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WWE Celebrates Shawn Michaels Debut Anniversary

By Martin Watchorn • Published 18th June 2023
Shawn Michaels

Two-Time Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels is being celebrated by WWE after reaching a landmark anniversary.

Shawn Michaels’ list of accomplishments in WWE is arguably second to none. Michaels was the first man to become a Grand Slam Champion, he was the first man to ever enter number one in the Royal Rumble and win, and due to his incredible matches on the grandest stage was nicknamed Mr WrestleMania.

WWE is yet again celebrating Michael’s career, as HBK made his debut for the company 35 years ago.

Michaels was teaming up with Marty Jannetty in the late 1980s, with The Rockers WWE debut taking place on June 18th, 1988 as part of WWF Superstars of Wrestling.

The Rockers picked up a win over Iron Mike Sharpe & The Intruder in just over three minutes.

WWE took to Twitter to share news of the 35th year anniversary, and shared photos of HBK in his current Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative role, where he oversees talent development in NXT.

Despite their popularity, The Rockers broke up in January 1992 as Michaels looked to create a singles career.

In 1995, Shawn Michaels outlasted 29 other Superstars to win the Royal Rumble Match, becoming the first to do so as the number one entrant.

The following year, the Three-Time WWE Champion won his second Royal Rumble Match and went on to beat Bret Hart for his first reign as WWE Champion in an Iron Man Match at WrestleMania 12.

HBK is a founding member of D-Generation X, with Triple H and Chyna. The faction was formed in 1997 and helped Michaels secure the European Championship at One Night Only, defeating the British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith in the UK.

Shawn Michaels’ legacy includes competing in the first WWE televised ladder matches and the first-ever Hell in a Cell match, where he defeated The Undertaker following an attack by a debuting Kane at In Your House: Badd Blood on October 5th 1997.

He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, and in 2019 for a second time as part of DX.