Every wrestling fan has heard of or remembers the moment when Shawn Michaels turned on Marty Jannetty. When Michaels turned heel by giving Jannetty a Sweet Chin Music on Brutus Beefcake’s "Barbershop," The Heartbreak Kid was born. The Rockers ended in that moment, but Michaels went on to have solo success that can only be measured by all the wrestlers he's inspired, which is pretty much every active wrestler today.
Marty Jannetty was far less successful as a wrestler. He did take the Intercontinental Championship away from HBK during the first IC Title run of his career. The Rockers are not in the WWE Hall of Fame, but they are still very well known. This list will examine ten things fans should know about The Rockers.
10 Signed With WWE While Holding The AWA Tag Team Titles
Although The Rockers first formed at NWA Central States Wrestling, they rose to prominence at American Wrestling Association (AWA). The company needed new talent since its rising stars were constantly leaving for the WWE. At the AWA, The Rockers were extremely successful.
They won the AWA World Tag Team Championships twice and only lost three televised matches at the company. After being denied a pay raise at the AWA, The Rockers signed a contract with the WWE, while they were still AWA Tag Team Champions. They dropped the tag titles to Badd Company (Pat Tanaka and Paul Diamond) on their way out of the door.
9 Originally Called "The Midnight Rockers"
Shawn Michaels and Marty Jannetty arrived to AWA without a name. Despite having won the NWA Central States Tag Team Championships, they never wrestled under an official tag team name until they were given the name "The Midnight Rockers" in 1986.
The name was inspired by the Judas Priest song Living After Midnight. A few names floated around before they landed on "The Midnight Rockers." When they arrived to the WWE their name was shortened to "The Rockers."
8 Challenged The Hart Foundation Upon Arrival in the WWE
Only a few days after dropping their AWA titles, they arrived in the WWE. The first tag team they challenged at the company was the WWE Tag Team Champions, The Hart Foundation (Bret Hart & Jim Neidhart).
Their challenge never led to a feud, and they didn't battle The Hart Foundation until almost a year after their challenge. Over their entire WWE career, The Rockers only scored one victory over The Hart Foundation in a very controversial tag team title match.
7 Never Held The WWE Tag Team Titles
Despite The Rockers defeating the Hart Foundation in a Best Two Out Of Three Falls to win the WWE Tag Team Championships, the belts were never officially awarded to Jannetty and Michaels. During the match, the top rope broke by accident, and the match never aired due to the malfunction.
The Rockers defended their tag team titles four days after the incident. It was decided that none of their title matches would air, and the titles would be given back to the Hart Foundation to avoid confusion. The controversial match was featured on The Shawn Michaels Story: Heartbreak & Triumph DVD, but The Rockers ended up as one of the best tag teams to never win the tag titles in the WWE.
6 Got Into A Legitimate Fight That Contributed To Their Split
Although the drama associated with their split helped launch their solo careers, there was a real fight behind the scenes that inspired the infamous moment.
In May 1991, Roddy Piper once inferred Michaels was a future superstar as a solo wrestler, which led to Jannetty challenging Michaels to a fight. The two drunkenly scrapped in a fight that was so bad the cops were called and HBK almost left the company.
5 Jannetty Formed A New Version Of The Rockers After He And HBK Split Up
By 1996, Jannetty's career had fallen below the level of The Rockers, while Michaels was on course to a Hall of Fame career. The WWE attempted to revive the magic of The Rockers by forming a group called "The New Rockers."
Leif Cassidy (aka Al Snow) joined Jannetty and the pair ended up being a comedic heel team. They lived in lower card and lasted less than a year as a unit.
4 First WWE Wrestlers To Win "Tag Team of the Year" In 1989
By 1989, Wrestling Observer Newsletter had awarded nine tag team units their illustrious "Tag Team of the Year" award. The Road Warriors and The Fabulous Freebirds were some of the early winners of the award. The WWE hadn't had a single tag team win the award until The Rockers.
The Rockers were awarded "Tag Team of the Year" in 1989 beating out The Hart Foundation. Many major WWE tag teams have gone on to win the award including Edge & Christian and The Shield (Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns).
3 Last Televised WWE Match Was Against The Legion Of Doom (Animal & Hawk)
After over six years as a unit, The Rockers competed in their last televised match at WWF Superstars on December 4, 1991. The pair battled against The Legion Of Doom (Animal & Hawk) in a losing effort. It was also the only time the four men clashed in the ring, in what wasn't a very memorable bout.
2 Once Teamed Up With Andre The Giant
The Rockers battled a ton of great talent in the WWE. They were even once a part of Team Ultimate Warrior at Survivor Series 1989. One of their fiercest opponents was The Colossal Connection (Andre The Giant & Haku).
The last time Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels ever crossed paths with Andre the Giant was a six-man tag match in Ireland. The three teamed up and defeated Kato, Tanaka, and Mr. Fuji. It was also one of the last matches of Andre's career.
1 Reunited For A Match In 2005
Marty Jannetty made a few appearances with Shawn Michaels after they split in 1991. Michaels saved Jannetty in 2006 from Spirit Squad during a feud with the McMahons. In 2007, while HBK was feuding with Mr. Kennedy, he also saved Jannetty from an attack after a match.
The Rockers only had one official match, which took place on Raw. In 2005, they defeated La Résistance (Sylvain Grenier and Rob Conway). This match was also the first time (and only time) the Rockers ever competed as a tag team unit on an episode of Raw.