"Shawn was someone who kept the company together. The audience really related to Shawn because he wasn’t the strongest, the biggest but he had unbelievable charisma and he gave you everything he possibly had as a performer.”
World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Chairman and promoter, Vince McMahon speaking on the in-ring performances of WWE Superstar, Shawn Michaels.
Every single wrestling fan, locally and globally tune in weekly to see their favorite wrestlers battle it out in the squared (ring) circle. Many would also tune into World Wrestling Federation (WWF) pay-per-view events such as "Wrestlemania" the grandest stage of them all to watch even more exciting matches. (The promotion later became World Wrestling Entertainment, WWE)
Growing up, I would see its biggest names, and burly wrestlers such as Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, The Ultimate Warrior, Andre the Giant, Jake "The Snake" Roberts, The Undertaker, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Mr. Perfect, and The Road Warriors perform at levels that addicted audience's eyes anxious for more action. When it came to these in ring warrior combatants, their muscular biceps and physique, many fans had a "Bigger is better" mindset.
"Sure I dreamed of becoming the World Wrestling Federation Champion, but 6'1, 215 pound guys like me with very little marketing savvy didn't win that title. This was a big man business, and I definitely wasn't a big man."
But few, very few have captivated worldwide wrestling fans by dedicating massive multitudes of their heart, passion, dedication, humility, excitement, and resiliency consisting of superstar/human being: Michael Shawn Hickenbottom, a.k.a "The Heartbreak Kid" (HBK) Shawn Michaels.
Hardly a giant grappler, or a burly wrestler Michaels lifelong illustrious career within the squared circle of his power as a performer and professional in the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) turned him into titan. A league of his own: The Showstopper, the Main Event, The Headliner, the Icon, and "Mr. Wrestlemania" were not just labeled nicknames self-proclaimed by him and his fans a.k.a "The Kliq." Each of them were earned solely by him.
"I succeeded because I could wrestle." Shawn sharply says about himself in Heartbreak and Triumph. "No one ever had any plans to go with Shawn Michaels. I was a small guy with a hateable gimmick. Ric Flair was cool. Hulk Hogan made you feel good. Steve Austin gave you a chance to be a rebel. Me, The Boy Toy. The Heartbreak Kid? What redeemable qualities did I have? Who wanted to be me?"
I'm just a sexy boy,
Sexy boy
I'm not your boy toy,
Boy toy............
(Partial lyrics to Shawn Michaels entrance ring theme song)
Not just a "Sexy Boy" or some Hollywood heart throb for females to fall head-over-heels for.
In the ring, Shawn showed off his "Sexy Boy" image gimmick of being handsome, cocky, conceited, and charismatic in trademark flamboyant fashion. However, when it came to business, he climbed up ladders, dove off turnbuckles, cages, and delivered a foot to the face of his foes (in reference to his trademark finishing move, "Sweet Chin Music") Shawn often stopped and stole the show.
No matter how many times his back would hit the mat, you could always count on his courageous comeback.
HBK hardly, if ever delivered any disappointments to his fans during his featured bouts, even when he "lost" them. Fans (including myself) cheered not jeered him. Audiences were often awed of his awesome in-ring abilities and aerial maneuvers inside the squared circle.
Outside the ring, and off camera, however Shawn's success never came without struggle, as Michael Shawn Hickenbottom. In his very detailed summary autobiography (released in 2005) "Heartbreak and Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story" Michaels chronicles his boyhood dreams on his road to become a pro wrestler. "The next Ric Flair" Michaels was once told by his colleagues, because he possessed such wrestling potential.
Michaels narrates his early days as a youth playing football, then later years waiting outside at a wrestling tryout facility even during ungodly hours. His very first wrestling match from 1984 till present. Wrestling in previous promotions before the WWE. Grueling and grappling matches via his rise to stardom, in spite of constant back injuries. His working relationships with fellow WWE Superstars, Chairman Vince McMahon, and tag team partners. Coping with constant lies, and false gossip said/spread about him. Carrying an entire elite company literally on his back during his championship reign, and self-doubt if he was loved or even liked by the fans. Dealing and defeating depression temporarily, with drugs to ease his anxiety. His new found devoted love for his wife, and Christianity.
And the painful price of being the "top dog."
Two years after I first became champion, I was completely broken-emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Randy Savage had once told me to slow down in the ring because he thought I'd never last. "I'm Superman." I told him. "I can do anything."
All of the earlier on said above re- convinced me why Shawn Michaels deserved such numerous in ring nick names, and was known to the WWE Universe, as "The Most Resilient" wrestler in history. His days with former tag team partner of "The Rockers" Marty Jannetty were memorable, yet rocky.
Michaels took his talent and determination to be successful very seriously, while Jannetty made constant mistakes inside (and outside) the ring. WWE Chairman Vince McMahon later regarded Michaels as being "very talented" and invited him to stay as an active solo competitor.
Following the soap opera-like storyline where Michaels rammed Jannetty's head through a window, his charisma and career quickly rose through the ranks as "The Heartbreak Kid." Soon thereafter, HBK headlined events, which included his innovation of the famous "ladder matches."
When I was just beginning my rise through the ranks, Tully Blanchard told me that the key to making it big in this business is simple: You make them yell the loudest for the longest. And that's what I tried to do every time I stepped in the ring.
In 1996, after twelve years in the squared circle, Michaels finally won his very first championship title belt from perhaps his most notable nemesis, Bret "The Hitman" Hart in a 60 minute "Iron Man Match." It later became one the most memorable matches and rivalries in WWE history, even outside the ring. Like Ryu and Ken from the hit video game "Street Fighter" both were the top of their class, but always battling each other.
Their heated hatred however escalated even more into a historical event. It was quite possibly the most controversial in wrestling history. It was known as the "Montreal Screw Job" match in 1997. It involved not only Michaels and Vince McMahon, but numerous WWE Officials such as veteran referee Earl Hebner, Gerald Brisco, Sgt. Slaughter, and fellow wrestling superstar/life long friend Hunter Hearst-Helmsley a.k.a "Triple H."
It may not seem like much to an insider, but in the wrestling world, what we were going to do was equivalent of a mafia hit. And I was going to be Jack Ruby.
While most people saw this particular storyline as Vince McMahon robbing one of his own wrestlers (Bret Hart) from his championship title, it was really possibly vice versa. Hart refused to relinquish his title as he headed to another wrestling promotion, World Championship Wrestling. (WCW) This promotion was WWE's biggest rival competitor. It was like forcing a boxer to "throw the fight" or "take a dive." Except there were dire circumstances that threatened a lifelong-ran family business. In my opinion Vince did what he felt necessary, not just for his own family but for the wrestlers it employed and especially the fans.
A sinner’s prayer
In Heartbreak and Triumph, Michaels goes into in depth detail about his personal life and his retirement from the ring in 1998 due to his back injuries. Though he still made stand up appearances, demons of depression and drugs descended upon his own humility. It was very touching to read about his path towards healing his humility when he reconciled his relationship with Marty Jannetty. It was Jannetty who helped him learn about "a sinner's prayer." HBK now had a newfound faith with Christianity, in which he accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.
I tried to escape it all by taking vast quantities of painkillers. They could mask the pain for a short time, but in the long run, they nearly ended my life.
Having met his soul mate soon-to -be-spouse, Rebecca Hickenbottom and giving birth to their children. Shawn Michaels was practically re-born in his 2002 return to the WWE square circle. Every single HBK fan in the universe (including myself) not only cheered his triumphant return to the ring from demons, despair, and injuries, but his being born again to himself: The Showstopper, the Headliner, Main Event, Icon, and Shawn Michaels, a human being. We all could see the change that came from within him. A true triumph from heartbreak in of itself.
Reading and feeling HBK's Heartbreak and Triumph showed me one thing. No matter the level of struggle against heartbreak, the true triumph is finding thyself. I know exactly how he felt giving his all to so many people while wondering if he was liked or loved. Dealing with depression on a daily basis. Finding spirituality within thyself, then realizing how truly loved you are by people, some whom which you've never even met. Regardless the struggles, and heartbreak, we all can triumph.........from any heartbreak.
Shawn Michaels was recently inducted into the WWE 2011 Hall of Fame. I personally, wish to congratulate "Mr. Wrestle mania" one of the most hardest working wrestlers in the world on his lifelong road from struggle to success. Much love and respect from Marlon Crump, a.k.a "Mad Man Marlon. You're truly an inspiration of dedication to each individual that struggle, locally and globally.
