The Rockers
The Rockers reunited
Tag team
Members	Shawn Michaels Marty Jannetty
Name(s)	the Rockers The Midnight Rockers
Heights	6 ft 1 in (185 cm) - Shawn 5 ft 10 in - Marty
Combined weight	455 lb (207 kg)
Debuted	1985
Disbanded	1991
Promotions	AWA WWF WWE

The Rockers were a professional wrestling tag team consisting of Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels that teamed from 1986 to 1992 in the American Wrestling Association and the World Wrestling Federation. The Rockers recently reunited for a very short time in World Wrestling Entertainment but isn't currently teaming together. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A professional wrestling tag-team consists of two or occasionally three wrestlers who are working together as a team. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A professional wrestling tag-team consists of two or occasionally three wrestlers who are working together as a team. ... Marty Jannetty (born Fredrick Marty Jannetty on February 3, 1962 in Columbus, Georgia) is an American professional wrestler. ... Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965) is an American professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Shawn Michaels. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, or WWE, is a professional wrestling organization. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ...

History

Early Days

The Rockers were previously known as the Midnight Rockers (an obvious play on the NWA's Midnight Express and Rock 'N Roll Express) when they were in the American Wrestling Association (AWA). As they quickly became crowd favorites with their innovative double-teaming, it was a bloody brawl of a tag team title match aired on ESPN versus AWA Tag Team Champions Buddy Rose and Doug Somers that was the team's first true taste of stardom. The Rockers would continue to feud with Rose and Somers for months until finally winning the tag team titles in Minneapolis in January 1987. Not long after that, the duo received an offer from the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), which they accepted. Their first run was cut short after only two weeks due to Michaels and Jannetty's excessive partying. The Rockers returned to the AWA until the summer of 1988 when they were rehired by the WWF. They made their TV debut on the June 18, 1988 episode of Superstars. Initially, their theme music was Judas Priest's "Living After Midnight", but this was quickly phased out in favour of an original uptempo WWF-created guitar theme called "Rockin' Rockers". Bobby Eaton & Dennis Condrey in 2005 The Midnight Express is a professional wrestling tag team that has had various members and achieved most of its success in the 1980s. ... Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson The Rock N Roll Express The Rock N Roll Express was a professional wrestling tag team comprised of Ricky Morton and Robert Gibson that was extremely popular in the 1980s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Acrimonious Breakup

After a high profile fan favourite run as part of the WWF's tag team ranks in the late 1980s and early 1990s with their combination of agility, innovation, speed, and teamwork, the team broke up following a heated dispute backstage. Also of note was their very numerous (and increasingly colourful/adorned) in-ring attires, a trait shared with the Ultimate Warrior, who was employed by the WWF around the same time as them. The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Ultimate Warrior redirects here, for the South Korean movie Ultimate Warrior, see musa (film). ...

Reportedly, the reasons for the split stemmed from the filming of commercials for a WWF breakfast cereal, in which the Rockers and several other WWF wrestlers made appearances. Michaels learned that he and Jannetty were paid about half of what the others wrestlers received, and allegedly was so furious that he told Jannetty to call Vince McMahon and inform him that they were quitting. However, Michaels did not carry out his decision to leave the WWF with Jannetty because he needed to support his family, and told McMahon he knew nothing about Jannetty quitting. Michaels, in his side of the story from his biography, says it was Jannetty's idea to talk to McMahon and that the notion of quitting was never brought up until Jannetty talked to Vince without telling Michaels of his plan. Michaels claimed he had no interest in quitting the company and refused to stand by Jannetty in his decision. Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 25, 1945) is an American wrestling promoter, occasional professional wrestler, on-screen personality, former play-by-play announcer, and film producer. ...

This led to the breaking up of the Rockers and Shawn Michaels' heel turn. Onscreen, the incident was not mentioned; the reasons behind the split were simply that Michaels wanted to become a singles wrestler and became frustrated with the team's lack of titles. Michaels and Jannetty appeared to have reconciled on Brutus Beefcake's "Barber Shop" interview segment, but it ended with Michaels hitting Jannetty with a superkick (later dubbed the Sweet Chin Music) and then throwing him through a glass window. While the superkick and Jannetty crashing through the window were worked (that is, following the script set out by the bookers), Michaels was very stiff with the kick, causing Jannetty to legitimately black out in the process. In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character who is portrayed as behaving in an immoral manner; sometimes they are humorously referred to as evil. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are often bad guys in pro wrestling storylines. ... WWE Womens Champion Mickie James In professional wrestling kayfabe, a championship or title is a recognition of a wrestler being the best in his or her promotion, or for lesser championships (such as the WWE Cruiserweight Championship), his or her division. ... Ed Leslie as Brutus The Barber Beefcake. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... In professional wrestling, a work is slang for a staged event (that is, one that enforces kayfabe). ... A booker, as the term is used in professional wrestling, is a person who puts matches together and determines basics about their content, such as relative overall length, who the eventual victor will be, and many of the moves which will be made during the match; in other words, the... To be stiff in professional wrestling is to hit an opponent with more force so as to make the attacks seem real to the fans. ...

"I don't have a clue!" Shawn Michaels said when Gene Okerlund asked him what he was thinking when he tossed Jannetty through the window. Eugene “ Mean Gene” Okerlund (born November 29, 1938 in Sisseton, South Dakota), is an American professional wrestling interviewer and announcer. ...

Jannetty vs. Michaels

Thinking he successfully disposed of Jannetty, Michaels became a successful singles wrestler, including winning the WWE Intercontinental Championship. Months later, after disposing of a preliminary wrestler on an episode of WWF Superstars of Wrestling, Michaels began posing for the mirror his manager/love interest Sensational Sherri was holding up. Jannetty came out of the crowd and stood behind him. Michaels saw his reflection, turned around, and got the beating of his life from Jannetty. The WWE Intercontinental Championship belt The WWE Intercontinental Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... WWF Superstars of Wrestling was a professional wrestling program that debuted on September 6, 1986, replacing WWF Championship Wrestling. ... In professional wrestling, a manager is a character who is paired with a wrestler. ... Sherri Martel (born Sherri Russell on February 8, 1958) is an American professional wrestler and valet, better known by her ring name, Sensational Sherri. ...

This led to a series of matches between Michaels and Jannetty, where Michaels dominated a good portion of them. Jannetty eventually won the title from Michaels in May 1993. He lost the title back to Michaels the next month.

Differing Successes & Reconciliation

In 1995, Michaels turned face again. Jannetty returned to the WWF a few months later as a heel and formed the New Rockers with Leif Cassidy at the same time that Michaels was WWF Champion. The team was generally booked as a joke and thus gained little in the way of success. Many fans and critics feel that this contributed to Jannetty's decline whilst Michaels during this period became one of the WWF's biggest draws. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Allen Sarven (born July 18, 1963 in Lima, Ohio) is a professional wrestler better known by his stage name of Al Snow. ... The WWE Championship belt, April 11 2005 – August 20, 2006; September 18, 2006 – present The World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Championship is a professional wrestling title. ... Booking in the sense used in professional wrestling is the process of laying out in advance the general storyline of the match, to include what the eventual outcome will be. ...

On March 14, 2005, The Rockers reunited to defeat La Resistance just 3 days before Marty Jannetty was going to face Kurt Angle. Angle defeated Jannetty on the following edition of SmackDown!. For the Lebanese political coalition, see March 14 Alliance. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about a professional wrestling stable. ... Kurt Steven Angle (born December 9, 1968) is an American professional wrestler and former amateur wrestler, who is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. ... WWE Friday Night SmackDown! is a professional wrestling television program for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and is the flagship broadcast of the SmackDown! brand. ...

Shortly after that, WWE signed Marty Jannetty to a contract. However, Jannetty had been arrested on June 11, 2005 for driving under the influence of alcohol, and on June 29, 2005 he was placed under a supervision order. Due to the year-long case standing in the way of Jannetty's bookings, WWE released Jannetty on July 6, 2005 before he ever made a television appearance. June 11 is the 162nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (163rd in leap years), with 203 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Drunk driving (drink driving in the UK) or drinking and driving is the act of operating a motor vehicle after having consumed alcohol (i. ... June 29 is the 180th day of the year (181st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 185 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... July 6 is the 187th day of the year (188th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 178 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

On the February 20, 2006 edition of RAW, Jannetty made his return to WWE, helping Shawn Michaels from a Spirit Squad beat down. February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Later on that night, Mr. McMahon announced that he would offer Jannetty a full-time WWE contract on the February 27, 2006 edition of RAW. However, he would have to join McMahon's Kiss My Ass Club. When the time came, it turned out that Jannetty would not swallow his pride and kiss McMahon's ass. When this happened, Mr. McMahon sent for Chris Masters to come out and stated that he can have a contract if he beats The Masterlock Challenge. He was unable to, however, and therefore the WWE has severed all connections with Marty Jannetty. Vince McMahon Vincent Kennedy McMahon (born August 24, 1945 in Pinehurst, North Carolina), is an American professional wrestling promoter. ... February 27 is the 58th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

According to Marty Jannetty's myspace information, he was unable to fly to the next RAW location therefore WWE had to do major rewrites in the storylines. The severed connections are believed to be kayfabe. In professional wrestling, kayfabe (pronounced KEI-feib; IPA: ) refers to the portrayal of events within the industry as real, that is the portrayal of professional wrestling as not staged or worked. ...

It was announced on WWE.com that Jannetty was signed to a new contract in 2006 to work with new talent with a possible roster spot in the future.

12/30/06 Prowrestling.com stated that the WWE was interested in brining Jannetty to OVW as a coach.

Trivia

Both Rockers suffered storyline injuries from a window:

Jannety was injured by a window courtesty of then heel, Michaels.

During Michael's second to latest face run he was injured by a car window couresty of then heel, Triple H.

Trademark Finishers

• Rocker-Plex: Vertical Suplex (Michaels) into top-rope Cross Body Press (Jannetty)
• Double Flying Fists: Double top-rope Fist Drops
• Springboard Smash: Flying Fist Drop while jumping off the partner's shoulders from the corner
• Double top-rope Dropkicks from adjacent corners

This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Championships and accomplishments

• American Wrestling Association

• AWA Southern Tag Team Championship (2 times)
• AWA World Tag Team Championship (2 times)

• National Wrestling Alliance
• Regional

• NWA Central States Tag Team Championship (1 time)

• Pro Wrestling Illustrated

• PWI ranked them # 33 of the 100 best tag teams during the "PWI Years" in 2003.