From the moment that Shawn Michaels was just beginning his singles run all the way up until his WrestleMania XIV showdown with 'Stone Cold', Michaels was almost always accompanied to the ring by someone - even during at least one of his babyface runs! While nearly everyone running around the roster now would’ve been considered “a smaller guy” during the early nineties, Shawn was one of the only ones.Related: Shawn Michaels & 9 Other Wrestlers Who Went BaldIt also didn’t hurt to have what the industry refers to as a heater when The Chairman doesn’t quite believe in you or your skills just yet. With the exception of parts of 1995 and 1997, good ol’ HBK never left home without one.
8 Jenny McCarthy
At the 1995 Royal Rumble, Shawn Michaels didn’t just win the right to face the WWE champion at WrestleMania, he won the privilege of being brought to the ring by Pamela Anderson. But when it came time for the big title match against Diesel, she was nowhere to be found.
Instead, ol’ HBK headed to the ring with another blonde bombshell, Jenny McCarthy. It was only for the evening, but Shawn still continued his streak of having a manager at WrestleMania.
7 Luna Vachon
After spending nearly a year with The Sensational Sherri by his side, she was inadvertently stuck with a mirror and taken out of action.
Never one to care about anyone else’s well being, Michaels simply got himself a new valet. In a twist on the beauty and the beast paradigm, Luna Vachon debuted at Michaels’ side for his bout with Tatanka at WrestleMania IX. She didn’t stick around with HBK much longer, but fans did get to see a few wild brawls with Sherri.
6 Jose Lothario
After spending the second half of his 1995 without a manager, Shawn Michaels headed back to San Antonio to work with his trainer, Jose Lothario on the road to WrestleMania XII. The Mexican legend was at HBK’s side when he realized his boyhood dream, defeating Bret Hart.
Lothario spent the rest of the year at Michaels’ side, and even got to trash Jim Cornette in the process. Lothario also got involved in Shawn Michaels losing the title, when HBK chose to protect his mentor rather than go for the victory against Sid.
5 Ravishing Rick Rude
Ravishing Rick Rude had a great look and when he was looking for a place to go to continue his managing career, he not only landed in WWE, but side by side with Shane Michaels. Both Michaels and Triple H later admitted that they just liked having Rude around and he wasn’t that integral to their eventual group.
But because of his relationship with HBK and later Triple H, Rude was able be on both Nitro and Raw in the same night and later that same week on ECW television.
4 Sycho Sid
After the big breakup between Shawn Michaels and Diesel, HBK needed a new insurance policy - Sycho Sid. The Master And The Ruler Of The World had returned to the WWE for the match between Michaels and Diesel and aligned himself with the Heartbreak Kid.
Related: 10 Things About Sid Vicious' Career That Made No Sense
One night after losing to Diesel, Shawn Michaels berated Sid and eventually was beaten within an inch of his life. A year or so later their feud culminated by each man trading the WWE title.
3 The Sensational Sherri
The blood was barley washed off The Barber Shop wall when Shawn Michaels started coming to the ring with The Sensational Sherri by his side. Like everyone else that came before him, Sherry only enhanced the package and made Shawn Michaels instantly recognizable as someone to boo and a force to be reckoned with.
Had it not been for his pairing, fans would not have gotten the iconic Shawn Michaels theme song and then heard later, Kurt Angle’s parody.
2 Chyna
The Ninth Wonder Of The World made her debut as Triple H’s heater, viciously throttling Marlena. Since it was only a matter of time before The Game and HBK would align as Degeneration X, Chyna began following Shawn Michaels around as well.
Related: 10 Managers Who Went On To Become Champions
She partook in all of Michaels and Helmsley’s antics, generally with a look of amused disdain - “you guys are idiots, but you’re funny.” Chyna, alongside Triple H was able to help Michaels defeat Davey Boy in London for the European title.
1 Diesel
As the story goes, Shawn Michaels was watching an episode of WCW Saturday Night when he first laid eyes on Vinnie Vegas. After talking to The Steiners about him, they contacted their fellow Motor City Madman. Kevin Nash then went to Ole Anderson and told a small fib in order to get his release.
He was on WWE television not soon after, creating an indelible image that fans still remember to this day. Thanks to Diesel and Shawn Michaels’ partnership, HBK became a credible and believable main eventer. Meanwhile Big Daddy Cool became a huge star and WWE Champion in the process.
