Shawn Michaels is a retired professional wrestler. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest performers in the history of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). Born on July 22, 1965, in Chandler, Arizona, Michaels had a career that spanned over two decades. During this time, he gained the nickname “The Heartbreak Kid” due to his charismatic and flamboyant style. Recently Seth Rollins has credited his WWE career to Shawn Michaels.
Shawn Michaels embarked on his wrestling journey in the mid-1980s, kickstarting it with the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). Nevertheless, it was his time spent with WWE (then WWF) that thrust him into the limelight. He played an integral role in the company’s “Attitude Era,” renowned for delivering electrifying performances and captivating storylines. Michaels etched his name as a four-time world champion, securing the coveted WWF Championship thrice and clinching the World Heavyweight Championship once.
His matches against renowned wrestlers like Bret Hart, The Undertaker, and Triple H are widely hailed as timeless classics. Michaels’ ability to perform under immense pressure gained him the nickname “Mr. WrestleMania.” He suffered many injuries but consistently performed at a high level till his retirement in 2010. His invaluable contributions to the sport were duly acknowledged when he was rightfully inducted into the prestigious WWE Hall of Fame in 2011.
Seth Rollins began his wrestling journey on the independent circuit, notably showcasing his skills with Ring of Honor (ROH). Here, he achieved a remarkable feat by capturing the prestigious ROH World Championship. In 2010, Rollins made the decision to join WWE and started his career in their developmental territory known as FCW. His undeniable talent soon led to a significant call-up, when he became an integral part of The Shield faction alongside renowned wrestlers Roman Reigns and Dean Ambrose.
Glimpses and prior hints of Seth Rollin’s admiration towards Shawn Michaels were seen after his match against Bron Breaker where he defended his heavyweight title at NXT Gold Rush. Rollins was then seen rushing off the ring to embrace Shawn Michaels.
Rollins later elaborated on the reason behind doing so in the Out of Character podcast. He revealed how Shawn Michaels was his inspiration towards becoming a wrestler and how much he motivated Rollins since he couldn’t become like Hulk Hogan or Andre the Giant cuz of his stature. He went on to explain how Shawn Michaels embodied the idea that a wrestler doesn’t need to be a 6 feet 7-inch tall muscular giant but just a performer.
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