Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story

World Wrestling Entertainment fans think they know "The Heartbreak Kid." He's "The Showstopper" who pushes his high-flying abilities to the limit in the squared circle, on ladders, and in steel cages. He's the company's first "Grand Slam" champion. And of course, he's forever the guy who conspired with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon to screw Bret "Hitman" Hart out of the WWE Championship in Montreal at Survivor Series on November 9, 1997.

But that's the side "HBK" has allowed you to see...until now. Heartbreak & Triumph: The Shawn Michaels Story introduces us to Michael Shawn Hickenbottom ("Everyone called me Shawn"), the youngest of four children whose "really conservative upbringing" made him shy and "afraid that people wouldn't like me if I showed who I really was." But upon discovering Southwest Championship Wrestling (SWCW) on TV one Saturday night, the preteen Hickenbottom realized instantly what he wanted to become, and years later would convince his father -- a colonel in the U.S. Air Force -- to let him drop out of college and pursue his dream.

From there, Hickenbottom fully recounts the events that led to "Shawn Michaels's" tutelage under Mexican wrestler Jose Lothario; working matches at Mid-South Wrestling under the guidance of Terry Taylor and the Rock 'n' Roll Express's Robert Gibson & Ricky Morton; flying high with Marty Jannetty as "The Midnight Rockers" in the American Wrestling Association (AWA); and how a barroom confrontation in Buffalo almost prevented the tandem from ever joining the World Wrestling Federation. "The Rockers" would drop the "Midnight" and climb to the top of a tough World Wrestling Federation tag-team division in the late 1980s, though Michaels confesses how a "fear of abandonment" stagnated his desire to participate in singles competition, pressured him into a marriage he wasn't ready for, and drove him to drinking heavily and downing pills "just to get through the day."

With the impact of some "Sweet Chin Music" (Michaels's Superkick finisher), Heartbreak & Triumph expresses the "sour note" that dissolved Michaels's partnership with Jannetty and started his transformation into "The Heartbreak Kid." You'll learn firsthand of the "unfair" allegation that brought about HBK's classic Ladder match with Razor Ramon at WrestleMania X ("I lost the match, but I made my career"); the incident in Syracuse that set the stage for Shawn's unbelievable "comeback" victories at Royal Rumble 1996, and in the Iron Man WWE Championship match with Bret Hart at WrestleMania XII; and how his escalating backstage feud with Hart inadvertently built toward the formation of "D-Generation X," as well as the first-ever "Hell in a Cell" contest against The Undertaker at Badd Blood in October 1997.

Beyond the squared circle, Michaels clears the air about his days running with "The Kliq" -- Kevin Nash ("Diesel"), Scott Hall ("Razor Ramon"), Paul Levesque ("Triple H"), and Sean Waltman ("The 1-2-3 Kid") -- their contributions to WWE's wildly successful "Attitude" era, and the consequences of their uncharacteristic Madison Square Garden "Curtain Call" in May 1996. And for the first time anywhere, Michaels shoots completely straight about his role in "the biggest scandal in wrestling history," the infamous "Montreal Screwjob" at Survivor Series 1997.

While reliving the crippling back injury that forced him to retire in his prime following his WWE Championship loss at WrestleMania XIV, Michaels credits the new loves in his life -- his second wife Rebecca, his children, and his newfound faith -- with giving him the strength to kick his habit, recover physically, and make a jubilant return to the ring at SummerSlam 2002 (in a Street Fight against best friend Triple H, no less). Now back on top and doing what he enjoys most, the WWE Superstar regards Heartbreak & Triumph as the perfect means "to review my life, and attempt to figure out how I became the person I am."

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review:
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

HYPOCRITE, 2008-10-12
All I'm gonna say is this:

In the book, Shawn says one reason he became upset at Bret was he felt Bret was being paid too much, or actually, Shawn was jealous that Bret was making more than he was. Why? I don't know really, because Bret had been in the WWF A LOT longer (going back to before Wrestlemania 1!), had held the tag title, IC title, and World title and had been the face of the company for a while now after Hogan had left....so exactly why was Shawn feeling Bret was making too much??? Why didn't Bret deserve his salary??? Shawn never answers or explains this, and instead felt he should be making the same if not more than Bret.

BUT, Shawn had no problem with the Undertaker (seemingly the only guy he was afraid of backstage) making the amount of whatever his salary was (it could of been more or less than Shawn's). Shawn says in the book he had no problem with the Undertaker contract, that was between him and Vince...but he does have a problem with Bret's???? Again, that logic is never explained, and only leads to reader to conclude that Shawn is/was jealous of Bret and had it out for him. He's a total hypocrite, enough said.

AND to rub more fuel to this fire....Shawn didn't wanna drop the belt to Bret at WM13, so he forfeits the title....but when Bret didn't wanna drop the belt to him at Survivor Series 1997 (and Bret was fine in doing this as his contract gave him CREATIVE CONTROL over his character the last 30 days of his contract) all of a sudden Shawn goes on and says Bret was hurting the business and doing the wrong thing. Once again, only word that comes to mind is HYPOCRITE.

Screw Shawn. Go try to brainwash someone else because I see right through you.


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Heart Break Jerk, 2008-10-10
This guy is a jerk and always will be a jerk The people Shawn Michaels screwed over is a long list. He was never a big draw as champion and had a mediocre arsenal of moves. Grant it Michaels was a good punching bag like Ricky Morton of the Rock N Roll Express. But could never carry a match like Hart, Sting, Flair or Steamboat.

He blames Bret well hell he made Bret insane with his antics. HHH as well is responsible with his daddy in law Vince for Montreal. I'm glad his body is falling apart. He wants to come across as a so-called Christian. He's like most religous people full of it. He just does to keep his ex-stripper wife around. This guy is pure trash!!!!!!!!


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

I love this book!, 2008-07-11
I have had a crush on Shawn Michaels for close to 20 years, and this book gave me insight into the life of the Heartbreak Kid. I laughed and cried and laughed again. This has to be one of the greatest books I have ever read. A true wrestling classic.


0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Must Read for Wrestling Fans of the 90's!, 2008-01-12
Excellent read for any fan of modern day wrestling. The Montreal Screw Job, the birth of Attitude, The Kliq - it's all here - the man who lived through the booming 90's of wrestling. I have read most major wrestling books of the past 10 years and this one is excellent. Shawn Micheals is honest and revealing in this great account of his life. I cannot suggest this high enough. Great book.


0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Honeslty, among the best books I've ever read., 2007-08-25
This book is really amazing. Once I received it, I couldn't let it down. Like honestly, I think that every Shawn Michaels' fan needs to get this book.
I love Shawn & I am sure you do to. So come on people! Buy the best book ever.

Shaikha =]

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