Bret Hart Vs. Shawn Michaels Complete History | Wrestling Timelines

June 3, 1987 - Shawn Debuts

The Rockers Shawn Michaels Marty Jannetty
WWE

Shawn Michaels, per Cagematch, makes his debut for Vince McMahon. Alongside Midnight Rockers tag team partner Marty Jannetty, he goes over Jose Estrada and Jimmy Jack Funk in a dark match.

This run won’t last even two days; this is the only match. Both Shawn and Marty are almost immediately fired when, according to Shawn, he is teased that he doesn’t know how to party after the show. He smashes a bottle over his own head in a juvenile stunt designed to prove otherwise. This displeases Vince McMahon. Is Shawn downplaying the incident - in 1987, it’s surely impossible to get fired for a wild night out - or is this the sort of stuff only top, money-drawing stars get away with?

In either event, it’s an appropriate start to life, almost mythical, knowing what will happen years later. In a premonition of 1997, Shawn’s behavior is wildly unprofessional.

Later, Bret will freely admit to recreational drug use and extra-marital affairs. Bret was no angel; very few in pro wrestling were. Michaels, though, was destructive, out-of-control, unable to leave the party when the sun came up.

He could be described as a degenerate.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!