Shawn Michaels: From "Rocker" to "Heartbreak Kid"

If you would like to support the channel and my work, please consider becoming a channel member: / @wrestlingbios
Many people recognize “The Heartbreak Kid” Shawn Michaels as one of wrestling’s greatest performers, if not the greatest of all time. Shawn’s accomplishments and achievements within the WWE are nothing short of amazing and his matches were always incredible to watch. Shawn’s journey to the top is a story worth telling, and it all started when Shawn left The Rockers tag team.
The Rockers, consisting of Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, had a huge fan fallowing in the late 80s and early 90s. The high flying, exciting duo had been doing quite well in the World Wrestling Federation but Shawn had aspirations of becoming a solo star. A few backstage incidents would eventually lead Shawn Michaels to breaking up the team, Shawn would go on to become The Heartbreak Kid, and a huge amount of success would follow.
This mini documentary from Wrestling Bios takes a look at Shawn Michael’s career in late 1991 and early 1992, an important time for the man who would go on to become a showstopper and icon in the wrestling business. Specifically, this video takes a look at how The Rockers tag team broke up, the Barber Shop Window segment featuring Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty, and how Shawn went from being a “Rocker” to becoming “The Heartbreak Kid”.
Topics covered include:
01:29 - A brief introduction to The Rockers
03:59 - Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty having backstage issues
05:31 - The Rockers getting paid less than The Legion of Doom
10:12 - Shawn and Marty begin having issues as a tag team
12:39 - The Rockers and The Barber Shop window
15:56 - Shawn begins his solo career in 1992
16:55 - Sensational Sherri and the Shawn Michaels Theme Song
18:45 - Shawn Michaels vs El Matador at WrestleMania VIII
- Much More!
#Wrestling #WWE #Documentary

[@rafa521NOLA]

Bobby Heenan's call after the window spot is the funniest of all time: "Jannetty tried to dive through the window to escape!"

[@jonimims823]

😂😂😂

[@shangtsung1362]

Gotta love The Brain [RIP]

[@shangtsung1362]

@@johnathan7258 Lol He had been saying Hogan was rotten forever! Finally everyone could see it!

[@InLohmansTerms]

"coward"

[@TheTrainFan9]

ARE YOU BLIND?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

[@dominicomegon4714]

"Look at that coward, Jannetty! Trying to escape out the window." - Bobby Heenan

[@GHOST91141]

😂😂 still makes me laugh til this day

[@eklypised]

One of the funniest commentary moments ever

[@deepvoicegames5024]

Yes this was the thing which I thought of when I saw the video

[@sknerus1234]

"Are you blind?!" - Gorilla Monsoon

[@proteus404]

Leave it to the Brain for a perfect line like that.

[@seltal3547]

Okay I haven’t even watched it but this dude consistently pushes out 20 minutes that go into depth and his work is insane and he does it in a few days

[@Thor-Orion]

Sister Poop best worker in the biz, baby!

[@AnthonyClauser]

I don't know how he make quality content so fast.

[@dylanedward5202]

The history is seared into his childhood memory

[@t6amygdala]

Like I have some interests I really enjoy but I couldn’t even do that with my favorite topic in the world

[@DjTractus]

And p s. The Barbershop breakup was one of the most epic breakups ever.

[@matthewlo7868]

Paul Contento Totally! Makes the first DIY breakup look like child’s play!

[@horrorfan4-life689]

Yeah it was. That's one moment I remember clearly watching WWF on Saturday morning.

[@DjTractus]

@@matthewlo7868 that was great but had nothing on the barber shop.

[@DjTractus]

@@horrorfan4-life689 ah yes those were the days the Looney Tunes at 11 then Wrestling at noon. That's what I remember most besides Taker putting Warrior in the coffin and Horowitz Wins!

[@blackbutterfly8136]

Yes totally agree this was when I liked Shawn with Sherri he was a great heel. I liked Sherri version the best 😹👍🏿

[@GHOST91141]

As a 7yr old kid watching Shawn Michaels turn heel and put Marty through the glass was the best 😂

[@dominicomegon4714]

I was the same age and I remember me first questioning life itself.

[@trustobey1016]

As a kid that taught me how to end friendships with people. Just super kick them out your life.

[@ecogreco]

I was the exact same age and I was so upset because I thought Mary was so cool.

[@Blitzo2876]

Only the Montreal screw job was better. It was USA vs Canada.

[@sudochop]

@@trustobey1016 lol.

[@minjinx05]

I’m not gon’ lie: as a kid the barber scene with Shawn super kicking Marty and then tossing him through the window was jaw dropping disturbing to me because you didn’t expect see something like that happen in the era of wrestling where it was cartoon like wholesomeness. But then again this was a precursor to what we had as the ATTITUDE ERA.

[@spencermoore801]

Thanks for not lying

[@swanyay3304]

It took me years to forgive Shawn Michaels for putting Marty Jannetty through the glass...terrorized my childhood 😩 lol

[@mikebuglione32]

Swanyay me too lol. I loved the Rockers...and hated Shawn after that lol. I never was a fan of the “all the ladies love me” characters though.

[@Jannis777]

After the Barber Shop incident where The Rockers split up, I waited until Marty Jannetty take his revenge..I was disappointed that Jannetty was defeated at Royal Rumble 93..Finally I was happy that Marty won the IC-Title a few months later on RAW. Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted this 1993 Match of the Year and its little surprise. Unfortunately a few weeks later the IC-Title went back to Shawn..At least he managed to get his revenge. The Rockers were a fantastic team and deserved a run with the tag team titles in the early nineties despite the WWF tag team division being land of the giants stuff compared to them. Heck, it was only a broken top rope that prevented them from taking the belts from the Hart Foundation..It was destiny..

[@yanlevesque3392]

C'mon it's Jannetty the coward that tried to escape through the window !!

[@josherickson5630]

No matter how good Shawn got I always said to myself, "but you betrayed Marty."

[@uwasntthere8218]

“Swanyay he dont need Jannetty”

[@markhaughton209]

Shawn Michaels has left the building

[@justinwood6407]

Only "The Brain" can instinctively say something about Jannetty jumping through the glass on his own. RIP Bobby

[@alfredoolvera2469]

First heel turn i ever seen as a child and tbh is the best turn in history! Just was jaw dropping... Didn't get turns like this almost ever in those days.

[@Chynasyndrome83]

I saw it as a kid too, back when I thought wrestling was real 😢 I was scarred for life 😂lol

[@alfredoolvera2469]

@Chynasyndrome83 Marty ended up just fine. Heel turn for the ages 😎

[@Chynasyndrome83]

@Alfredo Olvera yes but I still get PTSD lol why Shawn why 😫🤣

[@snookralston1031]

I remember the heel turn as a kid when Shawn super kicked marty than threw him into the window, I was devastated they were one of my all time favorite tag teams. Good memories thanks for the video👍

[@wolfieform9514]

I absolutely bloody love wrestling bio's 👍😎👍

[@JLvatron]

Sucking up with European talk?

[@HellhammerSS]

I remember watching it and seeing Shawn come out in all black, I was like "uh oh..."

[@truckdriver402]

Same here!

[@CarlosHernandez-yf3jv]

Back in 1987👍

[@HellhammerSS]

Yep, RIP WWF Superstars of Wrestling...☹️

[@adamrenfrow]

92

[@darleneparsons8536]

He was one of my favorite wrestlers back in those days. He was entertaining.

[@wilfredoesqueda]

Shawn Michaels improved in 1994. He put on a great show at the 94 royal rumble and at Wrestlemania 10 he became the " Show Stopper ".

[@dontgetittwizted]

Brilliant. I remember the barbershop incident like it was yesterday. Loved a heel shawn!

[@apark02]

Imagine HBK coming down to ringside to Sensational Sherry's version of his theme music in today's PG era?

[@Jacari1992]

When the Teardrop Suplex and Piledriver were the finishers.

[@DinGrogu16]

Love The Rockers mullet 🤣 I remember watching the barber shop segment as a small child and being stunned but excited. I thought it was so cool, haha.

[@kalel311superman9]

one of my favorite wrestlelers growing up and the Rockers were my favorite tag team

[@thepalatrpro]

I still remember being a kid and watching him put Marty through that window on Saturday morning Wrestling Challenge. Epic!

[@Taseradict]

That story about Randy Savage breaking up a fight between HBK and Marty Jannetty over Rowdy Piper's love at a bar is hilarious

[@BoboMcBooboy]

Another gem. This channel is amazing for reliving the glory days

[@theSPECIALbrew74]

Wait wait wait!!!!’Shawn Michaels has left the building!!!! There’s a reason for greatness

[@Caolan114]

"It's better to be pissed off than pissed on" -Shawn Michaels

[@jottoberry4503]

Sounds like the story of the rockers could be an episode of dark side of the ring

[@ryguy2482]

Jotto Berry it isn’t that dark at all just a typical break up. No real crazy stuff happened.

[@haroldhall1517]

The dark side of it is jannettys backstory and how Michael's was able to essentially get away with murder during the mid 90s. The people have a dark side and the breakup ended dark for 1 guy and gold for the other... hell I think it would be a great episode, the dark side of the ring is how promising tag teams can alter for the worst and best of each others career... idk it's a dark side of fame and business not many tag teams experienced. 2 promising careers went completely opposite, one man was ruined, one man became a legend

[@solascripturaPR1517]

Shout out to Wrestlamia (another great wrestling channel).

[@jreed7125]

Well this is a delightful surprise, WrestlingBios! And yet again, the intro music is on point

[@pagey8282]

One word......LEGEND

[@nyy4evr656]

Dude I listened to this Entrance over and over my man! Amazing work as always friend!

[@SectionATE617]

I'll never forget the barbershop segment! I thought wrestling was real back then my heart stopped when shawn threw Marty through the window

[@andrewthompson3291]

To Actually think if Shawn Michaels And Marty Jennetty left to go to WCW they would of become just another jobber tag team and we would have never of had Shawn Michaels The Show Stopper The Icon And D Generation X would not have happened

[@jeff-8655]

I always thought janetty could of join Dx

[@terrencefail4544]

He could've pulled it off. Have him act like he's against dx but reveal that he saw the success of Micheal and decides to join

[@sappyfoot]

doesn’t matter anyway because we still got big show, booker t, ahmed johnson, titus o’neil & ‘the ratings bonanza’ david otunga who are the greatest of all time

[@mattmorrison9379]

That sweet shin music lol

[@khanpaniora5346]

@@mattmorrison9379 the rockers finished moves sweet chin music

[@bradleybailey6254]

Loved The Rockers and loved HBK after the break-up. One of the best to ever do it.

[@billkuhl4051]

In my opinion he is the best wrestler of all time

[@horrorfan4-life689]

I second that

[@mustaquimahmedtanbeer2437]

may be thats not an opinion, thats a fact.

[@Blitzo2876]

Close second is the ultimate warrior.

[@joemamaluke]

@@Blitzo2876 Even if a troll attempt, your post is retarded.

[@dailydriven2356]

Has had the most highest rated matches than anyone else

[@lovernotafighter6444]

Thank Wrestling Bios, for every wrestling video that you post. You really do help bring back a sense of nostalgia that only the WWF superstars can bring. Thank you 😁

[@paigewatsonx1512]

Don't care how difficult he was to work with,HBK has to be one of the toughest hardworkers in the business!

[@timbartschwolfman]

"The boyhood dream has come true" Vince McMahon on HBK winning the WWE Title at WrestleMania 12

[@dailydriven2356]

Great moment

[@LadellTurner]

My favorite match of all time! I cried as a kid when he won! Great days.

[@ethanwilkins662]

Iconic line

[@King_Cova]

I'll be honest growing up, I wasnt the biggest fan of shawn Michaels, then I remember kurt angle and shawn Michaels and it blew my mind away.

[@ericseitzler81]

Dude you are extremely good at your job doing wrestling bio's,never ever stop.your love for this strange universe is so apparent.

[@sirmang9032]

It still amazes me that even though Jannetty carried the Rockers, Shawn became the huge superstar and Jannetty...a jobber.

[@davekemp1808]

I wouldn't say that Jannetty carried Shawn. I mean, if that was true, wouldn't it make sense that Vince called Marty instead of Shawn with a singles' career offer.

[@KoolKumasi]

@@davekemp1808 They both got offered single pushes, Marty just messed up his.

[@dancook5057]

Because shawn played the game. Marty was the better worker

[@davekemp1808]

@@KoolKumasi According to Shawn's book & dvd documentary, Shawn got his offer first. If that's incorrect, he'd get his ass sued off like there was no tomorrow.

[@davekemp1808]

@@dancook5057 They were about even back then. The difference was Shawn was charismatic & Marty wasn't, Shawn was a natural on the mic while Marty felt like Bret Hart the 2nd (aka his promos felt forced). Also, you can find a podcast with Buddy Rose talking about Shawn, where Shawn would bring food over to Buddy's place so he could watch their matches, dissect what worked & what didn't. That's what makes Shawn the great that he was/is. I've never heard anything of the sort about Marty, all you ever hear was Marty going out to drink & get messed up. I'm not slamming the guy, he's got his demons. I'm just pointing out Shawn's dedication & love to wrestling.

[@imogenaris1697]

When Shawn came out in the biker jacket you knew it was on!!! I'm biased, but Shawn Michael's coming out party was the greatest heel launch of the 90's! It arguably surpassed the Snuka/Piper moment. At that point The Barber Shop should have just closed shop for good. Man. After Steamboat & Savage, Shawn raised the IC belt to even greater heights. Major props to his gear designer. He rocked the white & gold with the IC belt like royalty. He killed it in black & silver. You knew it wouldn't last, but the pair of Shawn & Sheri ( R.I.P. ) was gold! There was no stopp'in "The Show Stopper".

[@dannysart3990]

The broken window heard around the world.

[@dominicomegon4714]

Only things I can compare this to is Hogan's heel turn and Brock breaking Takers streak. I think Vince underestimated how over The Rockers were. People were freaking devastated for weeks I remember.

[@henrydorval2223]

Janetty tried to dive to thru the window to escape

[@spockb1186]

That was stupid though. Shawn would have suspended for that , especially when he blames Marty for his mistakes the last few matches over Nasty Boys, Legion of Doom and Beverly Brothers.

[@gzyang1986]

As a kid that barbershop scene was so real, took me years later to figure out it was "fake".

[@kinghiggins5021]

That was the most iconic moment in WWE history When the heartbreak kid Shawn Michael's Rockers break up When he threw Marty Through the Brutus the Barber beefcake Barbershop window Deserved it

[@A..D..D]

Marty said he was in taks with Magnum TA but It turned out to really be "Jumpin" Joey Maggs..... HAHAHAHAHA

[@dominicomegon4714]

I'm sure Shawn probably misheard Marty at first. 💁‍♂️

[@carbon.the.christ5626]

lol

[@marcelo06]

God I love this channel... reliving my late 80s/90s era I was obsessed with

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

One of the best wrestling KZbin channels ever 👏

[@trotskii7941]

Another great clip. Bought back some chilling memories of that Barber Shop "altercation". 😂 Sid Justice's appearance around the same time still scars me, also. He went completely mental.

[@taylormademyself89]

I've said b4 and will say it again my fav part of a day is when wrestling bios comes out with new vid been that way since vid #1 😎🤘🙏

[@grungyperry7530]

One of the best KZbinrs around imo.

[@d1.KT1]

Grungy Perry it’s not an opinion it’s a fact

[@taylormademyself89]

@@d1.KT1 damn right my dude 😎🤘

[@heathera6513]

Thank you for doing this video!!! I was 12 years old when the Rockers broke up and they were my favorite wrestlers by far!! I was in love with them! I was so heartbroken and devastated when Shawn threw Marty through the barber shop window!! I remember being upset after the survivor series and it ruining my thanksgiving dinner when they had their fight! I was so torn because I was so mad at Shawn for doing that to Marty, but he also was one of my favorite wrestlers. At 12 years old, I didn't understand that it is a story line. We also didn't have the internet to get the "real stories" I recorded the Barber Shop segment on a VHS tape and I watched it over and over and over.

[@jayxtacee5695]

I knew he was gonna be a star when I saw him in The Rockers, he had charisma

[@troyking464]

Never forget the day that damn coward Jannetty tried to escape Michaels by diving through the barbershop window.

[@eyemmeohigho]

I kicked my brother out a window recreating this moment in real like lol

[@Kiddingyoumust]

@@eyemmeohigho you kicked him?

[@alainaduh8569]

@@Kiddingyoumust shawn michals style

[@extrafreshswaqqx]

bios back at it again! Everytime I hear about Marty I think about Kurt Angle’s freestyle against John Cena. Bios can we get a Kurt Angle vid!

[@hutchdaniel2703]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/hKm5Y4SDeqqlqNU Kurt Angle video

[@trueSconox]

and in stead of ! you should use a ? . it just fits better and shows a bit more politeness.

[@theSPECIALbrew74]

Mr Monday night, the showstopper, the icon that can still go” is a name Shawn gave to mock wwc and it rocked

[@mjl221]

Usually your videos are just an excellent recap of stuff I know / lived through (I've been a fan for 35 years). But even though I watched / lived through this period of wrestling history, there were certain details you revealed that I didn't know / never heard. Thank you! Now I want to read Shawn's book. LOL You're THE BEST at creating these kind of videos! 👍

[@mikebrady86]

Sherri was fit

[@HellhammerSS]

She was a hottie, given the rather butch look of women back then that were in wrestling.

[@johnnymccann368]

Wrestling bios Could you do a Shawn Michaels series like the recent undertaker amd hulk hogan videos?

[@vaadaenmacchi]

His theme song is on my iPod when I workout

[@stewartmcrae8007]

Shawn is the greatest of all time

[@RebelNiki]

fact!

[@sappyfoot]

no. that’s booker t

[@stewartmcrae8007]

@@sappyfoot there’s something seriously wrong with you

[@sappyfoot]

@@stewartmcrae8007 no

[@sappyfoot]

@@stewartmcrae8007 your choice of words to slander someone that there’s something wrong with them is interesting considering booker t is black. and here’s you saying shawn is the greatest & he just happens to be white

[@brookburrell554]

Breaking up the rockers was a blessing 4 Shawn's career Marty Jannetty was dead weight he was holding HBK Back

[@niners2162]

Exactly

[@aaronhumes2615]

As a little child I was soo blown away by the barbershop kick when it happened I loved the rockers

[@sherry7312]

He cut an amazing promo at Royal Rumble 1992

[@theOneOnlyTed]

I remember the original broadcast of the Barber Shop segment. It was surprising, it was shocking, and I remember wanting to see them one on one. I loved the storytelling before I knew the point of it. Damned good television.

[@asc6911]

I always loved how tag teams back then had the same attires but with slight differences. Even down to the hair colour. Also Shawn's WM8 attire was awesome and made me become a fan of him.

[@masonrahal6980]

Thank you for posting these mini docs. In these trying times, I sincerely look for forward to your work. Be safe.

[@mattmorrison9379]

Shawn Micheals was the man.

[@joepapi619]

your videos get auto recomended to me when im at peak curiosity for the subject, wow, thanks

[@deontyler960]

I truly enjoyed this and thank you for putting this video together and sharing it with us. 😀🙏😀

[@blindterrytucci2752]

The idea of Macho covering for Marty might seem far fetched but these guys made their living working people and putting themselves in dangerous/illegal situations. This probably happened a lot more than we would think. And if you watch the clip of Marty explaining it, it’s one of the few times where he comes across as genuine when recalling the past.

[@TheAutistWhisperer]

The Showstopper!

[@dominicomegon4714]

THE MAIN EVENT!

[@davidrobertson6014]

When I was a young kid I remember sensational sherry was one of the first girls I ever was attracted to lol.

[@LadellTurner]

Lol

[@niners2162]

Ew hahahaha

[@jets4687]

Great video as always! Absolutely love these little documentaries especially ones from when I was a kid in the 90s!

[@Dat_Dude_Danny1]

This was excellent! Great presentation, kept me entertained all of the way thru.

[@laura12345se6]

Omg the intro gave me so much nostalgia! I’m here singing away! #memories #thegoodolddays

[@tjstod2194]

You make the BEST wrestling videos. I binged watched nearly all of them this last week!

[@monsterbrandman]

Thanks for making these videos. I can't tell you what happened on Raw but I remember this like yesterday.

[@wolfieform9514]

Another absolutely brilliant really really really enjoyable bio 😎👍

[@mathiusjones7265]

Man, your wrestling videos are quickly becoming my favourite on KZbin. Great insight and detail. Keep it up!

[@johnnymccann368]

We should stand out... say every monday at 8pm.... and clap together for wrestling bios! Amazing

[@Mojames1984]

This is the best wrestling content on KZbin. It’s like reliving the best of WWF from my childhood

[@Bikerz7]

Really good content as always! This has really become my go-to wrestling channel. Keep up the good work, my friend! 👍 Would love to see a video about Magnum T.A in the future if you haven't done one already. Best regards!

[@spiderphil]

Lol, what was your first wrestling bio show?

[@RyuHoshi1985]

Man you always find the best remixes of the wrestlers theme’s

[@damianpriest196]

Man you don’t miss!

[@tylerdaviau4069]

Another banger my friend! I've listened to all of your videos. Sometimes multiple times. Keep up the great work!

[@themollymachine]

After watching a bunch of your videos you made wrestling cool to me again and I'm 37... I haven't thought that in 20 years.

[@jundecastro9709]

Favorite my mother the rockers in 80's my favorite shawn michaael in a great wwf wwe

[@GabrielRodriguez-ey7kt]

I was about 3-4 yrs old when the kick happened. I don’t remember anything else about this day except for that moment

[@jordanware7489]

Keep them coming bro, you’re the man!

[@conniecarroll7222]

Great video I had read Shawn's book but you gave more background information on the Rockers break up. Thank you.

[@ericdravenX00X]

I thought the Shawn slapping Jannetty moment. And how he stood in the middle just basking in the reaction of the crowd of his heel turn.. Was was a huge moment for the early years of WWF and of course the Barbershop incident was even more intense.. I also used too play with my Rockers Shawn Michaels action figure but never was able too find the Marty Jannetty's action figure.. As usual Great video.

[@aS-df8zj]

Shawn was the first wrestler I learned to hate as a kid....for his heel-work I will always love him.

[@ManNamedEd]

Fantastic video!! Damn you do your research!! Loved this video!!

[@ninji5226]

These vids remind me if why i was a huge fan back in the day (I was born in 81 so i was all about it in the 80's and early 90's) and also why i dont care anymore. I actually miss the cheezyness and gimicks. Outstanding work all around. And fyi, the rockers breakup was tramatic for me as a kid, they were my favorite tag team.

[@heartbreakkid2]

thank you so much been waiting for this one!!!!! hbk the goat!!!!

[@mrowley7300]

One of the greatest of all time and in my top 5

[@vorsknie5557]

love your videos. thanks a lot for the work.

[@fuzzluvver69]

I remember being really annoyed with the commentary team at Survivor Series 1991 when they kept saying that Shawn was abandoning Marty, and I was like 'No dudes, he got pinned, he was eliminated!', which he was.

[@stevenramirezmistersmokes6379]

Shawn Michaels#1

[@ToroBlancoPR]

Me at work: recently WB has been really impressive. Me coming home: for God’s sake this is insane!

[@spookerredmenace3950]

always love your bio's so detailed

[@MrReese]

I never heard that version of his theme before, awesome!