after goals or excellent shifts by line members.

After weeks of having fun with Penguins fans on Twitter, the team officially invited Michaels for their Eastern Conference Finals Game 5 matchup with the Tampa Bay Lightning (whose fanbase contains a sizable number of pro wrestlers, including Hulk Hogan and Titus O'Neil, due to Tampa long being a home base for many wrestlers), upon which Michaels accepted. Michaels met with Penguins' owner Mario Lemieux and sat with former Pittsburgh Steelers's defensive lineman Brett Keisel during the game. Keisel also gave Michaels a tour of the city including at the Steelers headquarters and having lunch at Primanti Brothers in the city's Strip District.[236] The Penguins lost the game in overtime 4–3 but went on to defeat the Lightning in the series and advance to the Stanley Cup Finals, eventually defeating the San Jose Sharks for the Stanley Cup.

Outside of his numerous appearances with WWE, it was not Michaels first visit to Pittsburgh. In 2013, he appeared at the opening of the first Field & Stream store in suburban Cranberry Township.[237]

While the Penguins successfully defended their Stanley Cup championship the following year, the HBK Line was broken up when Kessel was moved to the 2nd line with Evgeni Malkin and Bonino left the team in free agency.

### Book[edit]

On February 10, 2015, Hickenbottom published an autobiography entitled Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar. It was co-written by David Thomas.[238]

## Filmography[edit]

Film

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes
2017  | The Resurrection of Gavin Stone | Doug  | Debut
Pure Country: Pure Heart | Ted  |
2018  | Avengers of Justice: Farce Wars | Incredible Master Yoga  |
The Marine 6: Close Quarters | Luke Trapper  |
2019  | 90 Feet from Home | James Devine  |
Television

Year  | Title  | Role  | Notes
1996  | Baywatch | Vinnie  | 1 episode
1999  | Pacific Blue | Michael Shane  | 2 episodes

## Video games[edit]

WWE Video games

Year  | Title  | Notes
1992  | WWF Super WrestleMania | Video game debut
Shawn was featured in the Sega Genesis version of the game, but was not in the SNES version
WWF WrestleMania: Steel Cage Challenge |
1993  | WWF Royal Rumble | Cover athlete
WWF King of the Ring |
WWF Rage in the Cage | Cover athlete
1994  | WWF Raw |
1995  | WWF WrestleMania: The Arcade Game | Cover athlete
1996  | WWF In Your House | Cover athlete
1998  | WWF War Zone |
1999  | WWF Attitude |
WWF WrestleMania 2000 |
2000  | WWF No Mercy |
WWF SmackDown! 2: Know Your Role |
2002  | WWE SmackDown! Shut Your Mouth |
2003  | WWE WrestleMania XIX |
WWE Raw 2 |
WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain |
2004  | WWE Day of Reckoning |
WWE Survivor Series |
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw |
2005  | WWE WrestleMania 21 |
WWE Day of Reckoning 2 |
WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 |
2006  | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 |
2007  | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008 |
2008  | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2009 | Cover athlete
2009  | WWE Legends of WrestleMania |
WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010 |
2010  | WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2011 |
2011  | WWE All Stars |
WWE '12 |
2012  | WWE WrestleFest |
WWE '13 |
2013  | WWE 2K14 |
2014  | WWE SuperCard |
WWE 2K15 |
2015  | WWE 2K16 |
2016  | WWE 2K17 |
2017  | WWE Tap Mania |
WWE 2K18 |
WWE Mayhem |
2018  | WWE 2K19 |
2019  | WWE 2K20 |
2020  | WWE 2K Battlegrounds |
2022  | WWE 2K22 |
2023  | WWE 2K23 |

## Championships and accomplishments[edit]

Michaels as WWF Tag Team Champion during his reign with Diesel

* American Wrestling Association
* AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Marty Jannetty[10]
* The Baltimore Sun
* Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho[239]
* Match of the Year (2007) vs. John Cena on Raw[240]
* Match of the Year (2008) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV[239]
* Match of the Year (2009) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25[241]
* Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker in a career vs. streak match at WrestleMania XXVI[242]
* Wrestler of the Year (2008)[239]
* Cauliflower Alley Club
* Art Abrams Lifetime Achievement/Lou Thesz Award (2018)[243]
* CBS Sports
* Worst Angle of the Year (2018) with Triple H vs. The Undertaker and Kane[244]
* Central States Wrestling
* NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time)[10] – with Marty Jannetty
* Continental Wrestling Association
* AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times)[1][10] – with Marty Jannetty[245][246]
* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
* Feud of the Decade (2000–2009) vs. Chris Jericho
* Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho
* Match of the Decade (2000–2009) vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV
* Match of the Decade (2010–2019) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI
* Match of the Year (1993)[247] vs. Marty Jannetty on Monday Night Raw on May 17
* Match of the Year (1994)[248] vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match at WrestleMania X
* Match of the Year (1995)[4] vs. Diesel at WrestleMania XI
* Match of the Year (1996)[4] vs. Bret Hart in an Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII
* Match of the Year (2004)[247] vs. Chris Benoit and Triple H at WrestleMania XX
* Match of the Year (2005)[247] vs. Kurt Angle at WrestleMania 21
* Match of the Year (2006)[247] vs. Vince McMahon in a No Holds Barred match at WrestleMania 22
* Match of the Year (2007)[247] vs. John Cena on Raw on April 23
* Match of the Year (2008)[247] vs. Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV
* Match of the Year (2009)[249] vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25
* Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker in a career vs. streak match at WrestleMania XXVI
* Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Decade (2000–2009)
* Most Inspirational Wrestler of the Year (2010)[250]
* Most Popular Wrestler of the Year (1995, 1996)[248]
* Ranked No. 1 of the top 500 singles wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 1996[251]
* Ranked No. 10 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the PWI Years in 2003
* Ranked No. 33 and No. 55 of the top 100 tag teams of the PWI Years with Marty Jannetty and Diesel, respectively, in 2003
* Professional Wrestling Hall of Fame
* Class of 2017
* Texas All-Star Wrestling
* TASW Texas Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Paul Diamond[10]
* TASW Six-Man Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Paul Diamond & DJ Peterson[252]
* Texas Wrestling Alliance
* TWA Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[253]
* World Wrestling Federation / Entertainment / WWE
* WWF Championship (3 times)[10]
* World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)[10]
* WWF Intercontinental Championship (3 times)[10]
* WWF European Championship (1 time)[62]
* WWE Tag Team Championship (1 time)[254] – with Triple H
* WWF/World Tag Team Championship (5 times)[255] – with Diesel (2), Stone Cold Steve Austin (1), John Cena (1), Triple H (1)
* Royal Rumble (1995, 1996)[10]
* First Grand Slam Champion[10]
* Fourth Triple Crown Champion
* Slammy Award (15 times)
* Best Finisher (1997)
* Best Slammin' Jammin' Entrance (1996)
* Best Tag Team (1994) –  with Diesel
* Best Threads (1996)
* Double-Cross of the Year (2013) – For turning on Daniel Bryan and costing him the WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell.
* Leader of the New Generation (1996)
* Master of Mat Mechanics (1996)
* Match of the Year (1994, 1996, 1997, 2008, 2009) – vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match at WrestleMania X; vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match at SummerSlam; vs Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII; vs The Undertaker at Badd Blood: In Your House; vs Ric Flair at WrestleMania XXIV; vs The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25
* Moment of the Year (2010) – vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI
* Squared Circle Shocker (1996) – Won for collapsing; Owen Hart accepts the award for making Michaels collapse
* Worst Tag Team (1994) –  with Diesel
* WWE Hall of Fame (2 times)
* Class of 2011 – individually
* Class of 2019 – as a member of D-Generation X[202]
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter
* Best Babyface (1996)[256]
* Feud of the Year (2004) vs. Chris Benoit and Triple H[256]
* Feud of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho[256]
* Match of the Year (1994) vs. Razor Ramon in a ladder match at WrestleMania X[256]
* Match of the Year (2008) vs. Chris Jericho in a ladder match at No Mercy[256]
* Match of the Year (2009) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25[256]
* Match of the Year (2010) vs. The Undertaker at WrestleMania XXVI[257]
* Worst Match of the Year (2018) with Triple H vs. The Undertaker and Kane at Crown Jewel
* Best Pro Wrestling DVD (2011) Greatest Rivalries: Shawn Michaels vs. Bret Hart
* Most Charismatic (1995, 1996)[256]
* Tag Team of the Year (1989) with Marty Jannetty as The Rockers[256]
* Worst Feud of the Year (2006) with Triple H vs. Shane and Vince McMahon[256]
* Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2003)[258]

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203. ^ Powell, Jason (November 22, 2020). "WWE Survivor Series results: Powell's review of Undertaker's Final Farewell, Drew McIntyre vs. Roman Reigns, Asuka vs. Sasha Banks, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods vs. The Street Profits, Bobby Lashley vs. Sami Zayn in champion vs. champion matches, Team Raw vs. Team Smackdown in Survivor Series elimination matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
204. ^ Powell, Jason (January 24, 2023). "1/23 WWE Raw XXX results: Powell's live review of Austin Theory vs. Bobby Lashley in a No DQ match for the U.S. Title, The Usos vs. Dominik Mysterio and Damian Priest for the Raw Tag Team Titles, Becky Lynch vs. Bayley in a cage match, Sami Zay goes to Tribal Court, legends return, the brand's final push for the Royal Rumble". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
205. ^ Currier, Joseph (August 15, 2016). "Shawn Michaels teaching class at WWE Performance Center". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
206. ^ Radican, Sean (September 6, 2017). "Update on newly signed former ROH talent at WWE's Performance Center". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
207. ^ Windsor, William (November 26, 2018). "Shawn Michaels Reveals That He Helps Write NXT TV, Talks Getting Advice From Triple H For Talent". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
208. ^ Barrasso, Justin (October 26, 2021). "Shawn Michaels Steps Up for Best Friend Triple H After Health Scare". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
209. ^
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* Valentino, Shawn (October 19, 2016). "MAGIC, MEMORIES AND MANIA: A.J. Styles, the case for him being the best wrestler since Shawn Michaels". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 24, 2017. "Michaels was the greatest all-around wrestler of all time."
210. ^ Winkie, Luke (July 26, 2016). "A definitive ranking of the top 101 wrestlers of all time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
211. ^ Campbell, Brian (March 30, 2017). "Is Shawn Michaels WWE's real 'Mr. WrestleMania?' Ranking the 15 best". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
212. ^ a b Lake, Jefferson (December 28, 2017). "Kevin Owens: Shawn Michaels inspired me to become a wrestler". Sky Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
213. ^ Rehal, Sumit (April 5, 2014). "WrestleMania 30: Top ten WrestleMania matches of all time". Independent.co.uk. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
214. ^ Richard, Dave (April 3, 2016). "Ranking every WWE WrestleMania main event match from worst to best". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
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216. ^ https://tjrwrestling.net/feature/match-review-john-cena-shawn-michaels-raw/
217. ^ https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a604970/win-john-cenas-greatest-rivalries-on-blu-ray-signed-by-the-man-himself/
218. ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/top-5-all-time-great-inter-generational-wrestling-showdowns-128721/
219. ^ https://superluchas.com/shawn-michaels-recuerda-su-lucha-de-una-hora-con-john-cena-en-wwe-raw/
220. ^ Jericho, Chris; Fornatale, Peter T. (2007). A lion's tale : around the world in spandex. Internet Archive. New York : Grand Central Pub. ISBN 978-0-446-58006-9.
221. ^ Paddock, Matty (January 11, 2018). "Seth Rollins: I want Shawn Michaels match". Sky Sports. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
222. ^ "Q&A: Johnny Gargano on NXT, the Browns and much more". November 16, 2018.
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224. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 194)
225. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 296)
226. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 304)
227. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 329)
228. ^ (Michaels & Feigenbaum 2005, p. 233)
229. ^ "HBK Talks About Being Difficult To Work With In The 90's". SE Scoops. May 24, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
230. ^ "Shawn Michaels Reflects On His Behavior In The 90s, Addresses How He'd Handle Such A Troubled Talent". Fightful News. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
231. ^ Zarka, J. P. (November 29, 2019). "Shawn Michaels and Vader | How HBK Sabotaged Vader's WWF Career". Pro Wrestling Stories. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
232. ^ "Shawn Michaels". Off the Record with Michael Landsberg. March 24, 2003. TSN.
233. ^ "TBN Newsletter". Trinity Broadcasting Network. Retrieved July 17, 2008.
234. ^ "Watch the best outdoor shows for free on CarbonTV". CarbonTV. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
235. ^ Bombulie, Jonathan (May 18, 2016). "'HBK' line shines as Penguins take series lead against Lightning". Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
236. ^ Marraza, Dan (May 22, 2016). "Wrestler Shawn Michaels takes in Game 5 of Penguins-Lightning". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
237. ^ "WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels 'like kid in a candy store' at new Field & Stream". WTAE. June 11, 2014. Archived from the original on October 10, 2013.
238. ^ Schwartz, Nick (February 10, 2015). "Shawn Michaels opens up on life after wrestling in revealing new book". USA Today. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
239. ^ a b c Eck, Kevin (January 2, 2009). "2008 Awards". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
240. ^ Eck, Kevin (December 30, 2007). "2007 Awards". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
241. ^ Eck, Kevin (January 27, 2010). "2009 Awards". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
242. ^ Eck, Kevin (February 14, 2011). "2010 Awards". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 25, 2020.
243. ^ Lee, Joseph (February 10, 2018). "Shawn Michaels To Be Honored By Cauliflower Alley Club This April". 411Mania. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
244. ^ Silverstein, Adam (December 26, 2018). "The Man comes around: Becky Lynch breaks out for WWE as the 2018 Wrestler of the Year". CBS Sports.
245. ^ Duncan, Royal; Will, Gary (2006) [2000.]. "(Memphis, Nashville) Tennessee: Southern Tag Team Title [Roy Welsch & Nick Gulas, Jerry Jarrett from 1977]". Wrestling title histories: professional wrestling champions around the world from the 19th century to the present. Waterloo, Ontario: Archeus Communications. pp. 185–189. ISBN 0-9698161-5-4.
246. ^ "Southern Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles. Retrieved January 19, 2020.
247. ^ a b c d e f Olds, Chris (March 24, 2008). "24 days of WrestleMania Memorabilia Countdown: No. 7, Shawn Michaels". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on May 1, 2009. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
248. ^ a b "PWI Awards". 1996 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts. 1996.
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250. ^ "Achievement Awards: Inspirational". Pro Wrestling Illustrated. January 4, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
251. ^ "PWI Awards". 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts. 29 (5): 32. 2008. 1043-7576.
252. ^ "TASW Texas 6-man Tag Team Title (Texas)". Wrestling-Titles.com.
253. ^ Johnson, Mike (April 4, 2013). "4/4 This Day in History". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
254. ^ "WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > WWE Tag Team". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
255. ^ "WWE: Inside WWE > Title History > World Tag Team". World Wrestling Entertainment. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
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257. ^ Meltzer, Dave (January 26, 2011). "Biggest issue of the year: The 2011 Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards Issue". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, CA: 1–40. ISSN 1083-9593.
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## Further reading[edit]

* Assael, Shaun; Mooneyham, Mike (2002). Sex, Lies, and Headlocks: The Real Story of Vince McMahon and World Wrestling Entertainment. Crown. ISBN 1-4000-5143-6.
* Michaels, Shawn; Feigenbaum, Aaron (2005). Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story. New York, New York: WWE Books (Pocket Books). ISBN 978-0-7434-9380-2.
* "2007 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts". Wrestling's Historical Cards. Kappa Publishing. 2007.

## External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shawn Michaels.

Wikiquote has quotations related to Shawn Michaels.

* Official website
* Shawn Michaels on WWE.com
* Shawn Michaels at IMDb
* Shawn Michaels's profile at Cagematch.net , Wrestlingdata.com , Internet Wrestling Database

Achievements

Preceded by

Bret Hart & Lex Luger

|  Royal Rumble winner
1995 & 1996  | Succeeded by

Stone Cold Steve Austin

Preceded by

Bret Hart

|  WWF world champion
March 31 - November 17, 1996  | Succeeded by

Sid Eudy

as Sycho Sid
Preceded by

Sid Eudy

as Sycho Sid |  WWF world champion
January 19 - February 13, 1997
Vacated  | Vacant

Title next held by

Bret Hart
Preceded by

Bret Hart

|  WWF world champion
November 9, 1997 - March 29, 1998  | Succeeded by

Stone Cold Steve Austin

* v
* t
* e

Shawn Michaels

Career|

* The Rockers
* Two Dudes with Attitudes
* D-Generation X
* Hell in a Cell
* 1997 match
* New World Order
* members
* WrestleMania 26

Other|

* The Kliq
* Montreal Screwjob
* Texas Wrestling Academy

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

AWA World Tag Team Champions

1960s|

* Murder, Inc. (Stan Kowalski and Tiny Mills)
* Hard Boiled Haggerty and Len Montana / Gene Kiniski
* Leo Nomellini and Wilbur Snyder
* Hard Boiled Haggerty and Bob Geigel
* Pat Kennedy and Dale Lewis
* Bob Geigel and Otto Von Krupp
* Larry Hennig and Duke Hoffman
* Bob Geigel and Stan Kowalski
* The Neilsons (Art Neilson and Stan Neilson)
* Doug Gilbert and Dick Steinborn
* The Kalmikoffs (Ivan and Karol)
* The Crusher and Dick the Bruiser
* Moose Evans and Verne Gagne
* Larry Hennig and Harley Race
* The Crusher and Verne Gagne
* Larry Hennig and Chris Markoff/Harley Race
* Pat O'Connor and Wilbur Snyder
* Mitsu Arakawa and Dr. Moto
* The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog)
* The Von Steigers (Karl Von Steiger and Kurt Von Steiger)
* The Vachons (Butcher and Mad Dog)
* Verne Gagne and Billy Robinson

1970s|

* Nick Bockwinkel and Ray Stevens
* The Crusher and Billy Robinson
* Bobby Duncum and Blackjack Lanza
* The High Flyers (Jim Brunzell and Greg Gagne)
* Pat Patterson and Ray Stevens
* Verne Gagne and Mad Dog Vachon

1980s|

* East-West Connection (Adrian Adonis and Jesse Ventura)
* The Sheiks (Jerry Blackwell and Ken Patera)
* The Crusher and Baron von Raschke
* Road Warriors (Animal and Hawk)
* Jimmy Garvin and Steve Regal
* Scott Hall and Curt Hennig
* Buddy Rose and Doug Somers
* The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels)
* Soldat Ustinov and Boris Zhukov / Doug Somers
* Bill Dundee and Jerry Lawler
* Dr. D and Héctor Guerrero
* The Midnight Express (Dennis Condrey and Randy Rose)
* Badd Company (Paul Diamond and Pat Tanaka)
* Brad Rheingans and Ken Patera
* The Destruction Crew (Wayne Bloom and Mike Enos)

1990s|

* D.J. Peterson and The Trooper

* v
* t
* e

WWE Hall of Fame inductees

1990s

| 1993|

* André the Giant

|

1994|

* Arnold Skaaland
* Bobo Brazil
* Buddy Rogers
* Chief Jay Strongbow
* Freddie Blassie
* Gorilla Monsoon
* James Dudley

1995|

* Antonino Rocca
* Ernie Ladd
* The Fabulous Moolah
* George Steele
* Ernie Roth
* Ivan Putski
* Pedro Morales

1996|

* Jimmy Snuka
* Johnny Rodz
* Killer Kowalski
* Lou Albano
* Mikel Scicluna
* Pat Patterson
* Valiant Brothers
* Jimmy Valiant
* Johnny Valiant
* Vince McMahon Sr.

2000s

| 2004|

* Big John Studd
* "Superstar" Billy Graham
* Bobby Heenan
* Don Muraco
* Greg Valentine
* Harley Race
* Jesse Ventura
* Junkyard Dog
* Pete Rose
* Sgt. Slaughter
* Tito Santana

|

2005|

* Bob Orton Jr.
* Hulk Hogan
* The Iron Sheik
* Jimmy Hart
* Nikolai Volkoff
* Paul Orndorff
* Roddy Piper

2006|

* The Blackjacks
* Blackjack Mulligan
* Blackjack Lanza
* Bret Hart
* Eddie Guerrero
* Gene Okerlund
* Sherri Martel
* Tony Atlas
* Verne Gagne
* William Perry

2007|

* Dusty Rhodes
* Jerry Lawler
* Jim Ross
* Mr. Fuji
* Curt Hennig
* Nick Bockwinkel
* The Sheik
* Wild Samoans
* Afa Anoa'i
* Sika Anoa'i

2008|

* The Brisco Brothers
* Gerald Brisco
* Jack Brisco
* Eddie Graham
* Gordon Solie
* Mae Young
* Peter Maivia
* Ric Flair
* Rocky Johnson

2009|

* Bill Watts
* The Funk Brothers
* Terry Funk
* Dory Funk Jr.
* Howard Finkel
* Koko B. Ware
* Ricky Steamboat
* Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Von Erich family
* Chris Von Erich
* David Von Erich
* Fritz Von Erich
* Kerry Von Erich
* Kevin Von Erich
* Mike Von Erich

2010s

| 2010|

* Antonio Inoki
* Bob Uecker
* Gorgeous George
* Maurice Vachon
* Stu Hart
* Ted DiBiase
* Wendi Richter

|

2011|

* Abdullah the Butcher
* Bob Armstrong
* Drew Carey
* Jim Duggan
* Road Warriors
* Road Warrior Hawk
* Road Warrior Animal
* Paul Ellering
* Shawn Michaels
* Sunny

2012|

* Edge
* The Four Horsemen
* Arn Anderson
* Barry Windham
* J. J. Dillon
* Ric Flair
* Tully Blanchard
* Mike Tyson
* Mil Máscaras
* Ron Simmons
* Yokozuna

2013|

* Bob Backlund
* Booker T
* Bruno Sammartino
* Donald Trump
* Mick Foley
* Trish Stratus

2014|

* Carlos Colón
* Jake Roberts
* Lita
* Mr. T
* Paul Bearer
* Scott Hall
* The Ultimate Warrior

2015|

* Alundra Blayze
* Arnold Schwarzenegger
* The Bushwhackers
* Bushwhacker Butch
* Bushwhacker Luke
* Connor Michalek*
* Kevin Nash
* Larry Zbyszko
* Randy Savage
* Rikishi
* Tatsumi Fujinami

2016|

* Big Boss Man
* Ed Lewis
* Fabulous Freebirds
* Michael Hayes
* Buddy Roberts
* Jimmy Garvin
* Terry Gordy
* Frank Gotch
* George Hackenschmidt
* The Godfather
* Jacqueline
* Joan Lunden*
* Lou Thesz
* Mildred Burke
* Pat O'Connor
* Sailor Art Thomas
* Snoop Dogg
* Stan Hansen
* Sting

2017|

* Bearcat Wright
* Beth Phoenix
* Diamond Dallas Page
* Dr. Jerry Graham
* Eric LeGrand*
* Haystacks Calhoun
* Judy Grable
* June Byers
* Kurt Angle
* Luther Lindsay
* Martin Burns
* Rick Rude
* Rikidōzan
* Rock 'n' Roll Express
* Ricky Morton
* Robert Gibson
* Theodore Long
* Toots Mondt

2018|

* Boris Malenko
* Cora Combs
* Dara Singh
* Dudley Boyz
* Bubba Ray Dudley
* D-Von Dudley
* Bill Goldberg
* Hillbilly Jim
* Hiro Matsuda
* Ivory
* Jarrius "JJ" Robertson*
* Jeff Jarrett
* Jim Londos
* Kid Rock
* Lord Alfred Hayes
* Mark Henry
* Rufus R. Jones
* El Santo
* Sputnik Monroe
* Stan Stasiak

2019|

* Bruiser Brody
* Brutus Beefcake
* Buddy Rose
* D-Generation X
* Shawn Michaels
* Triple H
* Chyna
* Road Dogg
* Billy Gunn
* Sean Waltman
* Harlem Heat
* Booker T
* Stevie Ray
* The Hart Foundation
* Bret Hart
* Jim Neidhart
* Hisashi Shinma
* The Honky Tonk Man
* Jim Barnett
* Joseph Cohen
* Luna Vachon
* Primo Carnera
* Professor Tanaka
* S. D. Jones
* Sue Aitchison*
* Torrie Wilson
* Wahoo McDaniel

(*) denotes Warrior Award recipient

2020s

| 2020|

* Baron Michele Leone
* The Bella Twins
* Nikki Bella
* Brie Bella
* Brickhouse Brown
* Davey Boy Smith
* Gary Hart
* John Layfield
* Jushin Liger
* New World Order
* Hulk Hogan
* Kevin Nash
* Scott Hall
* Sean Waltman
* Ray Stevens
* Steve Williams
* Titus O'Neil*
* William Shatner

|

2021|

* Buzz Sawyer
* Dick the Bruiser
* Eric Bischoff
* Ethel Johnson
* The Great Khali
* Kane
* Molly Holly
* Ozzy Osbourne
* Paul Boesch
* Pez Whatley
* Rich Hering*
* Rob Van Dam

2022|

* Sharmell
* Shad Gaspard*
* The Steiner Brothers
* Rick Steiner
* Scott Steiner
* The Undertaker
* Vader

2023|

* Andy Kaufman
* The Great Muta
* Rey Mysterio
* Stacy Keibler
* Tim White*

(*) denotes Warrior Award recipient

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Grand Slam and Triple Crown champions

Grand Slam
Championship|

| FCW|

* Seth Rollins
* Richie Steamboat

|

Stardom|

* Io Shirai
* Mayu Iwatani

IR|

* Tsukasa Fujimoto

Impact|

* A.J. Styles
* Abyss
* Samoa Joe
* Eric Young
* Austin Aries

ROH|

* Christopher Daniels
* Matt Taven
* Jay Lethal

NJPW|

* Jay White
* Hiroshi Tanahashi

WWE|

| Men|

* Shawn Michaels
* Triple H
* Kane
* Chris Jericho
* Kurt Angle
* Eddie Guerrero
* Edge
* Rob Van Dam
* Booker T
* Jeff Hardy
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* Christian
* Big Show
* The Miz
* Daniel Bryan
* Dean Ambrose
* Roman Reigns
* Randy Orton
* Seth Rollins
* Kofi Kingston
* Rey Mysterio
* AJ Styles
* Kevin Owens
* Finn Bálor

|

Women|

* Bayley
* Asuka
* Sasha Banks
* Charlotte Flair
* Rhea Ripley
* Becky Lynch

|

Triple Crown
Championship|

| AAA|

* Fénix

|

AAW|

* Jimmy Jacobs
* Michael Elgin
* Penta el 0M

CW|

* John Walters
* Brian Black
* Donovan Dijak
* Christian Casanova
* Anthony Greene

CZW|

* Justice Pain
* Ruckus
* Drake Younger
* Drew Gulak
* Sozio
* BLK Jeez

ECW|

* Mikey Whipwreck
* Sabu
* Taz

EPW|

* Marcius Pitt

FIP|

* Erick Stevens
* Jon Davis

IR|

* Riho
* Miyako Matsumoto
* Tsukasa Fujimoto
* Maya Yukihi
* Satsuki Totoro

Impact|

| Men|

* A.J. Styles
* Kurt Angle
* Samoa Joe
* Abyss
* Austin Aries
* Chris Sabin
* Eric Young
* Eddie Edwards
* Josh Alexander
* Alex Shelley

|

Women|

* Jordynne Grace

|

ICW|

* B. T. Gunn

LU|

* Fénix
* Johnny Mundo

MCW|

* Jonah Rock
* Adam Brooks

NJPW|

* Tetsuya Naito
* Evil
* Kota Ibushi
* Hiroshi Tanahashi
* Jay White

NWA|

| Men|

* Jax Dane

|

Women|

* Kenzie Paige

|

OVW|

* Brent Albright
* CM Punk
* Idol Stevens
* Cody Runnels
* Mike Mondo
* Rob Terry
* Cliff Compton
* Jamin Olivencia
* Flash Flanagan
* Mohamad Ali Vaez
* Elijah Burke
* Tony Gunn
* Jay Bradley

RevPro|

* Marty Scurll
* Michael Oku
* Will Ospreay

ROH|

* Eddie Edwards
* Roderick Strong
* Jay Lethal
* Christopher Daniels
* Matt Taven
* Jonathan Gresham
* Samoa Joe
* Adam Cole

Oz|

* Akino
* Kaori Yoneyama

Sendai|

* Millie McKenzie

TJPW|

* Rika Tatsumi

WCW|

* Ric Flair
* Lex Luger
* Sting
* Diamond Dallas Page
* Goldberg
* Bret Hart
* Chris Benoit
* Scott Steiner
* Booker T

WWE|

| Men|

* Pedro Morales
* Bret Hart
* Diesel
* Shawn Michaels
* Stone Cold Steve Austin
* The Rock
* Triple H
* Kane
* Chris Jericho
* Kurt Angle
* Eddie Guerrero
* Chris Benoit
* Ric Flair
* Edge
* Rob Van Dam
* Booker T
* Randy Orton
* Jeff Hardy
* CM Punk
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* Rey Mysterio
* Dolph Ziggler
* Christian
* Big Show
* The Miz
* Daniel Bryan
* Dean Ambrose
* Roman Reigns
* Seth Rollins
* Kofi Kingston
* Drew McIntyre
* AJ Styles
* Big E

|

Women|

* Bayley
* Alexa Bliss
* Asuka
* Sasha Banks
* Charlotte Flair
* Becky Lynch
* Rhea Ripley
* Ronda Rousey

|

Tag Teams|

* The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder)
* Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)
* The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)

|

NXT|

* Johnny Gargano
* Adam Cole

|

NXT UK|

* Tyler Bate

|

* v
* t
* e

WWE Champions

1960s|

* Buddy Rogers
* Bruno Sammartino

1970s|

* Ivan Koloff
* Pedro Morales
* Stan Stasiak
* "Superstar" Billy Graham
* Bob Backlund

1980s|

* The Iron Sheik
* Hulk Hogan
* André the Giant
* Randy Savage

1990s|

* The Ultimate Warrior
* Sgt. Slaughter
* The Undertaker
* Ric Flair
* Bret Hart
* Yokozuna
* Diesel
* Shawn Michaels
* Sycho Sid
* Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Kane
* The Rock
* Mankind
* Triple H
* Mr. McMahon
* Big Show

2000s|

* Kurt Angle
* Chris Jericho
* Brock Lesnar
* Eddie Guerrero
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* John Cena
* Edge
* Rob Van Dam
* Randy Orton
* Jeff Hardy
* Batista
* Sheamus

2010s|

* The Miz
* CM Punk
* Rey Mysterio
* Alberto Del Rio
* Daniel Bryan
* Seth Rollins
* Roman Reigns (current)
* Dean Ambrose
* AJ Styles
* Bray Wyatt
* Jinder Mahal
* Kofi Kingston

2020s|

* Drew McIntyre
* Bobby Lashley
* Big E

* v
* t
* e

World Heavyweight Champions

2000s|

* Triple H
* Shawn Michaels
* Goldberg
* Chris Benoit
* Randy Orton
* Batista
* Kurt Angle
* Rey Mysterio
* King Booker
* The Undertaker
* Edge
* The Great Khali
* CM Punk
* Chris Jericho
* John Cena
* Jeff Hardy

2010s|

* Jack Swagger
* Kane
* Dolph Ziggler
* Christian
* Mark Henry
* Big Show
* Daniel Bryan
* Sheamus
* Alberto Del Rio

* v
* t
* e

WWE Intercontinental Champions

1970s|

* Pat Patterson

1980s|

* Ken Patera
* Pedro Morales
* Don Muraco
* Tito Santana
* Greg Valentine
* Randy Savage
* Ricky Steamboat
* The Honky Tonk Man
* The Ultimate Warrior
* Rick Rude

1990s|

* Mr. Perfect
* The Texas Tornado
* Bret Hart
* The Mountie
* Roddy Piper
* The British Bulldog
* Shawn Michaels
* Marty Jannetty
* Razor Ramon
* Diesel
* Jeff Jarrett
* Dean Douglas
* Goldust
* Ahmed Johnson
* Marc Mero
* Hunter Hearst Helmsley/Triple H
* Rocky Maivia/The Rock
* Owen Hart
* Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Ken Shamrock
* Val Venis
* Road Dogg
* The Godfather
* Edge
* D'Lo Brown
* Chyna
* Chris Jericho

2000s|

* Kurt Angle
* Chris Benoit
* Rikishi
* Eddie Guerrero
* Billy Gunn
* Jeff Hardy
* Kane
* Albert
* Lance Storm
* Christian
* Test
* William Regal
* Rob Van Dam
* Booker T
* Randy Orton
* Shelton Benjamin
* Carlito
* Ric Flair
* Johnny Nitro/John Morrison
* Umaga
* Santino Marella
* Kofi Kingston
* CM Punk
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* Rey Mysterio
* Drew McIntyre

2010s|

* Dolph Ziggler
* Wade Barrett/Bad News Barrett
* Ezekiel Jackson
* Cody Rhodes
* Big Show
* The Miz
* Curtis Axel
* Big E Langston/Big E
* Luke Harper
* Daniel Bryan
* Ryback
* Kevin Owens
* Dean Ambrose
* Zack Ryder
* Roman Reigns
* Seth Rollins
* Bobby Lashley
* Finn Bálor
* Shinsuke Nakamura/King Nakamura

2020s|

* Braun Strowman
* Sami Zayn
* AJ Styles
* Apollo Crews
* Ricochet
* Gunther (current)

* v
* t
* e

WWE Raw Tag Team Champions

2000s|

* Chris Benoit and Kurt Angle
* Edge and Rey Mysterio
* Los Guerreros (Chavo Guerrero and Eddie Guerrero)
* Team Angle/World's Greatest Tag Team (Charlie Haas and Shelton Benjamin)
* Eddie Guerrero and Tajiri
* Basham Brothers (Danny Basham and Doug Basham)
* Rikishi and Scotty 2 Hotty
* Charlie Haas and Rico
* Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)
* Billy Kidman and Paul London
* Kenzo Suzuki and René Duprée
* Rey Mysterio and Rob Van Dam
* Eddie Guerrero and Rey Mysterio
* MNM (Joey Mercury and Johnny Nitro)
* Legion of Doom (Animal and Heidenreich)
* Batista and Rey Mysterio
* Paul London and Brian Kendrick
* Deuce 'n Domino
* Matt Hardy and Montel Vontavious Porter
* John Morrison and the Miz
* Curt Hawkins and Zack Ryder
* The Colóns (Carlito and Primo)
* Edge and Chris Jericho
* Jeri-Show (Big Show and Chris Jericho)
* D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H)

2010s|

* ShoMiz (Big Show and The Miz)
* The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd)
* Cody Rhodes and Drew McIntyre
* The Nexus (David Otunga and John Cena)
* The Nexus/The Corre (Heath Slater and Justin Gabriel)
* Santino Marella and Vladimir Kozlov
* John Cena and The Miz
* Big Show and Kane
* The New Nexus (David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty)
* Air Boom (Evan Bourne and Kofi Kingston)
* Primo and Epico
* Kofi Kingston and R-Truth
* Team Hell No (Daniel Bryan and Kane)
* The Shield (Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins)
* Cody Rhodes and Goldust/Gold and Stardust
* New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg)
* The Usos (Jey Uso and Jimmy Uso)
* Damien Mizdow and The Miz
* Tyson Kidd and Cesaro
* The New Day (Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
* The Prime Time Players (Darren Young and Titus O'Neil)
* Cesaro and Sheamus
* Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson
* Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)
* Dean Ambrose and Seth Rollins
* Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins
* Braun Strowman and Nicholas
* Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy
* The B-Team (Bo Dallas and Curtis Axel)
* Dolph Ziggler and Drew McIntyre
* AOP (Akam and Rezar)
* Bobby Roode and Chad Gable
* The Revival (Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder)
* Braun Strowman and Seth Rollins
* Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode
* The Viking Raiders (Erik and Ivar)

2020s|

* Buddy Murphy and Seth Rollins
* Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins and Montez Ford)
* The New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods)
* The Hurt Business (Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin)
* AJ Styles and Omos
* RK-Bro (Randy Orton and Riddle)
* Alpha Academy (Chad Gable and Otis)
* Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn
* The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (current)
* Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso

* v
* t
* e

WWE World Tag Team Champions

1970s|

* Luke Graham and Tarzan Tyler
* Karl Gotch and Rene Goulet
* King Curtis Iaukea and Mikel Scicluna
* Chief Jay Strongbow and Sonny King
* Mr. Fuji and Professor Tanaka
* Haystacks Calhoun and Tony Garea
* Dean Ho and Tony Garea
* Valiant Brothers (Jimmy Valiant and Johnny Valiant)
* Dominic DeNucci and Pat Barrett/Víctor Rivera
* The Blackjacks (Blackjack Lanza and Blackjack Mulligan)
* Louis Cerdan and Tony Parisi
* Executioners (Executioner #1 and Executioner #2)
* Billy White Wolf and Chief Jay Strongbow
* Dino Bravo and Dominic DeNucci
* Yukon Lumberjacks (Lumberjack Eric and Lumberjack Pierre)
* Larry Zbyszko and Tony Garea
* Valiant Brothers (Jerry Valiant and Johnny Valiant)
* Ivan Putski and Tito Santana

1980s|

* Wild Samoans (Afa and Sika)
* Bob Backlund and Pedro Morales
* Rick Martel and Tony Garea
* Moondogs (Moondog Rex and Moondog King/Moondog Spot)
* Mr. Fuji and Mr. Saito
* Chief Jay Strongbow and Jules Strongbow
* Soul Patrol (Rocky Johnson and Tony Atlas)
* North-South Connection (Adrian Adonis and Dick Murdoch)
* U.S. Express (Barry Windham and Mike Rotundo)
* The Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff
* Dream Team (Brutus Beefcake and Greg Valentine)
* The British Bulldogs (Davey Boy Smith and Dynamite Kid)
* The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart and Jim Neidhart)
* Strike Force (Rick Martel and Tito Santana)
* Demolition (Ax, Crush, and Smash)
* Brain Busters (Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard)
* Colossal Connection (André the Giant and Haku)

1990s|

* The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags)
* Legion of Doom (Animal and Hawk)
* Money Inc. (Irwin R. Schyster and Ted DiBiase)
* The Natural Disasters (Earthquake and Typhoon)
* Steiner Brothers (Rick Steiner and Scott Steiner)
* The Quebecers (Quebecer Jacques and Quebecer Pierre)
* 1-2-3 Kid and Marty Jannetty
* Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo)
* Headshrinkers (Fatu and Samu)
* Two Dudes with Attitudes (Diesel and Shawn Michaels)
* The 1-2-3 Kid and Bob Holly
* Smoking Gunns (Bart Gunn and Billy Gunn)
* Owen Hart and Yokozuna
* Bodydonnas (Skip and Zip)
* The Godwinns (Henry O. Godwinn and Phineas I. Godwinn)
* Owen Hart and the British Bulldog
* Shawn Michaels and Stone Cold Steve Austin
* Dude Love and Stone Cold Steve Austin
* The Headbangers (Mosh and Thrasher)
* New Age Outlaws (Billy Gunn and Road Dogg)
* Cactus Jack and Chainsaw Charlie
* Kane and Mankind
* Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Undertaker
* Big Boss Man and Ken Shamrock
* Jeff Jarrett and Owen Hart
* Kane and X-Pac
* Acolytes Protection Agency (Bradshaw and Faarooq)
* Hardy Boyz (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy)
* The Unholy Alliance (Big Show and The Undertaker)
* Rock 'n' Sock Connection (Mankind and The Rock)
* Holly Cousins (Crash Holly and Hardcore Holly)
* Al Snow and Mankind

2000s|

* Dudley Boyz (Bubba Ray Dudley and D-Von Dudley)
* Edge and Christian
* Too Cool (Grandmaster Sexay and Scotty 2 Hotty)
* Right to Censor (Bull Buchanan and The Goodfather)
* The Rock and The Undertaker
* Brothers of Destruction (The Undertaker and Kane)
* Two-Man Power Trip (Stone Cold Steve Austin and Triple H)
* Chris Benoit and Chris Jericho
* Diamond Dallas Page and Chris Kanyon
* Chris Jericho and The Rock
* Booker T and Test
* Spike Dudley and Tazz
* Billy and Chuck
* Rico and Rikishi
* Edge and Hulk Hogan
* The Un-Americans (Christian and Lance Storm)
* The Hurricane and Kane
* Chris Jericho and Christian
* Booker T and Goldust
* Lance Storm and William Regal
* Chief Morley and Lance Storm
* Kane and Rob Van Dam
* La Résistance (René Duprée and Sylvain Grenier)
* Evolution (Batista and Ric Flair)
* Booker T and Rob Van Dam
* Chris Benoit and Edge
* La Résistance (Robért Conway and Sylvain Grenier)
* Eugene and William Regal
* Tajiri and William Regal
* The Hurricane and Rosey
* Lance Cade and Trevor Murdoch
* Big Show and Kane
* Spirit Squad (Johnny, Kenny, Mikey, Mitch, and Nicky)
* Roddy Piper and Ric Flair
* Rated-RKO (Edge and Randy Orton)
* John Cena and Shawn Michaels
* Paul London and Brian Kendrick
* Cody Rhodes and Hardcore Holly
* The Legacy (Cody Rhodes and Ted DiBiase Jr.)
* Batista and John Cena
* CM Punk and Kofi Kingston
* John Morrison and The Miz
* The Colóns (Carlito and Primo)
* Chris Jericho and Edge
* Jeri-Show (Big Show and Chris Jericho)
* D-Generation X (Shawn Michaels and Triple H)

2010s|

* ShoMiz (Big Show and The Miz)
* The Hart Dynasty (David Hart Smith and Tyson Kidd)

* v
* t
* e

WWE European Champions

1990s|

* The British Bulldog
* Shawn Michaels
* Triple H
* Owen Hart
* D'Lo Brown
* X-Pac
* Shane McMahon
* Mideon
* Jeff Jarrett
* Mark Henry
* Val Venis

2000s|

* Kurt Angle
* Chris Jericho
* Eddie Guerrero
* Perry Saturn
* Al Snow
* William Regal
* Crash Holly
* Test
* Matt Hardy
* The Hurricane
* Bradshaw
* Christian
* Diamond Dallas Page
* Spike Dudley
* Jeff Hardy
* Rob Van Dam

* v
* t
* e

Royal Rumble winners

Men's winners|

* Jim Duggan (1988)
* Big John Studd (1989)
* Hulk Hogan (1990; 1991)
* Ric Flair (1992)
* Yokozuna (1993)
* Bret Hart and Lex Luger (1994)
* Shawn Michaels (1995; 1996)
* Stone Cold Steve Austin (1997; 1998; 2001)
* Mr. McMahon (1999)
* The Rock (2000)
* Triple H (2002; 2016)
* Brock Lesnar (2003; 2022)
* Chris Benoit (2004)
* Batista (2005; 2014)
* Rey Mysterio (2006)
* The Undertaker (2007)
* John Cena (2008; 2013)
* Randy Orton (2009; 2017)
* Edge (2010; 2021)
* Alberto Del Rio (2011)
* Sheamus (2012)
* Roman Reigns (2015)
* Shinsuke Nakamura (2018)
* Seth Rollins (2019)
* Drew McIntyre (2020)
* Cody Rhodes (2023)

Women's winners|

* Asuka (2018)
* Becky Lynch (2019)
* Charlotte Flair (2020)
* Bianca Belair (2021)
* Ronda Rousey (2022)
* Rhea Ripley (2023)

Greatest Royal
Rumble winners|

* Braun Strowman (2018)

* v
* t
* e

New World Order

* Hollywood Hogan
* The Outsiders
* Kevin Nash
* Scott Hall

Members|

| Original stable|

* Ted DiBiase
* The Giant
* nWo Sting
* Syxx
* Vincent
* Nick Patrick
* Miss Elizabeth
* Eric Bischoff
* Buff Bagwell
* Michael Wallstreet
* Big Bubba Rogers
* Randy Savage
* Dennis Rodman
* Konnan
* Curt Hennig
* Rick Rude
* Louie Spicolli
* Dusty Rhodes
* Scott Steiner
* Brian Adams
* The Disciple

|

Sub-group
members|

* Bret Hart (nWo Hollywood/nWo 2000)
* Horace Hogan (nWo Hollywood/nWo B-Team)
* Stevie Ray (nWo Hollywood/nWo B-Team)
* Barry Windham (nWo Hollywood/nWo B-Team)
* Lex Luger (nWo Wolfpac/nWo Elite)
* Sting (nWo Wolfpac)
* Disco Inferno (nWo Wolfpac/nWo Elite)
* David Flair (nWo Elite)
* Torrie Wilson (nWo Elite)
* Jeff Jarrett (nWo 2000)
* Mark "Slick" Johnson (nWo Hollywood/nWo Elite/nWo 2000)
* Ron and Don Harris (nWo 2000)

WWE stable|

* X-Pac
* Big Show
* Booker T
* Shawn Michaels

nWo Japan|

* Masahiro Chono
* The Great Muta
* Hiro Saito
* Hiroyoshi Tenzan
* Scott Norton
* Tatsutoshi Goto
* Michiyoshi Ohara
* Big Titan
* Akira
* Satoshi Kojima

History|

* World Championship Wrestling (history)
* Bash at the Beach (1996)
* nWo Souled Out
* Fingerpoke of Doom

Video games|

* WCW vs. nWo: World Tour
* WCW/nWo Revenge
* WCW/nWo Thunder

Related groups|

* The Band
* The Kliq
* Blue World Order
* Latino World Order
* Juggalo World Order
* Team 2000
* ZEN

* v
* t
* e

D-Generation X

Members|

* Rick Rude
* Triple H
* Chyna
* Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley
* Tori
* Shawn Michaels
* Hornswoggle
* X-Pac
* New Age Outlaws
* Road Dogg
* Billy Gunn

Related|

* D-Generation X: In Your House
* The Authority
* The Kliq
* Chris Warren

* v
* t
* e

WWE personnel

Raw|

| Men's division|

* Akira Tozawa
* Apollo Crews
* Braun Strowman
* Bronson Reed
* Brutus Creed
* Chad Gable
* CM Punk
* Cody Rhodes
* Damian Priest
* Dexter Lumis
* Dominik Mysterio
* Drew McIntyre
* Erik
* Finn Bálor
* Giovanni Vinci
* Gunther
* Ivar
* JD McDonagh
* Jey Uso
* Jinder Mahal
* Johnny Gargano
* Julius Creed
* Kofi Kingston
* Ludwig Kaiser
* The Miz
* Odyssey Jones
* Otis
* Ricochet
* R-Truth
* Sami Zayn
* Sanga
* Seth "Freakin" Rollins
* Shinsuke Nakamura
* Tommaso Ciampa
* Veer
* Xavier Woods

|

Women's division|

* Becky Lynch
* Candice LeRae
* Chelsea Green
* Indi Hartwell
* Katana Chance
* Kayden Carter
* Ivy Nile
* Liv Morgan
* Maxxine Dupri
* Natalya
* Nia Jax
* Nikki Cross
* Piper Niven
* Raquel Rodriguez
* Rhea Ripley
* Shayna Baszler
* Sonya Deville
* Tegan Nox
* Trish Stratus
* Valhalla
* Xia Li
* Zoey Stark

Stables and
tag teams|

* Alpha Academy
* Diamond Mine (Creed Brothers)
* DIY
* Indus Sher
* Imperium
* The Judgment Day
* The New Day

Other on-air talent|

* Adam Pearce

Referees|

* Dan Engler
* Jason Ayers
* John Cone

SmackDown|

| Men's division|

* AJ Styles
* Angel Garza
* Angelo Dawkins
* Ashante Adonis
* Austin Theory
* Bobby Lashley
* Butch
* Cameron Grimes
* Carlito
* Cedric Alexander
* Cruz Del Toro
* Dragon Lee
* Elton Prince
* Grayson Waller
* Humberto Carrillo
* Jimmy Uso
* Joaquin Wilde
* Karl Anderson
* Karrion Kross
* Kevin Owens
* Kit Wilson
* LA Knight
* Logan Paul
* Luke Gallows
* Montez Ford
* Randy Orton
* Rey Mysterio
* Ridge Holland
* Roman Reigns
* Santos Escobar
* Sheamus
* Solo Sikoa

|

Women's division|

* Alba Fyre
* Asuka
* B-Fab
* Bayley
* Bianca Belair
* Charlotte Flair
* Dakota Kai
* Isla Dawn
* Iyo Sky
* Kairi Sane
* Michin
* Scarlett
* Shotzi
* Tamina
* Zelina Vega

Stables and
tag teams|

* The Bloodline
* Damage CTRL
* The Kabuki Warriors
* The O.C.
* Gallows and Anderson
* Latino World Order
* Pretty Deadly
* The Street Profits

Other on-air talent|

* Nick Aldis
* Paul Heyman

Referees|

* Charles Robinson
* Jason Ayers
* Jessika Carr

Nonexclusive|

| Men's division|

* Big E
* Brock Lesnar
* MVP
* Omos
* Pat McAfee
* Xyon Quinn

|

Women's division|

* Alexa Bliss
* Carmella

NXT|

| Men's division|

* Andre Chase
* Axiom
* Baron Corbin
* Boa
* Bron Breakker
* Brooks Jensen
* Carmelo Hayes
* Channing "Stacks" Lorenzo
* Dante Chen
* Dijak
* Drew Gulak
* Duke Hudson
* Eddy Thorpe
* Gable Steveson
* Ilja Dragunov
* Joe Coffey
* Joe Gacy
* Josh Briggs
* Lexis King
* Luca Crusifino
* Mark Coffey
* Nathan Frazer
* Noam Dar
* Oro Mensah
* Scrypts
* Tony D'Angelo
* Trick Williams
* Tyler Bate
* Von Wagner
* Wes Lee
* Wolfgang

|

Women's division|

* Ava
* Blair Davenport
* Cora Jade
* Elektra Lopez
* Fallon Henley
* Gigi Dolin
* Jacy Jayne
* Kiana James
* Lash Legend
* Lola Vice
* Lyra Valkyria
* Meiko Satomura
* Nikkita Lyons
* Roxanne Perez
* Sol Ruca
* Stevie Turner
* Tatum Paxley
* Tiffany Stratton
* Wendy Choo

Other on-air talent|

* Mr. Stone

Stables and
tag teams|

* Chase University
* Gallus
* The Meta-Four

Performance
Center|

| Men's trainees|

* Tavion Heights

|

Women's trainees|

* Jade Cargill
* Tamyra Mensah-Stock

Trainers and staff|

* Fit Finlay
* Matt Bloom
* Norman Smiley
* Oney Lorcan
* Robbie Brookside
* Santana Garrett
* Sara Amato
* Steve Corino
* Terry Taylor
* Tyler Breeze

Broadcast
team|

* Alicia Taylor
* Booker T
* Byron Saxton
* Cathy Kelley
* Corey Graves
* Funaki
* Jerry Lawler
* Jimena Sánchez
* Kayla Braxton
* Kevin Patrick
* Marcelo Rodríguez
* Michael Cole
* Mike Rome
* Moein Al Bastaki
* Peter Rosenberg
* Rob Schamberger
* Sam Roberts
* Scott Stanford
* Vic Joseph
* Wade Barrett

Ambassadors|

* Beth Phoenix
* Bob Backlund
* The Boogeyman
* Eve Torres
* Jimmy Hart
* John "Bradshaw" Layfield
* Hulk Hogan
* Maria Menounos
* Maryse
* Mosh
* Rick Steiner
* Ricky Steamboat
* Scott Steiner
* Sean Waltman
* Sgt. Slaughter
* Tatanka
* Tatsumi Fujinami
* Ted DiBiase
* Titus O'Neil
* The Undertaker
* Thrasher

Producers
and writers|

* Billy Kidman
* Chris Parks
* Drake Maverick
* Gabe Sapolsky
* Jamie Noble
* Jason Jordan
* Jeremy Borash
* Jim Smallman
* Kenny Dykstra
* Michael Hayes
* Molly Holly
* Petey Williams
* Robert Roode
* Ryan Katz
* Shane Helms
* Shawn Daivari
* T. J. Wilson

Executive
personnel|

* Ari Emanuel
* Bruce Prichard
* Dan Ventrelle
* Road Dogg
* Shawn Michaels
* Triple H
* Vince McMahon
* William Regal

See also|

* Women in WWE
* Former personnel

Authority control databases

International|

* FAST
* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* Germany
* United States

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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*[div.]: divorced
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