Michael Hickenbottom

Biography

Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, widely recognized by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is a distinguished figure in American professional wrestling, television hosting, and a retired wrestler. Since December 2010, he has held the role of ambassador for WWE, where he began his wrestling journey in 1988. After a storied career, Michaels initially retired in 1998 due to a serious back injury but returned to the ring in 2002, ultimately concluding his wrestling career in 2010. Over the years, he headlined significant pay-per-view events across four decades, showcasing his talent at WWE's flagship event, WrestleMania, five times.

In 2011, Michaels was honored with induction into the WWE Hall of Fame. WWE recognized him as "the most gifted sports-entertainer of all time," a sentiment echoed by many of his peers. Throughout his illustrious career, Michaels earned the title of world champion four times—specifically, three WWF Championships and one World Heavyweight Championship. He also made history by winning the Royal Rumble in both 1995 and 1996, becoming WWE's first Grand Slam Champion, and holds the record for winning the PWI Match of the Year Award eleven times.

Today, he resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Rebecca, and their two children, continuing to be an influential figure in the world of wrestling.