That team didn't last long but his next did. Shawn moved on to form a very successful tag team with another young standout, Marty Janetty in 1986, calling themselves the Midnight Rockers in the NWA. The team feuded with the Batten Brothers and the original Midnight Express before joining Verne Gagne's American Wrestling Association in April of 1986. They began feuding with Doug Sommers and Buddy Rose, as well as their manager Sherri Martel. They finally captured the AWA World Tag Team Titles in January of 1987 after a year of battles, and kept feuding with that team. They began appearing for the NWA again, becoming a heel team feuding with the Rock-n-Roll Express in 1987 before making the leap into the World Wrestling Federation in the summer of 1987. The pair were promptly fired for partying a little too hardy. They rejoined the AWA to have a second reign as the AWA World Tag Team Champions in December of 1987. 

    The Midnight Rockers got their second chance and joined the World Wrestling Federation in the summer of 1988. They took part in the King of the Ring tournament in October, before making their WWF pay per view debut as part of a 20 man tag team elimination bout at Survivor Series 1988 that also included the British Bulldogs, Demolition, the Brain Busters and the Hart Foundation. They began feuding with the Brain Busters after both teams were counted out during this match and quickly established themselves as the hot, young team to beat. They both took part in the 1989 Royal Rumble and competed in their first Wrestlemania in 1989, losing to the Big Bossman and Akeem. The Rockers went on to feud with the Rougeau Brothers and continued to feud with the Brain Busters leading into the 1989 Survivor Series where the Rockers, Jim Neidhart and Ultimate Warrior took on Andre the Giant, Haku, Arn Anderson and Bobby Heenan. The Rockers took part in the 1990 Royal Rumble before feuding with the Orient Express, and even had a classic fan favourite versus fan favourite bout against the Hart Foundation on Saturday Nights Main Event in April of 1990. Shawn Michaels would suffer a knee injury and took some time off of WWF television after Summer Slam 1990, but returned better than ever. 

    Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty reached a new height in their careers in October of 1990, defeating the Hart Foundation for the WWF World Tag Team Championship. One half of the champions, Jim Neidhart, had been fired and was fulfilling his contract with the WWF but when Vince McMahon rehired Neidhart, the title change was ignored by WWF programming. Independent wrestling magazines picked up the story, explaining that the decision was reversed due to a rope breaking during the match. According to the history books, this title change did not happen. 

    The Rockers went on to feud with the team that had almost ended Shawn Michaels' career, in storyline terms, Power and Glory as well as renewing an old rivalry with the new Midnight Express. Together, the pair defeated the Barbarian and Haku in the opening contest of Wrestlemania VII in March of 1991 and began working towards their eventual split. The pair failed to win the WWF Tag Team Titles from the Nasty Boys and there began to be rumours that the two were breaking up. Michaels began wrestling some classic singles bouts for Coliseum Video, including a near victory over WWF Intercontinental Champion Mr. Perfect and an absolute classic against Ric Flair. The Rockers were clearly in trouble and Michaels was obviously the emerging star. The WWF set the stage for the break up at Survivor Series 1991 when Marty Janetty picked up one of the Nasty Boys and side-swiped Michaels with his foot, causing Michaels to fall back and get himself eliminated from the match. Michaels was livid and threw a fit in the ring before walking out. The two teased a reunion on Brutus Beefcake's interview segment, the Barber Shop, before Michaels superkicked Janetty and hurled him through a plate glass window. A new era for Shawn Michaels had begun. 

    Shawn Michaels made his first major appearance as a heel at the 1992 Royal Rumble, battling Ric Flair, Tito Santana and others before being eliminated by the British Bulldog. Just before Wrestlemania, the Sensational Sherri, an old enemy of Michaels, announced she had fallen in love with the man now calling himself the "Heartbreak Kid". With Sherri at his side, Michaels defeated Tito Santana in the opening match of Wrestlemania VIII and then went on to have classic bouts, including the first ever WWF Ladder Match, with WWF Intercontinental Champion Bret Hart. In the summer of 1992, when both Rick Martel and Shawn Michaels were going after Bret Hart's title, Sherri got involved leading to a love triangle that culminated at Summer Slam 1992 with Sherri getting splashed with water. Martel would back off, leaving Shawn and Sherri to chase after the Intercontinental Title now held by Davey Boy Smith. 

    On an edition of WWF Superstars in November of 1992, Marty Janetty made his return to the WWF after a lengthy absence to steal away Shawn's mirror and would have smashed it over his head if not for Sherri getting pulled in the way and taking the blow herself. Shawn went on to capture the WWF Intercontinental Title from the Bulldog, even though Sherri was no longer at his side. He then headlined his first WWF pay per view, losing to WWF Champion Bret Hart at the Survivor Series. Michaels continued to feud with Janetty and at the 1993 Royal Rumble, the two engaged in a classic Intercontinental Title Match with the Sensational Sherri at ringside, vowing to choose which man to support. Sherri chose Marty, but accidentally hit him with her shoe to allow Michaels to win. Sherri befriended Tatanka next and accompanied him to the ring for his disqualification victory over Michaels at Wrestlemania IX. Michaels began defending his title against other challengers including Crush, Hacksaw Jim Duggan and Marty Janetty. 

    In a big surprise, Marty defeated Michaels on an edition of RAW to become the new Champion in May of 1993. Michaels regained the title in June with help from his new bodyguard, Diesel. Michaels kept defending the title against new challengers, including Mr. Perfect who he had wrestled years before when the fan support was opposite. He defeated Perfect at Summer Slam 1993 and then had a contractual dispute that forced him off of WWF television and also forcing him to forfeit the title. When Michaels returned at the 1993 Survivor Series, a new champion was already named but he still carried his original title. Michaels would soon challenge the new champion, Razor Ramon, over the rightful holder of the belt. The two finally settled things at Wrestlemania X in Madison Square Garden in a show stealing Ladder Match that saw Ramon capture both belts. 

    Shawn Michaels faded into the background, becoming a glorified manager for Diesel and leading him to defeat Ramon for the Intercontinental Title in the early summer of 1994. The two would also form a successful tag team, defeating the Headshrinkers to give Michaels his first official tag team title reign in the WWF. The jealousy began to erode the friendship of the champions and at Survivor Series 1994, a miscue lead Diesel and Michaels' partnership to explode. A few days later, Diesel won the WWF World Heavyweight Title in defeating Bob Backlund, turned face, and vacated the WWF Tag Team Title belts. Michaels would go on to make his intentions clear... he wanted the WWF World Title. 

    Michaels made history in the 1995 Royal Rumble, being the first man to enter at #1 and win the entire match. He went on to take Sid Vicious as his new bodyguard and headlined Wrestlemania XI against his former partner for the WWF Title. Diesel retained the title and one night later, Michaels blamed Sid leading to a vicious attack that lead Diesel to return to Michaels' side. Michaels was once again, officially, a fan favourite. He formed a team with Diesel known as "Two Dudes with Attitudes" and began feuding with Ted DiBiase's Million Dollar Corporation that now included Sid. Michaels participated in the 1995 King of the Ring tournament, going to a draw with Kama in the first round. He then defeated Jeff Jarrett at In Your House one month later to regain the Intercontinental Title. With Diesel, Michaels had another reign as WWF Tag TEam Champions after defeating Owen Hart and Yokozuna in controversial fashion, but they were stripped of the titles one night later. Michaels successfully defended his title against Razor Ramon in a Ladder re-match from over a year prior and then tragedy struck. Michaels was legitimately attacked outside a bar in Syracuse, New York and suffered a severe concussion, causing him to vacate the Intercontinental Title. 

    Michaels returned two months later at the 1995 Survivor Series to team with Ahmed Johnson, Sid and the British Bulldog against Yokozuna, Owen Hart, Dean Douglas and Razor Ramon in what was billed as a Wildcard match, which accounts for the unique pairings. Michaels was once again knocked out of action the next night on RAW when Owen Hart hit an inziguri kick, leading to Michaels' collapse. This, unlike the first injury, was part of the storyline and was part of his journey to the WWF Title. Michaels returned at the Royal Rumble, eliminating Diesel in the final moments to become the #1 contender. He defeated Owen Hart at In Your House in February and then defeated Bret Hart in a 60 minute Iron Man Match during sudden death overtime to become the WWF World Heavyweight Champion. He would have high profile feuds with Davey Boy Smith and Diesel before facing the awesome challenge of Vader at Summer Slam 1996. Michaels retained the gold and the WWF slowly moved into the Attitude Era, beginning with stars like Mankind and Goldust, who Michaels defeated various times. Michaels finally lost the title at Survivor Series 1996 to former bodyguard, Sid Vicious, but regained it at the Royal Rumble. Michaels was set to wrestle Bret Hart at Wrestlemania XIII but stepped out of the business, claiming he had "lost his smile". Many question the legitimacy of this injury and chalk it up to the real life feud between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels. Michaels took part in Wrestlemania as a special guest commentator for the WWF Title Match between the Undertaker and Sid. 

    In May, Michaels made his return to team up with Steve Austin to defeat the WWF Tag Team Champions Owen Hart and the British Bulldog on RAW. This championship team, though, couldn't get along and ended up wrestling each other at the 1997 King of the Ring to a no contest. Michaels left the WWF scene again, backing out of a match with Bret Hart, and returned as the referee for the Undertaker-Hart match at Summer Slam. Shawn was instrumental in helping Bret win when he accidentally smashed the Undertaker with the chair. Shawn's heel turn began in earnest as he feuded with the Undertaker, leading to the Hell in a Cell match that was interupted by the debut of Kane. 

    Shawn Michaels formed DeGeneration-X along with Hunter Hearst Helmsley, Chyna and Rick Rude. Michaels captured the WWF European Title at One Night Only in England, calling himself the first ever WWF Grand Slam Winner for having won the WWF, Intercontinental, Tag Team and now European titles. The long awaited bout between Bret Hart and Shawn Michaels was signed for Survivor Series 1997 and, backstage, Bret Hart found out that his contract was being terminated by Vince McMahon. Bret refused to allow Michaels the victory and with tension running high, Vince McMahon hatched a plan to go through with what would become known as the "Montreal Screwjob". Shawn Michaels and Bret Hart wrestled a violent match and when Michaels put Hart in the sharpshooter, Vince called for the bell and awarded the title to Shawn, who ran to the backstage with tons of WWF officials protecting him from the near riotous crowd. Bret Hart left the WWF and has not let go of the deep hatred he has for Shawn Michaels. 

    Michaels, with the WWF locker room in a frenzy, took the main event scene seriously and defeated Ken Shamrock in the next month's WWF pay per view. He then defeated the Undertaker in a casket match at the Royal Rumble, but suffered a devestating back injury in the process. Michaels would not step into the ring again until Wrestlemania XIV when he lost the title to Stone Cold Steve Austin, thus formally beginning the Attitude Era. Michaels went into retirement, meeting and marrying Rebecca. He returned to the WWF as a Commissioner, turning against his old friends from DX to join Vince McMahon's Corporation and serving as a manager of sorts for the Big Bossman and Ken Shamrock. Michaels reverted to his fan favourite status, but soon left the WWF. 

    Michaels returned at the 2002 Royal Rumble to do a guest spot and was rumoured to be taking part in the NWO reunion that would be advertised. Michaels stayed away, allowing Hogan, Hall and Nash to run their course. He finally returned to the WWF in June of 2002 to join Kevin Nash as part of the New World Order on RAW. He stayed in a managerial role, though, helping the NWO add the Big Show and Ric Flair to its ranks. When Kevin Nash was injured, Michaels began a storyline with Triple-H, urging him to sign with RAW as part of the new brand extension. Triple-H joined RAW to reform DX, but quickly double-crossed Michaels and brutalized him, throwing him through a car window. Michaels shocked the wrestling world by announcing his comeback... IN THE RING... and a Street Fight was announced for Summer Slam. With many expecting Michaels to lay back, he once again broke all the rules by taking to the air and wrestling a very physical contest. Triple-H beat Michaels with a sledgehammer after the match, which Michaels won, causing Michaels to step back out of the business. He returned, realizing his body was able to withstand a full time comeback, and helped Kane and Booker T in their wars against his own former partner. 

    Michaels became the new WORLD Heavyweight Champion (RAW) at the 2002 Survivor Series, winning the very first Elimination Chamber over Triple-H, Rob VanDam, Chris Jericho, Booker T and Kane. Michaels held on to the title until Armageddon in December where Triple-H beat him in a three match series. He began feuding with Chris Jericho, leading to a match at Wrestlemania where Michaels defeated Jericho. Kevin Nash made his return to join Michaels and Booker T in a losing effort to Ric Flair, Chris Jericho and Triple-H at Backlash. Flair turned face to join Michaels, but soon turned on him again to reform Evolution. Flair and Michaels would battle throughout the summer, until Randy Orton took over the feud. He took part in the second Elimination CHamber at Summer Slam and began teaming with Goldberg against members of Evolution. He would feud with RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff and then went on to Wrestlemania XX where he and Triple-H lost to Chris Benoit in the main event Triangle Match for the World Heavyweight Title. Michaels would continue to feud with Triple-H before being put out of action with a "crushed larynx", in tribute to the legendary Steamboat/Savage feud of 1987. 

    Michaels returned in August to feud with Kane, Lita, Christian and, as always, members of Evolution. He took Edge as a partner but was turned on, leading to a feud between the two men. Edge defeated Michaels at the 2005 Royal Rumble and then began a feud with Kurt Angle later in the night during the Royal Rumble Match, setting up their Wrestlemania XXI match that was won by Michaels. Part of this feud involved the return of Sherri Martel for one night and the return of Marty Janetty, who Michaels teamed with on RAW to defeat La Resistance. Following Wrestlemania, Michaels began feuding with Muhammud Hassan and Daivari, leading to the return of Hulk Hogan as Michaels' tag team partner for a huge team bout at Backlash 2005. Michaels and Hogan would end up feuding, though, and the pair clashed at Summer Slam 2005 with Hogan coming out on top, after much backstage fanangling over the finish. 

    Michaels, who had been wrestling as a heel for the first time in years, turned face once again to feud with Chris Masters and Carlito. He took Ric Flair as a partner and also teamed with WWE Champion John Cena on occasion. He renewed his rivalry with Kurt Angle, and battled Angle and Cena in a Triple Threat Match for the WWE Title at Taboo Tuesday in November of 2005. He took part in the RAW versus SMACKDOWN Survivor Series bout at Survivor Series 2005 and began feuding with John Bradshaw Layfield from Smackdown. 

    Michaels began feuding with Vince McMahon after McMahon conducted a "personal review" of the Bret Hart DVD. Vince had called out Michaels who told Vince, simply to "get over it". McMahon was offended and warned Shawn not to "make me screw you too". This set up a rather tasteless storyline around Michaels' relatively new faith in God. Vince vowed to send Michaels to hell, and began taunting him about his past drug use and lifestyle. Marty Janetty returned to help Michaels feud with McMahon and his son Shane. Michaels and Shane McMahon battled on the return of Saturday Nights Main Event in March of 2006 and at Wrestlemania, Michaels defeated Vince MCMahon in a violent street fight. Sinking to a new low, Vince McMahon accused "GOD" of interfering in the bout and set up a tag team bout at Backlash: Michaels and God verus the McMahons, which was won by the McMahons. THe storyline was dropped, thankfully, allowing Triple-H and Shawn Michaels to reform DeGeneration-X and feud witht he McMahons, Edge, Umaga, the Spirit Squad and other WWE heels. Triple-H suffered an injury, leaving Michaels as a solo act once more and, as of this writing, Michaels is expected to challenge John Cena for the WWE Title at Wrestlemania XXIII. 

    With a career in progress, many figure Michaels should not be a part of the UWOW Hall of Fame but there's no doubt he belongs here. With a career that has challenged the norms, broken all barriers, and set a new standard for excellence in the wrestling ring, who could deny him this rightful honour. Congratulations to you, Shawn Michaels. Not only are you here as a Hall of Famer, but you're still showing us why.