THE STORY OF ROCKERS
Credit: World Wrestling Entertainment
The Rockers -- Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty -- weren't the biggest duo in sports-entertainment, but what they lacked in size, they more than made up for in charisma and sex appeal. Shortly after their WWE debut, The Rockers became regulars on WWE programming, dancing their way to the ring with the loud beat of fast-paced drums playing over the arena loudspeakers. Once the bell rang, however, their breath-taking aerial skills made them instant favorites with WWE fans. However, it was their glistening smiles and handsome good looks that made them even more popular with the female fans.
Just five months after their WWE debut, Michaels and Jannetty appeared on their first pay-per-view -- Survivor Series 1988 -- and it was there that The Rockers proved that they were the tag team specialists they claimed to be in the months leading up to the event. On the biggest stage of their young careers, Michaels and Jannetty stood toe to toe with such great tag teams as Demolition and the Brain Busters, and even eliminated the Bolsheviks from the match before being disqualified in controversial fashion.
After Survivor Series, Michaels and Jannetty continued to wow spectators the world over. The flashy duo racked up win after win, including a resounding victory over Haku and the mighty Barbarian at WrestleMania VII. Despite an impressive won/loss record, The Rockers never could win the big one, and as their dream of winning the World Tag Team Championship became less of a reality, Michaels began to question if he ever would wear WWE gold.
Having been a WWE SUperstar for nearly four years, Michaels began to reassess his career. Without any major championships on his resume, it appeared as though his path to stardom, once so clear cut, had become shrouded with doubt. Michaels felt he had just one option - go out and grab the spotlight he desired. Michaels knew that he had to do it on his own. The Rockers had run their course, and his allegiance with Jannetty was now actually holding him back.
In January 1992, Michaels and Jannetty appeared as guests on Brutus Beefcake's interview segment, The Barber Shop, and it was there that Michaels finally let his intentions be known. After Beefcake asked about rumored friction within The Rockers, Michaels claimed that all was well with the team. Michaels then offered his hand to Jannetty, followed by a warm embrace. Seconds after their hug, Michaels shocked WWE fans when he delivered Sweet Chin Music to his longtime partner. Then, in one of the most shocking acts in WWE history, Michaels threw Jannetty through the glass Barber Shop window, leaving him bloody and motionless on the arena floor. The move symbolized the end of The Rockers and the birth of one of the greatest singles careers in the history of sports entertainment - the career of HBK.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Credit: Obsessed with wrestling
NWA: Central States - The "Midnight" Rockers
Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels formed a very exciting high-flying tag team known as the Midnight Rockers..
May 15, 1986: The Midnight Rockers defeated Brad & Bart Batten for the Central States Tag Team titles..
May 22, 1986: The Batten Twins defeated The Midnight Rockers to reclaim the Central States Tag Team titles..
American Wrestling Association - The "Midnight" Rockers
April 20, 1986 - WrestleRock: Doug Somers & Buddy Rose defeated The Midnight Rockers (Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels)..
June 28, 1986 - Battle by the Bay: Marty Jannetty & Shawn Michaels & Curt Hennig beat Rose & Somers & Alexis Smirnoff..
December 25, 1986 - Brawl in St. Paul: The Midnight Rockers defeated Buddy Rose & Doug Somers in a "Steel Cage" match..
January 27, 1987: The Midnight Rockers captured the AWA World Tag Team title by defeating Buddy Rose & Doug Somers..
May 2, 1987 - SuperClash II: Ray Stevens & Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty beat Buddy Wolfe & Doug Sommers & Kevin Kelly..
The Midnight Rockers also worked in Memphis CWA and even had a stint as heels..
The World Wrestling Federation - A Cup of Tea
Summer 1987: The Midnight Rockers joined the WWF, but were fired 2 weeks later for "partying too hard"..
The Midnight Rockers wrestled a few matches against "The Shadows" at WWF House Shows before leaving..
American Wrestling Association - The Midnight Rockers
December 27, 1987: The Midnight Rockers beat Randy Rose & Dennis Condrey for their 2nd AWA World Tag Team titles in Vegas..
The World Wrestling Federation - The Rockers
1988: Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty resigned with the WWF and became known simply as "The Rockers"..
October 16, 1988 - King of the Ring: Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty both lost their first round matches..
November 24, 1988 - Survivor Series: The Rockers made their PPV debut in the Tag Team elimination match..
January 15, 1989 - Royal Rumble: Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty both participate in the Royal Rumble match..
March 11, 1989 - SNME: Brain Busters (Anderson & Blanchard) vs The Rockers ended in a DOUBLE COUNT OUT..
April 2, 1989 - Wrestlemania 5: The Twin Towers (The Big Bossman & Akeem) defeated The Rockers..
October, 10, 1989 - WWF in the UK: The Rockers defeated The Rougeau Brothers (Jacques & Raymond)..
August 28, 1989 - Summerslam: The Rougeau Brothers & Rick Martel defeated The Rockers & Tito Santana..
November 23, 1989 - Survivor Series: The Rockers joined the Ultimate Warrior's Team against The Heenan Family..
January 21, 1990 - Royal Rumble: Shawn Michaels & Marty Janntty both participated in the Royal Rumble..
April 1, 1990 - Wrestlemania 6: The Orient Express defeated The Rockers by COUNT OUT..
April 28, 1990 - SNME: The Hart Foundation vs The Rockers went to a DOUBLE DQ when Demolition interfered..
August 27, 1990 - Summerslam: Power & Glory (Hercules & Paul Roma) defeated The Rockers (Michaels & Jannetty)..
October 1990 - SNME: Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty won the Tag Team titles from Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart..
Neidhart had been fired and was filling contractual obligations, which including jobbing the titles to another team..
During the match, the top rope broke causing a bit of confusion and the Rockers winning the match..
The Rockers defended the titles for a week after that, but then Neidhart was re-hired by the WWF..
Vince McMahon decided that the title change never actually happened..
To exlain, a story was sent to Pro Wrestling Illustrated about the rope break causing an "unfair working environment"..
The title reign was annulled, and forgotten..
The title change was edited out of the Main Event broadcast, and thus went down in history that the Rockers never had the belt..
November 22, 1990 - Survivor Series: Martel/Warlord/Hercules/Roma defeated Roberts/Snuka/The Rockers..
January 19, 1991 - Royal Rumble: The Rockers defeated The Orient Express (Kato & Tanaka w/Mr. Fuji)..
March 24, 1991 - Wrestlemania 7: The Rockers defeated Barbarian & Haku w/Bobby Heenan in Los Angles, California..
April 24, 1991 - UK Rampage: The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) defeated The Orient Express..
October 3, 1991 - WWF at Royal Albert Hall: The Nasty Boys defeated The Rockers..
November 27, 1991 - Survivor Series: Shawn Michaels walked out on Marty Jannetty during the final moments of the Survivors match..
1992: The Rockers broke up after Shawn Michaels tossed Marty Jannetty through the window of Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop"
The World Wrestling Federation - Shawn Michaels vs Marty Jannetty
May 17, 1993 - RAW: Marty Jannetty defeated Shawn Michaels to win the Intercontinental title..
June 6, 1993: Shawn Michaels defeated Marty Jannetty to regain the Intercontinental title..
July 19, 1993 - RAW: Shawn Michaels defeated Marty Jannetty..
January 22, 1994 - Royal Rumble: Marty Jannetty entered at #29 and was eliminated by Shawn Michaels..
July 1, 1996 - RAW: Shawn Michaels defeated Marty Jannetty..
World Wrestling Entertainment:
March 14, 2005 - RAW: The Rockers (Shawn Michaels & Marty Jannetty) defeated La Resistance (Rob Conway & Sylvain Grenier)