Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name, Shawn Michaels, is an American professional wrestling personality, television presenter and retired professional wrestler. He has been signed to WWE, as an ambassador and occasional non-wrestling performer, since December 2010. He wrestled consistently for WWE, formerly the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), from 1988 until his first retirement in 1998.