 Keenan played college football prior to becoming a professional wrestler.He was trained by Dominic DeNucci in Pittsburgh, alongside friends Mick Foley, Brian Hildebrand, and former college teammate Shane Douglas.Beginning in 1986, Michaels wrestled for United States Wrestling Association (USWA), World Wrestling Federation (WWF), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), National Wrestling Alliance (NWA), and American Wrestling Association (AWA).