10 Things You Didn't Know Shawn Michaels Did After Retiring From ...

There are few 1990s pro wrestlers more influential than Shawn Michaels, the former tag team specialist turned singles star and sex symbol. Dubbed “Mr. WrestleMania,” Michaels' role in WWE’s “Attitude Era” made him both synonymous with the company and time period thanks to his legendary feuds with Bret Hart and Stone Cold Steve Austin, as well as his formation of D-Generation X with Triple H.

In his time, Shawn Michaels had a five-year mid-career retirement in 1998, followed by a second retirement in 2010. Since then, he’s become known for his special appearances on WWE television as well as his backstage role in WWE’s developmental brand, NXT. Here’s what the Heartbreak Kid was up to during his retirements that you might not know about.

Related: 5 Current Wrestlers That Would Have Great Matches With Shawn Michaels (& 5 That Would Flop)

10 Found Religion

In 1998, a severe back injury sustained during a Casket Match with the Undertaker forced Shawn Michaels into an early (and thankfully temporary) retirement. At the time, Michaels was also suffering from personal issues with mental health and substance abuse, and during his retirement, eventually became a Born-Again Christian. It was a big life change that occurred soon after his wife Rebeca became pregnant with their first child and she suggested Michaels come to church with her. Since then, Michaels has been very vocal about his faith and makes it part of his public persona.

9 Wrote a Book

If there are two things retired wrestlers love to do, it’s start a podcast and write books. Shawn Michaels hasn’t started a podcast (yet), but he has written a book. His first book, 2005’s Heartbreak and Triumph covers Michaels’ life up until his first retirement. In 2015, HarperCollins’ faith-based publishing arm Zongervan published his second book, Wrestling for My Life: The Legend, the Reality, and the Faith of a WWE Superstar concerns his newfound religion and how he incorporated his faith in his wrestling career during his return from retirement.

8 Married a Nitro Girl

We just mentioned that Shawn Michael’s wife was instrumental in his becoming a Born-Again Christian, but did you know she was also part of the world of pro wrestling? Known as Whisper, Rebecca Cursi Hickenbottom was one of WCW’s Nitro Girls, dancers who’d perform routines for the live crowds during the ad breaks. According to Michaels’ book Heartbreak and Triumph, the two married in Las Vegas in 1999, at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. That’s right, one of those Vegas chapels where Elvis impersonators officiate the wedding ceremonies.

Related: The 10 Worst Things Shawn Michaels Did (In Wrestling)

7 Did Some Acting

Aside from the obligatory acting on USA Network shows like Pacific Blue and wrestler-friendly shows like Baywatch while he was wrestling, Shawn Michaels has taken a handful of acting gigs in films since his 2010 retirement. His first film, The Resurrection of Gavin Stone, was a faith-based drama produced by WWE, but after former “Million Dollar Man” Ted DiBiase convinced him that non-religious roles were okay, he starred a couple of secular WWE films: Pure Country: Pure Heart and The Marine 6: Close Quarters. In 2019, Michaels starred in 90 Feet From Home in a rather heavy dramatic role as the abusive stepfather to the main character.

6 Befriended the Pittsburgh Penguins

In the 2015-16 hockey season, the Pittsburgh Penguins were finding success with a line consisting of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino, and Phil Kessel called the HBK Line due to the initials of their last names. Because HBK is also the common abbreviation of “Heartbreak Kid,” Shawn Michaels found himself getting involved in hockey by accepting an invite from the Penguins to Game 5 of NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals, where the Penguins took on the Tampa Bay Lighting. There, Michaels not only got to see the HBK Line in action but also got to taste the city’s local favorites.

5 Repped for the San Antonio Spurs

You may know that Shawn Michaels is from San Antonio, Texas, but did you know that he’s an avid fan of the San Antonio Spurs? He’s a big fan going back to the 1970s when he’d attend games with his father. To help promote the team’s big game against the LA Clippers, Michaels agreed to star in a hype video comparing the NBA team’s hard work to the similar hard work of San Antonio’s blue-collar workers. If there’s anything Shawn Michaels is great at, it’s hyping up big matches.

4 Became a Spokesperson for Herbal Snuff

Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff and Pouches claim to be “America's Original and Best-Selling Tobacco-Free Smokeless Brand” and in 2014 they entered a partnership with Shawn Michaels, who supplied the 100% believable quote: “Smokey Mountain Herbal Snuff has been a great product that I’ve incorporated into my life. As someone who has spent their life and career dedicated to staying healthy, as well as being cognizant of what I put in my body, Smokey Mountain fits into that category perfectly.” Michaels even recorded a testimonial video on YouTube and hyped them up at NASCAR races.

Related: 5 Reasons Why Shawn Michaels Was DX's Most Successful Member (& 5 Why It's Actually Triple H)

3 Trained Some of Your Favorite Current Wrestlers

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During his first retirement, Shawn Michaels and a handful of other wrestlers opened up The Shawn Michaels Wrestling Academy (now known as the Texas Wrestling Academy), where he trained future WWE talent like (The) Brian Kendrick, Paul London, and Lance Cade, not to mention TNA/Lucha Underground’s Hernandez and the most famous of his students, Daniel Bryan. The most surprising alum of the Academy, however, is retired Japanese wrestler Milano Collection A.T., currently seen as the New Japan Pro Wrestling commentator who loves to brandish Evil’s light-up toy scythe.

2 Made Ric Flair Mad

One of the most emotional moments in modern wrestling history occurred during the Ric Flair retirement match at 2008’s WrestleMania XXIV, where Shawn Michaels audibly uttered “I’m sorry, I love you” before putting Flair out of his misery with a Sweet Chin Music. Over a decade later, following a recent health scare, Flair gave a video update about his status before pivoting to taking Shawn Michaels to task for comments Michaels made during a recent ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about Flair. Maybe it’s time for Michaels to pull out those famous five words again.

1 Hosted a Hunting Show

MacMillan River Adventures is a hunting camp owned and operated by Shawn Michaels’ friend and hunting buddy Keith Mark, and together the pair host a show on The Outdoor Channel called Shawn Michaels’ MacMillan River Adventures. The show features Michaels and Mark as they travel the world, hunting big game in various locations and giving viewers a taste of the hunting lifestyle. In 2012, the show won a Golden Moose Award for Best Conservation Show, which appears to be an award given by The Outdoor Channel. It’ll look great next to all those Slammys.

Next: 10 Things Shawn Michaels Never Did In Wrestling