The duo plodded along, eventually splitting on December 2, 1991 during an incident on Brutus "The Barber" Beefcake's televised "Barber Shop" talk show segment. Michaels superkicked Jannetty and threw him through a glass window on the 'shop' set. Jannetty vanished from the WWF and Michaels turned heel as "The Boy Toy". His nickname was later changed to "The Heartbreak Kid", at Curt Hennig's suggestion.
In his new gimmick as a vain, cocky heel, he was put together with mirror-carrying manager "Sensational" Sherri, who, according to the storyline, had become infatuated with him. Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music "Sexy Boy."
During that period, Michaels normally wrestled during the first half of house shows, and had his departure announced with the words "Shawn Michaels has left the building" (alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building").
Michaels failed to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in July 1992, even losing the WWF's first ever Ladder match against him. Still, Michaels was beginning to get over as a heel. He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith during Saturday Night's Main Event on October 27, 1992. Shortly thereafter, he faced — and lost to — future nemesis Bret Hart, for the WWF Championship in the main event of the 1992 Survivor Series.
Michaels and Sherri split at this point, and Jannetty quickly reappeared, leading to several memorable matches. After sneaking past Tatanka in early 1993, Michaels lost his Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on Monday Night RAW on May 17, 1993. He then regained it on June 6, 1993 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel.
After a much-hyped but ultimately disappointing feud with Mr. Perfect, Michaels quit the WWF in September 1993. It was announced that Michaels had failed to defend his belt enough times during a set period; in reality, he had been suspended for testing positive for steroids — a charge that Michaels denies to this day.
After turning down WCW's advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned to WWF television for November's 1993 Survivor Series, substituting for the arrested Jerry Lawler in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen Hart.
He soon entered a hot feud with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacated Intercontinental Title during Michaels' absence. Since Michaels had never been defeated in the ring for the title, he claimed to be the rightful champion and even carried around his old title belt.
This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two at WrestleMania X. Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's belts suspended above a ladder in the ring. This match won "Match of the Year" awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It also earned Michaels a reputation of being the "Innovator of the Ladder Match", when in reality it was Bret Hart who brought in the idea two years previously from the Stampede Wrestling promotion.
Michaels battled various injuries over the next few months, and soon launched the "Heartbreak Hotel" TV talk show segment, mainly shown on WWF Superstars.
In his new gimmick as a vain, cocky heel, he was put together with mirror-carrying manager "Sensational" Sherri, who, according to the storyline, had become infatuated with him. Sherri even sang the first version of his new theme music "Sexy Boy."
During that period, Michaels normally wrestled during the first half of house shows, and had his departure announced with the words "Shawn Michaels has left the building" (alluding to the phrase "Elvis has left the building").
Michaels failed to win the WWF Intercontinental Championship from Bret Hart in July 1992, even losing the WWF's first ever Ladder match against him. Still, Michaels was beginning to get over as a heel. He won the WWF Intercontinental Championship from "The British Bulldog" Davey Boy Smith during Saturday Night's Main Event on October 27, 1992. Shortly thereafter, he faced — and lost to — future nemesis Bret Hart, for the WWF Championship in the main event of the 1992 Survivor Series.
Michaels and Sherri split at this point, and Jannetty quickly reappeared, leading to several memorable matches. After sneaking past Tatanka in early 1993, Michaels lost his Intercontinental Championship to Jannetty on Monday Night RAW on May 17, 1993. He then regained it on June 6, 1993 with the help of his debuting "bodyguard" (and off-air friend) Diesel.
After a much-hyped but ultimately disappointing feud with Mr. Perfect, Michaels quit the WWF in September 1993. It was announced that Michaels had failed to defend his belt enough times during a set period; in reality, he had been suspended for testing positive for steroids — a charge that Michaels denies to this day.
After turning down WCW's advances, Michaels returned to the WWF and made several appearances in the United States Wrestling Association during a WWF/USWA cross-promotion. He returned to WWF television for November's 1993 Survivor Series, substituting for the arrested Jerry Lawler in a match pitting himself and three of Lawler's "Knights" against Bret, Bruce, Keith, and Owen Hart.
He soon entered a hot feud with Razor Ramon, who had won the vacated Intercontinental Title during Michaels' absence. Since Michaels had never been defeated in the ring for the title, he claimed to be the rightful champion and even carried around his old title belt.
This feud culminated in a ladder match between the two at WrestleMania X. Michaels lost the match, which featured both his and Ramon's belts suspended above a ladder in the ring. This match won "Match of the Year" awards from Pro Wrestling Illustrated and the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. It also earned Michaels a reputation of being the "Innovator of the Ladder Match", when in reality it was Bret Hart who brought in the idea two years previously from the Stampede Wrestling promotion.
Michaels battled various injuries over the next few months, and soon launched the "Heartbreak Hotel" TV talk show segment, mainly shown on WWF Superstars.
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