5 Longest (& 5 Shortest) Title Reigns Of Shawn Michaels' Career

Shawn Michaels has had an extremely successful career in WWE, which has seen him draped in gold for many years. HBK made history as the first-ever Grand Slam Champion in 1997 as he won the WWF, Intercontinental, Tag Team, and European Championship to complete the set.

Whilst, Michaels will go down in history as one of the all-time greats, not all of his championship reigns have been memorable. 13 championship reigns to his name may not sound a lot but he has had some brilliant title runs in his career.

10 Shortest: Unified WWE Tag Team Championship - 57 Days (2009/2010)

2009 was the second reunion for the latest incarnation of DX involving Shawn Michaels and Triple H. DX had achieved a tremendous amount in their respective singles careers but a Tag Team Championship reign together was missing from their resume.

In the main event of the inaugural TLC event, DX defeated the Unified WWE Tag Team Champions Jeri-Show for the titles in a TLC match. It was Michaels' final championship reign before he retired at WrestleMania XXVI in 2010. They successfully defended the titles a couple of times, and their reign lasted 57 days when they dropped the straps to Big Show and The Miz on the February 8th, 2010 edition of Raw.

9 Longest: WWF European Championship - 92 Days (1997)

Shawn Michaels' heel turn in late 1997 was perfectly done, and it was arguably some of the best work he did in his career. HBK was a cocky heel, and he broke British hearts at One Night Only held in Birmingham, England when he ended British Bulldog's seven-month reign as European Champion.

History was made as the Showstopper became the first-ever Grand Slam Champion, and at the 1997 Survivor Series, HBK became a double champion when he defeated Bret Hart for the WWF Championship in the controversial Montreal Screwjob. Furthermore, Michaels' European Championship reign wasn't special as the WWF Championship was his main priority. However, he dropped the European Championship to his DX buddy Triple H in a mockery of a match by lying down for him, which ended HBK's 92-day reign.

8 Shortest: WWF Tag Team Championship - 49 Days (1997)

1997 was one of the most controversial but successful years for Shawn Michaels. HBK lost his smile before WrestleMania 13 and vacated the WWF Championship. Nonetheless, Michaels rebounded and formed an unlikely partnership with Stone Cold Steve Austin.

On the May 26th, 1997 edition of Raw, Michaels and Austin ended Owen Hart and British Bulldog's 246-day reign to become the new WWF Tag Team Champions. It came as no surprise that HBK and Austin could not co-exist but more controversy surrounding Michaels arose. He fought with Bret Hart backstage, which led to Michaels and Austin's title reign ending with HBK suspended. Their brief reign was 49 days long, and HBK and Austin clashed at the 1997 King of the Ring.

7 Longest: WWF Intercontinental Championship - 113 Days (1993)

Shawn Michaels is one of the greatest Intercontinental Champions of all-time. During his second reign, Michaels hired Big Daddy Cool Diesel as his bodyguard. HBK successfully defended the title twice on PPV against Crush at King of the Ring 1993 and Mr. Perfect by count-out at SummerSlam.

However, despite holding the championship for 113 days, HBK failed a steroids test which led to him relinquishing the title. He was suspended but Michaels put that disappointment behind him once he returned, and feuded with Razor Ramon. Michaels claimed to be the real Intercontinental Champion, thus the score was settled in an outstanding ladder match at WrestleMania X which saw Ramon come out on top as the Undisputed WWF Intercontinental Champion.

6 Shortest: World Heavyweight Championship - 28 Days (2002)

After four years on the shelf with a serious back injury, Shawn Michaels made his triumphant in-ring return against Triple H at SummerSlam 2002. Their clash was an instant classic, which led to Michaels capturing the World Heavyweight Championship at Survivor Series in the first Elimination Chamber match.

Unfortunately, HBK's fourth reign as world champion was not a long one. The highlight of this reign was Michaels' spellbinding match with Rob Van Dam on an episode of Raw. The Game got his revenge and regained the championship from Michaels at Armageddon in a brutal Three Stages of Hell match.

5 Longest: WWF Championship - 140 Days (1997/1998)

At Survivor Series 1997, Shawn Michaels became a three-time WWF Champion. He sent Bret Hart packing to WCW after the controversial Montreal Screwjob. Moreover, this WWF Championship run was arguably Michaels' best WWF Championship reign.

HBK was a heel world champion this time around, and his feud with The Undertaker was reignited, which culminated at the 1998 Royal Rumble. Sadly, it robbed the Showstopper four years of his career as his back caught the edge of the casket. Michaels held the WWF Championship for 140 days, and he was clearly writhing in pain for the remainder of his title run. Ultimately, HBK did the job for Stone Cold Steve Austin at WrestleMania XIV, and he took time off to nurse his injuries and clear his head.

4 Shortest: WWF Championship - 25 Days (1997)

There were jubilant scenes after the 1997 Royal Rumble. Shawn Michaels regained the WWF Championship from Sycho Sid in front of a sold-out crowd at the Alamodome in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas.

However, Michaels' second world championship reign lasted a disappointing 25 days. WrestleMania 13 was coming up and it was likely that HBK would drop the WWF Championship to Bret Hart in a rematch from WrestleMania XII. Nonetheless, Michaels had other ideas, claiming that he had a knee injury but he infamously lost his smile and simply did not want to lose to Bret at WrestleMania 13.

3 Longest: WWF Intercontinental Championship - 202 Days (1992/1993)

British Bulldog must be sick of the sight of Shawn Michaels. Three times in Bulldog's career, he lost a championship to HBK. The first of those instances occurred at Saturday Night's Main Event in October 1992 when he dropped the Intercontinental Championship.

HBK's first Intercontinental Championship reign allowed Michaels the chance to shine as a singles competitor. He walked into Survivor Series 1992 as champion and he faced Bret Hart for the WWF Championship but came up short. Nevertheless, Michaels retained the title on the big stages of the 1993 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania IX. All good things must come to an end and his former partner Marty Jannetty ended his extraordinary 202-day reign as Intercontinental Champion on an episode of Raw in May 1993.

2 Shortest: WWF Tag Team Championship - 1 Day (1995)

In 1995, Shawn Michaels and Diesel were a dominant force. HBK was a three-time Intercontinental Champion and Diesel was in the midst of a lengthy reign as WWF Champion. At In Your House 3: Triple Header, all major championships were up for grabs.

The Two Dudes With Attitude dethroned British Bulldog, who was stepping in for Owen Hart, and Yokozuna to become two-time WWF Tag Team Champions. However, it was Michaels' shortest reign as a champion in his WWE career as Owen was pinned despite not being in the match legally. Therefore, 24 hours later on Raw, the titles were returned to Owen Hart and Yokozuna.

1 Longest: WWF Championship - 231 Days (1996)

The longest and most successful championship reign of Shawn Michaels' WWE career was his maiden WWF Championship victory in 1996. HBK overcame Bret Hart in an energy-sapping 60-minute Iron Man match at WrestleMania XII to capture the title.

Credit has to be given to Bret, who stepped aside to allow HBK to become the new face of the company that year. Michaels' reign lasted a whopping 231 days and he certainly delivered as a world champion. It was one of the finest world championship reigns for a first-time champion, and he mixed it up with the likes of Mankind, Diesel, and Vader. Sycho Sid ended his reign at the 1996 Survivor Series, and Shawn was subjected to a chorus of boos from the crowd in Madison Square Garden.

NEXT: Shawn Michaels' 10 Biggest Wins In His Career