Shawn Michaels Eye Injury

Shawn Michaels is a retired professional wrestler from the USA. The two-time Hall of Famer (2011, 2019) is serving as the Senior Vice President of the NXT brand as of March 2025. "The Heartbreak Kid" is one of the founding members of D-Generation X and headlined numerous PPV events. He is a three-time WWF Champion, a one-time World Heavyweight Champion, a three-time WWF Intercontinental Champion, a one-time WWF European Champion, a one-time WWE Tag Team Champion, and a five-time WWF/World Tag Team Champion.

"The Showstopper" is a two-time Royal Rumble winner (1995, 1996). The First Grand Slam Champion and Fourth Triple Crown Champion has also performed for other wrestling promotions like Texas Wrestling Alliance, Texas All-Star Wrestling, Central States Wrestling, Continental Wrestling Association, etc. "Mr. WrestleMania" was also inducted into the Hall of Fame of Professional Wrestling in 2017.

How did Shawn Michaels' eye get injured?

Shawn Michaels' eye injury reportedly occurred during a no-disqualification match against Kane at the WWE Unforgiven PPV event in 2004. When Kane hit Michaels in the face during the fight, a muscle connected to his eye moved slightly out of place. At first, the damage didn’t seem serious, but it gradually worsened over time. Later, the eye condition was incorporated into Michaels' feud with Chris Jericho in 2008, when Jericho smashed Michaels' head into a television screen, intensifying their already brutal rivalry. However, the real cause of the issue dates back to his encounter with Kane years earlier.

Shawn Michaels’ lazy eye has been a topic of discussion among WWE fans and even his colleagues. He has often joked about it himself, once calling it "a gift from God" that allows him to see things from a different perspective. Over the years, his D-Generation X partner, Triple H, has also used it as comedic material in various WWE skits. Despite the attention it receives, Michaels has openly addressed the condition in interviews and social media, even revealing that a medical procedure could fix it, though he doesn’t believe it’s worth the risks. Avalonweb.com reported that Michaels suffers from Esotropia Strabismus and Amblyopia in his left eye.

Michaels was questioned regarding the possibility of treating his eye condition in a documentary that featured his former rival, Bret "The Hitman" Hart. He admitted that there was a medical procedure that could fix it, but that he didn't think the risks were worth it. Wrestlemania.com posted that part of the documentary on its X account in 2024.

RVD’s Reaction to Shawn Michaels' Lazy Eye

Rob Van Dam once made fun of Shawn Michaels' Lazy Eye while imitating him. However, in the Apter Chat podcast, RVD shared his regrets and said:

“No, you know what that is? I was interviewed on a video format like YouTube or whatever and I did this imitation of him along with an unflattering answer too. When I look back at it, it’s not something I’m super proud of because I try to just put positive energy out there but anyway, I’m glad a lot of fans enjoyed it, but what I did was I crossed one eye in the middle because he’s got that eye thing and it got a [big] reaction because you know, here I am making fun of Shawn Michaels -- one of the best wrestlers ever in WWE."

"So it got a lot of reaction but looking back at it that’s really gotta suck and I know what’s like to temporarily have vision altered and it’s not good and when I look at it… I think I’ve had headaches all day. I can’t even imagine one eye looking in but you know, it’s something… that’s what my impression is, and part of always trying to improve and grow and be a better person is you’re always looking back at a lesser version of you. Always. That’s how it has to be,” he added.