In 1986, Michaels went to Kansas City to wrestle in the NWA Central States. He began wrestling with Marty Janetty as the Midnight Rockers. They held the Central States tag titles for about a week in May.
A year later, Michaels was still working with Marty Janetty, only this time in the AWA. The Midnight Rockers captured the tag titles from Buddy Rose and Doug Somers in the beginning of the year and held them for five months, dropping them to Soldat Ustinov and Boris Zhukov. In October, The Rockers beat the RPM's for the Southern Heavyweight title. The RPM's won back the titles briefly in November. They regained the titles from the "Original" Midnight Express in December, vacating the Southern Tag titles.
In 1988, the Midnight Rockers dropped the titles to Michaels former tag partner, Paul Diamond, working with Pat Tanaka as Badd Company, and both of them hopped the next plane to the WWF to work as the Rockers.
Throughout the next year, the Rockers feuded a lot with Jacques Rougeau and Raymond Rougeau- The Fabulous Rougeau Brothers.
After almost 8 months, the Rockers won the titles from the Hart Foundation when the Harts were supposed to be leaving the WWF. The Harts re-signed at the last minute, and the decision was reversed on the grounds that part of the ropes came off of the turnbuckle during the match. This title change was not acknowledged on TV until years later. In December of 1990, the incident occurred where in a match between the Rockers against Lanny Poffo and another jobber, the jobber took a fall wrong and broke his neck.
Around late summer of 1991, Michaels started becoming arrogant. After a loss in the Survivor Series, Michaels becomes angry and blames Janetty for the loss. The split didn't occur until 1992, when Michaels threw Janetty through the glass of Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop".
Michaels takes on "Sensational" Sherrie Martel as a manager not long after. Michaels and "The Model" Rick Martel feud for the love of Sherrie in the spring. Michaels wins the Intercontinental title from the British Bulldog in October. Michaels challenged WWF champ Bret Hart at Survivor Series, but lost. Marty Janetty made his comeback in November, and Michaels lost the services of Sherrie when Michaels nailed her with a mirror meant for Janetty.
Through spring of 1993, Michaels continued to fued with Marty Janetty, with Sherrie now at Janetty's side. Sherrie also comes to Tatanka's side when Michaels feuded with him. Michaels brought out Luna as his valet at Wrestlemania to deal with Sherrie. Sherrie left him alone after that.
Michaels dropped the Intercontinental title to Janetty briefly in May, but won it back in June with the help of his new bodyguard (and long-time friend), Diesel (Kevin Nash). When Michaels and the WWF couldn't come to a contract agreement and briefly left the WWF, WWF declared the title vacant. Razor Ramon (Scott Hall) won the title in September. Michaels returned in November, still wearing the old Intercontinental title belt just in time to take control of Jerry Lawler's team of knights against the Hart Family when the WWF and USWA temporarily parted company.
Michaels and Diesel then set their sites on Ramon, attacking him whenever the opportunity arose.
In 1994, Razor Ramon came out on 'top' in the now classic ladder-match to decide the true Intercontinental champion. Michaels helps his bodyguard, Diesel, to take the intercontinental title, and then an unsuccessful run for Bret Hart's world title.
Michaels and Diesel win the tag titles from the Headshrinkers in August, but Michaels accidentally cost Diesel the intercontinental title a few weeks later. Michaels accidentally nail Diesel with a superkick at Survivor Series, and Diesel splits up the team.
In 1995, Michaels drew #1 in the Royal Rumble and outlasted the other 29 men in a controversial ending to win a shot at WWF champion Diesel. Michaels declared himself a "marked man" to the other WWF wrestlers, and hired Sycho Sid as his new bodyguard. Michaels lost his title match at Wrestlemania. Diesel offered Michaels a rematch, since he believed that Michaels might have won without the interference of Sid. Michaels asked Sid to sit out the rematch, and Sid turned on him, putting him out of action for a month.
Michaels turned face again. Michaels won the Intercontinental title from Jeff Jarrett at King of the Ring in 1995. Michaels came out on top of Razor Ramon in a return Ladder-match at Summerslam.