Shawn Michaels: A Career In The WWE

Shawn Michaels was arguably the greatest in-ring performer in the world. Arguably the greatest wrestler ever lived. Born in Arizona, but grew up in Texas. Michaels knew from an early age that he wanted to be a professional wrestler. Shawn started his career as a tag team with Marty Jannetty, also known as "The Midnight Rockers". He and Jannetty didn't last long before they were signed for WWE, then known as WWF. The tag team were to be renamed "The Rockers" and quickly became one of the greatest tag teams. However, during Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's talk show Barber Shop Michaels would superkick Jannetty and throw him through the glass, thus beginning "The Heartbreak Kid".

Shawn would have new attire, new song, new manager, a whole re-package of what he was before. He became one of the top athletes in the company, winning the Intercontinental Championship from the British Bulldog. He then split from his then manager Sherri and got a new manager in Diesel. Michaels was then suspended, and dropped the title, for testing positive to steroids. However, he still denies the charge. Shortly after, he returned to WWF and captured the WWF Tag Team Championships with Diesel, the next day though, they had split. This was to go on to create a great feud with Michaels and Diesel. Then, in 1995, Shawn Michaels entered the Royal Rumble first, and finished the winner. He then went on to face Diesel at WrestleMania 11 for the World Title, but lost the match. Michaels would then take a break off.

He came back as a face, and soon went on to capture his Third Intercontinental Championship. He then went on to create history in the greatest ladder match ever, with Razor Ramon. He did lose the match, but the performance from both competitors was outstanding. Soon after, he became the leader of the stable, "The Kliq", the members, were Michaels himself, Diesel(Kevin Nash), Razor Ramon(Scott Hall), The 1-2-3 Kid(Sean Waltman, also known as "X-Pac") and Hunter Hearst Helmsley(Triple H). A dominant stable as you can see. Michaels then took time off again, for recovering from an injury too soon. When he came back at the Royal Rumble, he won it again for the second year in a row. Michaels went on to defeat Bret Hart, in the first ever WWF Iron Man Match at WrestleMania 12. Micheals would then vacate the Title on Monday Night Raw, because of injuries and other personal issues. He did return though, and soon won the WWF European Championship from British Bulldog. Michaels would then compete in the first ever Hell in a Cell match against the Undertaker, with which he went on to win. The match is thought as another one of the greatest matches you will ever see.

Shortly after, Michaels and Triple H formed D-Generation X (DX). This brought a new era to WWF, known as "The Attitute Era". The original members of the stable were, Michaels, Triple H, Chyna, and Rick Rude. Michaels would go on to continue his long feud with Bret Hart, and it ended in bad fashion with the very controversial "Montreal Screwjob". At WrestleMania 14, Micheals would lose the title to Stone Cold Steve Austin, and retire from the business due to legitimate back injuries at the time.

He was brought back as WWF Commissioner but rarely made Television appearances for the company. He did however return to hand over Commissioner duties to Mick Foley in 2000. Leading to him leaving the company altogether.

He returned to the organization in 2002 as a member of the nWo. After that disbanded he was involved in a long feud with long time friend Triple H. Micheals went on to beat Triple H and become World Heavyweight Champion in the first ever Elimination Chamber match at Survivor Series, but lost the belt to Triple H in a Three Stages of Hell match a month later. Shawn then began a rivalry with Chris Jericho defeating him at WrestleMania 19. The long feud with Triple H continued at WrestleMania 20 with Chris Benoit also involved in the match, and picking up the victory. A few months later, Michaels faced Triple H again for the World Heavyweight Championship in a Hell in a Cell match that was voted by the fans at Taboo Tuesday, losing the match when Edge got involved. This led to Michaels taking time off for an injury.

He returned at the Royal Rumble in 2005, eliminating Kurt Angle, this led to a match between the two at WrestleMania 21 which saw Michaels lose to the Ankle Lock. However, he did beat Kurt at Vengeance a few month later. After that, Michaels started a feud with Hulk Hogan, this made Michaels become a heel at the time, although after the match at Summerslam with Hogan, he was back as a face.

In 2006 he started to feud with Vince and Shane McMahon, that saw him losing at Backlash with help from the Spirit Squad. Michaels then left to recover from another injury.

When he returned, events with the McMahon's and Spirit Squad, led to him and Triple H reforming DX, though it was cut short when Triple H got injured. Briefly after that, he feuded by himself with "Rated-RKO".

Soon after he was in a feud with the World Heavy Champion John Cena, after capturing The Tag Team Titles with him from Rated-RKO. Michaels then won a triple threat match and became the number one contender to face Cena for the Championship at WrestleMania 23. Michaels would lose to Cena, but the feud continued after that. He then lost another Championship match at Backlash that saw Cena pick up the victory in a Fatal Four-Way match. This was to bring Michaels feuding with Randy Orton. He would go on to feud with Orton for the Title, but lose several times. This feud ended and in stepped Ric Flair. Ric Flair vs Michaels was to happen at WrestleMania 24 in a Career Threatening Match that saw Michaels end the in-ring career of Ric Flair. After that, Batista confronted Michaels about ending the career of Flair. This led to a feud between the two and also Chris Jericho was involved. Michaels would beat Jericho at Judgement Day, but lose to Batista at One Night Stand, ending their feud. The feud with Jericho would continue with Jericho winning the Title after he replaced CM Punk in the Scramble match. This led to Michaels against Jericho for the Title in a Ladder Match, Michaels lost to Jericho, ending the feud between the two.

He then entered an angle with JBL, claiming that he had lost his money in the recession and JBL offered him employment that he couldn't decline. The rivalry ended with Michaels and JBL facing in an 'All or Nothing' match that saw Michaels win and finally get let loose of JBL. After that, Michaels was the first man to defeat Vladimir Kozlov and earn his match against The Undertaker at WrestleMania 25. He went on to lose the match, bringing The Undertaker's streak to 17-0, which is the greatest match I've ever seen. This saw Michaels leave WWE for a brief spell.

He returned at SummerSlam as part of DX to face off against Legacy. A Few months later they defeated Jericho and Big Show to capture the Unified Tag Team Championship. Michaels then went on to patch things up with Bret Hart, the first time they've spoke since the Infamous "Montreal Screwjob". Soon after that, DX lost the Titles and Michaels went on to cost The Undertaker The World Heavyweight Championship. This match set up another encounter between Michaels and The Undertaker at WrestleMania 26. The stipulation was that if Michaels lost, he'd have to retire, in which he did. This saw a great end to a great career in professional wrestling for Shawn Michaels.

Michaels was then inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame class of 2011.

"Shawn Michaels has left the building"

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